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The number of import businesses is growing every year, and rightly so. When done correctly, running an import business can be very lucrative. However, despite the fact that so many people choose to become importers, only a tiny portion of them can make it big.

Why is that? Because most import businesses are unable to import successfully. When importing a good, it is essential that companies plan out the process carefully and executes it perfectly. For anyone planning to start or grow an import business, here are 5 essential tips for a successful import.

1. Know the Hold-Up Policies
At times, people leave their containers at the airport for longer than the allotted “free” time. After this time has passed, ports or railway stations charge a fee for the containers left on site.

The fee, or demurrage charge, may be charged per day or according to the size of the container. In any case, demurrage charges can go up to very high amounts. Hence, businesses need to make sure they’re up to date with what the charges are and when they’ll be imposed.

Luckily, it is not tricky to find the demurrage fees. A quick Google search will show you the most information you should know. These fees are usually available on government websites.

These demurrage charges are imposed so that ports and railways can make sure the containers are used efficiently. These charges are also used to compensate the shipping lines for overtime and also encourage importers to remove their goods within a reasonable time.

To stop costs from rising and keep profit margins high, businesses need to remove their containers as soon as possible.

2. Make Sure You Are Working With the Right People
Importing a good is a team effort. If even one person on the team lags behind, the whole team slows down, and the import may not be successful.

When importing something, businesses must get an import clearance through a clearing agent. For a successful import, importers should hire a clearing agent who is qualified and experienced. While getting clearance, a business must also have a commercial team to prepare essential documents, such as the commercial invoice.

In the case of both a clearing agent and the commercial team, having excellent and qualified people aboard matters immensely.

3. Make Sure There Are No Banned Goods
When importing goods from a different country, it is necessary to account for goods that are banned in either country. For example, it is permissible to import wine to the U.S. and Europe, but not to some Muslim countries. Some prohibited goods that cannot be imported into the U.K. are controlled drugs, dangerous weapons, pepper sprays, endangered animals, and inappropriate material.

For a successful import, businesses must ensure that the good they import is not banned. In some cases, a company can get a license or a permit to allow a banned good to be imported into a country. If a business does end up ordering something banned, they can attempt to obtain the permit.

4. Find Out the Packing Rules
In many countries, imported goods must be packed a certain way for a successful import. This is primarily to prevent the goods from damage.

Goods may pass through extreme weather and be subject to harsh loading conditions. Therefore, it is essential to ensure they are packed according to the requirements to avoid damage.

When planning for the import, businesses should keep a record of the packing requirements and policies of the countries they are importing from.

5. Be Aware of the Route
At times, the route between one country and the other is straightforward and direct. At other times, it is not. In the case of indirect routes, there is a higher risk of delay in delivery. Therefore, it’s crucial for businesses to do their research on the route and know whether to expect a delayed delivery.

After finding out the route and the possibility of delay, a business will have the option to cancel the shipment or to take a different route. This can help prevent uncertainty in the import business.

Additionally, when a shipment is moving from one country to the other, it may pass by different countries on the way. At times, those countries may require a check, even though the goods are not meant for them. When a business does this research, it is vital to make sure we know any such laws as well.

From machinery and pharmaceutical equipment to bulk goods and personal effects, thousands of cargo is being transported every day across the globe.

Whether you’re a first time shipper or looking to relocate to a new country with your household goods, you will want to make sure your shipment arrives in good condition.

And that means having adequate packaging to prevent damages while considering external factors such as conditions that your shipment may be exposed to and the amount of handling involved.

The last thing you would want is to have your shipment arrived damaged, and left being unable to file an insurance claim due to improper packaging.

To understand the importance of adequate packaging and how to avoid damages, we spoke to Jose de la Roche, sales director of GLT Logistics, a third party logistics company focusing on solutions that simplify inland freight shipping processes, to get his insights and expert tips.

1. Why is proper packaging so important?
It’s for the security and safety of the goods that you’re transporting and to avoid claims, damages, and losses.

Some people try to save money on packaging without looking at the big picture. When preparing your packaging, it is really important to consider the type of cargo that you’re shipping and also its transit.

If you are shipping FCL, for example, there are fewer handling points and minimal pickup and drop off. But if you are shipping domestic LTL, there will be multiple people handling the freight. That, as well as the number of times the cargo will be loaded and unloaded from the truck, must be considered.

2. How important are labeling and padding?
They are really important. Workers at the dock, airport, or carriers and freight forwarders, do not know what commodity they are handling when loading or unloading.

If you have cargo that needs to be handled differently, make sure to include labels such as ‘this way up’, ‘handle with care’, ‘fragile’, ‘do not double stack’, so that they know to handle the pallet with care.

It’s also really important to have those on all sides of the crate or pallet for better visibility.

3. How often do shipments get damaged due to lack of proper packaging?
Every day. There is a great deal of loading and unloading involved in the transportation industry. During transportation, cargo is constantly being shifted, compressed, and jolted around from external changes. And not to mention it is also exposed to changes in humidity and temperatures.

It is very common for us to see packaging mistakes that will result in claims being filed. From our experience, trucking and insurance companies often deny these claims on the basis of inadequate packaging as an excuse.

That’s, unfortunately, the reality of it. So to reduce the probability of having to file a claim, make sure to use proper packaging.

When shipping household goods, for example, most people are reluctant to spend too much money. So they just end up buying boxes and tape at the local store and doing their own packaging and they expect to receive their goods in perfect condition.

But then they get a shock when they open the boxes at destination and see something broken. The lesson here is: when you do not pack freight correctly, there are many problems that can arise.

4. In your experience, what are some of the most common mistakes made in packaging?
One of the most common mistakes is having parts of the cargo overhanging or having misaligned boxes. These may cause the boxes to fall and get damaged, especially when being handled by a forklift.

We also see some people stacking too much weight on the same pallet or placing oversized cargo on pallets. Cargo that is too long, too big, or too heavy, is very hard to handle and two forklifts may sometimes even be required, hence increasing the risk of damages.

Another common mistake is double stacking freight that is not meant to be double stacked or loading boxes on pallets without any shrink wrap or any other kind of proper securing.

5. What advice do you have for shippers who decide to handle their own packaging?
When shipping overseas, many shippers do not realize the conditions their cargo go through. They prepare their cargo as if they were shipping domestic and fail to consider the international journey.

International transportation is very different from domestic transportation. When shipping overseas, it is important to make the extra effort to secure and use the right type of packaging.

The type of commodity must also be considered. Shipping screws or bolts differs greatly from shipping medical equipment or special machinery. When shipping expensive or fragile goods, I would recommend investing a little more in packaging to make sure goods arrive securely at destination.

6. How can a shipper go the extra mile with preparing the packaging for their shipment?
If you are shipping something that’s fragile, expensive, heavy, or oversized, it’s better to hire a company that offers professional pa

Ocean freight is the best way to ship heavy or oversized cargo, thanks to the large carrying capacity of shipping vessels. Different shipping containers in various sizes can accommodate oversized ocean freight cargo. The smallest container is 20 feet in height, and the largest that can be offered is 45 feet.

If you are shipping heavy and oversized cargo by sea, we recommend full container load (FCL) shipping to maximize your costs.

Tips to Reduce Costs When Transporting Heavy Loads

Shipping heavy and oversized cargo can get very expensive. But there are ways that you can reduce your costs.

1. Adjust packaging

Packaging can enlarge cargo even more, and sometimes, it’s not recommended if you’re trying to save on shipping costs. However, you can adjust your packaging by reducing it, fitting more products into one container, or deflating plastic packaging. These can reduce the space taken up by your cargo and reduce costs accordingly.

2. Consider shipping in bulk

If you are a frequent shipper, you can make the most out of your shipping costs by maximizing less frequent orders. For example, consider shipping orders cargo together in bulk instead of shipping weekly. This scheduling tactic will reduce how often your ship and each shipment will cost. However, this may not be a viable choice for time-sensitive shipments.

3. Right container type

The different sizes of containers also come with other costs. Moving 40-foot containers, for example, is more expensive than driving a 20-foot unit. Hence, it would help if you were smart about the size of the container you choose.

Shipa Freight and iContainers combination creates one of the top-five digital forwarding platforms in terms of number of visitors

KUWAIT – Agility, a global leader in supply chain services, infrastructure, and innovation today announced that its digital freight forwarding arm, Dubai-based Shipa Freight, will merge with Barcelona-based iContainers, a pioneer in online freight platforms.

Shipa Freight and iContainers will combine technology platforms and operations. The combined company, wholly owned by Agility, will be one of the top-five most-visited online freight forwarding platforms globally.

The merger will create one of the most comprehensive suites of digital forwarding services available, including:

• Standard air and ocean freight shipments for business customers, ranging from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to multinational companies requiring spot shipments.
• Household relocation services for individuals moving from one country to another.
• Agent services for local forwarding companies that are looking for international partners in key markets.
• “White label” digital forwarding services that can be seamlessly integrated into B2B e-commerce platforms.

The digital forwarding market has spiked with the rapid acceleration of e-commerce and the desire of merchants, B2B sellers and entrepreneurs to have self-service tools that allow them to manage their own logistics and provide them with a greater control and visibility of their supply chain.

“Digital forwarding was growing before the pandemic, and the pandemic has accelerated digital adoption. This is especially true among small businesses looking to find a trusted partner to support them through the supply disruption of the last few years, said Henadi Al-Saleh, Agility’s Chairperson. “We expect the digital freight forwarding market to grow by over 40% a year over the next few years. We’ve seen this demand reflected in rapid growth rates in Shipa Freight and iContainers’ active users and revenue.”

Al-Saleh said Agility “sees the number of small and medium-sized businesses trading across borders growing dramatically as sellers adapt new digital tools and prioritize online sales. The Shipa Freight - iContainers merger will create a stronger company to serve these customers.”

Carlos Font, CEO of the combined Shipa Freight - iContainers entities, said: “By uniting two of the industry’s leading digital forwarders, we can bring tremendous value to customers. Both have deep expertise, and joining forces will strengthen the technology platform, improve customer experience, and help expand the service offerings and geographic coverage for customers around the world.”