Why this page exists
Some goods cannot be carried at all. Others can, but only with the right classification, packing, documents and approvals in place before the cargo moves. Getting this wrong is expensive: cargo is detained, vessels and aircraft refuse it, fines follow, and in some cases it is a criminal matter.
This page is a plain-language guide so you know what to tell us early. It is general information, not a classification ruling for your shipment.
The rule that matters most: tell us what it really is. Declare your cargo accurately and early, and we will find the compliant route. Mis-declared cargo is the single most common cause of a shipment stopping dead.
Cargo we will not carry
We decline these outright, on any mode, regardless of documentation:
- Narcotics and controlled substances outside a licensed pharmaceutical supply chain.
- Weapons, ammunition, military and dual-use items without the required end-user certificate and government authorisation.
- Counterfeit goods and items that infringe trademarks or copyright.
- Alcohol, pork products and other goods prohibited from import into the Kingdom.
- Ivory, protected wildlife and anything restricted under CITES without a valid permit.
- Hazardous, radioactive and electronic waste for dumping.
- Human remains and body parts.
- Cash, bullion, bearer instruments and loose precious stones as ordinary freight.
- Any cargo whose true nature has been concealed or mis-declared to us.
Cargo we carry with approval
These move regularly on our network — but only when the paperwork is right and booked in advance. Talk to us before you book, not after:
| Category | What we need from you |
|---|---|
| Dangerous goods (IMDG by sea, IATA DGR by air, ADR by road) | A current safety data sheet, UN number, proper shipping name, class, packing group, and a declaration signed by a certified shipper. |
| Lithium batteries | UN 38.3 test summary, state of charge, and whether they ship loose, with equipment or in equipment. Air carriage is tightly capped. |
| Pharmaceuticals, food, cosmetics and medical devices | SFDA registration or import permit, and the temperature regime if it is cold chain. |
| Chemicals and industrial gases | Full composition, SDS and any Ministry or Civil Defence approval the substance attracts. |
| Regulated goods requiring SASO / SABER conformity | A Certificate of Conformity issued before shipment — it cannot be fixed at the port. |
| Used machinery and vehicles | Proof of age and condition, clean and drained of fuel, plus any pre-shipment inspection. |
| Project, out-of-gauge and heavy-lift cargo | Exact dimensions, weight, centre of gravity and lifting points, so we can plan route surveys and permits. |
| Temperature-controlled cargo | The set point, the tolerance, and what should happen if it is breached. |
| High-value cargo | Declared value in advance so we can arrange the right cover and security. |
Saudi-specific requirements
Importing into the Kingdom has its own rules that catch first-time shippers out:
- SABER / SASO: regulated products need a Certificate of Conformity issued before the goods sail. Arriving without one means detention.
- FASAH: shipment data must be lodged in the national single window before arrival.
- SFDA: food, pharma, cosmetics and medical devices need registration and often a prior import permit.
- ZATCA: accurate HS codes, origin and value. An optimistic HS code is not a saving; it is a penalty waiting to land.
- Arabic labelling and shelf-life rules apply to many consumer goods.
- Halal certification is required for meat and poultry.
Rules change. What was compliant last quarter may not be this one — ask us to check your commodity against the current position before you buy.
How to declare cargo correctly
Send us this at enquiry stage and we can usually confirm feasibility the same day:
- A precise description of the goods — the commercial name, not just “parts” or “samples”.
- The HS code, if you have it.
- Gross and net weight, dimensions and packing type.
- A safety data sheet for anything chemical, powdered, pressurised, magnetic or battery-powered.
- Origin, destination and the incoterm.
- The end use and the end user, for anything that could be dual-use.
If you are not sure whether something is regulated, assume it might be and ask. That question is free; a detained container is not.
Check your cargo with us
Not sure? Ask before you book.
Send the details to inquiry@bafcointl.com or call +966 12 642 0333 and we will tell you what it takes to move it compliantly — or tell you honestly that we cannot.