Export packaging fails in two ways: it falls foul of customs rules and gets the shipment rejected, or it under-protects the goods and they arrive damaged or corroded. Both are avoidable, and both come down to specifying packaging for the real journey rather than the box.
ISPM-15 is the rule that catches people out most often. Solid-wood packaging — crates, pallets, dunnage, bracing — must be heat-treated and stamped to the ISPM-15 standard, or many countries will reject it at the border. This is not optional and not negotiable; untreated timber can strand a shipment and the costs that come with it. Always confirm compliant, stamped timber in writing before anything ships.
Moisture is the next silent threat. On a six-week sea container through the tropics, condensation cycles will corrode bare metal and machined surfaces that would have been fine on a short road trip. The answer is engineered, not guessed: a sealed barrier foil enclosure, desiccant calculated to the volume and transit time, and VCI (volatile corrosion inhibitor) materials that protect surfaces chemically. The calculation matters — too little desiccant is the same as none.
Shock and vibration protection should match the cargo's sensitivity. Calibrated, optical or electronic equipment may need cushioned mounts, shock indicators and tilt indicators so any rough handling is visible on arrival. These indicators are also what make a damage claim payable — they convert "we think it was dropped" into documented evidence.
Heavy and awkward loads need engineered cases: internal cradling and bracing sized to the centre of gravity, lifting and forklift access designed in, and clear handling, sling-point and weight markings to standard. A case that cannot be lifted safely invites the damage it was meant to prevent.
Finally, the paperwork has to line up. Packing lists, weights, dimensions and certificates (ISPM-15, and dangerous-goods declarations where relevant) must match the customs documentation exactly. Insurers reject claims when the specification, the photos and the paperwork disagree — so a documented packing process is part of the protection, not an afterthought.