How to Reduce Damage and Loss When Shipping Dried Flowers Internationally

Dried flowers are delicate by nature. For B2B buyers importing dried flowers wholesale or preserved flowers bulk from China, a key concern is how to keep them intact during international shipping. While some damage is inevitable, understanding the causes and applying the right measures can significantly reduce loss rates.

Why Dried Flowers Are Prone to Damage

Dried and preserved flowers have a fragile structure. Without the moisture of fresh flowers, their stems and petals can break more easily. The main causes of damage include:

• Fragility of material: Thin stems and petals can snap under pressure.

• Long-distance handling: Multiple loading and unloading stages increase risk.

• Environmental changes: Extreme temperature or humidity during transit can cause brittleness.

For example, small filler flowers like lavender may shed seeds, while larger blooms like hydrangea can lose petals if not properly cushioned.

Choosing the Right Transport Method

Air Freight

• Advantages: Faster delivery (7–15 days), fewer handling stages.

• Loss rate: Typically 1–3% for most products.

• Best for: Urgent orders, smaller batches, fragile premium flowers (e.g., preserved roses, hydrangeas).

Sea Freight

• Advantages: Lower cost for large volumes.

• Loss rate: Generally 3–7% due to longer transit time and more handling.

• Best for: Large bulk shipments, sturdy varieties like palm leaves or pampas grass.

Tip: Some clients combine both methods—air for urgent or fragile items, sea for high-volume, sturdy products.

Factory-Level Protection Measures

At EterniBlossom, we use professional packing methods to minimize transport damage:

• Individual wrapping: Each bunch is placed in an OPP sleeve or tissue wrap.

• Carton reinforcement: Double-layer cardboard boxes prevent crushing.

• Void filling: Soft cushioning materials reduce internal movement.

• Custom carton sizes: Matching box size to product reduces empty space.

Before shipping, we also conduct drop tests and simulate stacking pressure to ensure packaging strength.

Buyer Strategies to Reduce Loss

As a buyer, you can also take steps to keep loss within acceptable limits:

• Order slightly more than needed to cover expected loss rates.

• Select sturdier flower types if shipping via sea freight.

• Plan ahead to avoid urgent shipments that require suboptimal packing.

• Request packing photos before shipment to confirm quality.

Conclusion

While 100% damage-free delivery is unrealistic for dried and preserved flowers, choosing the right transport method, working with an experienced preserved flowers supplier, and applying smart packing strategies can keep loss rates low. With careful planning, your products can arrive in excellent condition and delight your customers.

Need a supplier that understands international shipping challenges?
Contact EterniBlossom today for our wholesale catalog and learn how we optimize packaging for both air and sea freight.