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Dangerous Cargoes Largely Undeclared, IATA

[ October 1, 2026   //   Gary Burrows ]

Undeclared dangerous goods accounted for 81 percent of dangerous-goods incidents reported to the International Air Transport Association during the first half of 2025, as growing e-commerce volumes and widespread use of lithium batteries create new risks for air cargo supply chains.

IATA recorded 3,465 dangerous-goods incidents from Jan. 1 through June 30, 2025, including 2,798 involving undeclared or hidden dangerous goods. Lithium batteries and concealed hazardous products such as perfumes and aerosols are among the principal concerns, according to a new IATA white paper on cargo safety and security.

IATA said the rapid expansion of e-commerce has increased the number of shipments entering air transport through complex networks involving manufacturers, online marketplaces, fulfillment centers, postal operators, freight forwarders, integrators and airlines.

Products containing lithium batteries, aerosols, perfumes and flammable liquids can be presented as ordinary consumer goods by sellers with little understanding of dangerous-goods requirements, the association said.

The white paper also warns against relying primarily on additional cargo screening to solve the problem.

Existing aviation-security screening systems were developed principally to detect weapons, explosives and other security threats rather than improperly declared dangerous goods. IATA said differences in cargo size, density, packaging and sensitivity can further limit screening effectiveness.

Expanding screening requirements without appropriate technology, training and resources could increase false alarms, inspections and costs while reducing cargo throughput, according to the report.

Instead, IATA is calling for a layered approach that identifies dangerous goods as far upstream in the supply chain as possible. Measures include better shipper education, competency-based training, improved shipment documentation, commodity and customer profiling, automated data analysis and greater information sharing among regulators and supply-chain participants.

The association said large e-commerce fulfillment centers can provide opportunities to identify dangerous goods before shipment through automated commodity databases, staff training and product-screening processes. Direct-to-consumer marketplaces involving large numbers of independent sellers present a more difficult enforcement and education challenge.

IATA also identified deliberate concealment as a growing security issue. The report cites improvised incendiary devices concealed in consumer electronics and placed into cargo shipments beginning in 2024, with additional incidents reported through 2025.

Tags: International Air Transport Association