Valuable Goods air freight from Brazil to Kenya

Valuable Goods by Air Freight: Security and Speed

Gold, diamonds, watches, art, jewelry, banknotes, and other valuable goods share two things in common: they are small (light shipments) and have an extremely high value per kilogram. Air freight is not only the fastest transport mode for these types of goods — it is also the safest.

Sea freight with a container full of valuables is a security nightmare: container theft, lengthy stays in ports, limited traceability. Air freight through secured cargo terminals with direct handling from plane to vault minimizes risk.

What Do We Ship as Valuable Goods?

• Precious metals: gold, silver, platinum (in bars or coins)
• Gemstones: certified diamonds, rubies, emeralds
• Luxury watches and jewelry (for brands, retailers, and private individuals)
• Art and antiques (with ATA Carnet for temporary import)
• Banknotes and securities (on behalf of banks and central banks)
• Smartphones and high-end electronics with high street value

Exporting to Brazil

Brazil is the largest economy in South America and a strategic export destination for Dutch companies in the agriculture, energy, machinery, and pharmaceutical sectors. The flight time from Schiphol is approximately 11 hours to São Paulo (GRU) or Rio de Janeiro (GIG) — with direct cargo flights available.

Brazilian Customs — the world's most complex

Brazil is internationally known as one of the most challenging customs environments. The Brazilian tax structure (including ICMS, IPI, PIS, and COFINS) is extremely complex, and the Siscomex system requires detailed electronic declarations. An incorrect HS code or missing document can cause delays of several weeks.

Points of Attention

• Importer must have a Brazilian CNPJ number
• Licença de Importação (LI) — import license — required for many product categories
• ANVISA registration for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics
• Expect an additional 2–5 business days for clearance
• Always use an experienced Brazilian customs broker

Importing from Kenya

Kenya’s export strengths lie in flowers (world-leading), fresh vegetables, coffee, and tea. The Dutch flower auction purchases large volumes of Kenyan roses and other cut flowers daily — air freight is the only option for these goods due to their limited shelf life.

Flowers & Fresh Produce from Kenya

Kenyan flowers fly multiple times daily from Nairobi to Schiphol. Aircargo.nl has years of experience with cold chain transport from Nairobi — from picking in Kenya to delivery at the auction or your warehouse in the Netherlands. Phytosanitary certificates are standardly checked and processed.

Other Kenyan Export Products

• Fresh vegetables (French beans, sugar snaps, avocados)
• Coffee and tea (certified, specialty grade)
• Handmade goods and jewelry

Brazil via Schiphol: Latin America Gateway

São Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) is the largest airfreight hub in South America. Goods destined for Argentina, Colombia, Peru, or Chile are frequently routed via GRU. Aircargo.nl has agent connections in São Paulo that efficiently handle crosstrade shipments, including the notoriously complex Brazilian customs procedures.

Important Notes on Valuable Goods

Secure Handling Mandatory

Valuable goods at Schiphol are processed exclusively through secure cargo terminals with access control, CCTV, and armed security when required. Aircargo.nl partners with specialized valuables handlers certified for high-value cargo.

Insurance

Standard air freight insurance covers a maximum of 22 SDR per kilogram — almost always insufficient for valuable goods. Aircargo.nl always recommends additional all-risk transport insurance based on actual value. We can arrange this insurance upon request.

Documentation

A detailed value declaration including serial numbers, photos, and certificates (e.g., GIA certificate for diamonds, authenticity certificates for art) is essential. High-value shipments are routinely subjected to extra inspections in some countries (e.g., India, UAE).

Routing & Splitting

For very high values (over €500,000), we advise splitting the shipment over multiple flights to reduce risk. This requires coordination with the recipient and possibly additional security measures at the destination.