Technology and Electronics Logistics

What technology and electronics logistics covers

This page covers commercial technology cargo moving to Syria: servers, storage and network hardware, telecom equipment, computers and peripherals, consumer and industrial electronics, instruments and controls, solar inverters and power electronics, batteries and battery-powered equipment, and components and spare parts. Each item is assessed on its model, value, battery content, packing and origin before a mode is proposed.

Air or sea

Air freight is sold by chargeable weight: the greater of the actual gross weight and the volumetric weight, which under the general IATA rule is length by width by height in centimetres divided by 6,000. Electronics carry high value per kilogramme, which is why urgent replacements, samples and small high-value orders often go by air.

Planned volume, rollouts and project quantities usually suit sea freight, as a full container or as LCL consolidated through Jebel Ali. When part of an order is urgent, it can be split: the urgent items by air and the balance by sea, with a separate invoice and packing list for each mode.

High-value handling

For high-value equipment we ask for a packing list that carries the model and serial numbers, the carton count and the gross weight per carton, so that the consignment can be checked against the documents at each handover. Cargo consolidated at our Jebel Ali warehouse is tallied against each supplier's invoice before it is loaded.

Airlines apply their own handling codes to valuable cargo, and those are agreed with the airline before the cargo is tendered rather than discovered at the counter. Declare the value and any handling sensitivity at the first enquiry.

Lithium batteries and dangerous-goods rules

Lithium batteries are dangerous goods in transport. By air they follow the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations; by sea, the IMDG Code. Batteries shipped on their own are treated differently from batteries packed with equipment or contained in equipment, and air carriage applies limits that sea carriage does not; some configurations are restricted to cargo aircraft or not accepted by air.

Classification is the shipper's responsibility and starts from the manufacturer's data: battery type, watt-hour rating or lithium content, the safety data sheet and the battery test summary. Damaged, defective or recalled batteries need specialist review. Carrier acceptance is confirmed before booking. Our dangerous goods page covers the wider review.

Export-licence check for US-origin technology

Technology of US origin can be subject to export controls. Before booking, we check with the shipper whether the item needs an export licence, and we ask for the manufacturer's export classification for the item. The licensing determination belongs to the exporter and the relevant authority; MIDTRANS does not make it and does not book the item until the shipper has answered the question.

Equipment of European origin goes through the dual-use screening described on our Europe to Syria page.

Cargo insurance for technology cargo

A carrier's liability for lost or damaged cargo is limited by international convention and calculated by weight or by package, not by the value of the goods. For electronics, where a light carton can carry a high invoice value, the gap between that cap and the replacement cost is carried by the cargo owner unless cover is placed.

Insurance is not automatically included. We arrange cargo insurance on the declared value, placed before the goods move.

Solar inverters and power electronics

Solar inverters, charge controllers, panels and battery storage often travel on the same order but are not the same freight. Inverters and controllers are electronic equipment; panels are fragile and bulky and suit container loading with bracing; lithium battery storage is dangerous goods and is classified and booked on its own terms. We plan the mix so the battery portion's classification and carrier acceptance are settled before the booking goes out. See also energy logistics.

Customs clearance in Syria

For electronics, the commercial invoice should give the model, a clear item description, quantity and unit value, and the packing list should carry the serial numbers where available. The import file carries the certificate of origin and the bill of lading or air waybill naming the Syrian consignee exactly as registered; on the UAE and Egypt lanes the certificate of origin and invoice are legalised by the Syrian diplomatic mission. Where the commodity is licensed or restricted, the importer holds a prior import approval from the Ministry of Economy and Foreign Trade before customs registers the declaration.

Wireless and telecom equipment may need further approvals at destination; the importer confirms these with the competent authority before shipment. See customs clearance in Syria. HS Code, duty, tax and customs-clearance information must be verified with the official customs authorities and the appointed customs broker before shipment.