UK based freight forwarder, Mercator recently handled the sea freight from Thailand of a 40’ high cube container from Bangkok Port to Felixstowe, with UK import customs clearance and final delivery arranged by our team.
The goods were purchased on FOB (Free On Board) terms by the UK importer. On FOB, the supplier was responsible for export customs and formalities, and delivery the container to the port of export in Thailand. Once the shipment was loaded onto the vessel for sea freight from Thailand to UK, the risk and responsibility transferred to the UK importer. From that point onwards, Mercator’s team coordinated the sea freight from Thailand, UK import customs clearance and delivery to the customer’s premises in the UK.
Felixstowe is one of the UK’s leading container ports and a key gateway for imports arriving from Asia. Regular services from Thailand to the UK across various shipping lines provide options to UK importers with reliable connections into the British market.
Following arrival at Felixstowe port of the sea freight from Thailand, our import team handled the customs clearance, payment to HMRC of import VAT and duty, settling UK landside charges with the shipping line, obtaining release and completing delivery to door with our network of trusted hauliers out of Felixstowe port.
Import customs clearance forms an important part of any import movement, ensuring goods are declared correctly and released without unnecessary delays. By managing this process in-house, we were able to coordinate customs procedures alongside port handling and delivery arrangements, helping to keep the shipment moving efficiently. After release from customs and the shipping line, the full container was collected and transported directly to the customer’s premises for unloading.
By managing the shipment from the FOB point in Thailand through to delivery in the UK, we provided our customer with a single point of contact throughout the movement. This approach helped simplify the import process while ensuring all stages of the shipment were coordinated effectively.
Whether you’re importing a full container, less than container load (LCL), or even air freight, our team can help you with your shipping from Thailand. We have a longstanding partnership with our agent based in Bangkok thanks to our founding membership of the freight forwarder network MarcoPoloLine. As such, we have local knowledge and expertise on the ground in Thailand, enabling our team to assist customers on shipments across all incoterms, including EXW (ex works) and FCA (free carrier) to name a few.
Thanks to our HMRC awarded Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) status, when choosing Mercator you can be sure that you are dealing with a reliable business which is proven to uphold certain standards in tax and customs compliance, record keeping, practical standards of competence, and financial security. To get in touch with our team to request a quote for your sea freight from Thailand, 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.
Vietnam is an increasingly important sourcing market for UK importers, supplying everything from furniture and textiles to consumer products and manufacturing components. Mercator’s import team recently handled a sea freight from Vietnam shipment involving a full 40′ high cube container moving from Ho Chi Minh City to the UK.
The shipment was purchased on FOB (Free On Board) incoterm, meaning the supplier was responsible for delivering the container to the port of export and loading onto the vessel, while the UK buyer was responsible for the sea freight from Vietnam and the rest of the journey to their door in the UK.
Once the container was loaded onto the vessel in Ho Chi Minh City and responsibility and risk transferred to the UK importer, Mercator took control of the shipment, arranging the sea freight from Vietnam to the UK and coordinating the import process through to final delivery.
For larger consignments, a full container load (FCL) often provides the most cost-effective and secure shipping solution. Utilising a high cube container adds roughly 30cm of extra head height, equating to an extra 8cbm of space. This is ideal for lightweight goods which can be packed “to the rafters” or for taller items.
Mercator is AEO (Authorised Economic Operator) accredited, awarded by HMRC, so when you appoint Mercator to handle your UK customs clearance, you can rest assured that you are dealing with a company which has been proven to uphold certain standards in tax and customs compliance, customs record keeping, practical standards of competence, and financial security. A practical benefit being efficient and compliant customs controls and procedures for both imports and exports.
The commodity in this shipment was eligible for preferential tariff treatment under the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement. The goods qualified for preference and were supported by the appropriate origin documentation, allowing the importer to claim preferential treatment at the point of import (supported by our team who undergo regular updates to ensure compliance).
Once the container arrived in the UK, our team arranged import customs clearance and managed the formalities required for the cargo to be released. Following customs clearance, the container was collected from the port and delivered directly to the customer’s premises in the UK.
For many importers, understanding and utilising available trade agreements can have a substantial impact on overall landed costs. When managed correctly, sea freight shipping from Vietnam can offer not only competitive freight rates but also valuable customs duty savings.
If you have a shipment for sea freight from Vietnam (or even air freight) get in touch with our team who will be happy to provide you with a quote. Whether it is from door in Vietnam, which we can arrange in conjunction with our agent in Ho Chi Minh, or from port in the UK, and anything in between, we can assist you with your sea freight from Vietnam. You can get in touch with our team to request a quote by calling us on (+44) 02392 756 575, emailing sales@mercatorcargo.co.uk or by 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.
Mercator is a UK based freight forwarder handling shipments to the USA regularly. Our export freight forwarder team was recently tasked with this 40’ shipping container to the USA.
Working on behalf of the UK exporter, Mercator arranged the delivery of the shipping container to the export site for loading, haulage to London Gateway port, marine insurance, VGM (verified gross mass), UK export customs and sea freight to Charleston, USA. As the UK exporter sold the goods to their US customer on CIF incoterm (cost, insurance & freight), their responsibility for the shipment ceased once the shipping container landed at Charleston port in the USA, at which point the paperwork and shipment was handed over to the freight forwarder in the USA (as appointed by the US importer).
Sea freight to the USA can take as little as 7 days to New York (port to port), and can go up to 30 days if shipping to the West Coast – passing through the Panama Canal. This particular route, from London Gateway, UK to Charleston, USA, takes around 10 days port to port. If the consignment is a full container load, then you can add just a few days either side of the transit time for cut-off times set by the shipping line and relevant customs checks and submissions. For LCL to the USA, you could be adding up to a week either side for loading, unloading, customs and handling by the warehouses.
If you are looking to appoint a freight forwarder to the USA to handle your exports, then get in touch with our team for a quote. Whether your shipment is a simple FOB (free on board) shipment, or all the way to door in the USA (on DAP or DDP terms), we can handle the whole thing for you. We have a strong relationship with our partner freight forwarder in the USA, who we will liaise with for you to get your shipment delivered as to your requirements with minimal hassle.
You contact the 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.
Whether you are shipping machinery that is used or new internationally from the UK, you will need to consider some important points before beginning the process.
Firstly by selecting the kind of shipping container equipment that is most suitable for your cargo. If you can get the machinery in a standard or high cube 20’ or 40’ container then these are the most readily available pieces of equipment for shipping. However, if the nature of the machinery means that it isn’t possible to load through just one end of the container, then a flat rack or open top shipping container might be the most suitable. An open top is useful when the cargo is out of gauge in height, whereas a flat rack will cater for out of gauge in height and or width.
Other considerations when shipping machinery include relevant paperwork such as commercial invoice for export, UK export customs clearance, certificate of origin (if required by your buyer at destination), and most importantly any export controls or sanctions at destination. Most of these points will either be handled by your UK-based freight forwarder (such as Mercator) or can be advised as to processes to complete these.
The above images are of two mini diggers which Mercator’s export team arranged for shipping from the UK. We organised the loading, lashing, draining of fuel and battery disconnection to prepare for export from the UK. Our team also handled the delivery to the Port of Felixstowe, loading onto the sea freight vessel and export ocean freight.
In this particular example, the machinery was used, so the draining of the fuel tank and disconnection of the battery was required to be able to ship the flat rack container and contents as non hazardous. For some destination countries, used machinery such as this will be required to be cleaned, free from dirt and debris. This is an important point to consider, and something we will be able to clarify with our agent at the destination country upon your enquiry.
If you are looking for a service for shipping machinery from the UK, please get in touch with our team who are well versed in handling out of gauge and unusual loads. You can get in touch with our export 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 has an import team who regularly handle sea freight from South Korea to the UK. We were recently instructed to arrange this FOB shipment which included the sea freight of a full shipping container Busan through to Southampton port and onwards to the importer’s door.
In conjunction with our partner agent based in Seoul, we arranged the sea freight from South Korea to the UK. Once the container arrived in the UK, our import team completed the UK customs clearance, devann and delivery to the importer’s door on trucks with tail lifts due to restrictions at the unloading site.
There are weekly sailings from the major ports in South Korea: Busan, Incheon and Pyeongtaek, calling at various ports in the UK. Sailings of sea freight from South Korea to the UK ordinarily take around 35-40 days, however given the Suez Canal diversions, schedules are taking up to 55 days port to port.
If you have a shipment from South Korea to the UK, whether it is a full container, a single pallet for LCL or you wish to utilise air freight, then get in touch with our import team who will be glad to provide you with a quote. 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 someone will be in touch.
Consolidated shipping is where a number of orders from different suppliers are combined in to one shipment. For example, if you were buying goods in the USA from more than one company, you could arrange to have all the orders delivered to a warehouse where they could then be consolidated and shipped together as one shipment.
By consolidating a shipment, you can streamline your delivery process, save money on shipping costs and even reduce carbon emissions.
Consolidated shipments can be sent via sea, road or air freight. In the case of sea freight, your consolidated shipment can be a number of orders that fill one whole container, or several pallets together as a LCL (less than container load) shipment. Mercator regularly handles consolidated air freight shipments from South Korea, and we have organised UK export consolidated shipments.
If you are in the process of organising a consolidated shipment for UK export or UK import, 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.
