Build Export Success - Delivery: Containers, Carriers And Customs

Delivery: Containers, Carriers And Customs

Packaging Requirements

Your merchandise must arrive on time and in perfect condition. The packaging must be designed to resist damage in transit and to conform to possible heavy-lift requirements. It has to resist both thieves and climate en route and at destination. Today, most shipments are containerized.

Environmental regulations in the country of destination may determine how you need to pack your goods. Increasingly packaging must be recyclable. Germany, for example, has one of the toughest packaging laws in the world requiring companies to take back and recycle packaging used during transport or arrange for someone to do this. While the importer has immediate responsibility, your competitiveness in the market will depend on your ability to meet such criteria.

Transportation Costs

Transportation costs play a critical role in determining whether an export sale is pro?table or even feasible. The success of your export marketing strategy will depend on getting your goods into the foreign market at a competitive price. While the responsibility for transportation is negotiated in the terms of sale, it is always essential to understand the costs and alternatives available. Make sure you comply with all regulations if transporting hazardous materials.

The Freight Forwarder

A competent freight forwarder can save you time and effort in planning the best methods for shipping, routing and the preparation of export documents. To ensure that your forwarder is doing the job for you at a competitive price, you also need to understand the basics of freight forwarding.

Since your potential customer compares quotations from all sources on the basis of his delivered costs, it is critical that you select the most cost-efficient method for shipping your goods. Cost savings from your freight forwarder are vital to your competitive and profitable export selling price.

Exporters of smaller shipments might consider using the services of a freight forwarder who can offer consolidation at better prices than shipping independently, as well as the convenience of single billing and tracing service. Check the reliability, capability and experience of the freight forwarder best suited to you.

Meeting the Standards

Standards are playing an increasing role in regulating trade in all industry sectors. You must meet merchandise standards and codes in all states of the United States and in the European Union (EU). In the EU, for example, the European Commission issues directives for speci?c merchandise groups, outlining minimum requirements that must be met before goods can circulate freely throughout the EU. You need to identify what directives affect your goods and what standards must be met. The Standards Council of Canada can provide relevant information.

ATA Carnet: Duty-free Admission

The ATA Carnet is a special customs document providing for temporary, duty-free admission of commercial samples, advertising materials, professional equipment into the countries participating in the system. The Carnet allows the traveling exporter to:

use a single carnet for goods that pass through customs of several countries in one trip
make these arrangements quickly at a pre-determined cost
make as many trips as desired within the one-year period of validity of the Carnet

To obtain a Carnet, an exporter will be required to provide security to the extent of 40 percent of the value of the shipment, which is held for up to 30 months. Security is refunded or canceled provided the Carnet documents are in order and there is proof that the goods have been returned to Canada.