Dealing with customs is a constant challenge for any business involved in international trade. Regulations on imports can be complex, with individual countries often having fine nuances to their customs rules that can make compliance a time-consuming process, which, more often than not, leads to a few headaches. 

Thankfully, freight forwarders, such as Millennium Cargo, are here to help you navigate complex customs regulations, making international shipping the efficient process you need it to be.

Why Are Customs Rules So Complicated?

Each individual country must look after the needs of its citizens, and international trade can be extremely impactful to national economies. Balanced correctly, imports and exports are of huge benefit to nations, but that balance is complex and difficult, requiring fine-tuning that is often goods specific. This means there is no simple ‘one size fits all’ solution, as each country has its own list of import tariffs, restricted items, and individual paperwork that must be completed to meet its requirements.

Global trade standards are in place to smooth this process as much as possible, with over 98% of the world adhering to useful trade systems such as the HS (Harmonised System) Code that streamlines international custom through clear codes for goods identification, but even that can seem difficult and complex for anyone not used to dealing with it on a daily basis.

What Does a Freight Forwarder Do?

Freight forwarders like us oversee the complete shipping process. Included in that brief is the need to manage the complexities of different countries’ customs regulations, releasing the burden of complex paperwork from our customers’ shoulders.

Our expert team has years of experience in meeting international compliance rules, with established relationships with customs authorities and partners around the world. For you, this leads to behind-the-scenes efficiency. Our team deals with the vast majority of customs requirements without any need for you to become involved.

We simplify the whole process:

• Ensuring customs paperwork is accurately prepared, with the experience to know what’s required and in what format, no matter the destination country.
• Avoiding delays and fines by ensuring everything is in order before shipping, to facilitate smooth customs clearance.
• Managing duties and taxes so you don’t have to. The customs compliance costs are calculated in advance and folded into the overall price of shipping, so you can budget for them appropriately. Plus, they’re broken down clearly so you can see what you’re paying and where.
• Staying up to date with regulation changes, no matter how frequent!

The Real World Benefits for Your Business

Doing things in-house is great if you can afford the team of experts needed, but for most things that are not truly the scope of your business expertise, outsourcing is essential.

Consider the other services you outsource on a regular basis – marketing, office cleaning, IT support, building repairs… The idea that you should build a department for everything that isn’t your core business is ridiculous. Freight forwarding is no different. The expense that it would cost for most businesses to fully manage their shipping requirements in-house would make international trade impossible. It makes sense to use a third-party freight forwarder.

We:

• Save you time – Time is money, but it’s also the mental weight of trying to get something right when it’s not your area of knowledge. We can move efficiently with the years of experience behind us, to make sure your cargo administration is accomplished smoothly.
• Save you money – And not just from saved time! With established relationships and a vast network of global shipping partners, we secure the best prices for freight and select the most optimal methods of transportation, passing those savings on to you. Why overpay for your freight when you can take advantage of our cost-effective services?
• Save you headaches – When it comes to customs compliance, something going wrong can be extremely stressful. Having an experienced partner alongside who can navigate the complexities of international shipping is the support you need to deal with any surprises.

Unless you’re a multinational corporation with a dedicated department for managing your imports and exports, working with a freight forwarder provides essential advantages. 

Why Choose Millennium Cargo?

With decades of experience in moving cargo around the world, Millennium are perfectly placed to provide you with the finest in international shipping support.

We’ve got the know-how you need to overcome the maze of customs rules and regulations smoothly. When you work with Millennium, you can rest assured that your shipment is prepared to meet every requirement of the destination country’s specific import criteria – and if something’s changed and there’s a problem, you know that you have top quality professionals using their vast expertise to deal with the issue quickly and efficiently.

Why trust your valuable cargo with anyone else? Contact Millennium Cargo today for a no-obligation discussion of your worldwide shipping needs, and let us lift the burden of customs regulations from your shoulders.