What Types of General Cargo and Special Cargo?

What Types of General Cargo and Special Cargo?

In international trade, cargo is generally classified into two types: general cargo and special cargo . If you have any questions regarding the classification of your cargo and the shipping regulations that apply, the following post will provide you with a clear understanding of these topics.

• What is General Cargo?
• General Cargo Handling
• What is Special cargo?
• Three Common Types of Special Cargo
• Four Additional Types of Special Cargo

What is General Cargo?

General cargo refers to goods that do not have any special requirements for packaging, transportation, loading, or unloading. These goods do not require commodity inspection and can be shipped in any manner. General cargo is the most common type of cargo in international trade and mainly includes the following types.

• No brand, no liquid, no powder, no paste;
• Textiles, fiber products
•  No built-in or external batteries, non-cosmetic, food, or pharmaceutical products;
• Non-branded Clothes, shoes, bags, school supplies, household items, cosmetic accessories etc.,
• Children’s toys, mother and baby products, and most of the daily necessities are general cargo.

General Cargo Handling

General cargo is typically stable and free from transportation risks. However, it is still necessary to submit basic customs clearance documents, such as the bill of lading, packing list, and invoice.

When shipping general cargo, it is important to choose appropriate protection based on the nature of the goods. For example, small commodities, daily necessities, and textiles should be protected from moisture and fire.

Fragile goods, such as glass, should undergo a packaging inspection to prevent breakage. To save on shipping costs, it is essential to choose the most suitable shipping method and minimize space waste.

What is Special cargo?

Special cargo refers to goods that have specific requirements for transport, handling, and storage, which differ from general cargo. To ensure compliance with regulations, different shipping measures should be adopted depending on the properties of the goods, such as separate consignments, improved packaging, and clear labeling.

It is important to note that different countries have varying standards for the import and export of special cargo, with regulations for sea freight, air freight, and international express transport varying as well. Air freight is generally more strict and restrictive compared to other methods.

Transporting special cargo requires additional customs clearance documents in addition to the basic ones. You may need to submit various certifications like a certificate of origin and certificate of analysis, depending on the nature of your goods. When preparing to transport special cargo, it is essential to have all relevant supporting documents in order.

Below are a few examples of special cargo and their related handling methods during shipping. For more specific and detailed shipping regulations, it is recommended to consult with your freight forwarder in advance.

Three Common Types of Special Cargo

Electricity and magnetism cargo

Products that involve electricity and magnetism are classified as special cargo and belong to the category of miscellaneous dangerous goods. Transportation of such cargo is subject to several restrictions.

For instance, in air freight, electric products undergo significant changes in temperature and air pressure during shipping. Batteries are flammable and explosive, which poses a considerable threat to people’s health and safety.

Magnetic products can interfere with magnetic field signals, affecting navigation and information operating systems. Therefore, these goods need to undergo magnetic testing and provide an identification report.

Many products have both electric and magnetic charges, including high-tech products such as drones and small robots, small home appliances like floor sweepers, and 3C products such as cell phones and computers.

What special handling is required to ship this cargo?

If you need to import built-in lithium batteries from China, there are several requirements and regulations to keep in mind.

• Shipping documents:

You will need to submit several documents, including the Dangerous Goods Declaration (DGD), Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), Dangerous Goods Request (DGR), and Magnetic Testing Certificate.

• Packaging requirements:

To ensure safe shipping, you should use a Class II package and fix it in a waterproof package. The built-in batteries should have their power cut off to prevent accidental start during shipping. It is also important to prevent the battery from short-circuiting. If the magnetic products exceed safety standards, they need to be packed with several magnetic separation irons until they meet the requirements for air transportation.

• Labels requirements:

You should label the outer packaging with a hazardous goods label (Class 9 miscellaneous dangerous cargo), UN number, Mark, GHS label, and other necessary labels.

Note that pure electric products like pure lithium batteries have a high risk during shipping and are generally not allowed to be transported by air. For example, FAA regulations prohibit the transportation of lithium batteries. Pure magnetic products with high magnetism need to undergo a magnetic inspection and magnetic insulation packaging.

If you need to transport large quantities of such goods, sea freight is a good option considering the cost and safety. When shipping these two types of products, it is advisable to consult your forwarder for suitable shipping solutions.

Onestopmport has established long-standing partnerships with freight forwarders to assist in the transportation of your cargo.

Valuable cargo

Valuable cargo refers to goods that are worth more than $1,000 per kilogram, such as jewelry, valuable artwork, and other high-value items. These types of goods are at a higher risk of being stolen or lost during shipping, loading/unloading, and storage, which can result in significant financial losses. To protect yourself, make sure to choose insurance for your valuable cargo.

When it comes to luxury goods like bags, there may be issues with brand infringement during customs clearance, which can be quite complicated.

In addition to the regular packing list, invoice, contract, and bill of lading, you will also need a certificate of origin, brand authorization, species identification, and other necessary documents. If the bag contains any endangered species, you will need to provide an endangered certificate for importation.

Liquid, powder and other unstable items

Liquid products are complex in composition and can easily leak, leading to other cargo being affected. In addition, such items are prone to vaporization and explosion during shipping.

Powdered goods are difficult to determine the attribute, especially white powder, which is easy to mix with drugs and other contraband. In a high-density, high-pressure strong environment, the powder will explode when it encounters an open flame.

There are two common categories of goods in daily life, such as shampoo, nail polish, seasoning, etc. International express, air and sea transport are available, but they must meet the corresponding transportation and packaging regulations. You can find dedicated forwarders, who can help you solve the problem of documents and clearance.

Four Additional Types of Special Cargo.

Heavy cargo

Oversized and overweight cargo surpasses the weight and size limits. Typically, this type of cargo includes large vehicles, aircraft parts, and engineering machinery parts, among others.

Transporting such cargo requires special handling. If you opt for air freight, make sure to indicate the three-letter code “BIG” on the loading/unloading containers of the air waybill. Additionally, this kind of cargo often requires special arrangements for loading and unloading. Be sure to prepare necessary equipment and allocate sufficient time in advance to avoid port congestion.

Food

Food plays a role in biological invasion, which is why it is important to quarantine such goods before transportation. Additionally, there are certain certifications that are necessary. Some examples of international food-related certifications include the following:

• Certifications of the scale and quality of food-related enterprises: ISO22000, HACCP, etc.
• Certifications represented by organic food: JAS, EOS, NOP, etc.
• Certifications for food export: BRC, FSSC22000, IFS, etc.
• Certifications of religion: Kosher, HALAL, etc.

Every country has its own set of rules when it comes to importing food products. For instance, in the United States, the FDA oversees all incoming food items. In order to meet the standards, the necessary supporting documentation must be provided upon the release of such goods.

It should be noted that perishable cargo, such as meat, seafood, fruits, and vegetables, as well as pharmaceuticals and healthcare products, are highly sensitive to temperature. To ensure that these goods stay fresh, special measures such as refrigeration and freezing are required. The packaging type, transportation time, and storage conditions for these goods are all subject to strict requirements.

Live animals

Your pets are considered special goods when being transported by air. The LAR is the global standard for air shipping live animals. With the exception of service dogs, such as guide dogs, all live animals must be transported in designated containers on the aircraft.

The container must be marked with important information, such as the shipper, consignee, destination address, and contact number. This information should be provided in the language of the shipper as well as in English. The container should also have IATA labels indicating basic information about the animal, such as the common name, number, and feeding or care instructions.

CD and other storage cargoes

These products are sensitive in international trade. If their contents involve political, economic, religious, cultural, or national secrets, they are forbidden to be shipped.

The End

Having read the article above, I believe you now have a clear understanding of the various types of goods. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to ask by leaving a comment below.

Here is Onestopimport and we specialize in sourcing goods from China. Our extensive network of freight forwarders enables us to select the most appropriate and cost-effective shipping option for your goods. Additionally, if you require assistance with any special cargo, please do not hesitate to consult us. To get in touch, please visit our CONTACT US.