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.
Construction of a new bridge has begun, linking the freight forwarding container ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles (LA) on the West Coast of the USA.
The current bridge linking the two international container ports is to be replaced by a higher bridge, allowing for some of the world’s largest freight vessels to visit the freight forwarding port of Long Beach.
The clearance of the new bridge will be 200 feet, an additional 45 feet on the current height. This will mean larger freight forwarding vessels will be able to safely pass to the port.
The project at the freight forwarding port is estimated to take around four years in total and cost approximately $1 billion USD.
If you are looking to export goods to the USA via the Long Beach or Los Angeles ports, or import through these ports, give our team of freight forwarders a call to discuss your requirements – Tel. 02392 756 575. Email: sales@mercatorcargo.co.uk.
The freight forwarding port of Charleston, South Carolina in the USA, has seen a recent increase in shipping container traffic; handling over 1.5 million equivalents of 20ft containers at its two container terminals last year.
Charleston container port has been named the fastest growing container port on the USA’s East Coast between January and November last year. This increase in size and capacity makes it an ideal port for freight forwarders to ship cargo via sea freight to and from for an efficient and reliable service.
Part of the port’s successes in the increase of container traffic is due to the improved export services and new carrier services to places such as Vietnam and Australia via ocean freight. These improved links between (for example) the USA and Vietnam add to the sea freight forwarding list of options of routes and destination ports.
Charleston container port has stated that it wishes to continue this growth, in particular increasing refrigerated cargo (in refrigerated containers sometimes known as reefers), forest and agricultural products and container imports for e-commerce retailers.
If you would like to speak to a member of the Mercator Cargo team today to discuss your import from Charleston, USA, or an export to the United States, call us today- Tel. 02392 756 575. Email: sales@mercatorcargo.co.uk.
As we are now in 2013, you may be thinking of expanding your UK based manufacturing business. Perhaps you have a product that is selling well in the UK, but you’re considering the global market place. Freight forwarding might seem a daunting area for new exporters, but we’re here to help.
As experienced freight forwarders based in the UK, we can offer a comprehensive service to all our customers, both large and small. As a family-run, independent freight forwarder, we are able to take the time to guide you through exporting your UK manufactured goods to the global market.
Mercator offers air, sea and road freight worldwide. We are rather unique in that we are a founding member of a global network made up of other independent freight forwarders like us. This allows us personal contacts in almost every country around the world, and invaluable, local knowledge.
Think you might need hand-holding the whole way? No problem. We are well versed in introducing the procedures to new exporters.
Need advice on different options? Mercator can offer advice on ocean freight, air freight and road freight, including costings, transit times, and any local charges you may incur at your goods destination.
Mercator began trading over twenty years ago, and our first customer back in 1991 is still our customer today.
If you’re still wondering if we’re right for you, why not give us a call on 02392 756 575, or email sales@mercatorcargo.co.uk, and either George or Jess will be in touch about your export freight.
Gulftainer has won a bid to develop and run a new container port in Tripoli, Northern Lebanon. An investment of $60 million will fund machinery for the new port, including three ship-to-shore gantry cranes, nine yard cranes and up-to-date technology to manage the yards and containers in the new port smoothly.
Once the port has been completed, it will be able to receive some of the largest container ships in the Eastern Mediterranean. The new Port of Tripoli will alleviate some of the congestion at nearby Port of Beirut, and an alternative terminal to that of Tartous and Lakakia in Syria.
The new port will provide another route for imports and exports to Iraq from the Mediterranean Sea. This will cut transit times from Europe to Iraq, allowing cargo to pass through the new Tripoli Port and travel via road to its destination in Iraq. Currently the Umm Qasr Port (Iraq) and the Gulftainer Port in Tripoli (Lebanon) are not linked via rail, although it would only take 31km of track to link the two ports.
Call Mercator today to discuss your shipment to or from Lebanon – Tel. 02392 756 575. Email: sales@mercatorcargo.co.uk.
Mercator can offer shipping services for abnormal loads and oversized cargo. Examples of loads we are able to deal with include yachts, planes, locomotives, wind generators and propellers to name a few.
Cargo of this nature needs to be handled with care for loading and unloading and specially secured during transit by sea. Mercator can arrange for your oversized load to be transported in the safest and efficient way. With over twenty years of experience in the freight forwarding business, our team of freight forwarders have the knowledge and experience to be able to advise you about options when shipping your out of gauge (OOG) cargo.
Arranging for cargo which does not fit into a standard container requires experience and full understanding of possibilities when it comes to ocean freight. Some freight services on offer include flat-rack, RoRo (roll-on, roll-off), timber beds, hiab/crane deliveries and low loaders. With Mercator’s team of freight forwarders, we can assist you in arranging the safe transportation of your oversized cargo load.
Call us today to discuss your out of gauge (OOG) cargo shipment with details of rough dimensions and weight – Tel. 02392 756 575. Email: sales@mercatorcargo.co.uk.
Just a few weeks ago, the port of Southampton in the UK saw the arrival of the largest container ship. Named Marco Polo after the explorer, the container ship measures a whopping 1,299ft long by 177ft wide. The vessel is longer than four football pitches.
The container vessel, owned by CMA CGM can hold up to 16,000 containers; it’s this capacity that makes it the world’s largest sea freight container ship.
New technology incorporated into new container ships such as the Marco Polo, for example, the advances in hydrodynamics, decrease CO2 emissions and energy consumption. The ship’s electronically controlled engine uses an average of three percent less fuel than a regular engine. Provisions to prevent oil leaks (via a specially designed double hull) and reducing the transfer of micro-organisms from one ocean to another (via a water treatment system) have also been made. Advances such as these make new container ships more environmentally friendly and conserving for the marine environment.
Competitor Maersk is working on building an even larger ocean freight container ship to hold 18,000 containers, after previously holding the record for the largest shipping vessel with capacity of 11,000 containers.
The Marco Polo container ship will adopt a route to link Asia to Northern Europe. As one of the fastest ocean freight services between Asia and the United Kingdom, it also has comprehensive coverage of China, visiting Ningbo, Shanghai, Xiamen and Hong Kong to name a few, visiting Southampton in the UK .
Call us today to discuss your import shipment from Asia to the United Kingdom – 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.
