Saudia Cargo and the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) have launched a programme reducing pharmaceutical air freight costs by up to 50%. The initiative leverages IATA CEIV Pharma-certified cold chain capabilities to support medicine importers, ensure supply continuity, and strengthen national healthcare logistics resilience across Saudi Arabia.
According to www.logisticsmiddleeast.com, Saudia Cargo has launched a new air freight support programme in partnership with the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) that reduces shipping costs for pharmaceutical shipments and medical supplies entering the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by up to 50%.
Programme Details and Cost Relief
Announced on 28 April 2026, the programme offers facilities and price reductions of up to 50% on shipping costs to support medicine importers and maintain the steady movement of essential healthcare products, according to the report. The initiative is designed to help importers manage logistics expenses while ensuring the regular flow of healthcare cargo through national transport channels.
Cold Chain and Certification
Pharmaceutical cargo requires strict temperature control throughout transport. Saudia Cargo will use its cold chain services to ensure safe transport, temperature monitoring, and compliance with international regulations and SFDA requirements, the source states. The carrier’s capabilities are backed by IATA CEIV Pharma and CEIV Fresh certifications, which verify compliance with standards for temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical and perishable products. These certifications are critical for handling medicines, vaccines, biologics, and other healthcare products requiring controlled logistics environments.
National Supply Chain Resilience
The cooperation aims to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s pharmaceutical supply chain reliability and protect the availability of medicines and medical supplies nationwide. Medicines and medical supplies are among the most time-sensitive air cargo categories, where delays or temperature deviations can compromise product quality and patient access. The agreement brings together the SFDA’s regulatory role for food and medical products with Saudia Cargo’s air freight network and specialised cargo handling capabilities, according to the report.
The programme is expected to support public health needs, provide cost relief for importers, and improve the movement of critical cargo across the Kingdom. For Saudia Cargo, it reinforces its role in handling specialised freight categories requiring regulated processes and technical expertise. For SFDA, the cooperation supports efforts to maintain quality, safety, and availability across the national healthcare supply chain, the source concludes.
Source: www.logisticsmiddleeast.com
Compiled from international media by the SCI.AI editorial team.
