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Global trade is essential for many successful businesses, providing them with opportunities to reach new markets, grow revenue and strengthen supply chains.

Expanding your operations overseas or taking advantage of global trade opportunities can unlock significant potential. However, getting your goods from A to B can come with some challenges– especially when goods are travelling into a different country.

From navigating customs regulations and international documentation to managing logistics and ensuring timely delivery, businesses need to carefully plan and address each step of the export process.

As a market-leading gateway logistics service provider, we thought we’d break down what to expect when exporting goods and what you need to do to ensure a seamless global supply chain for your business.

 

Freight forwarding

Naturally, businesses will need to arrange a mode of transport when exporting their goods into another country!

This can be by boat, plane, rail or road – and often involves a combination of these routes to ensure efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

It’s important to carefully evaluate which transport option best aligns with your timelines, budget and the nature of your goods.

For more guidance on which transport option may be best for you and your operations, check out our blog on How to choose the right method of freight for your goods.

Here at CCL, we are a BIFA (British International Freight Association) and IATA (International Air Transport Association) approved agent. Through our strong partnerships with reliable agents all over the world, we can offer you the best transport solutions.

This means we can help you plan freight forwarding that’s tailored to the needs of your business, ensuring your goods reach their destination in full and on time.

 

Customs clearance

Customs clearance can be a major hurdle for many businesses first exporting overseas!

Export customs clearance involves submitting a formal declaration with accurate details about the shipment to your country's customs authority. This is often done electronically through the National Export System (NES).

Depending on your goods, you may also need an EORI number, specialist software or an export license for restricted items. The process includes documentation, potential inspections and an official release once all requirements are met.  

Customs clearance can often be complex and time-consuming, with added risks of product delays or penalties if any documentation is missing or incorrectly processed.

To mitigate these risks and streamline customs clearance, it is common for businesses to use a customs broker or customs agent to organise their documentation for them.

As a market-leading gateway customs clearance and delivery service provider, we can offer data-driven customs clearance, compliance checks and HS code classification.

This service guarantees correctly processed and compliant entry of your goods, whether you’re exporting to or from the UK or Europe.

 

Regulation compliance

Customs aren’t the only regulation you may need to adhere to.

Products entering a different country will need to adhere to the laws and regulations of that country. Failure to do this could result in fines or legal action.

For example, electronic goods exported to the EU may require CE markings to demonstrate compliance with safety standards, while food products may need specific health certificates.

With over 25 years’ experience helping companies export goods overseas, our team of logistics professionals are here to guide you through complex foreign regulations – giving you peace of mind that shipments meet every requirement for their specific export destination.

 

Final mile logistics

When your products have been successfully exported to their destination country, their journey isn’t over yet.

The final mile is often the most critical stage of the delivery journey, directly impacting customer satisfaction and brand reputation.

To ensure the last step of your export process is handled with efficiency and care, we recommend researching and choosing a reliable final mile logistics provider.

We also have a strong carrier network to ensure your delivery requirements are always met, helping you offer faster delivery times that can enhance your business’ customer satisfaction.

 

Returns and refund management

If you’re a B2C company, you may have to process returns and refunds, which can be especially tricky overseas!

Not only can it be difficult to return the product back to its sender, but it can be challenging getting duty drawbacks that were paid for on the product too.

To help our clients with these reverse logistics challenges, we offer the value-added service of cross-border returns and duty drawbacks.

For companies importing goods into the UK, we also offer a dedicated warehouse return address. This not only simplifies the returns process for your customers but also allows you to recover VAT and duty paid at import from HMRC.

 

For all your export needs, CCL has you covered

At CCL, it’s always our goal to make our clients’ export supply chain smooth, efficient and hassle-free.

Whether you’re entering new markets or expanding your existing operations, our expert team provide hands-on support for establishing and managing international shipments.

Ready to take your export supply chain to the next level?

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