How to Ship Lithium-Ion Batteries Internationally

Start by Identifying the Shipment

The first step is to describe the physical shipment accurately. A commercial product name such as “battery pack,” “energy-storage unit” or “electronic device” is not enough to determine the applicable transport requirements.

Confirm six essential facts before asking a freight forwarder or carrier to review the cargo:

1. battery chemistry and model;
2. standalone, packed-with-equipment or contained-in-equipment configuration;
3. Watt-hour rating, quantity and net battery weight;
4. new, used, damaged, defective, recalled, prototype or recycling condition;
5. state of charge for a proposed air shipment; and
6. origin, destination and proposed transport mode.

These facts determine the starting classification, the relevant packing provisions and whether the proposed route is commercially available.

Determine the Battery Configuration

For lithium-ion batteries, including many lithium-polymer batteries, the physical relationship between the battery and the equipment is a critical classification question.

This table is only a starting point. Battery chemistry, Wh rating, quantity, condition, package design and transport mode still need to be checked against the current UN Model Regulations and the rules for the actual mode.

Power banks and similar products designed primarily to provide power to another device are generally treated as batteries rather than batteries contained in equipment. For a detailed comparison of the configurations, see UN3480 vs UN3481.

Lithium-metal batteries use different UN entries—UN3090 and UN3091—and should not be classified as lithium-ion batteries merely because both contain lithium.

Check the Technical Information and Evidence

Several documents may be requested during a battery-shipment review, but they have different purposes.

UN38.3 Test Summary

Lithium cells and batteries offered for transport generally must be of a type that has passed the applicable tests in Part III, subsection 38.3 of the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria.

The test summary provides standardized information about the tested cell, battery or product design. Manufacturers and subsequent distributors are responsible for making the applicable test summary available. A paper copy does not necessarily have to travel with every consignment; availability may be provided through an appropriate digital or other accessible method under the applicable rules.

The shipper should confirm that:

• the model number matches the battery being shipped;
• the manufacturer and test information are identifiable;
• the summary covers the relevant cell or battery design; and
• the supplied document is a test summary rather than an unrelated certificate.

The US Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration provides additional information on the UN38.3 test-summary requirement.

SDS or MSDS

A safety data sheet provides hazard, handling and product-identification information and may include relevant composition details. It may help a logistics provider confirm the chemistry and product identity, and a carrier may request it as supporting information.

An SDS is not a UN38.3 test summary. It does not prove that the battery design passed the UN transport tests, and it does not by itself determine the correct UN number, packing instruction or carrier acceptance.

Transport and Commercial Documents

Depending on the shipment, transport mode and applicable provisions, the required records may include dangerous-goods transport documentation, an air waybill or bill of lading, a commercial invoice, a packing list, battery specifications, packaging information, carrier-specific forms and customer- or factory-supplied technical evidence.

A Shipper’s Declaration for Dangerous Goods is not automatically required in exactly the same form for every lithium battery shipment. The requirement depends on the applicable air provision, exception, packing instruction and carrier policy. Sea transport has its own documentation framework under the IMDG Code.

Choose the Transport Mode

Air and sea freight can both be used for eligible lithium-ion battery shipments, but their operating conditions are different.

Air Freight

Air transport may be appropriate when transit time is important and the shipment meets the applicable airline, route, packing, quantity and documentation requirements.

For 2026 air shipments, the configuration matters:

• UN3480 lithium-ion batteries shipped on their own under PI 965 generally must be offered at no more than 30% state of charge. They are forbidden as cargo on passenger aircraft unless the necessary approvals and conditions apply.
• For lithium-ion batteries packed with equipment under PI 966, the 2026 rules introduce specific reduced-state-of-charge requirements. Section I batteries must generally be offered at no more than 30% state of charge. Under Section II, the 30% limit applies to cells and batteries exceeding 2.7 Wh, subject to the detailed provisions and approval pathway.
• For batteries contained in equipment under PI 967, reduced state of charge is strongly recommended as a safety measure, but the same mandatory rule should not automatically be applied to every shipment.

The IATA 2026 Guidance Document for Lithium Batteries and Sodium Ion Batteries is explanatory material. Shipment preparation must be checked against the applicable ICAO Technical Instructions, current IATA DGR provisions, State requirements and operator variations.

Even when a shipment is prepared under the regulatory starting point, an airline is not required to accept it. Route availability, operator variations, package size, battery weight, cargo condition and local handling capability can affect the booking decision.

Businesses comparing eligible air options can review shipping batteries by air or the more specific service for lithium battery air shipping from China.

Sea Freight

Sea freight may be commercially suitable for larger, heavier or less time-sensitive battery shipments. It is not an unrestricted alternative to air freight.

The physical configuration still determines whether lithium-ion batteries begin with UN3480 or UN3481. Packaging, marks, labels, documentation, segregation, stowage, container planning, vessel-operator policy, port acceptance and national requirements must then be checked under the current maritime framework.

The IMDG Code 2024 Edition, incorporating Amendment 42-24, became mandatory on 1 January 2026. Air-specific state-of-charge and packing-instruction statements should not simply be copied into a sea-shipping plan. See the International Maritime Organization’s current IMDG Code information.

For a China-origin commercial shipment, see shipping lithium batteries by sea from China.

Road, Rail and Multimodal Transport

International shipments often include a road or rail leg before or after the main air or sea movement. These legs may be subject to national rules or regional frameworks such as ADR or RID.

A shipment accepted for one mode is not automatically compliant or operationally accepted for every connecting mode. The full route should be checked rather than reviewing only the main flight or vessel movement.

Prepare Packaging, Marks and Labels for the Actual Configuration

There is no single package or label combination that applies to every lithium-ion battery shipment.

The required preparation can change according to the UN number, shipping configuration, cell and battery Wh rating, quantity, packing-instruction section, transport mode, applicable special provision, battery condition and carrier variations.

Some shipments require UN specification packaging. Others may be prepared in strong, rigid outer packaging if all applicable conditions are satisfied. The decision should come from the relevant packing provision, not from the assumption that all lithium batteries use the same box.

Common protective principles include:

• preventing short circuits and protecting exposed terminals;
• preventing contact with conductive materials;
• securing batteries against movement;
• protecting batteries from crushing, puncture and impact;
• preventing equipment from accidental activation; and
• keeping required marks and labels visible and legible.

Do not select a Class 9 label, lithium battery mark, Cargo Aircraft Only label or orientation arrows from a generic online image and assume that it applies. The correct hazard communication must be determined from the actual shipment configuration and current modal rules.

Treat Special-Condition Batteries Separately

The process for normal, new production batteries should not be applied automatically to every cargo condition.

Damaged, Defective or Recalled Batteries

A battery that is swollen, leaking, physically damaged, overheating, producing unusual odours or otherwise suspected of being unsafe requires a separate assessment. It should not be concealed inside equipment or declared as an ordinary new battery.

Damaged, defective or recalled batteries may be prohibited from normal air transport or may require a specialized pathway under the applicable regulations.

Used, Waste and Recycling Shipments

“Used” does not necessarily mean “damaged,” but the shipper should confirm the battery’s condition, purpose of movement and available technical records. Batteries shipped for disposal or recycling require accurate disclosure and may be subject to additional transport and environmental controls.

Prototype and Low-Production-Run Batteries

A prototype or low-production-run battery that has not followed the normal testing pathway may require competent-authority approval and specialized packaging. Its eligibility cannot be decided from the product specification alone.

Large EV and Energy-Storage Batteries

Large EV packs, modules and battery energy storage systems can introduce additional handling, lifting, packaging, container-planning and classification questions. The review should establish whether the cargo is being offered as batteries, equipment, machinery, a vehicle or another applicable article.

For a commercial overview, see EV battery shipping from China.

Follow an Eight-Step Shipping Workflow

1. Collect the product and battery details. Resolve inconsistencies before requesting a booking.
2. Identify the likely classification. Confirm chemistry and the battery’s physical relationship to the equipment.
3. Review the technical evidence. Check whether the supplied model and documents describe the actual cargo.
4. Disclose the battery’s condition. Identify returns, damage, defects, recalls, prototypes, waste or recycling movements.
5. Compare transport modes. Evaluate air, sea and multimodal options according to the shipment facts.
6. Confirm the proposed carrier and route. Check current acceptance conditions and local handling capability.
7. Prepare the packaging and documents. Ensure that the physical cargo and paperwork describe the same shipment.
8. Complete a final pre-shipment review. Recheck package details, booking conditions and any required approvals.

Pre-Shipment Information Checklist

Provide the following information when requesting a battery freight review:

• product name, battery manufacturer and exact model;
• chemistry and proposed UN number, if already assessed;
• standalone, packed-with-equipment or contained-in-equipment configuration;
• nominal voltage, rated capacity and Wh per cell or battery;
• quantity per package, package count and net battery weight;
• gross weight and package dimensions;
• state of charge for a proposed air shipment;
• new, used, returned, damaged, defective, recalled, prototype or recycling status;
• UN38.3 test-summary, SDS and specification availability;
• packaging description and clear packing photographs;
• pickup location and destination;
• preferred transport mode and requested shipping date.

Complete information makes it easier to identify missing inputs and determine whether a viable carrier and route can be reviewed. It does not guarantee acceptance, price, clearance or transit time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can lithium-ion batteries be shipped internationally?

Yes, eligible lithium-ion batteries can be shipped internationally when they are correctly identified, tested, classified, packed, marked, labelled and documented under the applicable rules and accepted by the proposed carrier and route. The exact requirements depend on the battery and shipment configuration.

Does every lithium-ion battery shipment require UN specification packaging?

No. Packaging requirements depend on the applicable UN entry, Wh rating, quantity, packing instruction, section, transport mode and any applicable exception. Some shipments require UN specification packaging; others may use strong, rigid outer packaging when all relevant conditions are met.

Does the 30% state-of-charge limit apply to every shipment?

No. For air transport, it applies directly to UN3480 batteries shipped on their own and, from 2026, to specified lithium-ion batteries packed with equipment under PI 966. For batteries contained in equipment under PI 967, reduced state of charge is strongly recommended but is not universally mandatory under the same baseline rule. State approvals, airline variations and shipment-specific conditions may also affect the answer.

Is an SDS the same as a UN38.3 test summary?

No. An SDS provides product hazard and handling information. A UN38.3 test summary records specified information associated with the battery design’s transport testing. One document does not replace the other.

Must the UN38.3 test summary travel with every shipment?

Not necessarily as a paper document. Manufacturers and subsequent distributors must make the applicable test summary available, but current guidance allows availability through suitable methods such as an accessible website reference. Carriers and logistics providers may still request the document during their review.

Can damaged or recalled lithium batteries be shipped normally?

They should not be treated as normal new batteries. Damaged, defective or recalled status must be disclosed before planning the shipment. Normal air service may be prohibited, and a specialized or approved pathway may be required.

Can the same preparation be used for air and sea freight?

No. The same battery may retain its basic UN configuration across modes, but air and sea transport apply different packing, quantity, documentation and operational provisions. Carrier and route requirements must also be reviewed separately.

Request a Shipment-Specific Review

BAT Logistics can review customer- or factory-supplied shipment information, help identify missing logistics inputs, compare possible transport modes and coordinate with eligible freight parties for a proposed route.

BAT Logistics does not issue or obtain UN38.3 test summaries, SDS documents, test reports, packaging certificates, permits or licences, and it cannot guarantee carrier acceptance, customs clearance, price or transit time.

To request a review, send the battery model, chemistry, configuration, Wh rating, quantity, weight, dimensions, condition, available technical documents, pickup location and destination through our contact page. For a broader commercial overview, see battery shipping from China.

Regulations, State variations and carrier policies change. This guide is general operational information and does not determine the legal classification, compliance or acceptance of a specific shipment. Final requirements must be verified against the current rules and the selected carrier before tender.