How to Ship High-Value Goods Internationally

To ship high-value goods internationally, you have to plan for two things ordinary freight can ignore: how little a carrier will have to pay if something goes wrong, and how much extra attention valuable cargo attracts on its way. A carton of jewellery, precision instruments or electronics can be worth many times its weight in freight, and the standard rules of carriage were not written around its value. This guide explains how carrier liability is limited, how to protect the value with a declared value or insurance, what to do about security, packing and documents, and how to handle delivery and claims.

For the broader insurance picture, see our guide to cargo insurance for China-origin shipments. For choosing air or sea, see air freight vs sea freight.

Why High-Value Cargo Needs a Different Plan

Freight is priced on weight or space, but losses are measured in value. A 5 kg parcel of valuables costs little to fly and a great deal to lose. The carrier's legal liability is set by treaty or by the contract, and for air cargo it is a fixed amount per kilogram, not a share of the goods' value. The gap between those two numbers is the risk you have to cover yourself.

The Carrier's Liability Is Limited

Under Article 22(3) of the Montreal Convention, the carrier's liability for destruction, loss, damage or delay of cargo is limited to a sum in Special Drawing Rights per kilogram, unless the consignor made a special declaration of interest in delivery at destination when the package was handed over and paid a supplementary sum if required. In that case the carrier is liable up to the declared sum, unless it proves the sum is greater than the consignor's actual interest in delivery. The Convention's cargo limit began at 17 SDR per kilogram. IATA's memorandum, which reproduces ICAO's notification, shows the limit moving to 22 and then to 26 SDR per kilogram, with the latest revision effective from 28 December 2024. An SDR is the IMF's unit of account, defined by a basket of currencies, and the same notification gives its value as US$1.32 on 12 June 2024.

The limit applies only where the Convention governs the carriage, and the carrier also has defences. Under Article 18, the carrier is not liable to the extent it proves the damage resulted from an inherent defect of the cargo, or from defective packing performed by someone other than the carrier or its agents. Check with your forwarder whether the Convention governs your route.

A Worked Example With Made-Up Numbers

A parcel of goods weighs 5 kg and is worth US$40,000. At 26 SDR per kilogram, the carrier's limit is 5 x 26, or 130 SDR. At the June 2024 rate of US$1.32 per SDR, that is about US$172, which is roughly 0.4% of the goods' value. Without a declared value or insurance, a total loss of the parcel would be compensated at a small fraction of what it was worth. The exchange rate moves, so the figure will differ, but the proportion is the point.

Three Ways to Protect the Value

Declare a value for carriage. Under Article 22(3), you can make a special declaration of interest in delivery at destination and pay the supplementary sum. Ask your forwarder how to do this on the air waybill and what it costs.
Insure the cargo. A cargo insurance policy can cover the invoice value plus freight. Check the exclusions, the claims procedure and whether the policy covers the whole journey, including time stored at airports. See our guide to freight forwarding insurance.
Both. Many shippers of valuables insure the cargo and also declare a value, so that the carrier's liability and the policy line up. Ask your insurer and forwarder how the two interact.

Wristwatch and gold jewellery in a small wooden box — Small, valuable goods can be worth far more than the weight on which they are charged. Photo: Rumman Amin on Unsplash

Security and the Secure Supply Chain

Valuable cargo passes through many hands. IATA's white paper defines secure cargo as cargo screened by a regulated agent, or originating from a known consignor approved by the authorities, that stays protected from unlawful interference until it is loaded and at transfer and transit points. It describes a layered model in which forwarders, handlers, operators, shippers, regulated agents, known consignors, customs authorities and airport operators all play a role. Ask your forwarder how the cargo will be handled and by whom, how many transfers there are, how long it will wait at each airport and whether handlers are approved. Fewer handovers mean fewer chances for loss.

Packing, Marking and Records

Use a strong outer carton or case, with inner protection suited to the goods, and avoid weak points in the sealing.
Do not advertise the contents on the outside. Use the reference and consignee details your forwarder needs, not a description of the goods.
Use tamper-evident seals and record their numbers.
Photograph the goods, the packing and the sealed package, and keep the photographs.
Pack properly. The carrier is not liable to the extent it proves the damage came from defective packing done by someone else.
Keep the packing list and invoice consistent with what is inside.

Customs, Value and Documents

Valuables attract customs scrutiny, so accuracy matters. Section 14 of the Customs Act, 1962 bases the customs value on the transaction value, which includes, as the rules specify, the costs of transportation to the place of importation and insurance. Section 46(4A) requires the importer to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information in the bill of entry, the authenticity of supporting documents and compliance with any restriction or prohibition, and Section 114AA allows a penalty of up to five times the value of the goods for knowingly or intentionally using a false or incorrect declaration. India's Foreign Trade Policy 2023 says the regulatory authority may notify additional documents for goods subject to restrictions or product-specific compliance. Check your product's category with your customs broker before you ship, and keep the invoice, packing list and air waybill consistent.

Routing and Handover

Choose a routing with few transfers where you can, and avoid schedules that leave the cargo waiting overnight at a transit airport if your forwarder can offer an alternative. Prepare the customs entry before arrival, since Section 46 allows it up to thirty days before expected arrival, and make sure a named, verified person is ready to receive the goods. Confirm the consignee's identity and the delivery address with the forwarder before the cargo flies, and require proof of delivery.

At Delivery and If Something Goes Wrong

Inspect the package on receipt, before the courier or driver leaves where you can. Under Article 31 of the Montreal Convention, receipt without complaint is prima facie evidence of good delivery, and a complaint about damage to cargo has to be made forthwith and at the latest within fourteen days of receipt. For delay, it is within twenty-one days of the date the cargo was placed at your disposal. Article 35 extinguishes the right to damages if no action is brought within two years of arrival. Report in writing, keep the packaging and the seals and photograph everything.

A High-Value Shipping Checklist

Value and weight recorded, and the liability gap calculated.
Insurance arranged for the full value, and a declared value considered.
Security arrangements and handling chain discussed with the forwarder.
Packing strong, discreet, sealed and photographed.
Invoice, packing list and air waybill consistent, with accurate description and HS code.
Customs entry prepared and a verified receiver arranged.
Complaint deadlines noted for delivery.

Mistakes to Avoid

Assuming the carrier will pay the goods' value.
Insuring for the cost of goods but not freight, or not at all.
Writing the contents on the outside of the package.
Skipping photographs and seal records.
Understating value on the paperwork to cut costs, which is a compliance problem and can undermine a claim.

Ship Valuables With RR Brothers and Logistics

RR Brothers and Logistics can advise on air freight routing, declared value and packing for valuable cargo. Send us your cargo details with the value, weight and destination, and we will explain the options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Under Article 22(3) of the Montreal Convention, a fixed number of SDR per kilogram unless a higher interest is declared. IATA's memorandum shows 26 SDR per kilogram from 28 December 2024, a small fraction of the value of valuables.

A special declaration of interest in delivery at destination, made when the package is handed over, with a supplementary sum paid if required. The carrier is then liable up to the declared sum.

Many shippers of valuables do both. Ask your insurer and forwarder how the policy and the declared value work together, and check the exclusions and the claims procedure.

Under Article 31, a complaint must be made forthwith and within fourteen days of receipt for damage, or twenty-one days for delay. Article 35 sets a two-year limit for bringing an action.

Use a strong, discreet outer carton, tamper-evident seals, and photographs of the goods and the sealed package. The carrier is not liable to the extent it proves the damage came from defective packing done by someone else.

The same accuracy rules apply, but scrutiny can be higher. The importer must ensure the accuracy of the bill of entry, and Section 114AA allows a penalty of up to five times the value of the goods for knowingly false declarations.

Sources

This article is general information, not legal, tax or customs advice. Rules, rates and procedures change; confirm current requirements with the relevant authority or a licensed customs professional before you ship. Regulatory references were checked against the official sources listed above on 25 October 2026.

Image credits: header photo by Oscar Ramirez on Unsplash; photo by Rumman Amin on Unsplash. Used under the Unsplash License.

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