The customs clearance process at international borders is the most complicated part of the package journey. Unless you take the time to research the myriad rules and regulations that affect cross-border delivery, your customers may experience frustrating delays when receiving orders.
Even within the GCC, a regional political and economic union, customs rules vary from country to country - and they often change on a daily basis.
So choose the appropriate carrier is especially important, because the GCC gulf countries respective control requirement is different, so for the transport of goods is not the same, and the whole Monsieur beaucaire tong logistics as deep for many years to logistics service providers in the Middle East, for transportation requirements, specifications, size, the item restrictions will have shipment details in detail, let the seller before shipment, friends Reduce the difficulty of customs clearance.
I. Factors affecting customs clearance
Many factors can affect whether your shipment is cleared smoothly or delayed -- sometimes by several days.
However, the main causes of border delays are as follows:
1. The documents attached with the goods are incorrect or incomplete
2, not strictly abide by the local customs rules and regulations
There is a shortage of customs personnel
4. Extreme weather
5. High value goods require special government approval
Second, some projects need approval from relevant departments.
International customs rules and regulations change frequently, making it difficult to keep up to date. What is acceptable one day may not be acceptable the next. Getting it wrong can lead to customs detention at best and, at worst, your goods being returned to their place of origin or even confiscated. Of course, these problems can affect customer satisfaction and damage your business image.
Therefore, if you are engaged in international sales business, you should certainly consider a logistics company specially equipped with double clearance service to handle cross-border customs clearance for you.
Third, valuable logistics partner logo
You will know you have found a good cross-border logistics partner if they provide you with the following services:
1. Continuous update of local laws and regulations.
2. Informed advice on how to handle any changes in customs rules.
3. Accurate information of relevant documents and how to complete them to meet customs requirements.
4. An integrated online tracking system allows you to track packages at every stage of the package, including cross-border tracking.
Documents that may be required for international delivery
While the list may vary from one border point of entry, in general, goods crossing an international border need to be accompanied by the following documents:
Bill of lading
Packing list
Certificate of transport insurance
Proof of delivery
Certificate of origin
Customs invoice.
4. Main causes of cross-border transport delays
These are some of the main reasons for customs delays, according to multiple surveys:
1. Incorrect or missing customs invoice information. The most common information problems that result in customs invoices being rejected or queried by border authorities include:
1. Not using transport company letterhead as required in many countries.
2. The phone number is incorrect. Ensure full phone numbers of shipper and receiver of goods are provided with correct country and area codes.
3. Missing the tax number of the payee.
No Incoterms or terms of sale are specified. It is necessary to state clearly, for example, whether your package is being shipped DDP (delivered duty paid) or DDU (delivered duty unpaid). This has a major impact on the shipping and delivery of packages.
Incorrect currency code.
The type of export or import, such as permanent, temporary or maintenance, is not specified.
2. The HTS code is incorrect
The code constitutes a standardized global system for knowing what products are being shipped. HTS codes help overcome language barriers and allow international customs officials to assess duties on goods. If you use the wrong code in your shipping document, your shipment will most likely be rejected.
3. Value difference
Many people underestimate the importance of providing the actual value of shipping goods. Customs officers would certainly ask about impossible values. A customs invoice must have value even if the shipment is not intended for sale or resale. Total quantity and value shall be in accordance with AWB value.
4. Inaccurate description
A general description of the goods shall be provided on the AWB and bill of lading and a full description shall be provided on each line item of the Customs invoice. Vague descriptions will not pass customs officers.
5. Incorrect country of origin
The terms country of origin (COO) and country of manufacture are often confused. It's best viewed from the point of view of a customs officer. The starting point of shipment is not necessarily in the country of origin.
COO is, in the view of the customs authorities, the place where goods are manufactured wholly or partly in accordance with the rules of origin of the country of destination or the agreed rules of the trade agreement.
Five, go digital to improve efficiency
A good way to reduce cross-border shipping problems is to digitize all documents. Shipping companies traditionally use paper documents, which are then handled manually by many people during delivery.
The process is slow and cumbersome, and files are easily misplaced or corrupted. Going digital means that all parties can see the status of goods in real time. If files are lost or incorrectly filled, new files can be quickly transferred, minimizing delays and reducing operating costs.
6. Complexity of GCC customs clearance
Deals across THE GCC border can sometimes seem a bit like walking through a minefield. One mistake and the journey ends.
The GULF Cooperation Council, a regional political and economic alliance made up of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, is working to improve the efficiency of cross-border trade among these countries, although their efforts have yet to bear tangible results.
GCC member states have constantly changing rules and regulations that apply to their own countries. Only specialized customs clearance agents can keep abreast of all changes in each country's border governance policies.
Smsa defines itself as "a comprehensive Saudi Arabian company that, in addition to providing specialist logistics services, serves ordinary citizens and companies through an extensive network connecting 325 towns and cities throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by meeting internal and international parcel delivery needs."
SMSA offers its customers a package of services including freight tracking, same-day delivery and cash on delivery, in addition to SmartShip, a service specifically designed for craft merchants, social networking transactions and Internet sales, as well as logistics services such as customer warehouse management and inventory.
We choose SMSA as the last mile delivery, which has become the most satisfactory end delivery partner for customers. Moreover, it is very fast in customs clearance, which can be completed in two days at the earliest.