The journey, that the exporter's product must make to its overseas destination is usually far more hazardous than the same product shipped to a local customer.

The exporter should be aware of the hazards involved in shipping goods abroad i.e. rough handling, transshipment, pilferage, excessive humidity and extremes of temperature.

If the crate is damaged, at this stage, the contents may be damaged and it will be vulnerable throughout the rest of its journey to dirt, moisture and attention of would-be pilferers.

Port of shipment, at the port of shipment, the box, crate or other package in which the export goods are traveling may not be properly unloaded from the truck and may be dropped.

Also, while being placed in the designated cargo assembly area, the crate may suffer damage from the prongs of a fork-lift truck, it may be placed the wrong way up, or it may have several other export crates stacked on top.