Ship ceramics and pottery from Vietnam — Bát Tràng, Hội An, Bình Dương
Fragile-safe individual wrapping, double-wall boxing, shipping insurance, and door-to-door delivery so your pieces arrive intact
Get a quote for your ceramics shipmentThree ceramic traditions — one shipping solution
Bát Tràng village, Hà Nội — A 700-year-old pottery village on the Red River, Bát Tràng is synonymous with Vietnamese ceramic heritage. Its blue-and-white glazed ware, crackle-glaze vases, and hand-painted teaware draw collectors worldwide. Many pieces are one-of-a-kind, made in family workshops that have operated for generations.
Hội An terracotta — The ancient trading port produces warm earth-toned terracotta: garden pots, decorative tiles, and sculptural pieces fired in traditional wood-burning kilns. The unglazed rustic finish is distinctive and beloved by interior designers, but the porous clay makes these pieces especially sensitive to impact.
Bình Dương contemporary studios — Vietnam's industrial ceramics hub south of Hồ Chí Minh City is home to modern studio potters producing sleek, minimalist designs alongside production-line homeware. Pieces range from thin-walled espresso cups to large sculptural installations — diverse dimensions that require tailored packing every time.
No matter which tradition your piece comes from, the shipping challenge is the same: fragile, irreplaceable, and impossible to buy again online. Wrapping in clothes and hoping for the best is not a strategy — it is a gamble.
Ceramics and pottery we ship regularly
Not on the list? If it is fired ceramic or earthenware and it is breakable, we can pack and ship it. Contact us to discuss oversized pieces or sets of more than 20 items.
Why ceramics need specialised packing
Ceramic is unforgiving — a single impact can crack a piece that survived centuries. International express shipments pass through multiple handling points: pickup, sorting hub, air freight, destination hub, last-mile delivery. Standard cardboard and bubble wrap from a convenience store is not engineered for this journey.
The risks are specific. Thin-walled items (Bát Tràng teabowls, espresso cups) shatter under lateral force. Handles and spouts are stress points that break under even moderate vibration. Multiple items packed loosely knock against each other in transit and chip each other's glaze. Internal hollow pieces — vases, pots — amplify resonance and can crack from the inside out.
Professional packing addresses each of these: individual wrapping isolates every piece; foam dividers eliminate contact between items; double-wall boxes absorb external impact; internal fill ensures zero movement inside the box. Nothing moves when you shake the package — that is the standard we work to.
One rule that surprises many customers: do not pack ceramics in glass jars or containers. If glass breaks in transit, shards can damage the ceramic surface or scratch glaze. Keep ceramics in cardboard or paper packaging until handover, and point out which pieces are the most delicate — we will give them extra attention during assessment.
Our ceramics packing process
Individual bubble wrap
- Every piece wrapped separately — no exceptions
- 2–3 layers for thin-walled or delicate items
- Extra padding on handles, spouts, and protruding parts
Foam dividers between pieces
- No two items touch inside the box
- Foam base layer absorbs downward impact
- Divider grid prevents lateral shifting
Double-wall corrugated box
- Two corrugated walls — significantly stronger than single-wall
- Sized to fit contents snugly — no wasted space
- High-value pieces: outer corrugated over-box (double boxing)
Fragile labels and orientation markers
- FRAGILE labels on all six faces of the box
- "This side up" arrows on top
- Weight assessment and carrier selection based on dimensions and weight
Insurance for ceramics and pottery
Shipping insurance for fragile items costs approximately 2–3% of the declared value — a small premium for coverage that replaces a piece if it is damaged or lost in transit.
For everyday souvenir ceramics under USD 50 per piece, insurance is optional. For Bát Tràng art pieces, collector-grade pottery, or any item you would be upset to lose, we strongly recommend declaring full value and adding insurance. Under-declaring to save on customs duties also voids insurance coverage — always declare the actual purchase price.
Keep your gallery or shop receipt. It is your proof of value for both customs declaration and insurance claims. If you paid at a market and did not receive a receipt, ask the vendor to write one — most will. If a piece has a gallery certificate or artist signature card, photograph it and keep it with the shipment documents; this supports both insurance valuation and any art-classification customs claim.
Customs: ceramics clear easily in most countries
Fired ceramics contain no soil, seeds, or biological material, so they sail through biosecurity checks in every major destination. The customs conversation is purely about declared value and applicable import duties — keep your receipt, declare accurately, and clearance is typically straightforward.
United States
No biosecurity restrictions on fired ceramics. Clears quickly. Since August 2025, CBP scrutinises high-value consumer goods more closely — accurate declared value is essential to avoid delays and penalties.
Australia
Fired ceramic = clear under biosecurity rules (no soil contact, no organic material). GST of 10% applies on the full declared value for shipments above AUD 1,000.
United Kingdom
Clears smoothly post-Brexit. 20% VAT applies above £135. Handmade one-of-a-kind pieces may qualify under art classification (HS 6913) — worth discussing with us if your piece is gallery quality.
Canada
CFIA biosec n/a. GST/HST applied on goods above CAD 20. Vietnam–Canada CPTPP agreement provides duty-free or reduced duties on many handicraft and ceramic HS codes — savings worth noting for larger orders.
Germany (EU)
Clears under standard EU rules. 19% VAT above €150 for commercial shipments; gifts below €45 are typically VAT-exempt. B2C sales from Vietnam use the IOSS scheme — we handle documentation.
Pricing and getting a quote
Ceramics shipping rates depend on the total packed weight and dimensions, the destination country, and the carrier. Because packed weights for fragile items can vary significantly based on packing requirements — a set of 12 teabowls needs far more material than 12 T-shirts — we do not publish per-kilo rates here. We assess each shipment individually to quote accurately.
Contact us on WhatsApp with a photo of your pieces and a rough count. We'll give you an estimate within a few hours.
Ceramics shipping FAQ
How should I pack ceramics before handing them to Gateway Express?
Keep each piece in its store bag or original packaging and do not re-wrap in clothing. Point out the most fragile items — thin-walled teaware, pieces with handles or spouts — and have your receipts ready for customs declaration. We will assess and repack everything professionally at pickup.
Do I need shipping insurance for Vietnamese ceramics?
For souvenir ceramics, insurance is optional but inexpensive. For art-quality Bát Tràng pieces, collector pottery, or any item you cannot replace, we strongly recommend insurance at approximately 2-3% of the declared value. Always declare the real purchase price — under-declaring voids coverage.
Will my ceramics face customs problems or biosecurity checks?
Fired ceramics contain no soil, seeds, or biological material, so they clear biosecurity in every major destination (US, Australia, UK, Canada, Germany) without restrictions. Customs attention is on declared value and applicable import duties — keep your receipt and declare accurately.
Is there a maximum size for a single ceramic piece you can ship?
We regularly ship floor-standing vases and large decorative urns. Pieces over 10 kg or with fragile protrusions may require custom crating rather than standard double-boxing. Contact us with dimensions and a photo — we will recommend the right packing method and carrier.
What happens if a ceramic piece breaks during transit?
If you purchased shipping insurance and a piece arrives damaged, we open a claim with the carrier on your behalf. Coverage reimburses the declared value. For uninsured shipments, liability is limited to the carrier's standard terms. This is why we recommend insurance for any piece you value — the cost is small relative to the peace of mind.
Get a quote for your ceramics shipment
Tell us what you have — we'll quote packing, shipping, and insurance options
Ship via the DHL, FedEx & UPS network