Valuable goods air freight from United States 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 the United States

The US is the world's largest importer and a top destination for Dutch exporters. Schiphol offers daily direct cargo flights to New York (JFK), Los Angeles (LAX), Chicago (ORD), and Atlanta (ATL), with a flight time of approximately 9 hours. Due to the extensive options, air freight rates to the US are generally competitive.

US Customs & Border Protection (CBP)

US customs requires a correct Airway Bill, commercial invoice, and packing list for every shipment. For shipments over $800, a formal customs entry (ISF filing) is mandatory. Electronics, pharmaceuticals, and dual-use goods may require additional permits, such as an EAR export license or FDA registration of the manufacturer.

What you need to know

• Lithium batteries are subject to IATA DGR regulations — always notify in advance
• Certain goods fall under EAR (Export Administration Regulations) and require a BIS license
• The US does not charge VAT but does impose customs duties — your buyer pays these upon import
• ISF 10+2 filing is mandatory for sea freight; for air freight, AMS (Advance Manifest System) applies

Aircargo.nl handles all export documentation for shipments to the US and has established relationships with US customs agents at all major hubs.

Importing from Germany

Importing from Germany by air freight is relatively rare—most goods move by road or rail. When air freight is desirable, it typically involves urgent machine parts, medical equipment, or time-critical industrial components. As an EU country, customs clearance isn't required and shipments are processed quickly.

Aircargo.nl also handles reverse logistics from Germany: returns, repairs, or goods sent back that need to be returned quickly to origin or redirected to another destination.

US as a Crosstrade Hub via Schiphol

Schiphol is one of the few European airports with a fully equipped customs bonded warehouse, allowing goods from the US to transit via AMS directly to Asia, the Middle East, or Africa without a formal EU import procedure. This makes the US–Schiphol route particularly suitable as a crosstrade hub for multinationals organizing their European distribution through the Netherlands.

Aircargo.nl coordinates US crosstrades for clients in sectors such as pharma, aerospace, and tech, managing the entire transit — including handling, documentation, and onward carriage — from a single point.

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.