Freight forwarder Mercator’s export team were recently instructed to arrange air freight to Mexico from the UK of UK manufactured engineering equipment.
Due to the urgent nature of the shipment, the shipper in the UK agreed with their customer to arrange via air freight to Mexico. Whereas there are direct flight options from the UK to Mexico on a daily basis, as the shipper in the UK was based nearest to Manchester airport, the best routing was to fly via Cancun, and then on to Mexico City. This indirect schedule took 3 days. Comparing this with sea freight, which takes approximately 21 days port to port, adding on a few days either side for full loads, and up to 5 days for less than container loads (LCL), the customer much preferred to utilise air freight.
In addition to arranging the collection of the goods and delivery in to Manchester airport for air freight to Mexico City, our export team also handled the export customs clearance in the UK and obtaining a certificate of origin for the goods. Once the shipment arrived at the destination, the agent in Mexico took over control on behalf of the importer in Mexico.
Customs in Mexico can be complex, and there are particular elements to be aware of, however, in conjunction with our partner agent in Mexico City, we ensured that the paperwork was all present, marks on the crates were as required, and everything was in order before flying. This preparation can prevent issues at destination, which is especially sensitive in countries with strict rules. Team that with urgent air freight and high costs of storage at airports, and it can quickly spiral out of control.
It is so important to ensure that when dealing with shipping to Mexico, that you are using a reputable freight forwarder who has strong connections with an agent in Mexico, which we are fortunate to have thanks to our founding membership of MarcoPoloLine. If you are shipping via sea freight, you may wish to negotiate extra free time with the carrier when the shipment arrives in Mexico, to allow plenty of time to clear and move the shipment off quay.
Air freight to Mexico is not a usual route for us, but we have the connections and knowledge to ensure a smooth operation. If you have a shipment for Mexico, get in touch with our team for a quote. In conjunction with our partners in Mexico City, we can offer all incoterms up to DAP, and in some cases DDP. You can get in touch with our team by calling (+44) 02392 756 575, emailing sales@mercatorcargo.co.uk or completing the form below and we will be in touch.
Freight forwarder Mercator recently handled shipping FCL to Chile for a UK exporter specialising in shampoo and hair treatments. The goods, which were manufactured in the UK, were sold under CFR (cost and freight) incoterm, meaning the exporter assumed responsibility for the cargo from their premises all the way to the destination port in Chile.
As such, our export team handled the process from door in the UK including
Upon arrival at the port in Chile, our partner agent based in Santiago, ensured a smooth handover to the Chilean importer for the remainder of the journey.
There are regular sailings from most UK ports for sea freight to Chile, the main port in Chile being San Antonio. Direct sailings take around 34 days port to port for sea freight to Chile from the UK. Thanks to our founding membership of the freight forwarding network MarcoPoloLine, we have longstanding connections with our partner agent based in Santiago. This partnership means we can offer our customers a full to door service – including DAP/DDP when required.
FCL to Chile (full container load) was selected as the shipment was 7 pallets. A 20’ container can accommodate up to 10-11 pallets depending on the pallet size. While slightly more expensive than LCL, FCL can offer slight time savings. LCL shipments can add up to 7 days either side of the shipment for loading, unloading and customs. FCL can be much swifter adding just a few days for cut off times, lifting off the ship, collection of the container and customs. By opting for FCL to Chile, the UK exporter prioritised speed and efficiency – which are key features when it comes to international trade, maintaining customer satisfaction and supply chain reliability.
Our freight forwarding services also include import shipping from Chile to the UK – via sea and air freight. Our team is also well versed in handling oversized cargo and refrigerated shipments. So if you have a shipment for FCL to Chile (or from Chile) get in touch with our team who will be glad to provide you with a quote. To get in touch with the team, you can call us on (+44) 02392 756 575, email sales@mercatorcargo.co.uk or complete the form below and we will be in touch.
UK based freight forwarder, Mercator, was recently tasked to handle an LCL China to UK shipment. The freight consisted of 6 pallets and were purchased on a FOB (free on board) incoterm.
When purchasing goods on FOB, you are responsible for the costs and risk from the point at which the cargo is loaded onto the vessel for shipping to the UK. The supplier at origin (in this case China) will be responsible for export customs, loading of the goods, transportation to the port, and loading onto the vessel.
Mercator’s import team therefore asked our partner agent in China to liaise with the supplier to coordinate the delivery of the cargo to the agreed vessel departure and coloader. Our team in the UK then took control and arranged the sea freight, import customs, and delivery to door in the UK.
LCL China to UK shipping is more economical than air freight, and usually more economical than FCL shipping. When you opt for LCL China to UK shipping, you only pay for the amount of space your shipment takes up in the shared shipping container, where as with FCL, you pay a flat fee. There is a point at which FCL becomes a better option, and this can be 8-9 pallets in a 20’ shipping container. LCL does take longer than air freight though, and generally up to a week longer than FCL due to the packing and unpacking times involved at each end.
If you have a LCL China to UK shipment and you are looking for a quote, get in touch with our team, in partnership with our agent in China, we can cover most ports in China, and every mode. Teamed with our in house customs clearances at the major sea freight ports in the UK and our AEO status with HMRC, choosing Mercator means you are choosing an established freight forwarder who takes customs compliance and processes seriously, allowing for a smooth shipping journey. To request a quote you can get in contact with the team by calling (+44) 02392 756 575, emailing sales@mercatorcargo.co.uk or completing the form below and we will be in touch.
Freight forwarder Mercator’s import team was recently appointed to handle FCL shipping from Japan for one of our UK based customers. Due to the volume of cargo – 9 pallets – our customer opted to ship the goods via a 20’ shipping container from Japan to the UK.
The goods were purchased in Japan on a FOB (free on board) incoterm, which means that the UK importer was responsible for the shipment from the point at which the shipping container was loaded on to the vessel in Japan. The exporter in Japan handled the export customs, loading of the container and transport to the vessel.
Our team was appointed to deal with the sea freight for FCL shipping from Japan, the UK customs clearance, landing charges in the UK, and delivery to the importer’s door in the UK. Due to restrictions at the delivery site, our team arranged for the 20′ container to be “devanned” and delivered on a smaller vehicle with a tail lift.
There is a trade deal in place between the UK and Japan – The UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. As an importer this might mean that the commodity you are importing could qualify for preferential import duty rates. In order to check this, you can enter the commodity code into the UK trade tariff and select Japan from the drop down country list. Typically you’ll require simply a statement on origin on the commercial invoice, our import team will be able to advise you further including the specific wording that is required.
Mercator has “badges” at the major sea freight ports in the UK, allowing us to complete our own customs clearances, providing our customers with a speedy and accurate service. Thanks to our AEO status, our customers can benefit from our vetted processes and compliance.
Transit times from Japan to the UK via sea freight are typically 55-60 days. You may not realise, but FCL shipping from Japan is actually slightly faster than LCL shipping. This is due to the loading and unpack times at origin and destination. Time added either side to an LCL shipment could be up to 4 days, sometimes even a week. A 20’ container can hold 10-11 pallets, so if you have a shipment of 8 or 9 pallets, selecting FCL might not only be quicker, but can also sometimes be more cost effective.
Get in touch with our import team if you are looking for a quote for FCL shipping from Japan, we will be glad to help. Get in touch with our team by calling (+44) 02392 756 575, emailing sales@mercatorcargo.co.uk or completing the form below and we will be in touch.
Shipping lines began re-routing their cargo ships back in December 2023 / January 2024, following attacks on commercial shipping vessels by Houthis. The re-routing has involved a 3,000 mile diversion around the Cape of Good Hope, in order to avoid the Red Sea and minimise risks on sea freight vessels and crew. This routing has lengthened transit times and, naturally, increased costs involved in sea freight shipping.
In the first half of 2025, there appeared to be a lull in the number of attacks by Houthis on commercial sea freight shipping vessels. Most shipping lines remained cautious and have continued to route around the Cape of Good Hope. However, the beginning of July saw some dramatic and violent attacks, resulting in the sinking of two bulkers, and the death of at least three seafarers.
Given the current climate, it looks likely that the majority of shipping lines will maintain their cautious approach, avoiding the Red Sea, keeping the current routing around the Cape of Good Hope and associated costs on sea freight.
If you are utilising sea freight for your shipments, either involving routing around the Cape of Good Hope, or traffic from the West, get in touch with our team to request a quote. We have established relationships with the major shipping lines and consolidators (for LCL shipping), teamed with our AEO status and ability to perform customs clearances at most UK ports, UK based freight forwarder Mercator is well placed to handle your sea freight requirements. You can get in touch by calling (+44) 02392 756 575, emailing sales@mercatorcargo.co.uk or completing the form below and we will be in touch.
Figures reported by the World Shipping Council show that in 2024 there was a large increase in the number of shipping containers lost at sea compared to the previous year. Over 250 million shipping containers were transported in 2024, of these, 576 were lost at sea. 2023 figures were reported as just 221 (a record low).
The increase has been a result of the diversions of container traffic around the Cape of Good Hope, with over 200 of the 576 containers lost in the region, particularly during the severe winter storms in the area.
Around a third of the losses can be attributed to just three different vessels: the CMA CGM Belem (losing 99 containers overboard), the CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin (losing 44) and the MSC Antonia (46 overboard).
Whilst the occurrence of shipping containers being lost at sea is a very minimal risk (0.0002%), insuring cargo is a very straightforward task when you are arranging your shipment with a freight forwarder such as Mercator. We can offer cargo insurance in conjunction with your shipping package, the price of which is worked out as a percentage of the goods value plus the freight cost.
If you are looking for a UK based freight forwarder to handle your shipping tasks, get in touch with our team who will be happy to quote you. Our team is experienced in all modes, sizes and commodities for import and export shipping. You get contact the team by calling (+44) 02392 756 575, emailing sales@mercatorcargo.co.uk or completing the form below and someone will be in touch.
UK based freight forwarder Mercator was recently appointed to handle an export air freight to the USA from the UK of machinery parts.
Our partner agent in the USA was handling the shipment for their customer who had purchased the goods on an EXW term. Our export team organised the collection of the goods and delivery to the airline, along with UK export customs clearance and air freight to the USA.
This particular consignment of air freight to the USA included a wooden crate which was considered too large to be accommodated on regular passenger aircraft. Our export air freight team therefore arranged for the entire consignment to transit via a specialist cargo airline which is able to accept larger items on their freighter aircraft.
The routing for this air freight to the USA was indirect from London Heathrow to Atlanta in the USA. Due to the nature of the goods, an indirect flight on a freighter was the only option to the desired airport in the USA. However, there are daily direct flights from London to all the major US airports if cargo can be accepted on regular passenger flights.
Air freight to the USA from the UK transit time is less than a day if on a direct service, adding a few days either side for acceptance and screening by the airline, UK export customs clearance, and customs clearance in the USA. Indirect can add anything over 2 days to the transit time depending on connections.
If you have air freight to the USA and are looking for a quote, get in touch with our team who will be happy to provide full costing to you. We are also able to offer a complete door to door service if required. Contact our team by calling (+44) 02392 756 575, emailing sales@mercatorcargo.co.uk or completing the form below and someone will be in touch.
Firstly, let’s recap what a freight forwarder is. A freight forwarder handles cargo on behalf of importers and exporters. A freight forwarder arranges transportation on behalf of companies, via sea, air or road freight.
Freight forwarders work directly with companies that are importing or exporting. They act as the intermediary between these “shippers” and the providers of the transport (shipping lines, airlines, hauliers etc). Companies like Mercator handle international transportation by sea freight, air freight and road freight. A freight forwarder may also have the ability to handle customs clearances in their own country (like Mercator handles UK customs clearances).
A freight forwarder is like an outsourced department working in conjunction with your business to handle your import and export shipping for you.
If you are looking for a new freight forwarder to help with your shipping, whether it is UK exports or UK imports, then get in touch with our team who will be glad to help you with a quote. Our team can be reached by calling (+44) 02392 756 575, emailing sales@mercatorcargo.co.uk or completing the form below and someone will be in touch.
