In this day and age, international shipping became the norm across industries. Whether you’re in the market for textiles, construction, or electronics, the internet has made it so your regular market is the whole globe. In short, you’ll have to ship products internationally.
Unfortunately, not all international shipping methods are made equal.
To ensure that your product reaches your end client in great condition, you’ll need to explore the best ways to ship internationally. But, if you’re new to the market, no worries. We’ve got your back.
Keep on reading for our full breakdown of the five key things you need to know about the best shipping practices and how to optimize the process to your advantage.
1. Best Ways to Ship Internationally 101: Identify Your Destination
This may seem to be a no-brainer, but it is critical. Scammers are becoming better at concocting schemes that are carried out from afar.
They create a connection via email and then have things sent to them with no intention of giving a refund or doing the required repair on your item. Most overseas scams involve sending money via a service like Western Union, but scammers may also request a physical item be delivered to them.
The key is to be aware of the recipient constantly. Make sure it’s a loved one, a coworker, or someone you’ve directly talked to and gotten trustworthy information from.
Sometimes, you’ll want to check out freight forwarding options. You’d be surprised at how streamlined the process can be concerning air shipping.
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2. Nail Down Your Shipment Products
I mean, it’s a no-brainer. While certain goods may seem to be innocuous or appropriate for domestic shipment, carriers like FedEx, DHL, USPS, and UPS have rules to follow when sending out of the nation.
Electronics fueled by lithium batteries are a good example. It is allowed to ship several laptops locally through Ground service, but you should be aware that you may only send two batteries or four cells abroad, and they must be installed in the item they power.
A tiny cactus is another apparently innocuous example. It’s OK to ship it inside the United States, but you’ll almost certainly be unable to do so to another nation. Everything is dependent on the nation to which you are shipping, which brings us to our third issue.
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3. Get Familiar With Custom Regulations
Because every nation is distinct, each one has its own list of goods that they will allow. For instance, used clothes are seldom permitted to enter Mexico.
The nation that produced the item may prohibit it from entering the target country. Political instability inside the nation is another factor to consider. During the Ukrainian conflict in the summer of 2014, DHL refused to transport any shipments to Russia for a period of time.
How can you be sure you will deliver your goods with so many factors to keep track of? You can’t do it. That’s why you should check with the carrier you’re shipping with to see whether the carrier will accept the item you’re sending in the destination country.
The carriers have the most up-to-date information on what is prohibited, as well as all of the documentation you’ll need to send your delivery. The importance of paperwork leads us to our next topic.
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4. Collect Your Documentation
Different kinds of documentation are required for different products. The Commercial Invoice is the most frequent. This is a comprehensive record of the sender, recipient, and all goods being transported, including their value and place of origin. If all you’re sending is papers, you won’t need to fill out a business invoice in most instances.
Depending on what you’re shipping and where you’re sending it, you may need to fill out additional forms. Textiles are an example of an item that often requires extra documentation. The following is a list of commonly used forms for overseas shipments.
Certificate of Origin
This document verifies that the item(s) being sent are from the nation in which they were made. You provide the shipper’s and receiver’s addresses and a comprehensive description of the goods.
After you’ve double-checked that everything is accurate, sign and date the form. The document must then be signed, sealed, and notarized by a representative from your local Chamber of Commerce.
SED (Shipper’s Export Declaration)
When the customs value exceeds $2,500 or an export authorization is needed, this document is necessary.
If your shipment is subject to the International Traffic and Arms Regulations (ITAR) but is exempt from licensing requirements, or if you’re shipping raw diamonds beginning with HTS 7102.10, 7102.21, or 7102.31, you’ll need this paperwork.
If you export to Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, North Korea, Libya, Syria, or Serbia (except Kosovo), you must complete this form.
NAFTA Certificate of Origin
The North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA, governs exports between the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
If your overseas shipment is heading to one of those nations and the customs value exceeds $1,000, you’ll require this paperwork.
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5. Calculate Your Total Costs in Advance
When exporting internationally, you have many choices. Because of the many services, it’s critical to understand what you’re paying for. The cheapest option is typically the USPS.
The item, however, can only be traced inside the United States; once it leaves the country, there is no way of knowing if it was delivered. It is passed from our postal system to the destination country’s postal system, which uses completely different tracking techniques and procedures than ours.
The big carriers (UPS, FedEx, and DHL) are more expensive, providing door-to-door tracking. This reduces the chances of the shipment being lost or stolen during customs processing.
DHL is the worldwide leader among the main airlines. It’s what they’re good at, and they have access to international trade channels that FedEx and UPS have to pay extra for, resulting in higher prices.
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Unlocking International Shipping
Whenever our businesses expand and reach international audiences, we’re delighted by the increase in growth. However, that doesn’t negate the nervousness of tackling international shipping protocols.
Hopefully, our guide has shed some light on the five best ways to ship internationally with minimal heartache and effort.
And, if you liked our article, you can always check out our business section for all the additional tips and tricks you could possibly need.
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