Export Packaging, Dunnage & Crating: A Guide

Export packaging is where a lot of otherwise well-run shipments fall apart. A carton that survives a domestic LTL lane can arrive in Santiago crushed, wet or infested — and the claim you file will often be denied on the grounds that the packaging was inadequate for the mode of transport.

If you export from Miami into Latin America and the Caribbean, your freight faces humidity, multiple handling events, mixed-mode transfers and occasionally rough port handling. Packaging for that reality is not the same as packaging for a truck to Atlanta.

Why export packaging fails

Four causes account for most export damage claims:

• Insufficient load restraint. Product shifts inside the container during ocean transit, which is a fundamentally different motion profile from road transport.
• Moisture. Container rain — condensation forming on the container ceiling and dripping onto cargo as temperatures cycle — ruins more freight than most shippers realize.
• Stacking failure. Cartons rated for domestic stack heights collapse under ocean container loading.
• Handling. Every transfer point is a chance to drop, clamp or forklift-puncture the load.

ISPM-15: get this one right or your shipment stops

Any solid wood packaging material used in international shipments — pallets, crates, dunnage, bracing, skids — generally must be treated and marked in accordance with ISPM-15, the international standard for wood packaging. Treatment is usually heat treatment or fumigation, and compliant material carries a stamp showing the country code, producer code and treatment method.

Non-compliant wood is a hard stop. Depending on the destination country, cargo may be refused entry, ordered re-exported at your cost, or fumigated at destination with the bill sent to you. Engineered wood such as plywood and OSB is generally exempt, as are plastic and metal pallets.

Practical rule: never assume a pallet is compliant because it looks new. Verify the stamp. Our guide to pallet types and ISPM-15 requirements covers the marking details.

Moisture control for ocean freight

A container crossing from Miami to a warmer or cooler climate goes through repeated temperature cycles. Warm, humid air trapped inside condenses on the cold steel ceiling and rains back down onto your cargo. Countermeasures worth using together rather than in isolation:

• Desiccants. Container-grade desiccant poles or bags sized to the container volume and voyage length — not the small sachets used for retail packaging.
• Moisture barrier bags. Foil or poly barrier bags for genuinely moisture-sensitive goods, sealed with desiccant inside.
• VCI materials. Volatile corrosion inhibitor film or paper for bare metal parts.
• Kraft liners. Container liners protect against direct dripping and dirty container floors.
• Avoid trapping moisture. Loading damp product or damp wood into a sealed container guarantees a problem.

Dunnage and load restraint

Dunnage is the material used to fill voids and stop movement. Under-dunnaging is the most common loading error in export containers.

Common materials

• Inflatable dunnage bags — fill the gap between pallet rows. Size and pressure matter; an underinflated bag does nothing.
• Lumber bracing and blocking — for heavy or irregular loads. Subject to ISPM-15 if solid wood.
• Load bars and straps — restrain against forward and rearward movement.
• Corner boards and edge protectors — distribute strapping pressure and reinforce stack strength.
• Slip sheets and anti-slip paper — increase friction between layers so stacks stay square.

Aim for a tight, square load with voids filled. Any space a pallet can move into is space it will move into.

When to crate

Crating costs meaningfully more than palletizing, so reserve it for freight that justifies it: machinery and capital equipment, high-value or irreplaceable items, anything unusually shaped that cannot be stacked or wrapped effectively, and cargo destined for ports with limited handling equipment.

Export crates should be built with adequate fastener schedules, skids sized for forklift access from multiple sides, ISPM-15 compliant lumber, and clear center-of-gravity and sling-point markings. Crating is a skilled job — a poorly built crate provides false confidence and is worse than a well-built pallet.

Marking and documentation

Every package should carry the consignee, destination, shipper reference and package number in an x of y format, gross and net weight, dimensions, and any required handling pictograms. Match your package markings exactly to your packing list and commercial invoice — mismatches between physical markings and documents are a routine cause of customs delays. Our overview of U.S. customs handling covers the documentation side.

Get it done where the freight already is

The cheapest place to package export freight properly is the warehouse where the inventory already sits — not a separate crating vendor requiring an extra move. A warehouse doing export consolidation should be able to handle ISPM-15 compliant palletizing, container loading with proper dunnage, moisture protection and export marking as part of the same workflow.

Frequently asked questions

What is ISPM-15 and does my shipment need it?

ISPM-15 is the international standard for treating solid wood packaging material used in international trade, intended to prevent the spread of timber pests. Solid wood pallets, crates, dunnage and bracing generally must be heat treated or fumigated and marked with a compliant stamp. Engineered wood such as plywood and OSB, along with plastic and metal pallets, is generally exempt. Requirements vary by destination country, so confirm with your freight forwarder.

How do I prevent container rain damaging my cargo?

Use container-grade desiccants sized to the container volume and voyage length, add a kraft container liner to protect against direct dripping, use moisture barrier bags with desiccant for sensitive goods, and apply VCI film or paper for bare metal. Just as importantly, avoid loading damp product or damp wood packaging, since that introduces the moisture in the first place.

When should I crate instead of palletize for export?

Crating is worth the added cost for machinery and capital equipment, high-value or irreplaceable goods, irregularly shaped items that cannot be stacked or wrapped securely, and shipments going to ports with limited handling equipment. For standard palletizable freight in cartons, a well-built and properly restrained pallet is usually sufficient and considerably cheaper.

Package it right before it leaves Miami

Go Warehouse handles export consolidation, ISPM-15 compliant palletizing, container loading and export marking from over 100,000 square feet minutes from Port Miami, Port Everglades and Miami International Airport. See our container freight station services or request a quote.