How to Pack and Label Your Shipment for Export

If you’re packing goods for shipment, whether that be for your business or for shipping personal effects, you’ll need to ensure they’re packaged and labelled correctly. If there are any issues, your shipment could be damaged or delayed, or they could end up not getting to the destination at all.

As an expert freight agents, PBS International has put together the below guide to help you correctly package and label your shipment for a successful export.

How to Pack Your Shipment

You should take care to package your shipment correctly, otherwise your goods might be damaged, or the shipment might not be accepted.

Boxes

Your shipment will need to be packaged securely in good-quality boxes. If you have any boxes that have been used before or are already damaged, you shouldn’t use them for your international shipment.

When packing your goods into the boxes, you should make sure to keep a space of about 2-3 cm between the goods and the box, so your goods aren’t pressed up against the sides of the boxes. Instead, you should fill the gaps with bubble wrap or packing paper to pad it out and prevent your goods from moving around inside the box.

You should make sure the boxes are sealed with strong packing tape by securing them in the middle of the boxes and also down all the sides. You should also ensure the boxes have any extra handling information clearly labelled on them, like “this way up” or “fragile”.

If you have multiple boxes, you should number each box and make a note of what is in each corresponding box. This can help not only with unpacking at the destination but also if any boxes go missing during the shipment.

Large Items

If you’re packing large items, like furniture, you should try to dismantle them as much as possible and wrap and package the separate components securely.

If you have an item that can’t be dismantled, like a sofa, you should wrap it in craft paper and also bubble wrap for maximum protection. Shrink-wrapping them can also be beneficial, as this will protect the item from any dust that might be present during the shipping journey. If the furniture has any sharp corners, you should take care to ensure they’re padded with extra protective material.

Pallets

A large shipment, either of one large item or of multiple boxes, will need to be transported on a pallet. When stacking your boxes onto a pallet, you should make sure to distribute the weight evenly. You should also not have any boxes overhanging the edge of the pallet. The top should be level to keep it strong and prevent damage and the boxes should be stacked close together with no spaces in between columns.

Once the boxes are stacked, you will need to secure them to the pallet. You can do this by wrapping the entire stack of boxes along with the pallet, by using straps to secure the boxes to the pallet, or both.

How to Label Your Shipment

For large shipments on pallets, labels should be fixed to each side and on top of the stack. You should make sure there are no older labels left anywhere on the shipment to save any confusion during the export.

The labels will need to be seen clearly, so you should only attach your labels to the shipment after the packages have been wrapped and secured.

Different types of exports and different countries will require specific information on the shipping label. But nearly all shipments will require the below information:

• Shipper’s name, address, and contact number
• Consignee’s name, address, and contact number
• Number of packages
• Size of packages
• Weight of shipment
• Country of origin
• Country of origin
• Port of entry
• Any labels for hazardous materials

The team at PBS International will be happy to advise and help with your shipment if you are unsure what needs to be included on the labelling – just contact us for more information.

Documents You Need for Your Shipment

The documents you need for customs and shipping will vary depending on what you’re shipping and where you’re shipping it to and from. However, below are some common documents that you may need for exportation:

• Commercial invoice
• Packing list
• Certificate of origin
• Proof of insurance
• Bill of Lading (for sea freight)
• Waybill (for air freight)
• Export license (for controlled goods, such as firearms, plants, animal products, and medicines)

If you aren’t sure about the exact documents you’ll need for your international shipment, our team at PBS International will be happy to help you to make sure your goods are transported correctly and safely.

Exporting Your Shipment

PBS International offers a range of international freight services, including expert packing services to ensure your shipment is safe and protected, export documentation, and specialist advice. We’re proud to have a unique approach to customer care and service, and we always provide our services professionally and efficiently.

Get an international shipping quote today, or contact us for more information.