In today’s booming global new energy market, lithium batteries, lithium metal batteries, and battery-powered products have become some of the most popular and fast-growing export items from China. At the same time, lithium batteries are classified as Class 9 Miscellaneous Dangerous Goods, and are placed under highest-level control by regulatory authorities worldwide for international air freight, sea freight, and express delivery.
Countless factories, traders, and cross-border sellers do not fail because of poor product quality, but because of incomplete documents, expired certificates, inconsistent information, or non-standard declarations. In mild cases, their shipments are rejected or rejected by airlines and shipping lines; in severe cases, goods are detained, fined, returned by customs, and even included in dishonesty lists, directly ruining the entire supply chain.
This article is a practical, risk-avoiding, ready-to-use complete guide to battery export documentation. From MSDS, UN38.3, Dangerous Goods Packaging Certificate, Transport Condition Identification Report, DGD, commodity inspection to customs clearance, from air freight, sea freight to international express, from factory operations to trader certification, everything is explained in depth, thoroughly, and completely. After reading this article, you will no longer encounter pitfalls with battery export documents.
1. Core Document Overview
Understand the Complete Documentation Package Before Exporting
For battery export, prioritize compliance before accepting orders. The first mistake many people make is accepting orders and booking space first, then trying to get certificates at the last minute. As a result, certificates cannot be processed, schedules are missed, customers claim compensation, and air freight costs are completely lost.
Q1: What core documents are required for battery export? Can I get a clear list?
For the export of lithium batteries, energy storage batteries, power banks, power tool batteries, electric vehicle batteries, and battery-built-in products, you must prepare two sets of documents:
one for carriers (airlines / shipping lines / couriers) for booking and transport,
and one for customs for declaration and inspection.
Six Essential Core Documents for Battery Export
- MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) – Chinese-English version
- UN38.3 Test Report + UN38.3 Test Summary
- Dangerous Goods Packaging Certificate
- Transport Condition Identification Report (air / sea)
- Battery Declaration / Battery Letter
- DGD (Dangerous Goods Declaration)
These six documents represent the global universal compliance baseline. You cannot ship without any one of them.
Air Freight vs. Sea Freight vs. Express Documentation Requirements
1. Air Freight (Strictest & Most Detailed Review)
- Mandatory: UN38.3 report + summary, Transport Identification Report, Dangerous Goods Packaging Certificate, Battery Declaration, MSDS
- Passenger aircraft have strict limits on battery power and quantity; most pure batteries can only be shipped by cargo aircraft
- Air waybills, packaging, labeling, and documents must 100% comply with IATA DGR regulations
- Any inconsistency will result in direct rejection, no carriage, no refund
2. Sea Freight (Longest Process & Most Regulatory Links)
- Mandatory: Dangerous Goods Packaging Certificate, DGD declaration, maritime declaration, MSDS
- Commonly required by shipping lines: UN38.3, Transport Identification Report
- Three-way joint inspection by port, maritime, and customs; risk of underreporting is extremely high
- Once inspected, the whole container is delayed, space is canceled, and costs are huge
3. International Express (DHL / FedEx / UPS / TNT)
- Most commonly used for small batches and samples
- Required documents: Battery Declaration, MSDS; some channels require simple identification
- Extremely strict limits on packaging, labeling, and power
- Non-compliant documents: direct rejection, return, cargo detention
Remember one sentence:
Incomplete documents → no booking → no customs release → goods cannot be exported.
2. Battery Identification Documents
In-depth Explanation of MSDS and UN38.3
If battery export is compared to traveling abroad:
- MSDS = ID Card
- UN38.3 = Safety Health Check ReportWithout these two, you cannot leave the country.
Q2: What is MSDS? Can I download one online and rename it?
MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) is a legally required safety document for the global transport, storage, and use of batteries, with an internationally accepted 16-section format.
A qualified MSDS must clearly state:
- Product name, model, chemical composition, cell information
- Hazard nature, hazard class, UN number
- Fire, explosion, leakage, and first aid measures
- Operation, storage, and transport precautions
- Section 14: Transport Information (the most critical)
Many newbies, even experienced businesspeople, fall into a fatal pitfall:
Randomly download an MSDS online and directly change the company name.
This practice will cause problems 100%:
- Inconsistent battery model, capacity, Wh rating, cell type
- Wrong hazard classification and UN number
- Confusing compiler, date, and version numberResults:Airlines reject bookings, shipping lines refuse cargo, customs conduct controlled inspections, and documents are directly judged fraudulent.
Key Reminders:
- MSDS must be prepared by the factory or professional third-party institution based on the actual product
- MSDS must be updated whenever model, parameters, cells, or packaging change
- Chinese-English bilingual version is strongly recommended for Chinese customs declaration and inspectionPure English MSDS is easily held up by Chinese customs and commodity inspection; bilingual version is the most reliable and widely accepted.
Q3: What is UN38.3? Is it mandatory for all battery exports?
UN38.3 is the global mandatory test standard issued by the United Nations for the safe transport of lithium batteries. It is a hard threshold for lithium batteries to be shipped by air, sea, or rail.
UN38.3 includes 8 extreme safety tests:
- Altitude Simulation
- Temperature Cycling
- Vibration
- Shock
- External Short Circuit
- Impact
- Overcharge
- Forced Discharge
Only when all 8 tests pass can a formal UN38.3 Test Report be issued.
Clear Conclusion:
- Air freight: 100% mandatory UN38.3; no report = no flight
- Sea freight: required by all shipping lines, ports, and maritime authorities
- Express: required for all pure battery and battery-equipped channels
An Easily Overlooked Detail:
Airlines, shipping lines, and customs require not only the UN38.3 report but also the UN38.3 Test Summary page.
This page is the focus of review; no summary page = invalid report.
Q4: Does UN38.3 report have an expiration date? Can I use a 3-year-old report?
This is one of the biggest misconceptions in the battery export industry:
Many people believe UN38.3 is valid for 3 years, but there is no official rule.
However, in actual export operations, the old report becomes invalid in these 3 cases:
- Any change in battery model, cell, structure, formula, Wh rating
- Update of international standards (e.g., IEC 62133 revision)
- Report issued more than 1–2 years ago
Airlines, shipping lines, and large forwarders are very sensitive to “old reports”:
If too old, they will assume your product may have been updated and the report invalid, and refuse to accept it directly.
Practical Suggestions:
- Regular stable shipments: renew every 1–2 years for safety
- New cells, molds, specifications: must retest; do not save testing fees
- Do not risk cargo detention or return for a small testing cost.
3. Exit Permit
Complete Guide to Dangerous Goods Packaging Certificate
MSDS and UN38.3 prove the battery itself is qualified.
Dangerous Goods Packaging Certificate proves packaging is qualified + officially approved by customs.
It is the document that most easily causes delays and disputes in domestic exports.
Q5: What is the Dangerous Goods Packaging Certificate? Where to apply? Can traders apply without factory qualification?
Full name:
Result Certificate for Use Identification of Transport Packaging of Exported Dangerous Goods
It is a legal document issued officially by customs, proving only two things:
- You are using qualified dangerous goods packaging (carton, wooden box, drum, etc.)
- Your battery and packaging match, and packing method is compliant
The Dangerous Goods Packaging Certificate consists of two parts:
- Packaging Performance Test Report: applied by the packaging factory to customs
- Usage Identification Report: applied by the battery manufacturer to customs
Application Location:
Local customs (formerly CIQ) where the factory is registered.
Biggest Pain Point for Traders:
Pure trading companies have no production line, no packaging workshop, no filing qualification,
so they cannot apply for the Dangerous Goods Packaging Certificate independently under their own name. They must rely on cooperative factories.
This is why for battery export, finding a factory willing to assist with certification is more important than finding customers.
Q6: Can I use the Dangerous Goods Packaging Certificate in batches if the quantity is more than the actual shipment?
Many factories apply for a large quantity at one time, and traders worry that “it will be invalid after one use”.
The official answer is clear:
The Dangerous Goods Packaging Certificate can be used in multiple batches.
Customs now fully implements electronic clearance:
- No longer “one-time use” old paper certificates
- Customs issues electronic record / replacement certificate
- Corresponding quantity is deducted for each export
- Unused balance remains valid until exhausted
For traders:
As long as the factory is willing to issue a large certificate for you at one time, you do not need to reapply for half a year or even a whole year, which is extremely efficient.
4. Key Transport Documents
Transport Condition Identification Report & DGD Declaration
These two documents are confused by 90% of newbies and are the main area for booking rejection.
Q7: What is the Transport Condition Identification Report? Is it the same as UN38.3?
They are completely different!
- UN38.3: safety test report of the battery itself, a process document
- Transport Condition Identification Report: conclusive document issued by a third party based on UN38.3 and IEC standards, determining:This battery → Dangerous Goods / Non-Restricted Goods / General Cargo
Core Value:
Small batteries (power banks, small batteries ≤ 100Wh, etc.)
can be identified as non-restricted goods through transport identification, achieving:
- Simplified transport process
- Lower freight and operation costs
- Exemption from Dangerous Goods Packaging Certificate on some channels
Important Rules:
- Air and sea identification reports are issued separately and cannot be mixed
- Valid for generally 1 year
- Must be issued by formal testing institutions recognized by customs to be valid
Q8: What is DGD required by shipping lines / airlines? Who fills it? Who is responsible?
DGD (Dangerous Goods Declaration) is a formal written declaration to airlines, shipping lines, and maritime authorities:
What kind of dangerous goods, UN number, hazard class, packaging group, quantity, and emergency contact.
DGD is a mandatory pre-booking document; even one wrong letter may result in rejection.
Who fills it? Who bears responsibility?
- Shipper / factory provides basic real data: MSDS, Dangerous Goods Packaging Certificate, UN number, dimensions
- Forwarders and customs brokers may assist in filling and system declaration
- The shipper bears 100% legal responsibility
In case of underreporting, misreporting, false reporting:
- Goods detained or returned
- Heavy fines
- Carriers reserve the right to claim
- Blacklisted by customs and maritime authorities
5. Customs Regulatory Red Lines
Commodity Inspection & HS Code & Customs Clearance
Export is not only “logistics feasible” but also customs clearance available.
Commodity inspection, statutory inspection, and HS code are the regulatory red lines for battery export.
Q9: Is commodity inspection required for battery export? How to judge?
Commodity inspection = statutory inspection, a mandatory supervision by customs for dangerous goods and sensitive products.
To judge whether inspection is required, only one basis: regulatory conditions of HS code.
- A: import statutory inspection
- B: export statutory inspection
Currently, most lithium-ion batteries (common HS code 85076000)
have regulatory condition B, meaning:
Export statutory inspection is required; customs clearance is allowed only with electronic record.
Key Reminder:
Even if your battery is identified as non-restricted goods and exempt from the packaging certificate,
if HS code includes B, commodity inspection is still required; you cannot skip it.
Q10: Does Chinese customs accept fully English MSDS provided by customers?
Actual rule for customs declaration and inspection:
Chinese customs generally do not accept pure English MSDS as the only review basis.
The reason is simple:
Domestic officers need to quickly and accurately judge:
- Whether it is dangerous goods
- Hazard class
- UN number
- Emergency measuresPure English may cause misunderstanding or misjudgment, leading to:
- Slower clearance
- Controlled inspection
- Direct rejection
Most Secure Practice:
- Customer provides English version → you prepare professional Chinese / bilingual version
- Information must be fully consistent, stamped and kept
- Proactively provide bilingual version for declaration and inspection for highest efficiency and lowest risk
6. Practical FAQs
Air Waybill, Document Reuse, Express Compliance
Anyone who has done battery export knows:
Even with all documents, shipments may be rejected due to wrong details.
Q11: Do I need to provide MSDS for every shipment?
As long as these 3 points remain unchanged:
- Product model unchanged
- Battery parameters unchanged
- MSDS version unchanged
MSDS is valid long-term after one filing; no need to reapply for each batch.
Practical process:
- First cooperation: provide stamped MSDS for filing
- Future shipments: note on booking instruction“MSDS as before, version XXX, filed”
- Attach a copy
Q12: How to fill in the lithium battery air waybill correctly?
Box 11 of the air waybill Nature and Quantity of Goods is the life-or-death section.
Standard filling example:
Lithium Ion Batteries, UN3480, in compliance with PI965 Section II
Three elements must be included:
- Battery name: Lithium Ion / Lithium Metal Batteries
- UN number: UN3480 / UN3090
- PI clause: PI965 / PI966 / PI967 / PI968
Missing, wrong, or abbreviated information → airline direct rejection.
Q13: What is Battery Declaration? Is it required for express delivery?
Battery Declaration (Battery Letter)
is a legal commitment from the shipper to the carrier, promising:
- Battery passed UN38.3
- Packaging complies with IATA DGR
- No underreporting or misrepresentation
Answer for express channels:
Mandatory for DHL / FedEx / UPS!
Without Battery Declaration, courier stations refuse directly, no pickup.
Documents must be submitted with goods and waybills.
7. Exclusive Solutions for Traders
How to Export Smoothly Without a Factory?
Pure traders, foreign trade companies, cross-border sellers are the most easily blocked group in battery export, but you can ship steadily with the right methods.
Q14: As a trader without a factory, how to obtain the Dangerous Goods Packaging Certificate?
Here are 3 fully workable solutions for you:
Solution 1: Single Header (Most Recommended)
When the factory applies to customs,
directly set the trader as the shipper.
You only need to provide:
- Business license
- Export informationThe certificate will be under your company name,you can declare and book directly under your own name.
Solution 2: Double-Header Customs Declaration
Dangerous Goods Packaging Certificate under factory name,
During declaration:
- Manufacturer: factory
- Shipper: traderAccepted by both customs and shipping lines.
Solution 3: Non-Restricted Goods Channel
For small-power, small-batch batteries,
apply for Transport Condition Identification Report.
If classified as non-restricted goods,
some channels exempt Dangerous Goods Packaging Certificate, greatly simplifying operations.
8. Ultimate Summary
Battery Export Documentation Golden Checklist
Print this checklist directly, send it to factories, forwarders, and customs brokers, and tick item by item:
- MSDS (Chinese-English bilingual, fully consistent with the product)
- UN38.3 Test Report + UN38.3 Test Summary Page
- Dangerous Goods Packaging Certificate (Performance + Use Identification / Electronic Record)
- Transport Condition Identification Report (Air / Sea separate)
- Battery Declaration / Battery Letter (Required for air / express)
- DGD Dangerous Goods Declaration
- Customs Inspection Electronic Record (for inspected batteries)
- Customs documents: invoice, packing list, contract, declaration form
- Outer box: UN mark, hazard label, Wh rating, batch number clearly marked
Battery export does not depend on price, but compliance capability.
Complete documents, consistent information, and standardized declaration will help you achieve:
Stable shipments, fast clearance, zero detention, zero return.