Have you ever ordered something from China and wondered what’s the exact process that delivers that very thing to your door? Global shipping is one of the most important and one of the most lucrative industries in the world. The primary reason for this is the fact that so many businesses depend on worldwide delivery, something that was proven even more during the global pandemic.

In today’s article, we’ll learn exactly how international shipping works!

Export Haulage and Customs

These are the first two steps of every shipment. Export haulage refers to moving the package from the holder (an individual person, a business, a retailer, etc.) to the warehouse of the transporter. The people who work for the transport company will load the package into their warehouse and assign it with a tracking number so they can keep inventory.

Just like with people entering or leaving a country, the package needs to get cleared by customs. It will also need this clearance once it’s entering a country. By going through this process, the authorities are confirming that the content of the package aren’t in any ways prohibited or dangerous (or if they are, they have the proper clearances that allow them to be shipped internationally).

If the thing you’re sending needs any special clearances, you’ll need to give them to your transport company when you hand them the package over. Customs won’t allow your package to leave the country if you don’t have the proper licenses!

Loading, Handling and Freighting the Package

After customs give your package a green light, the transport company will start loading with all the other packages. Means of transport differ from delivery to delivery. If you’re looking for an overnight delivery, it’s probably done with an airplane. Most shipping, however, is done by boat (hence the word shipping). This is especially true when it comes to large objects.

Some objects require special care, that’s why fine art shipping services, for example, are usually more expensive. Shipping a ton of hammers obviously doesn’t require as much care as shipping an ancient vase would.

When shipping overseas, freighters usually sail one behind the other, somewhat as a fleet. These methods of travel usually aren’t quick, but they’re safe and much cheaper than flying your package overseas.

Import Customs and Haulage

After the boat or the airplane reached their destination, the package has to be cleared by import customs. This is usually done before the cargo actually leaves the customs area, and the transport company usually has a person in charge just for handling customs and all other administrative issues.

This person is called the forwarder agent or the transport agent, and they usually prepare all necessary paperwork for customs. Most transport agents will warn you if the destination country’s customs won’t clear your package and let it enter the country. All the necessary licensing is something that you need to have ready before you even send your package.

After the customs service of the destination country has cleared the cargo, all the cargo is moved to a warehouse of the transport company. There, the containers are emptied and the transport service loads the packages up in their trucks and deliver them to your front door!

Common Questions

Shipping Price
The difference between prices of international shipping is usually made by the weight of the package, delivery speed and delicacy of delivery. If you’re delivering something that’s very valuable and needs to be handled with care, it’s obviously going to be more expensive than delivering something that needs less care.

How Long Does International Shipping Take?
There’s no clear answer to this question. All transport companies have different rates and different means of delivery. If you’re looking for quick, overnight delivery, you’ll find it. You’ll also find the slowest means of transport, which is also usually the cheapest. This entirely depends on the needs of the person that’s waiting for the package and how much they’re ready to pay for its delivery.

Biggest Holdups of Overseas Shipping
Prefer the best transport company that help in proper Pallet Deliveriesfrom one place to another. The most obvious problem with international shipping is customs. Different countries have different rules about different products, meaning that it’s impossible to ship everything everywhere. This can create trouble with your customers, who might not like the idea of being denied a product because of their country’s law. This can often lead to conflict with the customer, which is why it’s important to warn your international customers of their country’s and your country’s customs laws.

It can also happen that there’s an additional charge because of customs, which is another point of contention.