Moving commercial goods internationally calls for efficient logistics, proper documentation, and a reliable partner to ensure a hassle-free process. At MDE, we offer solutions for businesses that need to ship goods by land, air, or sea, ensuring speed, competitive costs, and customs compliance.
Differences between commercial and personal shipments
Unlike personal parcel shipments of up to 30 kg, which are handled easily through international couriers without major customs requirements, commercial shipments require:
✅ Proper classification and documentation: Commercial invoice, certificate of origin, tariff classification, and possibly additional certifications.
✅ Professional customs handling: Export and import procedures, regulatory compliance, and payment of duties when applicable.
✅ Optimized transport options: Choosing the best route (land, air, or sea) based on the urgency, volume, and destination of the goods.
At MDE, we take care of this entire process so that your business can operate smoothly and with complete peace of mind.
Transport options for commercial goods
📦 Air freight: Ideal for high-value or urgent goods. It reduces transit times, although at a higher cost.
🚛 Land freight: The best option within the European Union and neighboring countries. Thanks to the free movement of goods within the bloc, duties and customs procedures are eliminated.
🚢 Sea freight: The most cost-effective alternative for heavy loads or large volumes. It allows shipments to be consolidated in containers, reducing the cost per unit shipped.
Customs handling and shipment consolidation
One of the biggest challenges for transporting goods outside the European Union is proper customs handling. Our team works with customs agents to ensure that documentation is in order and to avoid delays or penalties.
In addition, we offer a shipment consolidation service, allowing your goods to be grouped in one of our warehouses within the EU before export, optimizing transport and customs costs.
Import and export: keys to an efficient shipment
Shipping commercial goods outside the European Union involves import and export processes, which require proper documentation and adequate customs handling.
🔹 Import: When goods are received from a country outside the EU, import duties and taxes must be paid, unless free trade agreements apply. Having a correct tariff classification is essential to avoid extra costs.
🔹 Export: When shipping goods outside the EU, you need to present a commercial invoice, a certificate of origin, and an export declaration. We have customs agents to speed up this procedure and avoid delays.
If your business imports goods regularly, it is advisable to consider options such as customs warehouses and non-customs bonded warehouses (DDA) to defer tax payment until the goods are sold or re-exported.
Customs warehouses and their impact on cost reduction
Customs warehouses allow goods to be stored without paying duties or taxes until they are sold or re-exported. They are a key tool to:
✅ Defer tax payment and improve your business's cash flow.
✅ Avoid double taxation if the goods are only in transit within the EU.
✅ Optimize the transit of goods from a strategic logistics point without unnecessary tax costs.
At MDE, we work with warehouses under customs regime, which makes it possible to store goods without incurring additional costs until clearance is needed.
How to avoid double taxation in international transit
One of the biggest hidden costs in international trade is double customs taxation, which occurs when goods in transit pay duties in an intermediate country before being exported to their final destination.
To avoid this extra cost, it is essential to use customs transit regimes, such as the T1 regime in the European Union, which allows non-Community goods to be transported without paying duties until they reach their final destination.
A company in Mexico buys products in Turkey, but decides to consolidate the goods in a warehouse in Spain before forwarding them to Mexico.
- Without a customs regime: The goods would pay VAT and duties in Spain upon entering from Turkey, in addition to import taxes in Mexico, resulting in a double payment of duties.
- With a customs warehouse (DDA) or transit regime (T1): The goods can be stored in Spain without paying taxes until they are re-exported to Mexico. In this case, only the taxes in Mexico are paid, avoiding double taxation and reducing import costs.
This type of logistics strategy is key for businesses that import goods from outside the EU and need to consolidate their shipments without incurring unnecessary costs.
Shipment consolidation to reduce logistics costs
Many businesses import products from different suppliers in different countries. At MDE, we offer a shipment consolidation service, allowing you to:
✅ Reduce transport costs by sending several parcels in a single shipment.
✅ Take advantage of cheaper shipping rates by optimizing forwarding logistics.
✅ Simplify customs handling with a single export/import document instead of multiple invoices.
Our network of warehouses in Europe and the USA makes it possible to store, consolidate, and forward goods with the best logistics strategy for each business.
Your logistics partner for commercial shipments
If your business needs a reliable logistics partner to move commercial goods, at MDE we offer tailored solutions that optimize time and costs.
🔹 Transport by land, air, or sea according to your needs
🔹 Goods consolidation to reduce shipping costs
🔹 Guidance on customs documentation and regulatory compliance
🔹 Access to all our warehouses in Europe and the USA
If you are looking to improve the efficiency of your logistics and reduce costs on international shipments, contact us today and discover how we can help you optimize your supply chain. Sign up today and turn the impossible into reality! Enjoy a 14-day trial with a money-back guarantee. Our customers' reviews are our greatest testimony to quality and satisfaction.
