Packaging Requirements for International Shipping
Packaging is treated as a detail until cargo arrives damaged or is refused at the border. It affects transport cost, damage rates, customs treatment and whether the product can be sold at all. Confirm these points before production finishes.
6 min readReviewed by the BoMao sourcing and inspection team
Protect the product for the actual journey
Design packaging for the route the goods will take, including handling and storage.
- Consider stacking, vibration, humidity and temperature over the full route.
- Choose carton strength to suit the weight and the stacking height.
- Use inner protection that holds the product in place.
- Add moisture protection for sea freight and long transit times.
- Test a packed carton by dropping it before you commit to the design.
Get carton and pallet dimensions right
Small dimensional changes have a large effect on how much fits in a container.
- Confirm carton dimensions, gross weight and cartons per pallet.
- Keep carton weight within what one person can safely lift where possible.
- Confirm the pallet size your destination warehouse accepts.
- Check that the pallet pattern uses the container width efficiently.
Meet wood packaging rules
Solid wood packaging is regulated internationally and is a common cause of delay.
- Solid wood packaging must be treated and marked under ISPM 15.
- Check that the treatment mark is legible on each pallet or crate.
- Consider plywood or pressed pallets, which fall outside the requirement.
- Keep the treatment certificate with the shipping documents.
Label correctly
- Apply shipping marks that match the packing list exactly.
- Apply the country of origin marking your destination requires.
- Apply handling and hazard symbols where they apply.
- Confirm retail labels meet destination language and content rules.
- Confirm barcodes scan reliably before mass production.
Confirm the cost effect
- Ask whether packaging is included in the unit price or charged separately.
- Compare the freight cost of alternative carton sizes.
- Weigh stronger packaging against the expected damage rate.
- Confirm who pays for repacking if the cargo is rejected at origin.
Limitations of this guide
- Packaging rules vary by destination market and by product category.
- ISPM 15 requirements and enforcement differ between countries.
- Good packaging reduces damage but cannot prevent all transit loss.
- Confirm current destination requirements with your importer before shipment.