June 10, 2024
AGI News
Customs
Road Freight
Back in 2018, the global cosmetics market was valued at over US$500 billion, and it is forecast to exceed a staggering US$750 billion by 2025. This makes the cosmetics industry one of the fastest growing markets, with makeup and cosmetics being shipped all around the world to retailers and consumers.
When it comes to shipping cosmetics, it is important to remember that some of the ingredients can be hazardous or flammable, so transporting them is not as straightforward as you might first think. The way cosmetics are packed and stored also come into play too!
Let’s now take a look at best practices for transporting cosmetics internationally.
Understand The Make Up Of Your Products
Due to some of the ingredients used in the manufacture of cosmetics, it’s important to understand any specific rules or regulations that might apply when shipping your goods internationally, such as ensuring the shipment contains a dangerous goods declaration.
Depending on the ingredients, some additional customs documentation and certification may be required. Country specific restrictions may also apply.
Get Packing!
Using the correct packaging when shipping your cosmetics will reduce the chance of damages occurring during transit. Ensuring all voids are filled, especially the corners, will go a long way to securing your goods.
Using tamper evident tape on any external boxes will add an extra layer of security too.
Using Temperature Controlled Trailers
An absolute must when shipping cosmetics is the use of temperature controlled trailers. Changes in temperature can have a detrimental impact on the chemical properties of cosmetics, so ensuring a consistent temperature throughout the duration of transport is essential.
Perfumes can also react to changes in temperatures, especially heat. A constant warm temperature can ruin the scent, so a refrigerated solution could also be required for shipping perfumes.
This also applies to the shipping of cosmetics containing a higher proportion of natural ingredients, as products with fewer preservatives are more susceptible to bacteria building up in higher temperatures.
Consider The Length Of Transport
An additional layer of complexity is the time it takes to complete the transportation of cosmetics. As beauty products have an expiry date, ensuring the longest possible shelf life is essential to retailers and consumers alike.
Ensuring all documentation has been completed correctly will ensure smoother transit between countries too, reducing potential delays at border control.
So as you can see, there’s a lot more to shipping cosmetics than meets the eye!
So how can we help?
The importing and exporting of makeup and cosmetics can be a complicated process, and that’s where we come in! Here at AGI, we specialise in the safe transport of cargo all around the world, providing you with professional refrigerated road freight and customs solutions. To find out more about our logistics services, and how we can help your business, please get in touch. And for all of the latest AGI news, don’t forget to follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook!