Using a freight forwarder to handle your import or export shipment might not be as costly as you think.
Firstly, freight forwarders have good contacts with various hauliers and shipping lines. Freight forwarders understand their industry, and their suppliers. Shopping around for the best price is standard practice here at Mercator Cargo, we obtain the best price for our customers. Using a freight forwarder can have this advantage, if you consider a potential shipment, where would you start? Would you ring around lots of suppliers to get the best price? Would you know which supplier offers which route or service? Mercator Cargo knows, and that’s why we are able to shop around for the most competitive price for you.
Would you know to ask suppliers if prices they gave you included this service, or that service? A freight forwarder can help you in this aspect, the price given will be the price paid. If you know your costs upfront, you can then work on your profit margins; how much do you need to sell this for to make a decent profit taking into account your shipping costs?
Finally, utilising a freight forwarder can prevent mistakes, thus saving money. For example, if a document is not in the right place at the right time, your shipment may have to be held on quay, or in storage, which can be costly. Putting your freight into trusting hands can alleviate this possibility of further costs incurred due to delays.
If you’re looking for a freight forwarder to take control of your shipping for you , then call us today to discuss your shipments – Tel. 02392 756 575. Email: sales@mercatorcargo.co.uk.
The biggest ever container ship is due to set sail on the waters in June this year. Rumoured to be taller than the 2012 Olympic Stadium and 400 metres long, it will be the largest vessel on the seas.
Named the Triple E, the new model of container ship will have holding capacity of 18,000 20 foot containers. Inside these 18,000 containers you could fit 863 million cans of baked beans, or 36,000 cars.
Currently, the largest container ship holds the equivalent of 12,500 20 foot containers. This is an increase in capacity of almost 50%. There are already discussions of an ever bigger vessel holding up to 30,000 containers.
The new Triple E ships are intended to run ocean freight services between Asia and Europe.
So what does this mean for the freight forwarding industry?
Bigger container ships are said to be more eco-friendly. Not only is technology becoming more advanced on these large container ships, but by carrying more cargo, the fuel footprint per tonne of cargo is reducing.
However, larger container ships bring their own problems, as ports are expected to either adapt to receive these bigger vessels, or the ships will call at other ports instead.
The Port of Felixstowe handles almost half of the UK’s container trade and has plans to increase its capacities by constructing a third rail terminal due to open later this year.
If you’re looking for a freight forwarder to handle your import or export sea freight, call us today – Tel. 02392 756 575. Email: sales@mercatorcargo.co.uk.
If you are looking for a freight forwarder to handle your import of curry paste into the UK, then look no further. As an experienced freight forwarder, Mercator has handled all kinds of cargo, including curry pastes as imports into the UK.
It is a wise decision to appoint a freight forwarder to handle your curry paste import, as it can be a complex matter.
It is important to check that the products you wish to import are allowed to enter the country, and to find out whether there are any restrictions or any particular documentation is required to import the curry paste into the UK. Before you purchase any goods, it is advised that you obtain a copy of full ingredients per product. If you choose us as your freight forwarder, you can then send the ingredients lists of the curry pastes to us, which we will get checked by UK Port Health. UK Port Health will be able to advise of any restrictions or additional documentation required based on the ingredients.
If you are considering shipping a less than container load (or LCL) via sea freight it can be complex, as there are restrictions as to what the curry pastes can share a container with, however it is possible. On the other hand, if you are looking to import a smaller load, air freight might be your chosen method of transportation.
So if you are looking to import curry pastes into the UK, using an experienced, UK based freight forwarder, then give us a call – Tel. 02392 756 575. Email: sales@mercatorcargo.co.uk.
When importing candles into the UK, there are a few things to consider. You will need to understand the charges you are required to pay for your import. These will include air/sea freight, handling, documentation, customs clearance, and VAT and duty. VAT and duty is currently around 6.5% (dependent upon country of origin) of the value of the candles to be imported and must be paid before release from customs. If you want further guidance on the costings of importing candles into the UK, then get in contact, we will be happy to provide you with a quote for your shipment. The more details you have about the shipment, the better, we will ask you things like the origin of the candles, where they were manufactured, how heavy the cargo is, how big the cargo is, the commercial value of the candles and where you would like it delivered in the UK. This way we can provide a price which will include a fully comprehensive shipping service: freight from destination, customs clearance in the UK and UK delivery.
It is recommended that candles which are transported for extended periods of time are kept in temperature controlled units (i.e. refrigerated containers, otherwise known as reefers). This is to ensure that whilst the candles are in transit, they remain intact and arrive safely at their destination.
Some candles for import or export are considered hazardous for transport, and require a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for import purposes. If you already have an MSDS for your import shipment of candles, let us know when you are enquiring so that we can provide an accurate quotation for your candle importation. If you are unsure whether you require an MSDS for your import of candles, just ask one of our experienced freight forwarders who will be able to point you in the right direction.
So if you’re looking to arrange an import of candles into the UK, give one of our experienced freight forwarders a call – Tel. 02392 756 575. Email: sales@mercatorcargo.co.uk.
If you import into the UK or export from the UK, you are most likely to either have a freight forwarder, or will be looking to choose a freight forwarder.
Here are a few questions that might be important to consider before choosing your freight forwarder:
Does your freight forwarder have links to or experience in importing or exporting to your origin or destination countries? Here at Mercator, we are part of a global network of independent freight forwarders. This means we have a personal freight forwarding contact in virtually every country in the world, allowing us to draw on local knowledge that other freight forwarders may not have access to.
Does your freight forwarder have time to spend talking through options and processes? As an independently run freight forwarding agent, Mercator’s experienced freight forwarders have the expertise and the time to deliver a first class service. When you choose us as your freight forwarder, you will be assigned a personal contact, your logistics expert if you like. This freight forwarder will be personally contactable via email and telephone, and will keep you updated with your shipment every step of the way. It is not coincidence that our first customer back in 1991 is still our customer today.
Does your freight forwarder listen to your forwarding needs and the needs of your business? We understand that it is important for your freight forwarder to be working with you. This is why we will do our upmost to deliver your goods on time, and keep you in the loop throughout your shipments movements.
Can your freight forwarder cope with a complicated shipment? As an independent freight forwarder, we have the time and the expertise to deal with complex shipments. Whether you have an out of gauge cargo shipment, or a delicate load, Mercator Cargo can assist you.
If the above points are important to you and your business, why not give one of our freight forwarders a call to discuss how we can help your business. Even if you’d like to just have a chat and get a quote, you are under no obligation to take up our services if you decide not to.
So to compare our service with your current freight forwarder, give us a call today – Tel. 02392 756 575. Email: sales@mercatorcargo.co.uk.
10, St George’s Business Centre,
St Georges Square,
Portsmouth, PO1 3EZ, UK
Mercator is a family-run, UK based independent freight forwarder, offering highly effective sea, road and air freight services around the world.
