IQF vs Block Frozen: Indonesian Seafood 2025 Cost Guide

A step-by-step, calculator-style method to compare IQF vs block on true cost per usable kg in 2025. Includes glaze adjustment, thaw/drip loss, deblocking labor, container utilization, cold storage, and realistic Indonesia-based ranges. Built for procurement teams shortlisting vendors.

If you only compare CFR prices, you’ll almost always choose the wrong format. The IQF line looks expensive. The block looks cheap. And then the yield, labor, and logistics reality shows up on your P&L. We’ve run this calc hundreds of times for buyers in the US, EU, Middle East and Asia. Here’s the exact method we use in 2025 to compare IQF vs block frozen Indonesian seafood on a true cost per usable kilogram basis.

The one metric that matters in 2025: cost per usable kg

The reality is buyers pay for edible, ready-to-sell kilograms. Not glazed ice, not drip in the thaw tank, and not broken blocks sitting in labor. And with 2024–2025 freight volatility and tighter cold storage, small percentage differences swing deals. That’s why we reduce everything to a single number: landed cost per usable kg.

The calculator: a simple 7-step method

You can run this on a napkin or in a spreadsheet. We’ll show the formula, then a worked example you can copy.

Convert glazed price to net fish price.

Formula: Net price per kg after deglazing = CFR price per glazed kg ÷ (1 − glaze%).
Example: $6.10/kg at 6% glaze becomes $6.10 ÷ 0.94 = $6.49/kg.

Apply thaw/drip loss to get usable weight.

Formula: Price per kg after thaw = Step 1 price ÷ (1 − thaw%).
Typical 2025 assumptions we see in Indonesia supply:
- IQF whitefish fillet or portion: 0.5–2.0% drip if properly deglazed.
- Block whitefish fillet: 3–7% drip depending on cut quality and thaw method.
- IQF shrimp (peeled): 1–3% drip. Block shrimp: 2–6%.
- Tuna/mahi loins and steaks: IQF 0.5–1.5%. Block 2–5%.

Add deblocking labor and handling for block formats.

Include minutes to unwrap, temper, separate, and re-ice. Also water and disposables.
Practical range: 8–12 minutes per 10 kg block. At $18–30 per labor hour, that’s roughly $0.24–$0.60 per block or $0.02–$0.06 per kg for the act of deblocking. Realistically, with setup, cleanup, QA checks, and re-icing, we see $0.15–$0.45 per kg added on block programs. Use your own site’s fully loaded rate.

Trim and portioning yield.

IQF portioned items often arrive cut-to-spec with minimal trim loss on your side.
Block or bulk fillets often need a pass. Plan 0–1% trim for IQF portions and 1–3% for block fillets unless you buy strict spec. For shrimp, portioning loss is negligible if sizing is tight.
Formula: Price after portioning = Step 2 price ÷ (1 − extra trim%).

Duties, port fees, inland, QA.

Add your hard per-kg adders here. Keep this separate from freight so you can reuse assumptions.

Container freight per kg, adjusted for utilization.

40’ reefer typical payloads we see ex-Indonesia:
- Block frozen cartons: 21–24 metric tons loaded.
- IQF cartons: 19–22 metric tons loaded.
Freight per kg = Ocean freight ÷ loaded metric tons. The utilization gap usually shifts freight by about $0.02–$0.06 per kg in favor of block.

Cold storage and pallet density.

Many facilities charge $10–$20 per pallet per week. If a pallet holds 900–1,000 kg, that’s roughly $0.01–$0.02 per kg per week.
Block packs often stack denser, saving 1–2 pallets per container. Over a 3-week dwell, you might save another $0.01–$0.03 per kg vs IQF. Not huge, but real for slow movers.

Add it all up. Your landed cost per usable kg = Steps 1–4 + duties/fees + freight per kg + cold storage per kg.

Need the spreadsheet with formulas and editable assumptions? We’re happy to share our template and tailor the ranges to your SKUs and markets. If that would help, just Contact us on whatsapp.

A worked example you can copy

Let’s compare IQF vs block on a popular Indonesia species. Mahi mahi fillet is a good case because both formats are common. We offer both styles under Mahi Mahi Fillet and portioned IQF under Mahi Mahi Portion (IQF).

Assumptions for a single container lane in 2025:

Ocean freight: $5,500 per 40’ reefer.
IQF price: $6.10/kg at 6% glaze, 1.5% thaw, 0.5% trim.
Block price: $5.70/kg at 10% glaze, 4.5% thaw, 1.5% trim, $0.25/kg labor to deblock.
Utilization: IQF loads 20 MT. Block loads 23 MT.
Cold storage: $15/pallet/week, 3 weeks average dwell. IQF uses 1 extra pallet vs block.

Math:

IQF: $6.10 ÷ 0.94 = $6.49. Then $6.49 ÷ 0.985 = $6.59. Then ÷ 0.995 trim = $6.62. Freight $5,500 ÷ 20,000 kg = $0.275. Cold storage: 3 weeks × $15 ÷ 950 kg/pallet ≈ $0.047. Total ≈ $6.62 + 0.275 + 0.047 = $6.94 per usable kg.
Block: $5.70 ÷ 0.90 = $6.33. Then $6.33 ÷ 0.955 = $6.63. Then ÷ 0.985 trim = $6.73. Add $0.25 deblocking = $6.98. Freight $5,500 ÷ 23,000 kg = $0.239. Cold storage 1 pallet fewer saves roughly $0.016 per kg over 3 weeks. Total ≈ $6.98 + 0.239 − 0.016 = $7.20 per usable kg.

In this case IQF wins, even though the glazed CFR for block looked cheaper. We see this pattern whenever the block’s extra thaw plus trim exceeds the IQF by 2–3 points and labor runs above $0.20/kg. If your labor is very low or your block programs thaw at 2% with tight specs, the result can flip. That’s why we always run the numbers.

When does IQF become cheaper than block?

Use a quick rule of thumb we give to buyers:

Start with the glazed price gap. If block is ≤ $0.30/kg cheaper on glazed terms.
Add the freight advantage for block. Usually $0.02–$0.06/kg.
Now compare yield and labor. If block thaw + extra trim exceeds IQF by ≥ 3%, that alone is worth about $0.20/kg on $6–7 items. Add $0.15–$0.45/kg for deblocking labor.
If yield delta plus labor is greater than the glazed price gap plus freight advantage, IQF wins on usable cost.

We’ve found that in higher wage markets and for portion-heavy menus, IQF often wins. In low labor markets or for factories set up to deblock efficiently, block can be compelling.

Smart contract specs that protect your yield

Here’s what tight buyers do in 2025:

Cap glaze. We recommend 6–8% max for IQF fish fillet and portions. For shrimp and squid, 8–10% max depending on pack style. Tolerance ±1% upon receipt, with price adjustments for overage.
Specify thaw loss acceptance. Write a sampling protocol. For example, deglaze to zero ice in 0–2 °C water, drip on mesh 5 minutes at 2 °C, then weigh. Set an acceptable range. IQF 0–2% and block 2–5% are realistic for many Indonesian items.
Require net weight on label for shrimp. Especially for Frozen Shrimp (Black Tiger, Vannamei & Wild Caught). Avoid paying for water.
Lock cut specs. Portion sizes, trim level, skin-on/off, pin bone removal. For example, Sweetlip Fillet (IQF) offers both IQF and block options. Clear specs reduce unexpected trim loss.

Container space and cold storage: does block really save enough?

Block packs usually do load better. But the math is modest per kg.

If a 40’ reefer is $5,500 and you load 23 MT on block vs 20 MT on IQF, the freight per kg is $0.239 vs $0.275. That’s a $0.036/kg advantage for block.
Cold storage can add another $0.01–$0.03/kg advantage to block if you carry stock for weeks. If you turn inventory fast, this becomes noise.
These savings rarely overcome a 2–3% yield delta plus labor on block. They do matter on commodity squid like Loligo Squid (Whole Round / Whole Cleaned), where block vs IQF yields can be close and the carton density is excellent.

FAQs we get every week

What’s a realistic thaw/drip loss to assume for Indonesian IQF shrimp vs block frozen in 2025?

We use 1–3% for IQF peeled and 2–6% for block, assuming proper deglazing and a cold thaw. If you see more, check phosphate levels, thaw method, and time at temp.

How do I convert a supplier’s glazed weight price to net usable cost per kg?

Use this chain. Net after deglaze = price ÷ (1 − glaze%). After thaw = previous ÷ (1 − thaw%). Add trim, labor, freight, cold storage as separate adders. This gives you landed cost per usable kg.

How many minutes does it take to deblock a 10 kg block and what does that add per kg?

Plan 8–12 minutes per 10 kg block including unwrap, temper, separate, QA, and re-ice. At $18–30/hour, that’s roughly $0.15–$0.45 per kg fully loaded in typical foodservice or DC environments.

Does container space efficiency favor block enough to change the landed cost?

It helps, but it’s small. Expect a $0.02–$0.06/kg freight advantage for block on a 40’ reefer. It rarely offsets yield and labor deltas unless your block program thaws exceptionally clean.

What glaze percentage should I cap in contracts with Indonesian processors?

We recommend 6–8% for fillets and portions, 8–10% for shrimp and squid. Include ±1% tolerance at arrival and a price adjustment if exceeded.

What’s a simple formula to compare IQF vs block cost per portion?

Cost per portion = landed cost per usable kg × portion size in kg. If a 160 g portion and your landed usable cost is $7.00/kg, your portion cost is 0.16 × $7.00 = $1.12.

Practical, non-obvious tips from the floor

Thawing method is strategy. For tuna and mahi, a 0–2 °C water deglaze followed by a 0–2 °C room drip for 5–10 minutes typically beats a long ambient thaw on drip by 1–2 yield points. Small operational change, big money.
Negotiate by spec, not only by price. For example, on Kingfish Steak (Portion / IQF), agreeing cut thickness and permissible end-piece ratio reduces trim surprises and makes IQF vs block comparisons fair.
Use IQF where portion control matters most. Ready-meal and retail programs prefer IQF formats like Grouper Fillet (IQF) or Sweetlip Fillet (IQF). It cuts labor and improves consistency. For industrial mince or sauce base, block items like Yellowfin Ground Meat (IQF) or block tuna can be optimized because later processing masks small drip differences.

We recommend building this calculator once, then re-using it for each SKU. Update the two variables that move most in 2025. Freight per container and your local labor rate. Everything else is stable if you lock specs.

If you want a sanity check on your assumptions for a specific SKU, reach out. We can look at your spec sheet and run a quick scenario using current Indonesia pack options and load plans. Questions about your project? View our products to see which items we can supply in both IQF and block, then ping us and we’ll help you compare apples to apples.