Avoiding Demurrage Charges: New Strategies for Import Container Shipping

Avoiding Demurrage Charges: New Strategies for Import Container Shipping

This article discusses how to avoid demurrage charges for imports, emphasizing the importance of thorough planning. Importers should confirm container return yards with carriers during customs clearance and immediately coordinate with depots to schedule timely pickup and unloading. This approach saves time, reduces detention fees, and improves logistics efficiency. Case examples demonstrate how advance planning and seamless online-offline coordination help companies lower transport costs.

07/16/2025 Logistics Encyclopedia
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Can Freight Owners Book Directly with Shipping Lines?

Can Freight Owners Book Directly with Shipping Lines?

In maritime transport, shippers often book space through freight forwarders (forwarders), although large-volume clients may choose to book directly with shipping companies. However, operational tasks and customs clearance still require the expertise of a professional freight forwarder. The collaboration and connections among various industry players ensure that freight forwarders continue to play a vital role in the smooth execution of bookings during the transportation process.

07/18/2025 Logistics Encyclopedia
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WCO Aids Gambia in Strengthening Trade Audit Systems

WCO Aids Gambia in Strengthening Trade Audit Systems

The World Customs Organization (WCO) supports the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) in enhancing its Post Clearance Audit (PCA) capabilities through training and diagnostic assessments. This initiative aims to help Gambia build an efficient and compliant trade environment. The project covers PCA principles, risk management, and business cooperation, offering recommendations for improvement. The ultimate goal is to promote trade facilitation and economic development in Gambia.

01/05/2026 Customs Knowledge
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Iran Accelerates HS 2017 Translation to Facilitate Trade

Iran Accelerates HS 2017 Translation to Facilitate Trade

Iran Customs is translating the World Customs Organization's HS 2017 Explanatory Notes into Persian. This initiative aims to reduce trade barriers, improve customs clearance efficiency, and provide clearer commodity classification guidance for Iranian import and export businesses. The first two volumes have been released, and translation of the remaining chapters is underway. This effort will facilitate international trade, enhance Iran's trade participation, and revitalize economic development.

01/05/2026 Customs Knowledge
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Crossborder Ecommerce Boosts Efficiency with Forward Warehousing

Crossborder Ecommerce Boosts Efficiency with Forward Warehousing

Forward warehousing reduces cross-border e-commerce logistics cycles and improves customs clearance efficiency. Regional inventory deployment balances cost and speed. Companies need to dynamically optimize inventory and logistics solutions to cater for the needs of fast delivery and low cost. This involves careful consideration of warehouse locations, transportation methods, and inventory levels to achieve optimal performance in the competitive cross-border e-commerce market.

01/05/2026 Logistics
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AI Transforms Global Supply Chain Management

AI Transforms Global Supply Chain Management

This paper explores the crucial role of AI in modern supply chains, analyzing five practical scenarios where AI reduces delays, lowers costs, enhances reliability, optimizes customs clearance, and improves supplier performance. It emphasizes the collaborative relationship between AI and humans and forecasts future development trends of AI in supply chain transformation. AI is reshaping the supply chain landscape, and embracing AI means embracing the future.

01/05/2026 Logistics Industry Insights
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WCO Enhances Angolas Customs Valuation to Boost Trade Revenue

WCO Enhances Angolas Customs Valuation to Boost Trade Revenue

The World Customs Organization (WCO) recently assisted Angola Customs in enhancing its customs valuation capabilities. By assessing infrastructure needs, providing recommendations on risk management and post-clearance audit, and conducting customs valuation workshops, the WCO helped Angola Customs improve revenue collection efficiency, promote compliant trade, and strengthen customs valuation oversight of multinational corporations. This assistance demonstrates the importance of international cooperation in improving customs administration.

12/30/2025 Customs Knowledge
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Jordan Customs Adopts Modern Project Management for Trade Efficiency

Jordan Customs Adopts Modern Project Management for Trade Efficiency

With the support of the WCO, Jordan Customs enhanced its project management capabilities by establishing a project management framework. This initiative aims to improve customs clearance efficiency, strengthen risk management, and enhance information technology to build a modern, 21st-century customs administration and boost international competitiveness. The project emphasizes a results-oriented approach, values communication and collaboration, promotes continuous improvement, and embraces the future.

01/20/2026 Customs Knowledge
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Cape Verde Customs Modernizes with WCOWACAM Efficiency Initiative

Cape Verde Customs Modernizes with WCOWACAM Efficiency Initiative

Supported by the Swedish-funded WCO-WACAM project, the Cabo Verde Tax Authority enhanced its project management and business process optimization capabilities through capacity building missions, laying a solid foundation for customs reform. Brazilian customs experts shared their experiences to help modernize Cabo Verde Customs, optimize clearance procedures, improve service quality, and promote trade facilitation, ultimately achieving the vision of becoming a modern and efficient customs organization.

01/20/2026 Customs Knowledge
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Global Trade Success Hinges on Lead Time Mastery

Global Trade Success Hinges on Lead Time Mastery

This paper delves into a crucial metric in foreign trade: Lead Time. It elaborates on its components, importance, and optimization strategies. By optimizing order processing, production, packaging, transportation, and customs clearance, companies can effectively shorten lead times, improve customer satisfaction, accelerate capital turnover, and enhance price competitiveness, ultimately gaining an advantage in the foreign trade market. Reducing lead time is vital for improved efficiency and customer service.

01/23/2026 Logistics Encyclopedia
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