A detailed guide to packaging and securing requirements for large cargo exports from China to Southeast Asian countries.

For large cargo transportation safety, “70% depends on packaging and 30% depends on transportation.” Scientific and appropriate packaging and securing are the lifeline for ensuring cargo arrives intact at its destination. Below are key points and operational guidelines.

I. Core Principles
The goal of packaging and securing large cargo is to protect against various risks throughout the transportation process, including:

Mechanical Risks: Collisions, falls, slips, and capsizing caused by lifting, loading, braking, and the rocking of the vessel.

Environmental Risks: Rust, mildew, and deformation caused by high marine humidity, salt spray, rain, and temperature fluctuations.

Operational Risks: Accidental impacts that may occur during multiple loading and unloading operations and transit.

II. Selection of Packaging Materials and Methods
Select an appropriate packaging method based on the cargo’s characteristics (weight, shape, precision, and moisture resistance requirements).

Packaging Method Applicable Goods Advantages Considerations
Wooden Case Packaging: High-value precision equipment, machine tools, electrical appliances, and fragile items. Highest protection, resistant to pressure and impact, and customizable. Must be fumigated and stamped with the IPPC mark; otherwise, Southeast Asian countries will refuse entry.
Wooden Crate Packaging: Large machinery and equipment, steel structures, and irregularly shaped parts. Saves space and costs, facilitating loading, unloading, and inspection. Less protective than fully sealed wooden crates; requires use with waterproof film, bubble wrap, etc.
Pallet Packaging: Regularly packed goods and moderately heavy equipment. Easily accessible by forklift, the basis for unitized transport. Must be tightly wrapped with stretch film and reinforced with floor film to prevent loosening.
Vacuum Anti-Rust Film: Extremely moisture-sensitive metal equipment. Effectively isolates oxygen and moisture, providing excellent rust prevention. Cost is higher, requiring specialized equipment. Bubble wrap/EPE foam: Surface protection for all cargo. This provides cushioning and shock absorption, protecting surface paint and delicate parts. The wrapping should be thick enough, and critical areas should be protected with multiple layers of protection.
Waterproof plastic film: All cargo (outer wrapping): This protects against moisture, dust, and seawater erosion. This is crucial! Even when packaging in wooden boxes, it is recommended to wrap the inside of the box with waterproof film.

3. Lashing & Securing Requirements: This is a crucial step in transporting large cargo, especially during sea voyages, where cargo is subject to impact from all directions.

Bottom securing is fundamental:

Use pallets/slides: Heavy equipment must be secured to sturdy pallets or slides to facilitate forklift operation and distribute the weight.

Welded anchor feet/anchor bolts: It is best to have anchor feet on the bottom of the equipment, directly locking them to the container floor or the floor of the flatbed/flat rack container with high-strength bolts. This is the most reliable securing method.

Specialized lashing materials are recommended:

Ordinary ropes and fiber straps are prohibited.

High-strength nylon straps (specifications must match the cargo weight), wire rope, and chain, along with rope tighteners (turnbuckles) and D-rings, must be used for securing.

The breaking strength and working load limit (WLL) of the straps/wire ropes must be significantly greater than the cargo weight.

The lashing angle is critical:

The straps should be kept at as shallow an angle as possible (ideally, close to horizontal). A larger angle increases the actual tensile force on the straps exponentially, making them more susceptible to breakage.

Use multiple straps in a cross-shaped “M” or “X” pattern to secure the cargo from different directions (front and back, left and right) to resist forces from all directions.

Padding and support to prevent movement:

Gaps between the cargo and the container walls, and between cargoes, must be tightly filled with materials such as air bags, bracing wood, and foam blocks to eliminate any possibility of movement.

For irregularly shaped cargo, custom wooden frames should be fabricated for support and securing.

IV. Operational Procedures and Best Practices
Center of Gravity Marking: Clearly mark the cargo’s center of gravity and lifting points on the outside of the packaging to facilitate safe handling.

Warning Labels: Apply internationally recognized warning labels such as “Upward,” “Wet,” “Handle with Care,” and “Offset Center of Gravity.” Ideally, English text should be included.

Photo Evidence:

High-definition photos and videos should be taken at every stage of packaging, before, during, after, and after loading into the container.

These images are crucial evidence for claims against insurance companies or carriers in the event of damage, and are also good practices for providing customers with confirmation of the packaging’s condition.

Professional Consultation: For cargo of particularly high value or unusual shapes, it is strongly recommended to hire a professional packaging company or freight forwarder’s reinforcement team. They are experienced and can provide the most reliable solutions.

5. Special Considerations for Southeast Asian Countries
   Wooden Packaging Fumigation:

Almost all Southeast Asian countries implement the IPPC international standard, requiring all wooden packaging materials (wooden boxes, pallets, and support wood) to undergo heat treatment or fumigation and be stamped with the IPPC mark (see image below).

Failure to do so could result in the goods being refused entry at the port of destination, leading to the risk of hefty fines, forced destruction, or return to the country of origin, resulting in significant losses.
https://img.alicdn.com/tfs/TB1g.hQy.z1gK0jSZLeXXb9kVXa-300-168.png

Climate Adaptability:

Southeast Asia is hot, humid, and rainy, so moisture- and rust-proofing measures must be implemented. In addition to the internal waterproof membrane, the exterior of the wooden box should be painted with waterproof paint, and metal parts should be coated with anti-rust oil.

Inspection Practices:

Customs in some countries may frequently perform unpacking inspections. Packaging should be designed for easy opening and recovery, avoiding disposable packaging to avoid increasing inspection complexity and costs.

Summary Checklist:
Before shipping, please check each item against this checklist:

Is the packaging material sufficiently sturdy (load-bearing and pressure-resistant)?

Is the internal cushioning material (bubble wrap, pearl foam) securely wrapped?

Is the entire package fully wrapped with waterproof plastic film?

Does the wood material bear the IPPC fumigation mark?

Is the cargo secured to the pallet/container with bolts at the bottom?

Are professional straps used with rope tensioners for multi-angle tensioning?

Are all gaps filled with filler material?

Are the center of gravity, lifting points, and warning signs clearly labeled?

Have all photos and videos been taken for documentation?

Have the packaging details been communicated to the freight forwarder/customer and confirmed?

Although a rigorous packaging plan requires a higher initial investment, it can minimize potential losses during transportation that could be tens or even hundreds of times greater than the original cost, making it a worthwhile investment in the safety of your cargo.