The Current State of the Freight Forwarding Industry in the Philippines

excelsior on October 15, 2021

The freight forwarding industry has been around since the 1800s and has come a long way since then. In modern times, freight forwarding is a major factor in companies moving their products from one international location. With advances in technology and the Internet, freight forwarding is now more convenient and affordable than ever. A freight forwarder can easily send products and goods all over the world.

Many freight forwarding trends are happening across the globe today, especially in the Philippines. Let’s take a look at some of these freight forwarding trends in the Philippines.

More and more businesses and individuals are using freight forwarders to help them expedite their shipments. Small and big establishments have realized that a Filipino freight forwarder can greatly increase the speed of their shipments. They can also help businesses to save time and money in the long run.

More Goods Overseas

Another popular trend in the freight forwarding industry in the Philippines is that more people are sending their goods overseas. Most people in the Philippines are familiar with the country’s long coastline. They also know how long it takes for international freight services to arrive at their desired destination. Because of this, most freight forwarders have plans to send freight from Manila to foreign countries regularly. This allows the shipment of large amounts of goods.

Two-Way Shipping Services

Freight forwarding service providers often offer two-way shipping services to help clients send shipments overseas. These shipping services enable clients to track the status of their goods in different parts of the globe. Since tracking your shipment is important, this is a great way to ensure that you receive the shipment in the quickest amount of time.

Why Freight Forwarding?

Other than regular shipments, many freight forwarding companies offer freight forwarding services for specific reasons. One of these is when a business or individual needs to ship their goods to a specific destination outside the country. For instance, if an American company wants to ship its products to China, it will first search for a freight forwarding company that can do so. After finding a provider, they will tell what products they want to ship and where they want the products to go. The provider will then search for a container in the area suitable for storing the shipment until it is shipped to its intended destination.

The freight forwarding industry is still growing in the Philippines. Many factors contribute to the growth of this industry, including the country’s economy, the growing number of international businesses that choose to ship goods to the Philippines, and the increasing popularity of shipping services such as Air Asia and Oceania. This growing industry has shown no signs of slowing down and will continue to thrive in the years to come. The key to success in the freight forwarding industry in the Philippines lies in continued research and development to improve on existing freight forwarding trends and develop new methods to make shipping easier and more efficient.

Excelsior Worldwide Freight Logistics conducts free orientation for those who are willing to learn. It is our advocacy to share our knowledge & experience worth more than a decade in the business. Visit our website today at www.excelsior.ph to learn more about our service.

4 Facts Everybody Should Know About Freight Forwarding – Infographic

excelsior on August 30, 2019

Unless you’re someone involved or directly working in the shipping industry, there’s a fairly small chance that you already heard about freight forwarding. Unfortunately, few people nowadays tend to have a rough idea on freight forwarding, or what freight forwarders do.

Freight forwarding is the practice of organizing the transport of goods for both business and personal use, usually on an international scale. Many enterprises find themselves in trouble when trying to ship their products from one place to another due to a long and arduous process of preparing customs documentation. Fortunately, by hiring the service of a freight forwarding agency, things are now more convenient as they all have the necessary expertise and knowledge in keeping all of those legal requirements in check. Freight forwarders can also help their clients find the most affordable shipping companies as they are well-connected with a wide variety of carriers be it on land, air, or sea.

While this profession seems to be quite too technical to some, freight forwarding isn’t as complicated as it sounds. To give you some healthy dose of knowledge about freight forwarding, here are five things everybody should know about this industry:

Fact #1: Freight Forwarders can offer a wide range of services

Aside from the aforementioned freight forwarding services, they can also provide other similar services in order to satisfy every client’s shipping needs:

Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier – Freight forwarding agencies can act as a carrier through the issuance of their own BoL (Bill of Lading), as well as takes full responsibility for the client’s shipments.
Breakbulk Agency – A client that transports an LCL (Less Container Load) cargo can sometimes become less of a priority as many carrier companies give more priority to shipments of larger companies. But with the service of a freight forwarder, they can consolidate their LCL by putting together different consignees and turn it into a full container load.
Trucking – Some freight forwarding agencies also offer trucking services by delivering the client’s newly arrived cargo to its intended warehouse.
Import and Export Requirements Assistance – Freight forwarders can help clients fulfill all the necessary government requirements.

Fact #2: Freight Forwarding can bring a positive impact to a business

There are a lot of ways of how availing the service of a freight forwarder is integral for the continuous growth of a business. Freight forwarding services can optimize the usage of time as they can ensure the timely arrival of the goods including a real-time update of its location and condition. Additionally, using their connections to several carriers, they can make their clients save more money in the long run.

Fact #3: Freight Forwarders comply to specific laws when it comes in shipping certain products

Though freight forwarders are always enthusiastic it catering to the shipping needs of many clients, they are still bound by laws which may restrict their ability from administering the transportation of the following products:

Drugs
Alcohol
Batteries
Sharp objects
Hazardous chemicals

Fact #4: Maintaining a harmonious relationship with a freight forwarder is an advantage

Remember that in your absence, the only one that can look over your products while onboard is your reliable freight forwarder. Maintaining healthy relationships with them can make you more likely to receive a competitive level of customer service.

Having a reputable freight forwarding agency is highly beneficial for many companies as they could keep the supply chain stable for extended periods of time. If you’re a business owner struggling to comply with all of the legalities of shipping, hiring a freight forwarding agency is the best choice for you!

Excelsior Worldwide Freight Logistics conduct free orientation for those who are willing to learn. It is our advocacy to share our knowledge & experience worth more than a decade in the business. Visit our website today at www.excelsior.ph to learn more about our service.

3 Most Common Freight Forwarding Scams And How To Avoid Them – Infographic

excelsior on May 30, 2019

Hiring freight forwarders is definitely one of the most needed essentials of any business owners looking to ship their products abroad. Their skills and expertise in logistics are proven to be extremely useful in making all of the requirements involved with transporting goods from one place to another much easier to bear.

However, the rise of competition amongst freight forwarding companies also gave emergence to fraudulent individuals who would take advantage of the situation. And as the client, it is highly vital for you to be aware of certain acts of deceptions used by scammers in the shipping industry, as well as how you can avoid them.

Scam #1: Holding your good’s Bill of Lading (BOL) for ransom

This kind of scam usually happens online. The scammer will pose as a freight forwarder on some popular shopping sites. They can be fairly easy to identify because they offer their “services” on a ridiculously low rate.

Once they found an unwitting client, negotiations will take place, and once the goods are packed from the port of loading, the scammers will deny the release of an important legal document called the Bill of Lading or BOL. This document serves as the proof of contract of carriage and receipt of the client’s goods. And without the BOL the port of destination will not allow anyone to claim their shipment. The client will then receive an email demanding for a specific amount of money, or hence, they will not receive their goods at all.

How to Avoid This Scam

Before contacting any freight forwarding company, be sure to know the normal cost of your shipment. Many new importers nowadays lack some diligence when it comes in the current costs of their shipment, and that’s why they easily get attracted by any low or discounted offers on the net. Be sure to look for a company that manages their own official website and try to find any client’s reviews and testimonies about them.

Scam #2: The Duplicate Name Scam

Another common example of freight forwarding scam is by making a fake site with a name similar from a legitimate company site. While it’s possible for companies to have identical names, some of these sites are designed to steal money from clients who don’t know how to distinguish a legit site from the bogus ones.

How to Avoid This Scam

You must know how to identify a legitimate site properly. First is by looking at the site’s URL. If you know the exact spelling of the company’s name, head over to the URL and see if there are any misspelled letters around. Also, pay attention to the site’s domain name. If the URL has a free hosting website on it like .wix, .homestead, or .hubspot, there is a very good chance that the site is fake.

Scam #3: Cargo Theft

Scammers doing this act of theft tend to target clients with high-valued cargos. Same with the BOL scam, they will pretend as freight forwarders offering you with suspicious discounted rates and then seemingly vanish into the thin air once they got hold of your shipment.

How to Avoid This Scam

Vigilance will always be the key. Aside from knowing whether their company website is real, you must also be curious about how they do their work as well as their terms and conditions. Ask them everything that you wanted to know and be sure that you have their respective contact numbers, including their shipping and billing address.

Finding a reliable freight forwarding company for your shipping needs is a big step towards success. You just have to practice vigilance at all times to ensure that you will not be a victim to certain scams that can cost you a lot of money before you can even start your business.

6 Basic Stages of the Freight Forwarding Process – Infographic

excelsior on February 28, 2019

In the world of commerce, transporting goods or products from one place to another is one of the most efficient methods in maintaining the flow of profits at a desirable rate. This is where freight forwarders really shine when it comes in providing such services.

Freight forwarders is a person or firm that specializes in facilitating shipments for clients such as private individuals or corporations. While freight forwarding can be a pretty complicated topic to talk about, having some fundamental knowledge about its process is a true mark of a successful business owner. Not only it will give you the edge over your competitors, but it also protects you against freight forwarding scams.

Here are the six basic stages of the freight forwarding process:

Stage 1 – Export Haulage

The first stage is called export haulage. This is where the goods to be shipped by the client are brought to the freight forwarder’s warehouse. Depending on the geographical location, type of goods, and the travel distance, this stage usually takes around several hours to a few days.

Stage 2 – Items Checkpoint

Upon the arrival of the goods, the freight forwarders will then thoroughly check everything to see if there are any problems or is it illegible to be shipped to the target location.

Stage 3 – Export Customs Clearance

Once the freight forwarders approved the shipment, it’s time to clear the requirements. Before putting them inside the carrier, some important details about the goods must be validated by the customs authorities of the exporting country.

This is also the stage where freight forwarders work together with customs brokers since they have the required expertise in this kind of legal activity. They can as well submit appropriate payments on behalf of the client.

Stage 4 – Import Customs Clearance

This stage is basically the same with export customs clearance; only this time the goods must adhere to the legal requirements imposed by the receiving country. It can be performed either by the freight forwarder or the nominated customs broker.

Stage 5 – Destination Arrival and Handling

After clearing all the necessary requirements, the freight forwarder shall now take all the important forms for the shipment. These forms may include documentation, carrier bills, among others. This is the penultimate stage of freight forwarding.

Stage 6 – Import Haulage

The final stage of the whole process where the goods are transported from the receiving warehouse to the main recipient. Bringing the goods to the intended destination can still be performed by the freight forwarder or the consignee by simply hauling it themselves.

These stages may prove that freight forwarding isn’t too complicated as it supposed to be. As long as you have your trusty freight forwarder with you, exporting and importing will always be hassle-free as ever.

Indications of a Reliable and Trustworthy Freight Forwarding Company

excelsior on February 15, 2019

A freight forwarding company is a firm that offers the arrangement of shipping goods in place of an individual client or company. Many businesses today prefer hiring the service of freight forwarders in order to sustain their competence in the world market.

While there can be a wide variety of companies to choose from, finding the most reliable and trustworthy freight forwarder can become quite tricky since there are indeed some risks involved concerning the safety and timely arrival of your products from one place to another.

So, without further ado, here are the telltale qualities that can easily help you determine a reliable and trustworthy freight forwarding company:

Possesses good credentials

One of the most easily identifiable signs of a competitive freight forwarding company is a list of credentials. These can be awards, testimonials from former and existing clients, and specific accreditations from the government. Knowing this can almost guarantee that a freight forwarder is capable of providing the best quality of services available.

Strong and wide network of contacts

A strong and wide network of contacts is an essential tool of a reliable freight forwarder, especially when conducting international shipments. The company must utilize their contacts with carriers to move the goods. They should also maintain friendly relations with several custom brokers as well as other forwarding agents in foreign countries. This will help them establish effective communication when they are trying to request for any updates about the status of the package, which can prevent possible delays on the arrival of goods.

A range of quality services

A trustworthy freight forwarding company usually doesn’t only provide one kind of service. Instead, aside from product shipping, they also specialize in an extensive range of services such as trucking, assistance in the requirements of importing and exporting, breakbulk agency, among others. Having a range of services is a testament to a company’s ability in singlehandedly managing a set of complicated but important business requirements.

Excellent knowledge in document processes

Being an expert in the nuts and bolts of running the documentation procedures of shipping is a perk of a trustworthy freight forwarding company. This enables them to do their job efficiently by properly guiding and assisting the clients in the step-by-step process that can prevent them from spending too much money as well as precious time due to utter confusion.

Customer Service

Most experienced clients prefer a freight forwarding company that grants them information regarding their best rates and options. Moreover, having an active website, email, or contact number that regularly interacts with the customers looking for inquiries makes that kind of company a highly sought-after one.

A decent packaging service

Another trait of a trustworthy freight forwarding company is its skill in sustaining the safety of the products through a proper and foolproof packaging service. Packaging serves as the main protection of goods during the shipping time, so it is most vital for the company to have the proper kind of packaging regardless of what kind of goods they’re transporting.

Excelsior Worldwide Freight Logistics conduct free orientation for those who are willing to learn more about importation and exportation. It is our advocacy to share our knowledge & experience for 17 years in the business. Visit our website today at www.excelsior.ph to learn more about our service.

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Freight Forwarding in the Philippines: Tips to Achieve Competitive Cost Saving When Importing From China?

excelsior on January 15, 2019

One of the most critical success factors of an import business is learning how to minimize shipping costs. Whether you’re just new in the international trading industry or have already established a big company, managing shipping cost is an aspect that warrants extreme scrutiny and judgement as it can impact your business’ bottom line really hard.

With that being said, here are some tips that can help you ship from China to the Philippines in a cost-effective way:

1. Choose a Reputable Chinese Supplier

The first step to ensure you get a competitive cost-saving when importing from China is to choose a supplier that is reliable and trustworthy enough to cater to your needs.

If your supplier doesn’t comply with regulations and doesn’t have any certifications, it can lead you to serious legal problems once your cargoes arrive at the port destination, which can ultimately result in delays, additional logistical headaches and shipping costs.

2. Hire a Freight Forwarder in the Philippines

Most freight forwarders in the Philippines are affiliated with numerous international transport organizations and companies worldwide, including local Chinese logistic companies. Hence, you should choose a freight forwarder that can and will use its connections to negotiate for better prices on your behalf.

Furthermore, your chosen Philippine freight forwarder should also be knowledgeable about the freight peak seasons in China (e.g., Chinese New Year) because during peak seasons, importing can become complicated due to high demand, high prices, and a probability of container shortage.

3. Choose Incoterms Wisely

Incoterms are international commercial terms that serve as the basis of agreement between the supplier and the buyer that trades internationally. There numerous Incoterms to choose from, so selecting the most competitive one can be quite challenging.

In general, Incoterms often used to import from China, such as EXW, FOB, and CIF, are the most ideal as they put you in charge of choosing a freight forwarder, shipping routes and times, and other details that allow you to balance all costs so you can stay competitive. However, keep in mind that your negotiation skills and the type and value of goods could also affect the type of Incoterms you should choose.

If you’re unsure of which Incoterm to choose, do read our post on how to select a competitive and safe Incoterm.

These are the steps to follow in order to achieve significant cost saving when you import goods from China to the Philippines.

Here at Excelsior Worldwide Freight Logistics, we have equipped people who are knowledgeable regarding import procedures and are committed to reducing your expenditures as much as you are.

We also conduct free orientation for those who are willing to learn about importation & exportation. It is our advocacy to share our knowledge & experience for 17 years in the business.

Freight Forwarding Company in the Philippines – Why Do You Need One? (Infographic)

excelsior on December 31, 2018

Freight forwarders or forwarding agent have vital roles in the shipping world. In the shipping industry, freight forwarders serve as the support and assistance for the import and export process. This is very, very important in the shipping world as it is one of the most delicate parts of the global supply chain.

In the Philippines, 21.1% of the transporting storage and establishments are freight forwarding companies. They compose the biggest chunk of transporting service in the country – just to ensure that all your goods are delivered to warehouses the fastest and safest possible way.

Businesses become bigger through time, and as they expand, there is much competition in the industry. Products and services ultimately differ in terms of technology and advanced features, including transport service. However, keeping up with the number of shipments going in and out of an import/export company can be challenging; This is where freight forwarding company in the Philippines thrives. They manage the huge efforts in shipping, so you can stay focused on product operations.

If you are still not convinced, here is a list on why you need the help of a freight forwarding company in the Philippines.

Freight Forwarding Company in the Philippines Makes it Easier to Manage Shipping

Handling the entire logistics in-house or using another logistics provider can be very costly and messy. Choosing a freight forwarding company makes a lot of difference as they have the capability and resources to organize all the demands of your shipping.

They are the experts in the import and export industry. Your cargos will be transported to their destinations with the knowledge that they employ the most skilled workers to do the job and they have the machinery to handle even the unexpected. In fact, these employees comprise 10% (~18,000 workers) of the total workers in the transporting industry. They have the processes to make everything systematic, and some even have distinct features to ensure their customers do not worry. All of these will help save you a lot of time and effort.

Freight Forwarding Company in the Philippines: Features and Services

Freight forwarders employ various features to keep you calm, without anything to worry – as their cargos get transported to your customers. Some of their features are:

Warehousing Shipping and Export Documents
Efficient Cargo Space
Freight Management

Freight Forwarding Company in the Philippines is Cost-efficient!

Freight forwarders provide specific services at a price that is not heavy on your pockets! They have some bundle deals that are better than 3PL companies which have wider scopes of services such as arranging transportation options. They have a huge network which can help you negotiate with carriers for a less steep price, due to the volume of containers they with each carrier every day.

They can also look for good freight quotes and have the inside information on which carrier has the best routes, enabling your shipments to land in their final destinations the quickest way possible, at a much-ideal cost.

Freight Forwarding Company in the Philippines Makes Everything Controllable and Simple

Dealing with a lot of volatility in the shipping industry can give you a headache that it can cost you a lot of money for every single mistake, especially when your business is growing bigger and bigger by the day. You only communicate with the company, and they handle all the time, money, effort and frustration; they offer you flexible options and gives you full control.

They also give that assurance that would increase your marketability and your service credibility. They are experts in limiting risks, so they can recover quickly whenever there is a loss of shipments or any other unforeseen circumstance. They can offer transparency necessary for your shipment delivery.

Here at Excelsior Worldwide Freight Logistics, we treat our clients as partners. We also conduct free orientation for those who are willing to learn about importation and exportation. It is our advocacy to share our knowledge and experience for 17 years in the business.

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Freight Forwarder In The Philippines: 6 Things You Should Look For (Infographic)

excelsior on November 30, 2018

Choosing a freight forwarder is a crucial decision for every business because you need someone whom you can rely on and entrust the safety of your goods.

It is no secret that there are freight forwarding companies who get banned, imprisoned and fined for illegal operations.

There are also some who just aren’t knowledgeable with the ins and outs of the industry, leading to mistakes and inefficiency.

Having that said, here are seven things that you should look for in a freight forwarder in the Philippines to make sure that your transaction goes smooth:

Expertise

When a freight forwarder has been in business for more than a decade, it’s a good indication that they have sufficient knowledge on transport rules and regulations and have already encountered and overcome lots of challenges in the past, given the fact that they outlasted other freight forwarding companies in the competitive industry.

That is why choosing an accomplished freight forwarder over a newbie will give you more assurance that your transaction will be a satisfying one.

A good business reputation

In connection to expertise in the industry, a good business reputation also comes along with it. They wouldn’t last long in the industry if their services aren’t satisfying, and if they aren’t professional when it comes to dealing with customers because negative customer feedbacks are a deal-breaker.

The good thing is aside from word-of-mouth, you can now check their customer reviews online to know whether their customers are satisfied with their service or not.

A vast network

Another benefit of choosing a freight forwarder who has been in the industry for a long period of time is that they’ve already built connections with multiple logistics companies worldwide, and they can use it negotiate for better prices on your behalf, wherever you’re importing from around the globe.

Accreditation

Aside from long industry experience, you can also evaluate whether a freight forwarder can be trusted or not through checking if they are accredited or not.

Before any transaction, look for a certificate of accreditation from the Department of Trade and Industry first or check the recent list of accredited Non-Vessel Operating Common Carriers (NVOCCs), International Freight Forwarders (IFFs) and Domestic Freight Forwarders (DFFs) at the official website of DTI.

A customs broker’s license

If the freight forwarder also offers customs brokerage services, you should look for a custom’s broker license to ensure that they are really knowledgeable on preparing necessary documents, country-specific rules and regulations, and calculation of duties and related taxes. Otherwise, you might end up wasting money and your shipments held at customs.

Excellent customer care

Good customer service should always be a priority when looking for partners in business, especially when you will entrust them to deliver your goods on time and in good condition.

A freight forwarder with excellent customer care manifests effective communication skills and good business etiquette.

Try to inquire first to determine whether or not they are polite, willing to answer your questions, and attentive to details. If they aren’t, better look for another one that you can get along with, understands your needs and is truly concerned with your business.

Otherwise, your transaction might fail due to miscommunication and misunderstanding. In worse cases, it might even result in lawsuits.

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Incoterms 2010: What’s the Responsibility of Supplier and Buyer? (Infographic)

excelsior on December 9, 2016

Whether you are new in the importing and exporting industry or not, you might have already encountered the term Incoterms in your business. For starters, International Commercial Terms or Incoterms , which the latest edition was released in 2010, is a set of standardized trade terms created and published by International Chamber of Commerce in 1936 to serve as the basis of agreement between the supplier and the buyer that trades internationally.

The latest edition, the Incoterms 2010, contains 11 rules which are divided into two classes: 1. Rules for any mode or modes of transport; and 2. Rules for Sea and Inland Waterway Transport. Both differs in the mode of delivery, but understanding the difference between each rule is critical to know where and when the responsibility of the buyer and the supplier ends.

Detailed below are the duties of buyer and supplier in accordance with the 11 rules in Incoterms 2010.

Importer Checklist: Save Time and Money (Infographic)

excelsior on September 9, 2016

Being competitive in today’s market requires your overall business operations to be fast and smart in every step of the way, all while maintaining a sound profit and cash flow. Many of the trade leaders nowadays see importing as a strategic move to overcome the strains in this overly competitive market. Importing, especially if it’s the backbone of your business, can give you an upper-hand in the market if executed carefully. Whether it’s your first time to import products from other countries or not, it is always important to know the basics and other fundamental factors that can affect the whole importation process. To help you carry it out, we’ve put together seven things that can actually save you time and money when bringing in those raw materials and products into the local area of your operations.