Understanding of Customs concessions adds up to big cost savings

JOY ORLEK INTENSE PLANNING and co-ordination are crucial in the exacting project cargo field, with a single project often requiring components to be shipped from all over the world, by sea and airfreight, and co-ordinated on time at a single point. “There’s no margin for error,” says Customs Services managing director Chris Scott, who believes that the company’s 20 years of experience and expertise in the field is key to its growing client base. “We define project cargo as any cargo that goes beyond routine handling, requiring extensive planning and co-ordinating, usually taking place over a protracted period of time. “Consignments of this nature are normally very large in volume and weight, and it’s not practical to ship them as one consignment – they need to be split over several consignments. “Initial plans must take into account the various suppliers’ manufacturing schedules as well as time schedules for the various components required by engineers on site.” Customs Services has been involved in the movement of a range of projects, from steel manufacturing plant, mining conveyor systems and mining mills to cement making plant, printing machinery and electronic equipment. “We get involved with the customer from the tendering stage,” says Scott, “providing budget costs and advising on shipping matters and the impact of Customs duties and taxes.” And this is where the experienced operator with an understanding of customs concessions of which the importer is unaware can make a huge difference, he told FTW. “For example where an entire plant or machine being imported exceeds 500 tonnes but is shipped in several consignments, it qualifies as a “staged” consignment. “This means that all consignments identifiable for that project can be cleared by Customs as the complete plant or item of machinery. In such cases, applications must be made to Customs before the shipments begin – and it has saved many importers very large amounts of customs duties. “It’s all about delivering the exacting standards of service that our customers demand.”