If you are in the business of global trading which requires international shipping regularly, you are probably an expert. But if you are not, then we can offer you some guidance on how to prepare your cargo for international shipping from the requirement for shipping documentation to shipping regulations per country, and more. The primary objective is to send your goods to their destination abroad, and for the recipients to receive it on time, but ensuring they get to the final destination intact is vital too. This is why due diligence must be taken to prepare your cargo with proper packaging and packing materials for safe passage through the seas or air freight means.

Prior to Shipping

It’s important to fully comprehend the respective country’s various rules and regulations, so that unnecessary delays can be avoided. By perusing the customs documentation, in terms of the list of goods that are forbidden, taxed goods and more, you can avoid unnecessary unpleasantries or high custom duties/taxes.

Preparing Your Shipment

Your cargo freight may have to go through various transits depending on the distance of the international shipping journey. There may be many times in which your cargo may be unloaded, and unforeseen circumstances can lead to goods within your shipping boxes or crates moving around within during these times. Thus, ensuring your goods are packed properly is recommended.  The use of the following are recommended.

• Protective packing materials (bubble wrap, newspapers/ industrial wrapping/fillers)
• Shipping boxes/crates that are recommended for the weight and quantity of goods being shipped
• Use of Packing tape to safeguard corners/seams
• Use of industrial wrapping
• Inclusion of address information (including destination and return)
• A packing list of items being shipped
• Fragile Items will require further fillers, thus double doxing is advised with packing fillers between the two.
• Boxes containing Fragile Goods must be labelled accordingly
• Heavier items must be placed on the bottom and due labelling should be included.

Declaring the goods correcting and choosing the correct sizing for your relevant items and ensuring their packed properly is due diligence and  a good business principle. By sticking to rules and regulations and following the above-mentioned recommendations, you are closer to ensuring that your cargo is prepped properly for international shipping.  Get in touch with Transco Cargo Sri Lanka to help you with your commercial international shipping needs. When requesting an international shipping quotation, make sure to declare the approximate weight and sizes of your goods for correct costings to be shared.