“The Ultimate Guide to International Shipping in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia (SEA) is being hailed as the next land of opportunity for e-commerce. With fast-growing markets like Indonesia ripe for cross-border sales of your e-commerce goods, it’s perfect for your shipments to pass through customs and reach your customers safely and on time.
1. The novelty of international shipping
Thanks to international shipping, today’s e-commerce customers have access to global markets. Products that were once unavailable and unavailable in the country are now accessible with just a few clicks. This gives e-commerce sellers the opportunity to expand into new markets and expand their reach at affordable prices.
However, international shipping has historically been painful for Southeast Asia. The region’s complex customs, fragmented cultures and archipelago topography make cross-border shipping a challenge. These not only result in longer travel times, but also significantly increase the price of international freight.
But cross-border online sellers can’t take the risk of a poor international shipping experience. After all, logistics plays a huge role in customers’ perceptions of a platform’s trustworthiness. In addition, competition for the shopping carts of Southeast Asians is increasing, and quality delivery services are now an important factor in online sales success.
This means that cross-border e-commerce sellers must be able to offer customers:
Reliable delivery service with packages intact
Faster service such as express options
More options (eg, cheaper standard delivery, package pickup)
Wide coverage
But when it comes to international shipping, it’s easier said than done.
2. Choose the right shipping company
In today’s competitive logistics industry, explore the shipping company of your choice from the many logistics providers. In some regions, some operators may have wider networks and better expertise than others.
Shipping companies that choose to establish operations in specific destinations can speed up deliveries to customers in those countries. Shipping lines that are major players in a country are likely to also have physical locations at the destination. An operator with a physical base of operations in the destination country can provide you with local expertise and provide more effective customer service to your customers.
In today’s logistics industry, there are e-commerce logistics service providers that aim to provide end-to-end fulfillment solutions for businesses that intend to ship across borders. Consider working with a logistics partner such as TJ china freight that has a larger network of carriers that can help you reduce costs and increase customer satisfaction with e-commerce logistics.
3. Customs Clearance Basics
Regulations vary depending on which country you ship to and from. Make sure you understand the required licenses, special regulations, and restricted and prohibited items for the appropriate country. Most countries also require importers to register with the relevant trade authority and obtain a customs identification number.
Typically, the documents you need to pass to your shipping partner are as follows:
commercial invoice
Gives the total shipment value. Help determine import duties and taxes and eligibility for shipments.
packing list
Provides product details, shipment volume in kilograms (KG) or cubic meters (CBM), and serves as a checklist to ensure shipments are properly packaged.
Shipping-related documents often require the volumetric dimensions of the package, which can be calculated using the following formula:
Dimensional weight (KG) = (packaging length x width x height cm)/5000
prohibited and prohibited goods
Each country has its own list of goods that require additional regulations to comply with or cannot enter the country at all. These items are generally banned or restricted in most countries in Southeast Asia:
Anti-government, inflammatory or politically sensitive material
pornographic material
Narcotics or recreational drugs
Firearms, Explosives, Ammunition
tobacco products
alcoholic beverages
drug
For restricted items, you may need additional permits and licenses that your shipping partner can help you obtain. Certain restricted items are also subject to higher duties or duties.
Duties and Taxes
Your shipments will be charged different import duties and taxes depending on where you are shipping to, the value of the shipment and the type of shipment you are shipping.
To make sure you understand the amount you or the end customer must pay, it’s important to understand how these factors affect the amount of tax you need to pay.
4. This can all be solved by hiring the right logistics partner
These are a lot of things to keep in mind, but don’t worry – finding the right logistics partner who can guide you through these processes will be key to ensuring smooth and successful cross-border shipping.
Not only does this minimize the risk of costly mistakes and the headaches of changing regulations, it also allows you to enjoy the benefits of cross-border shipping at a cost-effective rate.
Remember that not all logistics providers offer the same services. Some can handle sourcing, while others focus on last-mile delivery. But for busy e-commerce sellers who want to focus on growing their business, we recommend finding an end-to-end partner who can complete the package journey through technology rather than manual methods. Choosing a digital-first partner ensures efficiency, transparency and a great customer experience.”
