Shipping Household Furniture from Antwerp to Altamira via Ocean Freight

Transporting furniture sets and decorative items necessitates multi-step packing. Shippers should take apart removable legs, shelves, and hardware, then protect each component separately. Use foam corners on table tops, cabinets, and glass decorative items, then place items in reinforced boxes with Tight internal cushioning. Finally, Label all packages as “Handle with Care” and indicate the this side up orientation.

Large or heavy glass wall decor are usually safer with freight services than standard parcel, because freight permits palletization and stable handling. For small, well-padded home decor items under parcel size limits, shippers can use parcel carriers, but shippers should add double-boxing and insure for full value. Oversized glass furnishings are best crated and shipped on pallets to reduce conveyor and drop risks.

For moisture-sensitive furnishings and home accessories, shippers should use poly sheeting around each boxed or crated item, then add silica gel inside the packaging. In ocean containers, do not allow pallets directly against steel walls; instead, maintain a small air gap and use humidity absorbers hung from lashing points. Choose sheltered loading bays so decorative item boxes are not exposed to rain during loading.

International shipments of high-value furnishings and decorative items typically need a full commercial invoice, packing list, and tariff codes for each product type. Shippers should clearly describe items (for example, “wooden furniture,” “glass mirrors,” “metal wall decor”) and state materials to avoid customs delays. For designer or branded home decor, confirm if any IP documentation or COO documents are required by the destination country.

Standard carrier liability for household furniture and decorative items is usually based on weight, which often understates the actual value of designer pieces, artistic decorative items, or premium home furnishings. Most brokers recommend purchasing all-risk coverage for high-value or fragile shipments, and confirming that the policy protects against breakage and moisture damage. This better ensures you can be compensated for the full replacement cost if items are damaged in transit.

The documentation typically required includes a commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, and any necessary customs declarations. Additionally, specific import permits may be needed for certain home décor items, depending on their materials and classifications.

Regulatory requirements may include compliance with Mexican customs regulations, which can involve tariffs and import taxes. It is also important to ensure that all items meet safety standards and do not contain restricted materials, as per Mexican regulations.

DNA offers in-house customs brokerage that handles classification, documentation, and clearance across U.S. and global ports with accuracy and speed, supported by SAMMIE’s delay flagging and ongoing updates from your dedicated Client Success Officer.

Using DNA, you receive live map tracking with milestone updates and 24/7 access via SAMMIE, while other forwarders often provide only basic carrier links and manual updates that can be delayed or incomplete.

Our clients say that SAMMIE makes managing shipments simple, puts accurate real-time location, status, and ETAs at their fingertips, and significantly reduces the time and effort required to manage many shipments.