Linda Mitchell

It is very well known that any successful business leader will acknowledge the major importance of effectively organized logistics. They understand that implementing seamless logistics is a key element in keeping pace with customer demands and outperforming competitors. Whatever your business location or industry, logistics can help cut on the costs and time you spend to move products from one point to another. Supply chains are complex and sensitive as they depend on always-changing customer demands. A supply chain cannot ensure high value if it is without effectively organized transport. For this reason, logistics is one of the most crucial factors in the quality of any supply chain. If you look at effective transport done right, you might get the impression that it “seems simple”. It actually requires a lot of special knowledge, skills and professional management to get it to look so “effortless. It takes a lot of specialized assistance to get it to flow so smoothly. Effective transport improves a supply chain by decreasing the waste of materials and time. This helps supply chain professionals transport products and deliver them to the right location, on time – which is a priority for any successful business.

As I know, some countries realize economic growth not just from the export of their own products, but from providing logistics services to cargo from and to other countries. A good example is Singapore, The Netherlands, and Belgium. Namely, Singapore’s economy heavily relies on Singapore’s role as a transhipment hub between East and West. At the same time, the Netherlands and Belgium serve as gateways to Europe, thanks to the Port of Rotterdam and the Port of Antwerp, the two largest ports in Europe. Much of the maritime cargo in Europe passes through Rotterdam or Antwerp, including cargo from/to all European countries. For example, cargo from Eastern European countries would first be transported to Rotterdam or to Antwerp, where it would subsequently be loaded on an Ocean Carrier travelling to other continents. This is a very common scenario in global trade.

Exporting can be a risky business. Operating in an unfamiliar, the foreign market will always throw up new challenges to navigate, however, established business may be in its domestic market. The difference between success and failure when doing business overseas is being prepared. There will always be risks when entering a new market, but identifying those risks ahead of time and putting measures in place to manage those risks can help to minimise their impact on the success of your business overseas. Export risks can be quite different depending on which country your business is exporting to. However, there are four common risks all small business should be aware of when doing business in international markets: Political risks; Legal risks; Operating risks; Currency risks.

Taking into account the legal sources, The Automated Export System or AES is an electronic export information gathering and processing system developed through the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the export community, the U.S. Census Bureau, and other federal agencies. The AES collects export information electronically from pre-approved participants to the system.

According to the border system and general definition taking from official sources, customs brokerage firms are agencies which facilitate the shipment and delivery of goods across geographical borders for individuals and organizations. Our society is often unaware of the sheer magnitude of goods and raw materials that cross these international borders every single day and what is involved in clearing these goods through customs in different countries.