Types of Air Cargo: Classification and Preparation Rules for Shipping to Kazakhstan
A detailed guide to air cargo categories: from general to dangerous and oversized. We analyze packaging requirements, documentation, and the specifics of transportation via KAZLOGIST.KZ.
Classification of Goods in Air Freight: Essential Knowledge for Logisticians
Air delivery is the fastest way to replenish inventory or receive critical spare parts. However, logistics efficiency depends not only on the aircraft's speed but also on the correct classification of the goods. In KAZLOGIST.KZ practice, we often find that the type of cargo determines not only the cost but also the very possibility of loading onto the aircraft. Understanding categories helps avoid delays during the booking and customs clearance stages. We work with any volumes — from 1 kg to large commercial batches, selecting solutions for specific business tasks.
General Cargo: Electronics, Clothing, and Spare Parts
General Cargo includes goods that do not require special transportation conditions. These can be computers, clothing, industrial hardware, or auto parts. The main requirement here is high-quality packaging that protects the contents from mechanical damage and prevents access to the goods without opening the container. When planning such a shipment, it is important to remember the cost calculation. Airlines always base the price on the greater of two indicators: actual weight or volumetric weight. The volumetric weight formula is simple: length × width × height (cm) / 6000. If your cargo is light but takes up a lot of space (e.g., plastic products), you will have to pay for the volume. At KAZLOGIST.KZ, we help optimize packaging by offering palletizing or repacking at consolidation warehouses in China, Europe, or the USA to minimize excess volume.
Dangerous Goods (DGR): Lithium, Chemicals, and Aerosols
Many common goods are considered dangerous in aviation. Smartphones with lithium batteries, paints and varnishes, perfumes (aerosols), and even some reagents for laboratories fall under IATA DGR rules. Transporting such cargo requires a special approach. First, an MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) is required. Without this document, no airline will accept the cargo. Second, the packaging must have UN certification and appropriate marking. KAZLOGIST.KZ specialists check documents before departure to avoid cargo blocking at the departure airport. It is worth noting that some categories of dangerous goods are allowed only on cargo aircraft (CAO — Cargo Aircraft Only), which may slightly affect the route and timing.
Temperature-Controlled and Perishable Cargo
Pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and some types of electronics require strict adherence to temperature regimes. For such cases, KAZLOGIST.KZ organizes transportation using thermal containers and temperature loggers that record the environment's state throughout the journey. At airports, such cargo undergoes priority processing. Upon arrival in Kazakhstan, the recipient can receive a full temperature report, which is critical for confirming product quality, especially in medicine and the food industry.
Oversized and Heavy Solutions
If equipment does not fit into a standard container or weighs several tons, it falls into the oversized cargo category. For their delivery, we select wide-body cargo aircraft. In such cases, special equipment, aircraft pallets, and cargo securing calculations inside the aircraft are used. Loading is often carried out by high-altitude forklifts or cranes. KAZLOGIST.KZ takes over the entire cycle: from picking up complex equipment from the supplier to organizing unloading at the destination airport. Delivery times from the USA are usually 5–8 days, and from China — 3–6 days, but for complex projects, we recommend allowing time for technical preparation of the aircraft.
Documentation and Workflow Stages
Regardless of the cargo type, a standard set of documents is required for import into Kazakhstan: a commercial invoice with HS codes, a packing list indicating weight and dimensions for each piece, a contract, and an airway bill (AWB). We check for the presence of certificates of conformity and origin even before the goods leave the sender's warehouse. The workflow with KAZLOGIST.KZ is transparent: we pick up the cargo, arrange the export declaration, book space with partner airlines, and control delivery to the recipient's door. Usually, delivery from Europe takes 3–5 days, and from Middle Eastern countries — 2–4 days. We also offer individual solutions such as hand-carry for urgent spare parts or charter flights for particularly large batches.
To obtain an accurate cost calculation and select the optimal route for your cargo type, please contact our specialists.
