Shipping Furnishings from Mombasa to Charleston via Ocean Freight

Shipping Furniture and decorative items demands careful preparation. Exporters should take apart removable legs, shelves, and hardware, then protect each component separately. Use foam corners on table tops, cabinets, and wall decor panels, then place items in Double-walled cartons with secure internal cushioning. Finally, clearly mark all packages as “Handle with Care” and indicate the this side up orientation.

Large or heavy Mirrors are usually Better suited to freight services than standard parcel, because freight permits palletization and vertical handling. For small, well-padded decorative items under parcel size limits, it is possible to use parcel carriers, but shippers should add double-boxing and insure for full value. Oversized glass furnishings Should be crated and shipped on pallets to reduce conveyor and drop risks.

For moisture-sensitive Furniture and Home decor, shippers should use plastic liners around each boxed or crated item, then add moisture absorbers inside the packaging. In ocean containers, never place pallets directly against steel walls; instead, maintain a small air gap and use humidity absorbers hung from lashing points. Choose sheltered loading bays so home decor cartons are not exposed to rain during loading.

International shipments of high-value Furniture sets and Home decor typically need a detailed invoice, packing list, and customs classification for each product type. Exporters 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 origin statements are required by the destination country.

Standard carrier liability for Furniture and Home decor is usually based on weight, which often understates the actual value of designer pieces, wall decor, or premium home decoration items. Insurance providers typically 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 claim the full replacement cost if items are damaged in transit.

When shipping Furniture & Home Décor via ocean freight, it is essential to ensure that items are properly packed to withstand the long journey. Use sturdy packaging materials to protect against moisture and potential damage during transit. Additionally, oversized or fragile items may require special handling and should be clearly labeled.

Required documentation typically includes a commercial invoice, packing list, and bill of lading. Additionally, a certificate of origin may be necessary to comply with U.S. customs regulations. It is important to ensure all documents are accurate and complete to facilitate smooth customs clearance.

We specialize in retail and hospitality, technology and electronics, industrial manufacturing, healthcare equipment, and complex spare parts and machinery, and we can move global freight for other sectors as well.

SAMMIE blends historical lane performance, live vessel telemetry, port congestion trends, and weather overlays to calculate constantly updating ETAs that go beyond static carrier estimates.

Every client receives access to SAMMIE, where you can track each shipment in real time with predictive ETAs, milestone updates, and instant alerts in a single dashboard.