Shipping goods and merchandise long distances to overseas markets can be a daunting process if you have not done your research and are not educated on all of the ins and outs. Learning how to properly package items for shipment is an important part of successfully getting cargo from one port to another. It can have an impact on how you send it and how much you have to pay to get it to an overseas destination.
Using air or sea to ship goods is popular and commonly done so there are many great packaging ideas to help you maximize your shipping results. Many companies that have transloading services also offer packing advice and services. It is not hard to effectively package your goods if you have taken the time to figure out the means and the method to best suit your needs. Here are a few suggestions to help you.
- Choose Your Material Wisely
Depending on what you are shipping and where you are sending your product or personal items you need to decide what you want to pack it into. Often bigger and heavier cargo is better suited to wooden crates while smaller and less heavy objects may fit nicely into cardboard boxes. Some shipments might need to be wrapped in order to secure the cargo and to make sure it stays in place nicely without damage.
- Use Quality Packaging
When sending product or personal items long distances this is not a time to go with the cheaper option when choosing the products for your packaging needs. While good boxes or crates may seem expensive initially if they protect the cargo and get it to its destination in one piece it is well worth it. It is especially important when using the ocean freight mode of transport as items pass through a lot of different hands.
- Fill the Boxes
When packing boxes it is important to fill all of the space inside for a few reasons. With cardboard containers there may be some collapsing if too much room is left over after you have placed the items inside. It is vital to add some fill such as bubble wrap, packing peanuts or even newspaper if it is what you have available. Also, when you fill crates and boxes completely you are not paying for wasted space in each container.
- Secure the Contents
Sometimes it is necessary with larger items being sent by ocean freight to not only pack them into crates but also to wrap them in order to keep them extra secure. Even with smaller packages ensuring they are boxed and taped adequately helps protect what is inside and guarantee their arrival at the destination in a safe and protected manner. Taking the time to do this means your goods will arrive in one piece.
- Ensure Proper Labelling
Not only it is vital to ensure products or personal items are packed properly and efficiently it is also advisable to make sure you have labelled the shipment accurately and without any room for misinterpretation or error. When a package or cargo is travelling long distances to overseas markets mistakes can happen but if you have labelled everything perfectly you should not have any problems with it arriving.
- Mark Fragile or Perishable Goods
It is important that those who will be handling your package know if it has either fragile or has perishable items inside so they know to treat it differently and more carefully than cargo that is neither of the two. Be sure to affix a clear label stating it must be handled gently or delivered in a more timely fashion so it does not spoil in shipping.
- Be Aware of Restricted or Prohibited Items
When putting anything into a package to be shipped it is vital to know whether it is a restricted or prohibited item. Of course some things are obvious, but others may not be so if you are concerned this may be the case with what you are shipping do some research. There are things that can be sent domestically but not internationally.
- Fill Out a Customs Form
It is necessary and generally expected when shipping parcels or crates internationally that you fill out a customs form prior to sending it overseas. In order for a shipment to be delivered it has to clear customs when it arrives at its country of destination. Make sure to include an accurate and detailed account of all of the package’s contents.
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