Ocean shipping is a product's toughest test: humidity, vibration, stacking and forklifts. Packaging mistakes cost more than the packaging itself.
Six weeks at sea means temperature swings that create condensation inside the container, so-called container rain. On top of that come constant vibration, up to eightfold stacking loads, and forklift operators in ports who are in a hurry.
Packaging designed for transport within Europe does not survive these conditions. It is a lesson many pay for with their first damage claim.
First, moisture: desiccant bags in the container, film barriers and moisture-resistant materials. For wood products, also the right moisture percentage before packing. Second, mechanics: corner protectors, proper film and a pallet that can bear stacking. Third, securing inside the container: empty space is the enemy, the cargo must be braced so that nothing moves.
And do not forget the ISPM-15 marking on wooden packaging, which we have written about separately.
Proper export packaging usually adds one to three percent to a product's cost. A single damaged consignment eats up years of packaging savings and, worse, the first impression with a new customer. A US buyer remembers a broken first delivery for a long time.
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