Australian Importing E-book

Transcription

1 Personalised service without the premium price Australian Importing E-book 1/2 Kaleski Street, Moorebank, NSW 2170 Ph Fx Importing E-book Page 1

2 Regardless of which product you choose to import, if it s your first time importing the whole process can be overwhelming, there are simply so many things to think about. These may include Finding a reputable supplier Buying at the best price Understanding Customs and tariffs Finding a capable Customs Broker Shipping costs Finance Trade terms With so many things to consider, it is easy to become overwhelmed in the early stages, but help is at hand, our comprehensive guide to Australian importing will arm you with the expert knowledge you need to become a successful and profitable Australian importer. Importing E-book Page 2

3 Mathematics of importing Cost of Goods + Origin Transport cost, factory to Wharf / Terminal + Origin Export Customs Clearance + Origin Wharf / Terminal Loading Costs + International Transport + Destination Wharf / Terminal Unloading Costs + Destination Customs & Quarantine Clearance + Destination Transport, Wharf/Terminal to Factory + Insurance = Total Importing Cost Importing E-book Page 3

4 Important Issues to Consider Who pays for what? One of the most confusing aspects about importing is to understand who pays the costs associated with the shipping from the seller to your door. For the first time importer the vocabulary used within the industry can be very confusing at first. For a start INCOTERMS is short for international Commerce Terms which are a series of three letter trade terms intended to divide the transportation cost and responsibility between the seller and the buyer. Let s assume for the moment that you ve uncovered an amazing deal with a tyre manufacturer in China. The manufacturer is willing to sell 100 of their top selling tyres to you for only $1000. So what is the $1000 buying? Is that the cost purely to purchase the tyres outright? Or does the $1000 include extras such as delivery to the wharf in China? Export clearance? or international freight? Incoterms are intended to remove this uncertainty and provide clarity for the buyer and seller in defining who pays for what during the international transport. Importing E-book Page 4

5 INCO Terms The following list of INCO terms is ordered from the term denoting the most responsibility for the buyer (EXW) to that denoting the least responsibility. For instance, EX Works (EXW) means that the buyer (that s you the importer) has to arrange for the goods to be picked up from the factory. DDP on the other hand, means that the seller will arrange and pay for everything until the product arrives at your warehouse. Commonly Used Incoterms for Your Reference Acronym Term EXW Ex Works FOB Free On Board CFR Cost and Freight CIF Cost Insurance and Freight DAT Delivered at Terminal DAP Delivered at Place DDP Delivered Duty Paid Importing E-book Page 5

6 INCOTERMS 2010 TIP: CFR & CIF, often referred to as freight pre-paid, includes all the transportation costs from the sellers factory door up until the port of destination, they do not however, include the subsequent unloading Importing E-book Page 6

7 costs at the port of destination. Be sure to factor in the unloading costs if buying from the seller using a freight pre-paid option (which you should always try and avoid, why? see page 22!) Containerised Cargo Guide The below timeline is provided to give a better understanding of how containerised freight becomes available for collection at the wharf Day 0, Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6 Vessel Arrival Vessel Unloading Vessel Unloading First Day of Availability Containers Become Available for Collection Container Detention Free Time Starts Second Day of Availability Containers Remain Available for Collection Third Day Availability Containers Remain Available for Collection First Day of Wharf Storage Daily Wharf Storage Commences on Containers Which Have Not Yet Been Collected. Storage Continues Until The Container Is Removed From The Wharf Most shipping lines allow importers to keep containers for up to 10 days from the first day of availability. Containers which are not Importing E-book Page 7

8 returned to the port within 10 days are charged detention by the shiping line for each additional day they remain overdue. Special purpose containers, such as refrigerated containers and isotankers, are often only given 5 free days before detention begins. Types of Containers Container sizes are pretty standardised. As a general rule there are two sizes: a twenty foot container and a forty foot container (there are other sizes, however, in most cases, the size that will suit your purpose will be these two) There are several different types of container configurations, which are; Multi-Purpose: Suited for scrap steel, low value items General Purpose: Suited for most commercial cargo Clean container: Suited for more delicate cargo, personal effects Food Quality: As the name suggests, suited for food items Reefer: Refrigerated Container 90% of sea cargo is transported using general purpose containers and a good freight forwarder will be able to advise which container configuration is best suited for your needs. Importing E-book Page 8

9 Lighten up In recent times, the port supply chain has been faced with an increasing challenge to manage overweight import containers entering the road network via Australian ports. Container trucks have a maximum carrying capacity which is 45,000kg gross. Therefore the total weight of the truck, trailer, container and contents of the container must not exceed 45,000 kg. The maximum weight which can be loaded into a container will ultimately be determined by which type of delivery is required, standard trailer or sideloader trailer. Sideloader trailers are heavier due to their hydraulic lifting equipment so the extra weight must be taken into consideration when determining how much can be loaded into a container while still remaining under the maximum allowable load limit. Overweight containers incur significant delays, additional handling charges, are often directed to be unpacked at the port prior to delivery. Approximate container maximum load weight (container + cargo) Standard Sideloader Queensland 27,500kg 24,000kg Western Australia 24,500kg 21,000kg NSW 26,000kg 22,500kg VIC 27,000kg 23,500kg Adelaide 20 26,900 /40 28, ,400 /40 24,500 Importing E-book Page 9

10 Container Delivery Options Standard Trailer Used for container deliveries where the receiver has a dock. trailer. Unloading is conducted while the container remains on the Sideloader Used for container deliveries where the receiver does not have a dock or any unloading facilities. The container is lowered to the ground for unloading. Normally the truck leaves the container on site and returns to collect it again when it is empty Importing E-book Page 10

11 Customs X-rays Container Examination Facilities (CEFs) are purpose built x-ray systems to enable the inspection and physical examination of selected sea cargo. CEF s operate six days a week in the ports of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Fremantle and five days a week in Adelaide. It s important to note how x-ray containers are treated in relation to free time given at the port, as explained on page 7. As we know containers are allowed 3 free days at the terminal before wharf storage commences however customs often holds containers for longer than the 3 day period, so what happens next? Container Terminal Operators (CTO s) currently provide three free days storage for container once they become available at the wharf. Customs has an arrangement in place with the CTO s which requires them to provide an additional 24 hours in free storage from the time the x-ray container is returned to the CTO s, excluding late reported cargo In its simplest terms, late reported cargo is cargo which hasn t been reported to customs prior to vessel arrival. Late reporting is often due to incorrect or missing paperwork or not providing the customs broker with timely documents. There are innumerable procedures, rules, regulations and laws involved in ensuring shipments pass through customs successfully and these take Importing E-book Page 11

12 time to complete. At a minimum you should ensure your broker has a complete set of documents at least 7 days prior to vessel arrival. Another problem importers face with x-ray containers is that wharf transport slots cannot be booked before the container is cleared by Customs. Carriers are made to book slots with the CTO s for each container that enters and leaves port and CTO s impose hefty fees for slots which are booked and then not used due the container being held. But perhaps the biggest issue faced is due to CTO s releasing wharf vehicle slots three days in advance with Customs only providing an addition 24 hours and late reported cargo receiving no extra time at all. Therefore it s often impossible to collect x-ray containers before wharf storage commences as more often than not, there are no wharf slots available between the containers release and when the 24 hour free time expires. Importing E-book Page 12

13 What happens if I don t have a full container load? You will encounter the terms FCL and LCL. FCL stands for Full Container Load, where the load being shipped is substantial enough to fill an entire container. LCL stands for Less than a Container Load which means your goods will share a container with other importers shipments. Interestingly, it can sometimes be cheaper to secure a full 20 container and only partially fill it, rather than using a LCL service, where a premium price often applies. Keep in mind that if you have a very small load (less than 200kg) it may be more cost effective to consider airfreight. LCL Delivery Options LCL Standard Used for LCL deliveries where the receiver has unloading facilities, such as a forklift. Hand unloads are also possible depending on the weight of the cargo. Importing E-book Page 13

14 LCL Delivery Options, Cont. LCL Tail Lift Used for LCL deliveries where the receiver does not have unloading facilities. Tail lift trucks use a hydraulic platform to lower the cargo to the ground. Importing E-book Page 14

15 Air Freight Common sense dictates that the smaller and lighter the item, the better it is to send it by air freight. However, air freight is also important for shipments that need to get to you fast. A good example would be perishables such as flowers. There would be little point to send them via ship unless of course the flowers were dried in which case they would not be considered perishable. As a general rule, air fright weight is based on a per kilogram basis. However, exceptions on the size of the package apply. For example if you were shipping a container load of feathers from India chances are that you would be charged on the space it takes in the cargo hold of the plane, rather than being charged on the actual weight. While 90% of all imports are shipped by sea, if your product is light, small, valuable or urgent, don t forget to get a price on shipping your items by air. Importing E-book Page 15

16 Customs & Quarantine Customs & Customs Brokers Importing into Australia means having your products pass though Australian Customs. There are innumerable procedures, rules, regulations and laws involved in ensuring shipments pass through customs successfully. Due to its complexity, it is wise for importers to seek the services of a reputable customs broker. They will be able to help you successfully register with Australian Customs as an importer, which has a small cost associated with it. There are many things that Customs Brokers can help you with but their primary role is to ensure your shipment clears customs upon its arrival in Australia. Importers are also able to clear shipments which have a value exceeding AUD1000 themselves by attending their local Customs office, your nearest location can be found by visiting the Australian Customs website however there are a range of forms and requirements to be met and some are quite complicated. There is paperwork before your shipment is loaded, upon its arrival and throughout the clearance process. Taking care of all the administrative tasks can take much of your time so consider handing this function over to a trustworthy Customs Broker. Keep in mind that fees vary, so call a few brokers to work out who best meets your needs and budget. Importing E-book Page 16

17 Tariffs If you want to get a good understanding of the Customs duties associated with importing your product we highly recommend you review the Australian Customs Working Tariff. It can be found at Quarantine Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Biosecurity (DAFF) DAFF manages quarantine controls at our borders to minimise the risk of pests and diseases entering the country. DAFF also provides import and export inspection and certification to help retain Australians favourable animal, plant and human health status to overseas export markets It s common for import shipments arriving in Australia to require Quarantine clearance in addition to Customs clearance. Customs Brokers who are accredited with DAFF are able to complete many of the quarantine processes and procedures without having to refer each shipment to DAFF for processing. DAFF accredited Customs Brokers are essentially quasi quarantine officers and are able act on DAFF s behalf, which has the benefit of lowering quarantine charges and speeding up clearance times. Importing E-book Page 17

18 Quarantine Packing Declarations Australian Quarantine mandates that every sea freight consignment entering Australia be accompanied by a valid packing declaration. Packing declarations are only accepted by Quarantine where they are completed by the seller of the goods, or by the offshore entity who packed the goods for export. Consignments which do not have acceptable packing declarations are sent for mandatory quarantine inspection upon arrival at the importers expense. Sample packing declarations are available by visiting the below link on the DAFF website data/assets/pdf_file/0009/ /fcl-lclpack-dec.pdf Importing E-book Page 18

19 Timber!!!! Containers, timber packing, pallets or dunnage associated with the consignment will be subject to inspection and treatment on arrival, unless certified as having been treated by an AQIS approved method Where articles are less than 4mm in diameter (includes commodities such as toothpicks, matchsticks or skewers) the consignment may be released. Please note that this does not include tongue depressors or icy pole sticks, but can include pencils where the wall thickness of the timber is less than 4mm and all bark has been removed. All other consignments of manufactured wooden articles that have been treated offshore by DAFF approved treatment providers and are accompanied by acceptable treatment certificates may be released on the presentation of documents. Importing E-book Page 19

20 Acceptable treatments are: a) Methyl bromide b) Sulphuryl fluoride c) Heat treatment d) Ethylene oxide, or e) Permanent timber preservative treatment Treatments must be completed within 21 days of export. All fumigation treatments must be completed before an impervious finish has been applied to the goods. Consignments that are not accompanied by an acceptable treatment certificate are subject to inspection, treatment, re-exportation or destruction at the importer s expense. Importing E-book Page 20

21 Freight Forwarding What is freight forwarding? A freight forwarder or a forwarding agent is a company which can organise international shipping. In most cases the freight forwarder is not the actual carrier of the product, they only act as an agent on your behalf. Using a good freight forwarder is the most efficient way to ship your goods. They re normally experts in handling the documentation, freight rate negotiations and determining the most economical way to ensure your products reach you. In some cases your supplier will recommend a freight forwarder, in other cases, you will have to organise shipping yourself. TIP- Avoid having the seller provide the freight forwarding wherever possible Why? See the next page The Biggest Importing Mistake & How to Avoid It Importing E-book Page 21

22 The Biggest Importing Mistake & How to Avoid It The biggest and most expensive mistake importers make is allowing the overseas seller to supply the freight forwarding. If you are planning on, or are already allowing the seller to provide the international freight then this section is a must read for you! For ease and simplicity, most importers are happy to purchase goods from their overseas sellers using incoterms, CRF or CIF, where the cost of the international freight to Australia is incorporated into the price of the goods. However what most importers don t realise is that in order to encourage sellers to use their services foreign freight forwarders will often supply the international freight to the seller free of charge. FREE! How is this possible? When buying under INCO terms CFR or CIF what you re paying for is the cost of the goods + the transportation costs to Australia. The issue for Australian importers is that while CFR & CIF includes the actual carriage of the goods to Australia, it does not include the costs incurred in Australia, primarily the Australian port charges, the amount payable to have your cargo unload from the ship or aircraft. Importing E-book Page 22

23 Australian unloading charges, also commonly referred to as port charges for sea freight, and terminal charges for air freight, are not included in a CFR or CIF transaction. Under these terms the unloading cost are the responsibility of the importer. Foreign freight forwarders are aware of this and they use it to their advantage. Forwarders will often entice the overseas seller to use their freight service by providing the international freight at no cost. The revenue lost by supplying the freight for free is recouped again by over inflating the unloading costs in Australia, the unloading costs which are being incurred by the Australian importer. (You!) It may not make much sense and can be difficult understand at first, but in a nut shell the Australian importer is paying the seller to provide the transportation to Australia, the seller is being given the freight free of charge and the Australian importer is then unwittingly paying for the freight once again through over inflated unloading costs in Australia. Australian importers need to pay special attention to LCL sea freight shipments, especially from Asia, where this type of arrangement is very common. The golden rule of importing to Australia for maximum profit is never let the seller provide the freight forwarding, ever! Professional importers rarely use INCO terms CRF or CIF where the seller is involved with the freight forwarding. You wouldn t expect Coles or BHP to allow their suppliers to dictate the freight forwarder, and neither should you. Importing E-book Page 23

24 Always ask the seller to quote EXW or FOB prices and then request the services of an Australian freight forwarder to manage the shipping process for you. Apart from the cost savings, when importing for the first time it can be very beneficial to have someone locally to call on, someone who is working in your best interests, rather than those of the seller. Importing E-book Page 24

25 Talk the talk, walk the walk Sound like an import pro Like any industry or area of specialisation, importing comes with it s own set of jargo. Understanding the lingo and key trade terms when negotiating with suppliers, freight forwarders, customs brokers and anyone else in the trade is vital. As most terms are abbreviated, you will need to the know the terminologies and acronyms which are regulary used about the market place. We have included some of the most important information to prepare you to talk the talk and walk the walk - so get studying! Importing E-book Page 25

26 Key trade terms EXW Exworks CFR Cost &Freight DAP Delivered at Place FOB Free on Board CIF Cost Insurance & Freight DDP Delivered Duty Paid Key Shipping terms CY Container Yard LCL less than Container Load FCL Full Container Load CAF Currency Adjustment Factor THC Terminal Handling Charge HBL Housebill of lading APC Australian Port Charges Cval Customs Value Skid Small Pallet PSC Port Service Charge Fumo Fumigation Certificate BBK Break Bulk W/M Weight Measure BAF Bunker Adjustment Factor D/O Delivery Order MBL Masterbill of Lading SCA Sea Cargo Automation B/L Bill of Lading Ro/Ro Roll On Roll Off UDL Unit Load Device Skell Skeleton Trailer FSC Fuel Surcharge Importing E-book Page 26

27 Importer s Glossary ATA Carnet: A document which enables one to carry or send goods temporarily into certain foreign countries without paying duties or posting bonds Airwaybill: The carrying agreement between the shipper and air carrier, the document is obtained from the airline AQIS: Australian Quarantine and Inspeciton Service Bill of Lading: A document which provides the terms of the contact between the shipper and the transport company to move the freight between stated points at a specified charge Bonded Warehouse: a building authorised by Customs for the storage of goods without the payment of duties until removed Carrier: A transportation line that hauls cargo Certificate of Origin: A document in which certification is made as to the country of origin of the goods Chep/loscam: An exchange pallet program which provides greater efficiency in pallet loading and unloading and improves operational efficiency. Commercial Invoice: A trade invoice Importing E-book Page 27

28 Consignee: A person, company or representative to whom the seller of shipper sends merchandise and who upon presentation of the necessary documents, is recognised as the owner of the goods for payment of Customs duties Country of Origin: The country in which a product or commodity is manufactured or produced Customs: The agency or procedure for collecting duties imposted by a country on imports or exports DAFF: Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Biosecurity (Formally known as AQIS) Delivered Duty Paid: While the term Ex-Works signifies the seller s minimum obligation, the term Delivered Duty Paid denotes the other extreme the sellers maximum obligation where all transport costs from the sellers warehouse door until the freight arrives at the seller door are paid for by the seller Delivered Duty Unpaid: The seller must deliver the goods to the consignee and is responsible for all costs involved in the transportation. The buyer handles the Australian import formalities and pays for any customs duties Demurrage: Excess time taken for loading and unloading a vehicle. Detention: Excess time taken returning a shipping container to the wharf Importing E-book Page 28

29 Drawback: A refund of Customs duties which has been paid, upon exportation of the imported merchandise Dunnage: Dunnage is inexpensive or waste material used to protect, support and secure load during transportation. Duty: The tax imposted by a Government on merchandise imported from another country Export: To send goods to a foreign country or overseas territory FCL: Full Container Load Freight Forwarder: An agent who assists in moving cargo to or from a foreign destination Gross Weight: Total weight of goods, packing and container ready for shipment Import: to bring merchandise into a country from another country or overseas territory Import Permit: A governmental document which permits the importation of a product into a country where such licenses are necessary INCO terms: Indicate where the buyer or the seller carries the risk, responsibility, liability or cost as specified points during a transaction Importing E-book Page 29

30 Letter of Credit: A document issued by a bank at the buyer s request in favor of a seller, promising to pay an agreed amount of money upon receipt of certain documents within a specified time Marine Insurance: An insurance which will compensate the owner of the goods transported overseas in the event of loss. Net Weight: Weight of the goods alone without any immediate wrappings. E.g., the weight of the contents of a tin can without the weight of the can. Packing Declaration: A declaration required by Australian Quarantine declaring the type of packing used in a sea freight shipment. Pro Forma Invoice: An invoice forwarder by the seller of the goods prior to shipment to advise the buyer of the weight and value of the shipment Rate of exchange: The basis upon which money of one country will be exchanges for that of another Sanitary Certificate: A certificate which attests to the purity or absence of disease or pests in the shipment of food products, plants, seeds and live animals. Sideloader: A semi trailer with the capability of unloading shipping containers by placing them on the ground. Importing E-book Page 30

31 Skeleton Trailer: A stripped out trailer which has been specifially designed to be light as posisble in order to carry more weight while remaining under the maximum allowable road mass limit Slot: A booking made with a stevedore allowing vehicle access to a wharf or depot, within a specified time, for load and unloading of cargo Storage: Excess time taken to collect cargo from a wharf or warehouse Taillift: A vehicle fitted with a hydraulicly assisted platform designed to lower pallets, boxes and cartons to the ground where intended delivery site does not have access to unloading facilities Tariff: A schedule or system of duties imposed by a government on goods imported or exported; Rate of duty. Importing E-book Page 31

32 We hope you enjoyed our E-book! If you would like assistance with importing to Australia, simply contact us via the details below, we are always happy to help! Phone: Fax: & Quotes Web info@customsclearanceworld.com.au ~ End ~ Importing E-book Page 32