Valuable Goods by Air Freight to Japan

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 Japan

Japan is a demanding but reliable trading partner. The country imports high-quality European products: precision machinery, pharmaceuticals, food (cheese, flowers, beer), and luxury goods. The EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) came into effect in 2019 — as a result, many EU products benefit from low or zero import duties when entering Japan, provided they have an EUR.1 or certificate of origin.

Japanese Customs Requirements

Japanese Customs is known for being meticulous and strict about documentation. The commercial invoice must be complete: detailed product description, HS code, value per item, and country of origin. Incomplete documents are consistently returned.

Key Points

• EPA: use Origin Declaration for shipments above €6,000 (REX system)
• Cosmetics and food require compliance with Japan’s Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Act (PMD Act)
• Electrical appliances must comply with PSE marking
• Flight time is approximately 11 hours — allow sufficient lead time for customs clearance

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.