Guide
Shipping Dangerous Goods (DG) from China: The Basics
An introduction to shipping dangerous goods from China — the hazard classes, the paperwork (MSDS, DG declaration), and why getting it right matters for safety and clearance.
Lithium batteries, aerosols, paints, perfumes, certain chemicals — far more cargo counts as “dangerous goods” than people expect. Shipping it legally requires correct classification, packaging and paperwork. Get it wrong and you risk fines, refused shipments, or worse. Here are the basics.
What counts as dangerous goods
Dangerous goods (DG), also called hazardous materials, are items that pose a risk to health, safety or property in transit. They are grouped into nine hazard classes, including:
- Explosives
- Gases (including aerosols)
- Flammable liquids (paints, solvents, perfumes)
- Flammable solids
- Oxidizing substances
- Toxic and infectious substances
- Radioactive material
- Corrosives (acids, some batteries)
- Miscellaneous — which includes lithium batteries, one of the most commonly shipped DG items.
Many everyday products contain DG components, so it is worth checking rather than assuming your goods are exempt.
The key paperwork
DG shipments need documentation that ordinary cargo does not:
- MSDS / SDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) — describes the substance, its hazards and handling. This is the starting point for classification.
- Dangerous Goods Declaration — formally declares the class, UN number, packing group and quantity, following the relevant rules (IMDG for sea, IATA DGR for air).
- Proper UN-specification packaging — DG must be packed in tested, certified packaging and correctly marked and labelled with hazard placards.
Sea vs air rules
- Ocean freight follows the IMDG Code. It is generally more permissive on quantity and is usually the cheaper option for larger DG shipments.
- Air freight follows the stricter IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, with tighter limits — some items are forbidden by air entirely, and lithium batteries in particular have detailed, frequently updated rules.
Because air rules are stricter, an item that ships easily by sea may face limits or bans by air.
Why it matters
DG rules exist for safety — undeclared hazardous cargo has caused warehouse and aircraft fires. Beyond the safety stakes, undeclared or mis-declared DG can mean heavy fines, shipment rejection, and liability if an incident occurs. This is not an area to improvise.
How to ship DG correctly
- Get the SDS from your supplier early.
- Have the goods properly classified before booking — guessing the class is risky.
- Use a forwarder experienced with DG who can prepare the declaration, arrange certified packaging and book DG-approved space.
The bottom line
Dangerous goods are shippable from China every day — but only with correct classification, certified packaging and accurate paperwork. If there is any chance your product is regulated, start with the SDS and work with a forwarder who handles DG regularly. The cost of doing it properly is small next to the cost of getting it wrong.