Valuable goods by air freight to Germany

Valuable goods by air freight: security and speed

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

Sea freight with a container full of valuable goods is a security nightmare: container theft, long dwell times at ports, limited traceability. Air freight via secure cargo terminals with direct handling from aircraft to vault minimizes the risk.

What do we ship as valuable goods?

• Precious metals: gold, silver, platinum (in bars or coins)
• Precious stones: diamonds (certified), 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 Germany

Germany is the Netherlands' largest trading partner and as an EU member state, air freight to Germany is a smooth, documentation-light operation. There are no export formalities for the free movement of goods within the EU. Still, many shippers opt for air freight to Germany for urgent or valuable shipments that cannot wait by truck.

When to choose air freight to Germany?

• AOG (Aircraft on Ground) — parts that must be immediately available at another airport
• Time-critical production parts for the automotive or manufacturing industry
• Valuable goods where the risk of road transport is too high
• Goods already arriving by air from a third country that need to be in Germany

Aircargo.nl has daily connections to Frankfurt (FRA), Munich (MUC), and Düsseldorf (DUS). Due to the short distance, same-day or next-morning delivery is often possible.

Important notes for valuable goods

Secure handling mandatory

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

Insurance

Standard air freight insurance covers up to 22 SDR per kilogram — usually insufficient for valuable goods. Aircargo.nl always advises additional all-risk transport insurance based on the actual value. We can arrange this insurance upon request.

Documentation

A detailed value declaration with serial numbers, photos and certificates (e.g. GIA certificate for diamonds, authenticity certificates for art) is essential. Upon import into some countries (e.g. India, UAE) high-value shipments are routinely subject to extra checks.

Routing & splitting

For very high values (above €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.