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Archive for the ‘Import & Export’ Category

Shipping Rates Between Asia and Europe Going Up, Way Up! – GRI (General Rate Increase) from 1st March 2012

February 19th, 2012 1 comment

Up and up and up!

Some of you may not have heard about the GRI from 1st March 2012 from almost all shipping carriers yet. But you will likely feel the pinch when you notice shipping prices for containers almost doubling after 1st of March.

Here is what is happening and what we’re being told:

 

Where & What?

The increases will be applied as follows:

Origin Range: From All Asian ports (including Japan, South East Asia, Colombo and Bangladesh)

Destination Range: To all Northern European ports (including UK & Ireland and the full range from Portugal to Russia) to West Med, Adriatic, East Med, Black Sea and North Africa.

Cargo: Dry cargo, OOG’s, Paying empties, Break-bulk and Reefer cargo.

 

Why?

While some carriers aren’t even offering an explanation for this price hike, others are using a variety of differing excuses. The most common the reasons being offered are: Read more…

Categories: China Trade, Import & Export Tags:

2012 1st QTR Manufacturing Outlook – The Effects of ‘Stagflation’ and Migration

January 4th, 2012 No comments

CNY train station

The world's biggest annual migration

As we read and see more and more in the news that Chinese exports to ‘developed’ countries are considerably reducing it is a time to be very wary about quality. While there is still strong growth from ‘emerging’ markets such as Africa and South America, the reduction in exports from the larger Western markets creates a pressure and strain on all the factories that rely on these orders to maintain their budgeted and normal business.

If Europe and US demand decreases further there will be steep competition between these factories. With this competition comes reduced price margins and this will likely mean compromise on quality as these factories fight to survive. When your products become secondary to the factory’s survival, it is time to spend extra attention to make sure you are still getting the quality you expect.

When the bottom line is threatened, this is when quality problems arise. Instead of focussing their energies on maintaining the standards of your product, factories will be trying to get as many of your products completed as fast as possible so the next order can go through. Factories will likely also attempt to bolster their profits by blaming wage increases and raw material costs. Short-sightedness being a regular player in Chinese business, many factories will let all this happen at the detriment of your relationship with them as a customer. Read more…

Incoterms at a glance

December 11th, 2011 No comments

The Incoterms rules or International Commercial terms are a series of pre-defined commercial terms published by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) widely used in international commercial transactions.

A series of three-letter trade terms related to common sales practices, the Incoterms rules are intended primarily to clearly communicate the tasks, costs and risks associated with the transportation and delivery of goods.

The Incoterms rules are accepted by governments, legal authorities and practitioners worldwide for the interpretation of most commonly used terms in international trade. They are intended to reduce or remove altogether uncertainties arising from different interpretation of the rules in different countries.

As an overview, we’ve taken the incoterms and simplified them. Call it a cheat sheet for anyone less familiar with international trade! Read more…

Categories: China Trade, Import & Export Tags:

Suppliers going back on their word (Part 2)

December 5th, 2011 No comments
Give an inch...

Give an inch...

(Have you read Part 1 of this article?)

By this point, the overseas purchaser has been let down dreadfully by the supplier and had to compromise their margins in order to have their goods released. But it got worse. When the CI (Original Paper Commercial Invoice) and COO (Certificate of Origin) were requested from the supplier, they refused to do even this stating that it would cost yet more money to produce these documents and therefore not worth it.

We explained that in order to export the products these documents were required from the manufacturer. This was met this time with abuse and a refusal to have anything else to do with the matter. The aggression showed by the supplier at this point was typical to a kneejerk reaction by a lot of suppliers when their back is at a wall and they have gone so far that even though they are wrong, they don’t want to lose face by admitting it or even compromising.

Luckily my time in China has allowed me to meet some influential individuals in the export and customs world here and we were able to get some documentation to push the order through customs and onto the ship for our client. This documentation was also enough to comply with import, customs and duty purposes when it arrived at its destination port. Doing it this way should of course always be a last resort.

Read more…

Suppliers going back on their word (Part 1)

December 5th, 2011 No comments

Recently I was contacted to assist in a case whereby a Chinese supplier had decided to change their mind about delivery terms on an order. This was post-production and while it was held at a 3rd party shipping agent. Initially, a quote was supplied to a European purchaser that was priced for FOB, Chinese port. These terms were accepted and the ordered processed.

Somewhere between ordering and before loading onto the vessel at the port, the supplier decided to change their mind and claim that this was no longer FOB and were only prepared to pay a small courier fee to the shipping agent. Not only did they do that but they also refused to offer a Commercial Invoice and Certificate of Origin – two documents that are critical when exporting from China and importing into your own country.
Read more…

Ordering from China for the first time

November 21st, 2011 No comments
Taking on the dragon?

Taking on the dragon?

Sourcing from China for the first time can be a daunting experience.

There are many cultural and language differences as well as huge differences in business mindsets. These combined issues can put you on the back foot from the start and put the supplier at a much more advantageous position.

This can easily negatively affect the result of your negotiations, both in terms of price and product quality.

Consider appointing an agent for you in China, who has local knowledge, experience and connections that can put you at an advantage over your new suppliers and your competition.

For a more detailed look at sourcing from China, take a look at some of our earlier articles, including:

Developing your products with existing Chinese manufacturers

Read more…

What is CIF?

August 29th, 2011 No comments

CIF means Cost, Insurance and Freight. This Incoterm (international commercial term) is also commonly referred to as DDP, which means Delivered Duty Paid to the destination port.

The supplier basically takes responsibility for the product from manufacturing, freight, customs and duty for the buyer. It normally works out a little more expensive for the buyer than if they were doing it themselves or FOB but it is an option many prefer as they don’t have to worry about the costs and hassle of the whole process.

If the buyer prefers this delivery method they should be sure to state it at the very beginning to the supplier. What normally happens is that the supplier will nominate their own shipping agent and deal with the process themselves.

What is Ex-works?

August 29th, 2011 No comments

Ex-works means that the product is available for the purchaser to take custody of the goods at the factory only. The purchaser has to pay for all expenses to get the goods to their destination address.

The purchaser can do this whole procedure themselves but it is highly advisable and both economically and time efficient to enact a shipping agent or freight forwarder to take care of this for them.

How does payment work in an FOB destination port situation from a Chinese import perspective?

August 29th, 2011 No comments

Payment terms for an FOB product in China can be from 20%-50% initial deposit/down payment to begin manufacturing/assembly of the product. Once completed and ready for delivery the supplier will load the product into the container (FCL and LCL) and export it to be loaded onto the container ship at the port.

The product will then be shipped to the destination port. At this point the B/L (Bill of Lading) is exchanged for the remainder of the order value. Once this has been exchanged, the product is in the custody of the purchaser or the shipping agent/freight forwarder that has been enacted.

Depending on the agreement the buyer has with the shipping agent/freight forwarder the product can be managed all the way to the buyer’s door from when the shipping agent takes custody.

How does payment work in an FOB port of loading situation from a Chinese export perspective?

August 29th, 2011 No comments

Payment terms for an FOB product in China can be from 20%-50% initial deposit/down payment to begin manufacturing/assembly of the product. Once completed and ready for delivery the supplier will load the product into the container (FCL and LCL) and export it to be loaded onto the container ship at the port.

At this point the B/L (Bill of Lading) is exchanged for the remainder of the order value. Once this has been exchanged, the product is in the custody of the purchaser or the shipping agent/freight forwarder that has been enacted.

Depending on the agreement the buyer has with the shipping agent/freight forwarder the product can be managed all the way to the buyer’s door from that point onward.