Shipping Ceramics & Azulejos Internationally
Porcelain, earthenware and glass items are listed as a prohibited item under Cargosender's Terms and Conditions — general reference information only.
Not currently bookable through Cargosender
Cargosender's Terms and Conditions (§3.4) list 'glass items, porcelain, earthenware, or similar materials' among prohibited items, alongside works of art and antiques. This covers decorative ceramics such as azulejos, pottery and figurines. If you need to ship ceramics or tiles, look for a specialist fragile-goods or fine-art shipping company that carries purpose-built packing and insurance for breakable, hard-to-value items.
Portuguese azulejos (decorative tiles), Barcelos roosters, Caldas da Rainha pottery and Alentejo earthenware are exported worldwide as art, home décor and cultural gifts. Shipping ceramics internationally is genuinely difficult: the items are fragile, often irregular in shape, and can be heavy, while standard weight-based carrier liability is a poor match for pieces whose value comes from craftsmanship rather than material weight. That mismatch is a major reason general parcel and courier services, including Cargosender, don't currently offer decorative ceramics as a bookable category.
Carrier Acceptance
General reference on what each carrier typically accepts and how they price this item. Cargosender books through Eurosender's courier network, which assigns the courier and service tier for your specific shipment — get an instant quote to see current pricing and options for your parcel.
| Carrier | Accepted? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cargosender | No | Glass items, porcelain and earthenware are listed as a prohibited item under Cargosender's Terms and Conditions (§3.4), regardless of declared value or packaging. |
How to Pack Ceramics & Azulejos for Shipping
Wrap each piece individually
Wrap each ceramic item in at least 4 layers of bubble wrap (large bubble preferred — minimum 28mm), secured with tape. For irregular shapes (roosters, figurines), pay special attention to protruding parts — ears, beaks, handles. Wrap these separately with extra foam and tape.
Cushion the inner box
Line the bottom of a sturdy double-wall corrugated inner box with 5cm of foam sheets or crumpled paper. Place the wrapped ceramic, then fill all sides and the top with foam or bubble wrap to at least 5cm thickness. The item must not touch any wall of the box.
Seal and test the inner box
Seal the inner box and shake it gently — nothing should move or rattle. If you hear or feel movement, add more padding. Ceramics that move inside the box will break during transit regardless of fragile labels.
Double-box with full surround padding
Place the sealed inner box inside a second outer box that is at least 10cm larger in all dimensions. Fill all six sides with 5cm of foam, polystyrene chips or bubble wrap. The inner box must not touch any wall of the outer box.
For azulejo tiles: create cell dividers
Individual azulejo tiles should be wrapped individually and placed with foam or cardboard cell dividers between them — tiles stacked without dividers will scratch and chip. For large tile orders (sets of 25+), use individual row compartments separated by corrugated cardboard and foam.
Label clearly
Mark the outer box as fragile and orientation-sensitive on all sides — this matters for whichever specialist handles the shipment, not just for a general courier.
Customs & Declarations
Ceramics have their own HS heading range in the international 6-digit Harmonized System: 6913 covers ornamental ceramic articles, 6911 covers ceramic tableware, and 6908 covers glazed ceramic tiles such as azulejos. As with any HS heading, this 6-digit code is only the starting point — each country extends it with its own additional digits and sets its own duty rate on top, so the exact classification and charge depends on the destination's own tariff schedule (the EU uses an 8-digit Combined Nomenclature extension, the USA a 10-digit HTSUS extension), not the 6-digit heading alone. Check the relevant customs authority or a broker for the actual rate rather than assuming one.
Pro Tips
If you find a specialist willing to carry ceramics, foam-in-place packaging is worth asking about for high-value or oddly-shaped pieces — it moulds to the exact shape for protection with minimal void fill.
Never rely on a 'FRAGILE' label alone to protect a shipment — the packing itself has to survive rough handling regardless of what's written on the box.
For large azulejo panels or custom tile art, a specialist art or fragile-goods shipper offering crated, white-glove handling is a better fit than general parcel services.
Photograph each item before packing and during the packing process — this documentation matters for whichever insurer or carrier ultimately handles the shipment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I ship ceramics or azulejos internationally through Cargosender?
Not currently — glass items, porcelain and earthenware are listed as a prohibited item under Cargosender's Terms and Conditions (§3.4), regardless of declared value or how the piece is packed.
Why do general courier services typically exclude ceramics and porcelain?
Standard carrier liability is calculated by weight, not by what a piece is actually worth — craftsmanship and fragility don't show up on a scale. That mismatch, combined with genuinely high breakage risk, is why glass, porcelain and earthenware are commonly excluded from general parcel and courier services, not a Cargosender-specific decision.
How should I pack azulejo tiles if I do find a service that carries them?
Common practice: wrap each tile individually in several layers of bubble wrap, place them with rigid dividers between tiles so they can't touch, surround the stack with several centimetres of foam, then double-box with further padding in the outer box. Tiles that can shift or touch each other during transit are the most common cause of chipping.
What HS code applies to azulejos and ceramics?
Glazed ceramic tiles generally fall under HS 6908, ornamental ceramic articles under 6913, and ceramic tableware under 6911 — these are the international 6-digit headings. Each destination then applies its own extension digits and duty rate on top, so check the specific destination's tariff schedule for the exact classification and charge rather than assuming one code fits every shipment.
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