Commercial shipments: air freight and sea freight

Parcels are for single orders. When you ship wholesale orders, stock for a warehouse or large event orders, you will usually use freight: air or sea. This guide gives you the basics so you can talk to a freight forwarder with confidence.

Air or sea?

For sea freight you either share a container with other shippers (LCL, less than container load) or book a whole container (FCL, full container load, usually 20 or 40 feet).

Packing cartons and pallets

• Use strong export cartons, packed full and square so they can be stacked.
• Pallets: stack cartons inside the edges of the pallet, heavy at the bottom, interlocked like bricks. Add corner boards and wrap tightly with stretch film. Label every carton and the pallet.
• Common pallet sizes: 1200 x 800 mm (Euro pallet) and 1200 x 1000 mm (UK standard).
• Wooden pallets and crates crossing borders must be heat-treated and stamped under the international ISPM 15 standard, or they can be refused.
• Food: keep the cold chain from your door to the destination, and use temperature loggers for chilled loads.

Documents

• Commercial invoice and packing list.
• Air waybill (air) or bill of lading (sea), issued by the carrier or forwarder.
• Proof of origin if you claim reduced duty under a trade agreement.
• For food: health or veterinary certificates where required, and the import notices of the destination country.

Incoterms: who pays what

Agree the Incoterm with your buyer in writing. Common ones: EXW (the buyer collects from you and handles everything), FCA (you hand over to the buyer’s carrier, export cleared), DAP (you deliver to the destination, the buyer pays import duty and tax) and DDP (you deliver with all duty and tax paid).

Need a freight forwarder? Tell us at sellers@thekoshershop.com. We are building a list of forwarders who work with kosher food and Judaica.