Must-Read Before Shipping a Mobile Phone: Five Reasons for Transport Restrictions and Correct Methods

You plan to send a mobile phone to relatives or friends far away, but the courier rejects it; the cross-border mobile phone you’ve been looking forward to is detained by customs halfway; the bulk of second-hand mobile phones you shipped are all returned due to non-compliant packaging… Similar scenarios of blocked transport happen every day in the logistics industry. The core reason behind it always boils down to that small lithium battery in the mobile phone. Data shows that in 2024, mobile phones accounted for as high as 35% of safety accidents caused by lithium batteries in China’s logistics industry, directly leading to economic losses exceeding 180 million yuan. Why is mobile phone transport always “troublesome”? How can ordinary users and enterprises avoid risks and ship smoothly? This article will start with five key reasons for restrictions, combined with practical guidelines, to help you figure out the “ins and outs” of mobile phone transport.

I. Restriction Reason 1: The “Fiery Temper” of Lithium Batteries—The Irreversible Risk of Thermal Runaway

The fundamental reason for restricted mobile phone transport lies in the “innate dangerous nature” of lithium batteries. Lithium-ion batteries have high energy density but extremely unstable chemical properties. Once subjected to external forces or environmental stimuli, they may trigger “thermal runaway,” leading to fires and explosions. This is also the core reason why logistics companies “strictly guard against” mobile phone transport.

(I) Thermal Runaway: The “Self-Destruction” Process of Lithium Batteries

The electrolyte of mobile phone lithium batteries is a flammable organic liquid, with a normal operating temperature range of only -20℃ to 60℃. When a mobile phone is squeezed or collided during transportation, the deformation of the battery casing will cause a short circuit between the positive and negative electrodes, generating a large amount of heat instantly, which makes the electrolyte temperature exceed the critical value of 80℃. At this time, the electrolyte will decompose to produce flammable gases such as methane and ethylene, and the internal pressure of the battery will surge sharply, eventually leading to bulging, rupture, or even explosion. More dangerously, the flame temperature generated by thermal runaway can reach over 600℃, and it also releases highly toxic gases containing fluorine and phosphorus. Ordinary fire extinguishers cannot put out the fire at all; it can only be cooled down with a large amount of water—which is almost impossible to achieve in transportation scenarios such as trucks and cargo holds.

(II) Transportation Scenarios: Risk “Amplifiers”

Squeezing during express sorting, dropping during handling, and high-temperature exposure in the carriage are all triggers for the “fiery temper” of lithium batteries. The speed of the conveyor belt in automated sorting machines can reach 1.5m/s, and the impact force of a mobile phone being squeezed is equivalent to that of a 10kg heavy object; the temperature in truck carriages can soar to 55℃ in summer and drop to -25℃ in winter, and extreme temperatures will greatly reduce the safety threshold of lithium batteries; the pressure generated by stacking goods can reach 50kg/m², far exceeding the compression limit of 30kg/m² for battery casings. Data shows that the probability of thermal runaway of lithium batteries in transportation scenarios is 12 times that in daily use. As high-frequency transported electronic products, mobile phones naturally become high-risk carriers.

(III) Real Case: A “Thrilling Moment” on the Sorting Line

In May 2024, a sudden fire broke out at a sorting center of a courier company. The cause was that a mobile phone to be shipped was squeezed by the conveyor belt, and the battery casing ruptured, triggering thermal runaway. The fire spread within 3 minutes, burning more than 200 packages, and the sorting center was shut down for 12 hours, with direct losses of 3 million yuan. Fire inspection found that the concentration of toxic gases produced after the battery short circuit exceeded the standard by 10 times, and staff had to wear gas masks to clean up the scene. Similar cases occur more than 100 times a year nationwide, making logistics companies dare not slack off in mobile phone transport.

II. Restriction Reason 2: The “Layered Tests” of Transportation Environments—Unique Risks in Land, Air, and Cross-Border Transport

Mobile phone transport goes through multiple links such as sorting, transshipment, and delivery. Different scenarios such as land transport, air transport, and cross-border transport also add unique risks, further increasing transportation difficulties.

(I) Land Transport: The Dual Challenge of Vibration and Temperature-Humidity

In road or railway transport, the continuous vibration of vehicles and the inertial impact of sudden braking will cause mobile phones to collide repeatedly in the package, and the battery will be under constant stress; some trucks do not have temperature control equipment. High temperature and humidity in summer accelerate battery aging, while low temperature in winter may cause electrolyte solidification. In 2023, due to road vibration, a logistics truck traveling from Shenzhen to Beijing had stacked mobile phones tilting in the carriage. The batteries of multiple mobile phones were deformed under pressure, and one of them triggered thermal runaway. The entire batch of more than 200 mobile phones was seized for inspection, resulting in a 7-day delay.

(II) Air Transport: The Fatal Combination of Low Air Pressure and Emergency Dilemma

Air transport has the strictest restrictions on mobile phones, mainly due to the particularity of the high-altitude environment. The air pressure in the aircraft cargo hold is only 1/3-1/2 of that on the ground. Low air pressure will expand the volume of flammable gases generated by lithium batteries, accelerating the explosion risk; the cargo hold is closed. Once a fire breaks out, the fire and toxic gases cannot diffuse, and the aircraft’s fire extinguishing system is ineffective against lithium battery fires (ordinary fire extinguishers cannot block the chemical reaction of lithium). Data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) shows that among the 23 lithium battery safety incidents in air transport worldwide between 2023 and 2024, 12 were related to mobile phones, resulting in 4 emergency landings of aircraft and the burning of 1 cargo plane.

(III) Cross-Border Transport: Risk Transmission in Complex Links

Cross-border logistics involves multi-segment transport such as “domestic land transport → air transport → foreign land transport,” as well as customs inspection. Each sorting and handling may damage the battery; improper operation during customs unpacking and inspection may also cause battery damage; during long-distance transport, poor ventilation in containers will allow the battery’s own heat to accumulate, triggering risks. In 2024, due to high temperature in the container, 3 mobile phone batteries bulged in a batch of second-hand mobile phones sent from Guangzhou to Germany, and the entire batch of goods was detained by German customs, causing the shipper to lose more than 500,000 yuan.

III. Restriction Reason 3: The “Rigid Red Lines” of Regulatory Policies—No Compliance, No Movement

To prevent the transportation risks of lithium batteries, countries around the world have formulated strict regulatory policies, setting “safety red lines” in various aspects such as packaging, declaration, and qualifications. Any violation will lead to blocked transport.

(I) Domestic Supervision: Three-Level Control with High Violation Costs

China has established a regulatory system of “laws + departmental regulations + industry standards”: the “Work Safety Law” classifies mobile phones containing lithium batteries as “dangerous goods in limited quantities,” requiring safety testing and compliant packaging before transport; the Ministry of Transport stipulates that logistics companies must inspect mobile phone qualification certificates and packaging, otherwise they shall not accept or ship them; the State Post Bureau requires that individuals must truthfully declare “containing lithium batteries” when sending mobile phones, and the mobile phones must be turned off and independently packaged.

Penalties for violations are also severe: courier companies that illegally accept and ship may be fined up to 500,000 yuan; individuals who misdeclare or falsely report leading to accidents shall bear civil liability for compensation, and criminal liability shall be pursued if the circumstances are serious. In 2024, a total of 127 illegal lithium battery shipping cases were investigated and handled nationwide, 89 of which involved mobile phone transport.

(II) International Supervision: Unified Standards + Regional Rules

At the global level, the United Nations TDG Manual classifies mobile phone lithium batteries as “UN3480 dangerous goods,” requiring the use of UN-certified fireproof packaging; IATA stipulates that individuals are limited to carrying 1-2 mobile phones on board, which must be carried with them and are prohibited from being checked in; air courier shipments are limited to 1 unit per consignment, which must be declared separately.

Countries also have supplementary rules: the EU requires that starting from 2024, mobile phone lithium batteries must have a “Digital Product Passport” to record the full-process information; the U.S. FAA requires batteries to pass the “1.2-meter drop test” and “temperature cycle test”; Japan Post stipulates that mobile phones must be professionally packaged by logistics companies using designated fireproof buffer materials.

IV. Restriction Reason 4: The “Uneven Quality” of Batteries—Inferior and Modified Batteries Are Invisible Bombs

The quality of mobile phone batteries varies greatly. The existence of inferior, modified, and aging batteries makes logistics companies more cautious about mobile phone transport and also becomes an important inducement for blocked transport.

(I) Inferior Batteries: Safety Loopholes Under Cost Compression

Some batteries produced by small workshops use recycled cells, inferior electrolytes, and thin iron casings. Their safe temperature threshold is only 60℃, and they lack a complete Battery Management System (BMS) to monitor temperature and voltage. Data shows that the probability of thermal runaway of inferior batteries is 8 times that of original batteries. Even without collision, they may catch fire on their own. Among the illegal cases investigated and handled in China in 2024, 35% involved inferior mobile phone batteries.

(II) Modified Batteries: Fatal Risks of Man-Made Modifications

To improve battery life, some users modify batteries through “small workshops,” replacing them with high-capacity cells or removing protective devices. These batteries fail to meet the standards for voltage stability and compression resistance, and almost inevitably trigger thermal runaway when squeezed or vibrated during transportation. The fire at a sorting center in Shanghai in 2023 was caused by a short circuit and fire of a modified mobile phone battery, burning more than 500 packages with a loss of 800,000 yuan.

(III) Aging Batteries: Hidden Dangers After Usage Wear

Mobile phone batteries used for more than 3 years will have problems such as cell aging, capacity attenuation, and increased internal resistance. The casing may crack, and the electrolyte may leak. IATA research shows that the transportation accident rate of aging batteries is 7 times that of new batteries, which is also the reason why the transport of second-hand mobile phones is particularly strict.

V. Restriction Reason 5: “Human Loopholes” in Operational Links—Improper Behaviors Amplify Risks

From user packaging to logistics sorting, and then to enterprise compliance operations, any negligence in any link may cause mobile phone transport to “get stuck” or even trigger safety accidents.

(I) User Side: Incorrect Packaging + Misdeclaration/False Declaration

Common mistakes made by ordinary users when sending mobile phones: mixing with keys, chargers, etc., causing hard objects to hit the battery; using thin plastic bags or cartons for packaging, lacking buffer materials; concealing the item name and declaring “mobile phone” as “daily necessities.” Statistics from a courier company show that among the rejected mobile phone orders, 62% were due to non-compliant packaging and 28% due to misdeclaration.

(II) Logistics Side: Rough Sorting + Illegal Mixed Loading

To improve efficiency, some sorting centers adopt “rough sorting,” where mobile phones are arbitrarily thrown and squeezed; small logistics companies mix mobile phones with flammable items such as alcohol and cosmetics, or sharp items such as tools and metal parts to save money. In 2024, a small logistics company in Shenzhen was fined 300,000 yuan for causing a fire by mixing mobile phones with alcohol wipes.

(III) Enterprise Side: Lack of Qualifications + Process Omissions

Enterprises transporting mobile phones in bulk may have their goods detained if they lack the “Dangerous Goods Road Transport Permit” or fail to complete inspection and quarantine certificates, battery safety test reports, etc., for cross-border transport. In 2024, an e-commerce enterprise was detained by customs for 15 days for failing to obtain a battery safety test report when transporting 1,000 mobile phones cross-border, with a loss exceeding 2 million yuan.

VI. Correct Shipping Methods: Compliance Guidelines for Individuals and Enterprises

After figuring out the five reasons for restricted transport, you can greatly improve the smoothness of mobile phone transport by following compliant processes. The following are practical methods tested in practice, covering various situations such as personal shipping, bulk enterprise transport, and special scenarios.

(I) Personal Shipping: Three Steps to Compliant Shipping

1. Hardcore Packaging: Use a rigid packaging box with a thickness ≥3mm, fill the surrounding of the mobile phone with sufficient buffer materials such as bubble film and EPE foam to ensure no shaking; wrap the battery part with an additional layer of flame-retardant cloth to avoid hard object impact; package the mobile phone separately from the charger and data cable, and do not mix with hard objects.
2. Honest Declaration: Clearly mark “contains lithium battery,” “fragile,” and “handle with care” on the express waybill, and do not conceal the nature of the item; when sending second-hand mobile phones, prepare purchase certificates or battery test reports in advance for inspection.
3. Regular Channels: Choose courier companies with dangerous goods transportation qualifications such as SF Express and JD Logistics, and do not use small logistics companies or “scalpers”; cooperate with couriers for unpacking inspection, and re-package as required if the packaging is non-compliant.

(II) Bulk Transport by Enterprises: Adhere to the Four Major Compliance Bottom Lines

1. Complete Qualifications: Obtain the “Dangerous Goods Road Transport Permit,” and for cross-border transport, complete documents such as import and export inspection and quarantine certificates, battery safety test reports, and EU Digital Product Passports.
2. Professional Packaging: Use UN-certified special packaging, independently package each mobile phone, and use collective packaging for bulk transport to avoid stacking and squeezing; paste warning signs such as “UN3480” and “contains lithium battery” on the outside of the packaging.
3. Standardized Operations: Choose transport vehicles with temperature control and shockproof functions, and prohibit rough sorting; do not mix with flammable and sharp items, and select airlines with air dangerous goods transport qualifications for bulk air transport.
4. Advance Reporting: Report the transport plan to logistics companies and regulatory authorities, specifying the number of goods, battery type, transport route, etc.; for cross-border transport, understand the regulatory requirements of the destination country in advance.

(III) Special Scenarios: Targeted Solutions

1. Air Transport: Individuals must carry mobile phones with them, prohibited from checking in, with a limit of 1-2 units per person, and the mobile phones must be completely turned off; enterprises must use special air packaging for air transport, declare separately, and not exceed the specified quantity.
2. Cross-Border Transport: Check the policies of the destination country in advance (such as the EU requiring a Digital Product Passport and the US requiring FAA testing); choose international logistics companies such as DHL and FedEx to leverage their compliance capabilities to avoid risks; add an additional layer of waterproof film to the packaging to prevent moisture during transport.
3. Second-Hand/Old Mobile Phones: Conduct a battery test before shipping; those with abnormalities such as bulging, leakage, or overheating are strictly prohibited from being shipped; for qualified second-hand mobile phones, add extra buffer during packaging, mark “second-hand with lithium battery,” and actively cooperate with inspections.

Conclusion

The restriction on mobile phone transport is essentially the result of the superposition of lithium battery safety risks, transportation scenarios, regulatory requirements, human operations, and other factors. For ordinary users, as long as they pay attention to packaging, declare truthfully, and choose regular channels, they can send mobile phones smoothly; for enterprises, improving qualifications, standardizing operations, and strictly controlling quality are the keys to avoiding blocked transport.

With the commercial application of new technologies such as semi-solid-state batteries and the continuous improvement of the regulatory system, the safety factor of mobile phone transport will continue to increase in the future, but “safety first, compliance first” is always an insurmountable bottom line. Both individuals and enterprises should fully understand the risk characteristics of lithium batteries, abide by shipping rules, and make mobile phone transport efficient and safe—after all, compliant operation is the most worry-free and cost-effective way of transport.