Powerful magnets can interfere with aircraft instruments, attract adjacent metal, damage sensitive products or surprise a warehouse that received only a general product name. The plan starts with a measurement and the final packed unit, not with the bare component.
What to verify before asking for a firm booking
| Decision | Evidence to request | What it changes |
|---|---|---|
| What produces the field? | Magnet type, grade, dimensions, quantity, assembly orientation and whether units attract through the pack. | Initial risk screen and shielding concept. |
| What does the final package emit? | Recorded magnetic-field result for the final packed unit, with instrument, distance, orientation and test date. | Air-cargo classification, documentation and carrier acceptance. |
| Can the load move or attract metal? | Foam or timber restraint, separation, shielding, closure and a representative handling check. | Pack design, warehouse safety and segregation. |
| Is sea freight simpler? | Product sensitivity, container stow, adjacent cargo and destination handling requirements. | Whether ocean is workable and what controls remain necessary. |
A practical China-export sequence
- Ask the supplier for the magnet grade, dimensions, assembled orientation and final package count.
- Test the completed export package rather than quoting a value from an unshielded sample or catalogue.
- Record the measuring device, test distance and strongest orientation so the result can be understood and repeated.
- Prevent movement, product-to-product attraction and contact with tools, steel straps or sensitive adjacent cargo.
- Send the result and pack photographs to the actual airline or handler before tendering air cargo.
The mistake that creates the most avoidable risk
A statement that cargo is non-dangerous does not replace the measurement or operator review requested for magnetized material. Airlines are not obliged to accept every otherwise compliant article.
Official references to check before booking
Rules and operator policies change. These links are starting points; confirm the latest requirement with the exporter, competent authorities and the named carrier for the actual shipment.
- IATA — Dangerous Goods Regulations and operator acceptance
- IATA — Dangerous-goods frequently asked questions
- IATA — Dangerous-goods documentation resources
Buyer questions
Questions buyers ask after the first magnetized cargo review
Short answers for the doubts that remain after a first quotation. Final acceptance still depends on the actual product, shipper, carrier, route and destination.
Do all magnets count as dangerous goods by air?
No single product label decides this. The field emitted by the final packed consignment and the current operator rules determine the treatment and acceptance steps.
Can shielding be added after an airport rejects the cargo?
It may be possible, but terminal rework is slower and harder to verify. Design and test shielding at the supplier before pickup.
Why must the final packed unit be measured?
Orientation, quantity, spacing and shielding can change the external field. A bare magnet value does not describe the shipment offered to the carrier.
Is ocean freight automatically free of magnetic-cargo controls?
No. Air-specific thresholds may not apply, but restraint, adjacent-cargo sensitivity, safe handling and accurate declaration still need review.