Fragile Goods

Fragile Goods refer to items that are easily damaged during transportation, loading/unloading, and storage due to impact, vibration, compression, or dropping, such as glassware, ceramics, precision instruments, electronic products, and lighting fixtures. In foreign trade, this term is mainly used in packaging, marking, transportation, and insurance. Usage scenarios include: declaring cargo characteristics during export customs clearance, notifying the carrier when booking space, and requiring special handling and stacking. Precautions: Must use shock-absorbing packaging that meets international transportation standards (e.g., foam, air column bags), affix fragile labels on outer boxes (e.g., wine glass symbol or 'Fragile' wording), and consider insuring against breakage. Compared with general cargo, fragile goods usually have higher freight rates and stricter claim conditions; unlike dangerous goods, fragile goods do not involve chemical risks, but have extremely high physical protection requirements. Foreign trade practitioners need to clarify liability allocation in contracts, letters of credit, and bills of lading to avoid disputes caused by damage.