UK freight forwarder Mercator’s export team recently handle a shipment for less than container load LCL to Mexico from the UK. The LCL to Mexico shipment consisted of 8 stackable crates with engineering equipment.
As the pallets were stackable, due to the nature of the packing and the goods, it made sense to ship via LCL to Mexico, rather than by a full shipping container. Had the pallets been non-stack, it could have been feasible to ship on a full container basis. LCL shipping allows shippers to share the cost of the ocean freight, handling fees, and port fees, rather than bearing the full cost of a shipping container.
The UK exporter sold the goods to their customer in Mexico on CIF (cost, insurance and freight) Incoterm, meaning the UK exporter was responsible for the LCL to Mexico shipment from door in the UK to the port in Mexico. Our team therefore handled the UK export customs clearance, pick up from door in the UK, delivery to Southampton port for consolidation, marine insurance and LCL sea freight to Altamira, a port north of Mexico City.
Transit time for sea freight to Mexico from the UK port to port is around 20 days. When dealing with LCL shipping, add approximately 7 days prior to sailing for cut off times and loading into the shared shipping container. Likewise, once the goods have arrived at the destination port, add an additional 7 days for customs clearing of the shared container and unpacking.
Thanks to our founding membership of the freight forwarder network MarcoPoloLine, we have longstanding and trusted connections with our partner agent based in Mexico City. As such, we are able to handle shipments to Mexico on all incoterms, including DAP (delivered at place).
If you have a shipment for LCL to Mexico, get in touch with our team who will be glad to provide you with a quote. To contact the team, email sales@mercatorcargo.co.uk, call our office on (+44) 02392 756 575, or complete the form below and we will get back to you.
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.
Cargo Week Americas and Expo Carga are running this June in Mexico City.
The aim of the international trade exhibition is to allow members of international trade to meet and discuss business together. It is a great networking opportunity, and Mercator (and independent, international freight forwarder) will be in attendance this year.
Paul, our MD, will be representing Mercator Cargo on the Marco Polo Line stand (Stand Number 423). Marco Polo Line (or MPL) was set up as a global network for independent freight forwarders like Mercator. We are proud to be a founding member of this international network.
As a part of MPL, Mercator has strong relationships with other freight forwarders around the globe. This allows us invaluable local knowledge and personal contacts where ever your cargo goes.
If you are attending Expo Carga, please come and say ‘hello’ to Paul. And if you are looking to book a meeting as part of the ‘Cargo Week Americas’, we will be represented by Luis, who is fluent in English and Spanish. To arrange a one-to-one meeting, please email Mr. Alexandre Surman (who speaks fluent English) asuman@glidatex.com
