Questions and Answers

Importing used products might be challenging because their expected lifespan is much shorter than that of new products, which is why international trade in them is governed by the Waste Management Law in Serbia. The Ministry of Environmental Protection has specified the second-hand/used items for which an import permit is required. Used construction and agricultural machinery are the most common items exported to the Balkan market, although there are other categories as well, such as second-hand clothing. When importing used goods from other countries, the first step is to verify that you own the goods, and the next critical piece of information is their intended use. Import of used machinery When importing a used machine to be used as equipment in your business, the invoice is supported by SBRA (Serbian Business Registers Agency) documentation as proof that the machine is being purchased for the performance of the main activity. In the case of agricultural machinery, this meansproof of a registered agricultural holding. The machinery must be in goodworking order. If the import of certain equipment is subject to international trade policy measures (permits, import approvals), a permit from the relevant Ministry or state agency is required. Transporting machinery requires a lot of technical knowledge. In addition to what we discussed in What information must be included when requesting a transport quote?, you will need to provide further information, such as whether side loading orwrenching isneeded to move the machine, whether the equipment contains oil, and so on… As it is illegal to import substandard goods, you will also need to provide evidence of the quality of the goods. To be able to supply machinery for export, many suppliers have to pass quality tests conducted by significant organizations such as SGS, Veritas, or Intertek. Import of second-hand clothing Second-hand stores in Serbia are not regulated by any particular business legislation; they operate as specialized businesses for the sale of used products. Importers of used clothing are exempt from the requirement to obtain special permits for the import of waste, thanks to a special law issued by the Ministry of Environmental Protection. Only one requirement must be met: the clothing must be categorized, cleaned, and of “as new” quality. Similar rules apply to lower-quality clothing, which may have some stains. In the case of footwear, there is an exception to this rule. Since the owner cannot disinfect and restore used footwear to a high standard, it is classified as garbage and cannotbe imported into Serbia for resale or humanitarian purposes. Second-hand clothing is purchased by the kilogram from wholesalers, most of whom are based in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Germany, while used machinery is imported from all over the world. Several factors will determine which mode of transport is appropriate for importing your used items. Dimensions, quantity, supplier region, price, and time sensitivity are just a few of the considerations when deciding whether to use a single truck, a groupage line, a ship, or air freight. If you’re having trouble navigating all these regulations, contact the professionals at cargo-partner, who will advise you in detail on the necessary procedures and the best solutions for your journey – because “we take it personally”! Best regards, cargo-partner | transport + iLogistics

Because the international supply chain involves so many diverse procedures and participants, professional freight forwarders can be a great help in facilitating cargo movement around the world. Companies that specialize in freight forwarding have extensive knowledge of the complex procedures involved in international trade, including export documentation, international shipping costs, customs clearance procedures, import duties and taxes, port handling fees, domestic distribution, and cargo insurance.

Despite the fact that you are dealing with top professionals, you will still need to be actively involved in the process. To begin with, you will need to provide certain details when requesting a quote for transport services:

• Deadline for delivery
• Pickup address
• Final delivery address
• Incoterms (Learn more about Incoterms here)
• Transport mode (if you have a preference)
• Frequency of transports
• Your possibilities as an importer or exporter
• Customs office (preferred place for customs clearance)
• Type of goods
• Shipment dimensions (length, width, height)
• Weight of shipment
• Type of packaging
• Special requirements of your goods (temperature-sensitive, oversized, fragile, valuable, dangerous, flammable etc.)
• Information about your company (tax number and contact person)
• Required insurance and value of goods

The list continues, but these points are essential when requesting a transport quote. Having critical information on hand can drastically speed up the process and reduce the time it takes to get an offer. If your shipment is time-sensitive, make sure to mention this as well.

If a logistics company representative requests further information or documents, know that it is absolutely necessary.
If you are unfamiliar with the items on the list, don’t worry!cargo-partner’s experts will be delighted to advise you and ensure transparency throughout the entire process.

For more information, visit the cargo-partner website or contact us for a detailed consultation!

Buying and selling goods internationally can be challenging, which is why the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) developed the Incoterms.
The Incoterms (International Commercial Terms) are simply rules that specify which party in the supply chain is responsible for certain duties, expenses, and hazards related to the shipment of products.

The Incoterms have been in use for more than 60 years and are acknowledged by all international courts and organizations.
Their primary goal is to decrease or eliminate uncertainty caused by varying interpretations of the rules in different countries. Because of this, theIncoterms are frequently used in contracts all over the world to clearly state what is expected of allinvolved parties.

Understanding the Incoterms is essential, since they will be invoked in the event of a misunderstanding or legal conflict. Any logistics expert will recognize this note on the box or document.

Within these regulations, some phrases have particular definitions. Among the more significant ones are:

• Delivery – The moment in the transaction in which the risk of loss or damage to the goods is transferred from the seller to the buyer
• Arrival – The moment up to which the transport of goods is paid
• Free- Obligation of the seller to deliver the goods to the designated place where the carrier picks them up
• Carrier – Any person/company who undertakes to carry out or provide goods transportation by contract
• Forwarder – A company that arrangesor assists in making arrangements for shipping of goods
• Prepared for export – Transmitting the sender’s export declaration and obtaining an export permit

Visit the cargo-partner website for additional details, or get in touch with us for an in-depth consultation!

The best transport mode for you will depend on a variety of factors. Costs, transit time, type of goods and shipment size, destination, security… All of these factors will play a role in choosing the best solution.

The “rules” that were in place prior to COVID-19 are no longer relevant in light of the challenges that the logistics industry has faced over the last two years. Closures of cities, ports, and border crossings, lack of drivers, heavy traffic, and the imbalance of supply and demand have significantly influenced the available transport options and their costs.

Taking all this into consideration, we provide a comparison of sea and road transport below, examining the benefits and drawbacks of each transport mode.

Sea Cargo

Advantages of sea freight:

• Suitable for a wide range of goods
• Most environment-friendly
• Worldwide coverage
• Several carriers to choose from
• Shipment security – the container protects your goods from risks like theft, loss of quality, fire or extremely high and low temperatures

Pricing for sea freight shipments differs according to whether you are transporting a full container load (FCL) or less than a container load (LCL). Full containers usually come at a standard price. If you are shipping less than one container, the price will be charged per cubic meter. This makes shipping by sea freight one of the most cost-effective options – not only for large and heavy goods, but also for smaller shipments.

You’ve probably heard the expression “time is money”. Depending on your shipment, this may or may not be accurate. If the orders are received in a timely manner, sea freight can be a viable option due to its low price. A ship’s journey can take up to a month or more, but technology is developing rapidly and ships are becoming faster, so you may even achieve transit times as short as 8 days.
However, if your shipment is time-sensitive, road transport may be the better option.

Road Transport

Despite being the most popular transport mode, road transport has its drawbacks. Trucks can only transport cargo of a specific height and weight. Another disadvantage is their sensitivity to weather, road conditions, and traffic jams.

But transporting your goods by truck also has many benefits:

• Cost-effectiveness for short routes
• Fast and reliable delivery
• Flexibility
• Door-to-door service
• Ideal for short distances and domestic distribution

In addition to all of the above, the destination of the delivery is equally significant. For a long-distance journey, you will most likely choose a ship or a combination of ship and truck. For short distances within Europe, you will probably choose road transport – but there might be another possibility.
Short sea solutions can be an alternative for European destinations. Large shipments can be transported by ship to destinations like Spain, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Turkey, and Scandinavia. In some cases, a ship may even be the only option due to the numerous regulations and paperwork required for road transportation.

In conclusion, there is no one perfect option and we recommend consulting experts when making the decision between sea and road transport. Our team at cargo-partner will gladly guide you in the selection process and identify the best option for your company.

Visit the cargo-partner website for additional information, or contact us for an in-depth consultation!
cargo-partner | transport + iLogistics