Shipping Industry Archives - Excelsior Worldwide Logistics Corp.

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

excelsior on June 14, 2022

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.

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.

What to Expect in Shipping Industry This 2017? (Infographic)

excelsior on February 3, 2017

Last year was a ride of incredible ups and downs for the global shipping in the industry. From financial pressures to overcapacity and numerous consolidations, a lot of challenges and shifts has surfaced in the world of global transportation last 2016, which was topped by the bankruptcy of Hanjin Shipping, South Korea’s biggest container carrier, and the world’s seventh-largest.

That said, the financial crisis from the previous years has really impacted the shipping industry in a very big way. Faced with harsh headwinds, many shipping firms are now setting their sails for the incoming shifts and trends in the global shipping industry this year 2017. Check this infographic as we present to you where the shipping industry is heading to this 2017.

How To Choose The Best Customs Broker

excelsior on September 2, 2016

Image from LinkedIn

Customs brokers provide professional and expert service on customs clearance
of goods during importing and exporting. Customs brokers are in charge of
making sure that the rules and regulations of international trade are consistently
met, and they are responsible for the interaction and communication with the
customs of a shipment’s country destination.

There are several factors that must be taken into consideration when it comes to
choosing the best customs broker.

1. Eligibility

The very first thing that you need to check with your customs broker is their
eligibility. Your customs broker must be a license holder, which means that he or
she is an accredited customs broker, and he or she has been able to pass the
licensure examination specific for customs brokers. Moreover, if you are looking
for a customs brokerage company, this company must empower its employees to
become licensed customs brokers.

In order to become a licensed customs broker, one must go through a four-year
course and take a licensure exam, which in the Philippines is administered and
regulated by the Philippine Regulatory Committee (PRC). The intensive
education process that licensed customs brokers goes through enables them to
have the confidence and efficiency that they need to carry out their
responsibilities.

Every country usually has an official list of active brokers from the government. It
will be wise to first check with this list for any customs broker that you will be able
to get in touch with.

For the official list released by the Bureau of Customs of the Philippines, the list
can be found here.

2. Technical Knowledge and Skills

Interfacing with the local and international customs is no mean feat.

The laws, rules, and regulatory requirements pertaining to transport of goods can
be very complex. This is why it is critical for your customs broker to have a high
level of technical knowledge, as well as access to up-to-date information when it
comes to shipments, importation, and exportation. Your customs broker must
have high understanding of entry protocols and requirements, valuation, fines and penalties, taxes, and the like.

3. Track record

It is also wise to ask industry peers for recommended customs brokers, as well
as existing clients of customs brokers for feedback regarding their performance.
This way, you can gauge their integrity, professionalism, and level expertise.

You might also want to consider making sure that your customs broker of choice
has no pending case with the customs of any country.

4. Specialty and experience

The ease of any work always depends on the experience of the one doing the
work. Customs brokerage is no different. You need to consider working with a
customs broker who has had experience, or better yet, has a specialization in the
handling of the goods that you will be shipping.

This way, you will not be caught off guard when it comes to duties, taxes, and regulations, or even obscure agreements and provisions, special cases, or some
exceptions to the rule, if there are any. After all, each country has a unique set of
shipping rules and regulations, and all goods are handled and shipped in a
specific way.

5. Professionalism and Integrity

The customs broker is the one who interfaces with customs in behalf of the
importer or exporter. This means that the customs broker is the one who
represents you and your business. In this regard, it is important to have a
customs broker who is able to satisfy all legal requirements in an efficient,
effective, and ethical way.

Moreover, the goods that you are shipping are valuable, and oftentimes irreplaceable. It is therefore important to make sure that these goods are being
handled by people only with utmost professionalism and unbreakable integrity.

Choosing to work with a customs broker is one thing, and choosing the best
customs broker for your business and your goods is another thing. It is important
to make sure that the customs broker you are working with actually has what it
takes to get the job done for you, and provide you with a service that is
exceptional and efficient.

Excelsior is a freight logistics corporation who not only moves your shipment, but
also takes care of customs clearance on your behalf. Excelsior has been
providing exceptional, excellent, and experienced service for 15 years,
throughout all the phases of shipment – from freight forwarding to customs
brokerage.

You can also be assured that at Excelsior, we value or partners (we treat our
people as partners, not employees). We support and encourage all partners to
become licensed customs brokers. This is to make sure that our clients are
provided only with excellent customs expertise and superior customer service. To
date, 80% of Excelsior Partners are customs administration graduates. Six of the
Excelsior Partners are licensed customs brokers; we are proud to note that this
number exceeds industry average today.

Allow Excelsior Worldwide to help you navigate through the world of import and
export. For more information on our customs brokerage services and to know
more about Excelsior, visit our website today at /. For any
queries that you may have, you may call us at (063) 5259775, or send us an
e-mail through wecare@excelsior.ph.

What Is the Best Freight Forwarding Company?

excelsior on September 2, 2016

Freight forwarding is the process of preparing goods for
transport in behalf of the shipper. The shipping process
includes moving the goods from one carrier to another,
transport tracking, freight consolidation, negotiation of freight
charges, and preparation of necessary documents.

The shipment of goods can be via air, sea, or land.

There are many freight forwarding companies, especially in
this day and age where the importing and exporting industry
is seeing a rising trend. After all, the transportation of goods
across the world is considered to be the keystone of modern society. So how does one know and decide which freight
forwarding company to choose?

1. Owns the carrier

Technically, fright forwarders serve as the middleman
between the shipper and various transportation services to
get the shipment to its destination. However, there are some
freight forwarding companies that own transportation
services like trucks and ships, thus eliminating the need to
coordinate with a third party carrier. As a result, such
companies are able to take full control of the freight
transport, thereby reducing cost, and promoting efficiency
and reliability.

2. Has a significant amount of knowledge and
experience

Of course, a good freight forwarding company needs to have
a good amount of knowledge and experience about
international transportation processes, as well as rules and
regulations on goods transfer.

It is critical for a freight forwarding company to have a
streamlined process of shipping goods in order to promote
efficiency at all times, regardless of the freight being shipped
and the destination of the shipment.

A good freight forwarding company also needs to have
excellent communication, administrative skills, and attention
to detail. Since freight forwarding involves different steps and
involves different people from different companies (such as
supplier, carriers, and warehouse), it is important to make
sure that there is a seamless coordination and a seamless
transaction among all parties involved.

3. Has problem solving skills

It is also important for a freight forwarding company to have
excellent problem solving skills. They need to be able to
identify the problem across the logistics and supply chain,
and provide the necessary solution to prevent any delays in
delivery, as well as to prevent the recurrence of shipping
problems.

4. Ethical and Professional

Lastly, freight forwarding companies must consistently abide
by rules and regulations of goods transfer, and they must
also have a high level of professionalism.

Professionalism can be seen in the way that the company
coordinates and communications with the shipper, as well as
with all other people involved in the shipping process.
Professionalism can also be seen in how the freight
forwarding company keeps their word with regard to
deadlines and shipping schedules.

Allow Excelsior Worldwide to help guide you through the import & export world. Contact us today to learn more about our global logistics . Call (063) 5259775 or email us at wecare@excelsior.ph

No pressing need for DTI reforms, says incoming chief

excelsior on June 20, 2016

Mercurio, Richmond (2016, June 20). The Philippine Star. No pressing need for DTI reforms, says incoming chief. Retrieved from http://www.philstar.com/business/2016/06/20/1594535/no-pressing-need-dti-reforms-says-incoming-chief

MANILA, Philippines – Change is coming with the Duterte administration but that may not be necessary to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), said incoming secretary Ramon Lopez who sees no need to initiate drastic reforms in the agency.

“It’s not complicated because DTI as we all know is doing a lot of good things so definitely all the good programs will have to continue and even be enhanced. Of course there will be a continuing review of programs that will probably be prioritized and less prioritized,” Lopez said in an interview.

“In terms of the officials, I gave my commitment for continuity. I’m willing to retain the undersecretaries and assistant secretaries, The question is if they also want to. But for me, I’m open but I have to also review their performance,” he added.

Lopez said he met with outgoing Trade Secretary Adrian Cristobal Jr. last week to discuss and facilitate the transition at the agency.

ccording to Lopez, incoming president Rodrigo Duterte has only two primary mandates for him as head of the country’s trade and investment promotions agency – uplift the quality of life of Filipinos through entrepreneurship and no corruption.

“At the focus of the incoming president is uplifting the poor, the quality of life through entrepreneurship, through business. To support the growth of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through interventions and to build a climate that is conducive to business,” he said.

“So the priorities will be programs that will help MSMEs like enabling training and accelerate further Negosyo Centers and shared-service facilities,” Lopez said.

In terms of the country’s international trade negotiations, the incoming DTI chief has likewise aired his full support at pursuing them.

“No change because I am all for fair trade and liberalization. Calibrated liberalization is the way to go, we cannot backtrack. We are part of the global system and if we backtrack, we will be out of that global system,” Lopez said.

“What we are going to do is work on how we can maximize these free trade agreements (FTA) so that it can benefit not only the existing (exporters), but even those who are not yet exporting. That not only the big firms will benefit but even the small ones,” he added.

The Philippines has started last month initial round of negotiations for an FTA with the 28-member European Union (EU).

The negotiations will aim to conclude a deal that covers a broad range of issues such as elimination of customs duties and other barriers to trade, services and investment, access to public procurement markets, and additional disciplines in the area of competition and protection of intellectual property rights.

In addition, the Philippines is hoping to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the 12-country economic bloc which currently accounts for more than a quarter of world trade.

“I think Mr. Lopez’ experience on the ground with MSMEs will really be a big boost to what DTI does, from ease of doing business all the way to international trade. His experience in capacity building of MSMEs is really the starting point. We have to simplify rules for businesses to benefit MSMEs, they have to be front and center. We negotiate trade agreements so they can import and export,” Cristobal said.

Prior to his appointment, Lopez has been the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship-Go Negosyo’s executive director for the past 11 years and has served the business sector for 22 years.