/ By tjchinafreight ivy / Shipping

How to Ship Dangerous Goods?

No matter what industry you're in, chances are you'll find yourself shipping something that's classified as a hazardous material. Many products contain elements that can be dangerous if mishandled, and such products are required by law to be transported in a certain way.

But how do you know if these requirements apply to you? What qualifies as a hazardous substance? If you found yourself needing to ship anything, how would you pack and ship them? In this Hazardous Logistics Safety Guide, we provide answers to these questions and some tips for shipping dangerous goods.

Some of the most important safety tips to follow.

1. Get proper training
The Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) Act and Regulations deal with the handling and transportation of dangerous goods, whether by road, air, rail or water. It consists of various elements, focusing on aspects such as the composition of dangerous goods, preparation of relevant documentation, reporting of incidents and incidents, and training required for contacts. A company's first priority should be to ensure that anyone involved in the transport of dangerous goods has the correct training and is kept up to date with that training. There are courses specifically designed to train personnel to handle and transport dangerous goods, but laws may vary by region, so check government advice and local regulations to ensure your employees are properly trained in advance. The TDG certificate is generally valid for 3 years, after which retraining is required. Anyone handling unlicensed dangerous goods must be supervised by a witness.

2. Correctly classify dangerous goods
Dangerous goods is an umbrella term covering many different materials and substances. It is important to remember that not all dangerous goods are created equal, and they should be handled and transported in a manner appropriate to the particular type of hazard. TDG divides different types of dangerous goods into 9 categories. these are:

  • Class 1: Explosives
  • Class 2: Gases
  • Class 3: Flammable Liquids
  • Class 4: Flammable solids; substances liable to spontaneous combustion; substances which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases (water-reactive substances)
  • Class 5: Oxidizing Substances and Organic Peroxides
  • Class 6: Toxic and Infectious Substances
  • Class 7: Radioactive material
  • Class 8: Corrosives
  • Class 9: Miscellaneous products, substances or organisms (including environmentally hazardous substances)

3. Contact your shipper in advance
Different shipping companies may have different requirements and restrictions when it comes to shipping dangerous goods. The TDG outlines the minimum requirements expected by the legislation, but different shipping lines may take other steps. Therefore, it is always recommended that you contact your shipper beforehand to check the details of how your shipment should be prepared for shipping.

4. Make sure your shipment is properly packaged and labeled
Ensuring that shipments are properly packaged and labelled is absolutely critical. Before attempting packaging or labeling, you should take the time to research the various requirements for the specific hazmat you are shipping. Companies shipping in and out of Canada should ensure that labels comply with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS), an international standard that has been adopted by countries around the world.

How should you package hazardous materials?

Given the wide variety of items that can be considered dangerous, you may find that you sometimes need to ship items in one of the above categories. Even if it's not as dangerous as an explosive, it could still be something like perfume or matches.

What should you do when this happens? How should you wrap it? Here are some basics on how to transport dangerous products.

Safe packaging
A good start is to pack all materials as safely as possible. By locking them as securely as you can, you can minimize the risk of any adverse events. For example, with aerosol cans, you should put lids on and wrap them in bubble wrap or other similar material to keep them from rolling.

Take a similar approach with other hazardous materials, storing them safely with plenty of filling so they get as little jostling and nudge as possible during transport. Also, be careful not to pack incompatible items together, such as explosives and oxidizing substances.

In extreme cases, like nuclear or radioactive waste, the material must be stored in a special type of container designed for the substance, like the familiar yellow drums in various movie images. Hopefully most of your materials will be more common and can be packaged in standard boxes and containers. But they still need to be safe, so make sure they are safe!

Label container
After loading materials into containers, be sure to properly label those containers. You'll want to do everything you can to help supply chain workers understand their content. Use appropriate hazmat stickers on the outside of the container. However, try to keep the number of tags out there so as not to distract anyone with too much information.

In addition to marking what the materials are and the hazards they pose, mark how they should be handled. Make sure the shipper knows what to do with them, either through actions such as marking the container "this side up" or by communicating directly with the shipper.

Record everything
In a similar fashion, record everything about the process. Document everything you ship for yourself and the shipper. Document the materials shipped and how they are packaged and labeled. The more information you keep track of, the easier it is for you to deal with anything that might go wrong. In any case, some documents may be required by law, but even if not, you still need to document everything that happens in the process.

Track your package
It is also important to keep track of the materials you ship. At the very least, take advantage of tracking tags so you can track the progress of materials as they stop and keep track of where they are. Even better, you can use a GPS tracker, which allows you to see where your package is at any time. Tracking your package helps keep you informed and prepared in case something goes wrong.

Abide by the law
Of course, while it's a good idea to do all of these things anyway to be on the safe side, in many cases it's required by law -- especially if your package is being transported by plane. Some materials cannot even be legally transported by plane. For those you can ship to, you may still need to follow a few procedures.

The exact nature of what you have to do will vary depending on the type of material, whether it is new or reused, and whether you ship in bulk. Different combinations of these factors will result in different requirements. In some cases, you may have to use UN-spec packaging, which must have internal materials tested to ensure it will work properly before it is allowed to ship.

Why is MSDS required when exporting dangerous goods and general chemicals by sea?

MSDS is an important document for conveying chemical hazard information. It briefly describes the hazards of a chemical to human health and the environment and provides information on the safe handling, storage and use of the chemical. Developed countries such as the United States, Japan, and EU countries have generally established and implemented the MSDS system. According to the chemical management regulations of these countries, manufacturers of hazardous chemicals usually provide a safety data sheet for their products when they sell, transport or export their products.
At present, the foreign requirements for MSDS (SDS) have been extended to almost all chemicals. In this regard, chemicals exported to developed countries are now basically required to have MSDS (SDS) in order to be successfully declared. And some foreign buyers will require MSDS (SDS) of items, and some domestic foreign companies or joint ventures will also request this.

/ By tjchinafreight ivy / Cargo • Shipping • Transport

ONE publishes special loading requirements for these two categories of cargo

On March 28, 2022, ONE issued a security bulletin on Special Stowage Requirement for Non-DG and Non-Special Cargoes.

ONE stated in the announcement that when transporting goods, safety is the number one priority. To ensure compliance with

global acceptance policies and safety standards, ONE verifies all bookings to ensure that all shipments are properly declared,

packed and loaded. This measure is a critical step in preventing accidents and ensuring safe handling of cargo.

 

ONE emphasizes that in addition to dangerous goods and special cargoes, the following non-dangerous goods and non-special

cargoes booked at ONE also require special loading to be loaded onto the ships of ONE and its partners.

Additionally, in order to complete the verification, the customer will be required to provide additional instructions and documentation.

This will help ONE achieve a higher standard in the safe transportation of goods.

 

ONE said it was the responsibility of shippers to declare correct cargo information and therefore reminded its customers to check that all

bookings are properly declared.

/ By tjchinafreight ivy / Shipping

Ownership-based container terminal types

What is a container terminal?

Container terminal or container port (used interchangeably) is a term designated for an intermediate destination facility that enables containers to switch modes of transport on their way to their final destination.
Many times, cargo arrives at a container terminal on a single vessel and is distributed to inland customers by multiple modes of transport. The terminal is also an area dedicated to maintenance and temporary storage of containers. Occasionally, the unloading, loading and storage of the cargo in these containers is also carried out here.

Container Terminal Type

Container terminals around the world are divided into five categories based on their ownership:

Public terminals, operator leased terminals, joint ventures between operators and terminal operators, terminal built and operated by operators, and finally terminals built and operated by operators. Below is a brief overview of the five terminals -

1. Public Pier
All facilities of the public terminal, such as loading and unloading processes, tariff rates and allocated entry and exit locations are shared by all shipping lines and operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Regular duty rates apply to container handling and other related charges, or are otherwise discounted or at agreed rates.

2. The carrier leases a dedicated terminal
These are the result of major carriers working with port authorities, culminating in the signing of long-term leases that are exclusively used by these carriers. The carrier is responsible for paying the costs incurred as carrier preference. For example, Maersk has a number of terminals that have signed long-term use contracts. In addition, some shipping companies have formed partnerships to share terminal usage using multi-user long-term contracts.

3. Terminal construction and operation of terminals
Terminal operators invest directly in the construction, operation and handling of terminals. The operator enters into a lease contract with the port authority by depositing a sum into the gross handling charge of the container business.

4. Operators – build and operate terminals
The method is similar to that used for terminal construction and operation of terminals. In this type of licence, one or more carriers jointly lease a container terminal through deposits with port authorities or direct investment in construction, operation and handling services

5. Joint venture between carrier and terminal operator
In this type of contract, an agreement is reached between the shipping company and the terminal operator, thus forming a company. Direct investment, combined terminal operations for safe, prioritized and efficient container handling.

/ By tjchinafreight ivy / Shipping

Summary of shipping precautions for exporting to India!

India is the largest country in the South Asian subcontinent, with many domestic ports, including 12 major ports, including Mumbai, Calcutta, Chennai (formerly Madras), Cochin, and Goa, which undertake 3/4 of the cargo volume. Among them, Mumbai Port is the largest port, and its shipping capacity ranks 18th in the world.
China Shipping to Kolkata Port in India needs to transit through other ports, including Colombo / Visakhapatnam / Krishnapatnam / Port Klang / Singapore and other ports.

01 Document requirements

The import and export of India by sea involves the following documents:

(1) Signed invoice
(2) packing list
(3) Ocean Bill of Lading or Bill of Lading / Air Waybill
(4) The completed GATT declaration form
(5) Declaration form of the importer or its customs broker
(6) Approval document (provided when required)
(7) Letter of credit/bank draft (provided when required)
(8) Insurance documents
(9) Import license
(10) Industry license (provided when required)
(11) Laboratory report (provided when the goods are chemicals)
(12) Temporary tax exemption order
(13) Original copy of Customs Exemption Right Certificate (DEEC) / Tax Rebate and Tax Deduction Right Certificate (DEPB)
(14) Catalogue, detailed technical specifications, and relevant documents (provided when the goods are machinery equipment, machinery equipment parts or chemicals)
(15) Single price of mechanical equipment parts
(16) Certificate of Origin (provided when preferential tariff rates apply)
(17) No Commission Statement

02 Supplementary requirements for documents

Indian Customs Service has issued Proclamation No. 33/2018 which stipulates that from April 1, 2018, importers must ensure that their exporters are informed of the following essential details abroad in order to incorporate these details into booking such shipments:
(1) Importer's Import and Export Code (IEC)
(2) GST Importer's Identification Number (GSTIN)
(3) Importer's official email ID (for shipping routes and customs communications)

This notification is issued due to consignment of hazardous waste, other waste or restricted items being imported in the name of certain importers and still not cleared. It is therefore essential to record the importer's basic information on the bill of lading so that these details can be used to determine DPD stacking and various other uses.

03Tariff Policy

From July 1, 2017, India will consolidate its various local service taxes into the Goods and Services Tax (GST), which will also replace the previously announced 15% Indian service tax. The GST charge will be 18% of the import and export Indian service charges, including local charges such as terminal handling charges, inland transportation charges, etc.

On September 26, 2018, the Indian government abruptly announced an increase in import duties on 19 "non-essential goods" to reduce the widening current account deficit. The tariff adjustment raises tariffs on imported goods such as air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, footwear, speakers, jewelry, some plastics, luggage and aviation turbine fuel.

The Ministry of Finance of India has notified that import duties on 17 commodities will be increased from October 12, 2018. The 17 items include smart watches, telecommunications equipment and more. The notice showed that tariffs on smartwatches and telecommunications equipment were raised to 20 percent from the current 10 percent.

04Customs regulations

First of all, all goods transferred to the inland freight station in India must be transported by the shipping company, and the final destination column of the bill of lading and manifest must be filled in as the inland point. Otherwise, it is necessary to dig out the box at the port or pay a high fee for changing the manifest before transshipment to the inland.
Secondly, after the goods arrive at the port, they can be stored in the customs warehouse for 30 days. After 30 days, the customs will issue a notice of delivery to the importer. If the importer cannot pick up the goods on time for some reason, he can apply to the customs for an extension as needed. If the Indian buyer does not apply for an extension, the exporter's goods will be auctioned after 30 days of storage in customs.

05Customs clearance

After unloading (usually within 3 days), the importer or its agent must first fill in the Bill of Entry in quadruplicate. The first and second pages are retained by the customs, the third page is retained by the importer, and the fourth page is retained by the bank where the importer pays the tax. Otherwise, high detention fees must be paid to the port authority or airport authority.
If the goods are declared through the Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) system, there is no need to fill in the paper "Import Declaration Form", but the detailed information required by the customs to process the goods clearance application needs to be entered in the computer system, and the EDI system will automatically generate the "Import Declaration Form". Customs Declaration.

06Return regulations

Indian Customs stipulates that the exporter needs to provide the original importer's certificate of abandonment of the goods, the relevant delivery certificate and the exporter's request for return letters and telegrams, and entrust the shipping agent to complete the return procedures after paying the port storage fees, agency fees and other reasonable fees.
If the importer is unwilling to issue the exporter with the certificate of rejection of the goods, the exporter can rely on the letter of the importer's refusal to pay or take delivery or the letter of the importer's non-payment redemption provided by the bank or the shipping agent, the relevant delivery certificate and the seller's request. The letter and telegram for the return of the goods shall be entrusted to the shipping agent to directly submit the return request to the relevant Indian port customs and go through the relevant procedures.

/ By tjchinafreight ivy / Shipping

How to deal with the problem of overweight containers?

There is information on the maximum weight limit on the unpacking door of each container, such as MAX GROSS: 30480KGS. This means that your box with the goods cannot exceed this weight. Tare weight--20GP: 2200KGS, 40: 3.720-4200KGS, some HQ will have MAX GROSS: 32000KGS.
This is the maximum strength that the container body can withstand. If the loading exceeds this limit, the container body may be deformed, the bottom plate will fall off, and the top beam will be bent. All the resulting losses will be fully borne by the loader. At present, most professional container terminals in China have installed automatic weighbridges. Therefore, as long as the container exceeds the weight limit of the container, the terminal will refuse to accept the container. Therefore, it is recommended that you clearly see the weight limit on the container body before packing, so as to avoid unnecessary repacking operations.

Overweight containers are a very serious problem. As container vessels become larger and containers are stacked higher to keep up with the growth of world trade, overweight containers can:

Wrong ship stowage decision
Restocking the container (and resulting delays and costs) if overweight is determined
folded container stack
Containers lost in water (overweight and
overweight container)
Cargo Liability Claims
Chassis damage
ship damage
Vessel stability and stress risk
Risk of personal injury or death to seafarers and shore workers
Service plan integrity compromised
Correctly declare supply chain service delays for container shippers
Confirmed, booked and available loads are closed at the last minute when the actual weight on board exceeds the declared weight and the total cargo weight exceeds the ship limit or port draft limit.
Loss of revenue and earnings
Liability for overweight accidents and fines on the road, and the resulting time and administrative effort and costs to seek compensation from responsible parties
Impairs the optimum trim and draft of the vessel, resulting in compromised vessel efficiency, suboptimal fuel usage and increased vessel exhaust emissions.

What should I do if I am overweight?
This is mainly divided into overweight port area, overweight shipping company, overweight port of destination

1. The shipping company is overweight
Discuss with the shipowner, make up the overweight fee, and the rest will go as normal;

2. The port area has its own regulations for overweight
If you find that you are overweight when entering the port, you need to negotiate with the port area and pay the overweight fee plus manual handling fee or take out the box and repack it;

3. The destination port is overweight
Generally, if the destination port is overweight within a certain range, the fine can be solved; if the overweight is serious, the cranes along the way cannot be loaded and can only be transferred to a nearby port or returned to the original road.

/ By tjchinafreight ivy / Shipping

How to avoid extra charges in shipping

For SMEs, warehouses, manufacturers, distributors and importers, controlling freight costs is critical to maintaining the profitability of product lines, and even the success of the business itself. Here are some basic steps to avoid incurring additional unexpected costs in shipping.

1. Make sure you receive a fixed cost quote
This is where it becomes important that you correctly report the weight and dimensions of your load. When you're ready to ship, make sure the carrier provides terms that outline all potential costs associated with the shipment and that the items you'll be shipping are properly documented. If you fail to receive these fixed cost quotes, or receive inaccurate records, you may end up paying much more than you expected.

2. Has the correct size and weight
The key to an effective fixed cost quote is accurate length, width, height and weight measurements. If the carrier shows up and your load is bigger or heavier than expected, you will pay more immediately.

3. Record specific delivery and pickup dates
Just as you want accurate fixed cost quotes, you want accurate delivery and pickup dates. It is critical that these times are recorded in writing in case the carrier misses an appointment for either party.

  • When you pay for shipping, the payment is more than your guaranteed space on the truck. You're paying for timeliness, and if you're a business owner, you know how important it is to deliver goods as promised.
  • If you fail to record specific dates for pickup and delivery and provide them in writing, the carrier may miss those dates and you will be charged for services not provided.

Often, delays occur without the carrier's intention. Severe weather can strike at any time, and road collisions can shut down entire highways. Still, it's important to have official documentation proving delivery and pickup dates.

4. Know your pickup and delivery locations and their limitations
Make sure the type of truck you order can reach the pickup and delivery location. Can a 53-foot truck turn in front of your facility? Can they pick up from your dock? Check yourself to make sure the carrier cannot classify the pickup or delivery as residential. Don't misrepresent a residential location as a business and hope the carrier won't notice. Residential pickup or delivery will always cost more. You want to include this information in your original quote request so that you can find a carrier that offers the best price for this particular service as part of your original quote.

5. Don’t overlook special services
If you are ordering goods, please consider whether any special handling is required. In almost all cases, if you fail to report something of this nature, the carrier will charge significantly more than the agreed rate. However, following this advice will not only save you additional shipping costs, it will also keep your shipments safe from unnecessary damage.

  • The most common special services include heating, tailgate, scheduled pick-up and special handling of dangerous goods. Consider what you'll be shipping, and if you think you'll need any of these services, be sure to alert the carrier before your shipment is loaded onto the truck.
  • You won't have to worry about having to pay later, but if your shipment does require these services and you don't receive them, you could lose important shipments in transit.

6. Pack your package properly
If you fail to pack your cargo in the correct way, you may damage not only your cargo, but other cargo being transported within the truck, especially if it is shipped in LTL. This can lead to a costly and avoidable claims process.

7. Make sure all taxes and fuel surcharges are included in the quote
When you get your fixed cost quote, is it "all"? Make sure that taxes and fuel surcharges are clearly stated, otherwise when the carrier adds these charges, the final bill can easily be 20-40% higher. At Freightera, all quotes are all-inclusive, as long as you quote exactly what you're shipping!

8. Please have all customs documents ready and forwarded to the carrier at the time of booking
Before contacting the carrier or broker to arrange a pickup, make sure you have a customs broker that can clear the shipment into the country of delivery and complete all paperwork. If you do not already have a customs broker, seek advice from your carrier or broker in advance. You don't want to leave it until the day it ships, as the shipment could hang up at customs, causing you extra costs, delays and a lot of stress.

9. Make sure you have the coverage you need
Carriers and brokers typically offer little or no insurance ($2.00/lb). If you're shipping valuable goods, be sure to purchase additional insurance, and make sure all quotes clearly state this coverage and its costs. Also check with a third party ahead of time to ensure the carrier or broker has a history of paying claims. Too many carriers and brokers have policies that automatically deny any insurance claims, forcing shippers to sue in the event of damage. Make sure you are properly covered by the insurance company, carrier or broker that covered your claim.

10. Make sure quotes are in your currency
Many carriers operating in the US are actually based in nearby countries. Therefore, the quotes you receive may not be in your most frequently used currency. Due to different exchange rates, the difference between the price you see on the quotation and the price you have to pay can be very large.
When you receive a quote before shipment, make sure the quote is in your currency. If you fail to spot that small but crucial difference when confirming shipping costs, the final bill could be significantly higher than you expected.

/ By tjchinafreight ivy / Shipping

Introduction to container freight terminology, freight forwarding and foreign trade notices

Container

A sea container (also known as a container, freight container, intermodal container, ISO container, hi-cube container, box, conex case, and sea tank) is a steel container that can be moved repeatedly within a product for safe and efficient movement Use an intermodal freight system.
Container shipping comes in many different sizes and options, including specialty options such as hanging garment containers, half-height containers, bulk shift containers and tanks. While these all have their uses, they are very niche.

Container leasing
The container leasing market has been fast-growing over the years. Today, around 55 % of the global container fleet is owned by leasing companies. Making container leasing a force to be reckoned with.
Are you considering leasing containers instead of buying? In that case, keep reading. We’ll tell you all you need to know about the different types of container leasing. As well as weigh the pros and cons of buying containers vs leasing them.

Container terminal
In container transportation, the specific handling department for the exchange and storage of boxes or cargoes. It authorizes the carrier or its agent to carry out the following business:
(1) Exchange and storage of FCL shipments.
(2) Those who have a container freight station shall handle the handover of LCL goods.
(3) Arranging the berthing of container ships, loading and unloading containers, and preparing stowage plans for each voyage.
(4) Handle the compilation and signature of relevant shipping documents.
(5) Prepare and sign the relevant documents for the entry, exit and circulation of the container using the means of transport.
(6) Handle the inspection and maintenance of containers, vehicles, loading and unloading tools, as well as cleaning and fumigation of empty containers.
(7) Send and receive, store and keep empty boxes.
(8) Arrange the stacking of empty boxes and heavy boxes in the yard, and prepare a site allocation plan.
(9) Other related business work. Container loading and unloading areas are generally composed of dedicated docks, frontiers, yards, freight stations, command towers, repair departments, gates and offices. Sometimes the storage yard or freight station can be extended to the transfer station of 5~15 kilometers in the urban area.

Container front yard (marshalling yard)
In front of the container terminal, in order to speed up the loading and unloading of ships, the container is temporarily stacked. Its function is: before the container ship arrives at the port, the export containers are neatly stacked in a planned and orderly manner according to the stowage requirements, and the imported containers are temporarily stacked in front of the wharf during unloading to speed up the loading and unloading operations of the ship.

sea freight

Container yard
A place where heavy or empty containers are handed over, kept and stacked. In some countries, container yards are not divided into front yards or rear yards, which are collectively referred to as yards. The container rear yard is an integral part of the container handling area. It is the place where the FCL of the container transportation "on-site" handover method is handed over (actually, the handover is carried out at the "gateway" of the container unloading area).

Empty container yard (van pool)
A site dedicated to the collection, storage, storage or handover of empty containers. It is specially set up when the container handling area or the transfer station yard is insufficient. This kind of yard does not handle heavy box or cargo handover. It can be operated independently, or it can be set up outside the area by the container handling area. Some capitalist countries, operating such empty container yards, must declare to the shipping association.

Container freight station
The place where the ship and cargo parties handle the handover for the packing and unpacking of the LCL cargo. The carrier can only entrust the operator of one container freight station in a port or inland city. It handles the following main business on behalf of the carrier:
(1) Tally and handover of LCL cargo.
(2) If there is any abnormality in the inspection of the appearance of the goods, an annotation shall be processed.
(3) The stowage and packing of the LCL cargo.
(4) Unpacking and storage of imported unpacked goods.
(5) Seal and issue a station receipt on behalf of the carrier.
(6) Handle various documents and preparations.

The maximum compensation amount that the carrier should bear in the event of cargo damage during container transportation. Limitation of liability for LCL shipments is the same as for conventional shipments. Compensation for FCL is based on some current international precedents. If the number of pieces of goods in the box is not listed on the bill of lading, each box is used as a claim calculation unit. If the number of pieces in the box is listed on the bill of lading, it is still calculated according to the number of pieces. If the damage and loss of the goods are not carried out by sea, but occurred during inland transportation, the maximum compensation amount for land transportation shall be handled. If the container is owned or provided by the shipper, in the event of loss or damage, the responsibility for the loss or damage is indeed the responsibility of the carrier, and it should also be regarded as a claim calculation unit.

/ By tjchinafreight ivy / Shipping

Container Rental Guide

Why rent a container?

Are you looking for a specific period container? Do you have items or items that you want to store in containers to protect them from damage? Do you want the flexibility to rent containers at different points in time? If the answer is yes, then renting a container is ideal for you. Container leasing gives you flexibility in how you use your containers and how you plan your budget. Buying one, on the other hand, increases your liability and costs.

Here are the different types of container rentals that we will be covering in this blog:

1.Master lease
They are also commonly referred to as short to medium term leases. They fall into the full-service rental category with no cap on the minimum or maximum number of containers. The lease term is variable and the lessor is responsible for the maintenance, repair and relocation of the container. The agreement also involves an accounting system that includes debits and credits between the parties based on the condition of the containers at the time of their return. The lessor must undertake the allocation of the containers to meet the needs of the lessee. Therefore, it is important to ensure a stable supply of empty containers at the pick-up point. The master lease agreement sets out the main conditions such as the rental cost per day, the types of containers that can be disposed of, the number of containers to be used in each warehouse, the collection and delivery centers, payment terms, etc. The lessee has no obligation to use the container before picking up the container from the yard, and the contract takes effect when the lessee picks up the container from the yard. A separate individual contract is signed for each container collected under the Master Lease Agreement.

2.Long-term lease
Far less flexible than a master lease, long-term leases are a favorite of many rental companies. The duration of the contract is fixed. As well as a certain number of containers and delivery schedule. This leaves the leasing company with nothing to do once the container is signed for.

The lessee bears the cost of repairs, maintenance and relocation. Although definitions of terms vary, most leasing companies define long-term leases as 5 to 8 years. For long-term leases, the containers are usually brand new. This is why many long-term rental agreements come with negotiable terms. The clause allows rental rates to be negotiated after a few years based on depreciation and market fluctuations.

3.One way rental
They are also known as one-way rental agreements, and containers can be picked up at one location and dropped off at another. Both parties benefit from such one-way leasing arrangements due to operational rationalization and cost reduction. It is suitable for different regional requirements of customers and has the added benefit of saving on relocation costs.

4.Short-term rental
Also known as spot market leases, they are subject to market conditions dictated by supply and demand dynamics. Such leasing arrangements typically occur during temporary demand surges, which may be cyclical or sudden. Because of this market volatility, leasing companies prefer not to keep large inventories of such containers to meet short-term rental demand, to avoid the possibility of them being underutilized for an extended period of time. But careful planning and forecasting can handle unforeseen surges in demand. Maintenance, repair and relocation tasks are undertaken by the lessee. Aside from the higher cost, the one setback here is that you have to adhere to the minimum time to use the container. Usually leasing companies do not want to rent out containers for less than 6 months.

Transaction speed is another important issue for businesses to consider. Rental companies are also on the platform. Given the unbalanced nature of the world economy and trade, the number of containers is unbalanced.

/ By tjchinafreight ivy / Shipping

China-Thailand Customs Sign AEO Mutual Recognition Action Plan

On March 25, the "Action Plan of the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China and the Thai Customs Administration on the Mutual Recognition Arrangement of "Accredited Operators" was signed online. The first AEO Mutual Recognition Arrangement Action Plan signed by member countries' customs.

Sun Yuning, deputy director of the General Administration of Customs of China, and Jizhana Xinushan, deputy director of the Thai Customs Department, signed on behalf of both parties. Sun Yuning said that the signing of the AEO Mutual Recognition Action Plan between the customs of China and Thailand is another pragmatic achievement of the customs cooperation between the two countries, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the AEO cooperation between the two sides.

China and Thailand have had close economic and trade cooperation for a long time. China has been Thailand's largest trading partner for many years, and Thailand's largest export market for agricultural products; Thailand is China's third largest trading partner among ASEAN countries. In 2021, the total bilateral trade volume between China and Thailand exceeded the US$100 billion mark for the first time, reaching US$131.18 billion, a year-on-year increase of 33%. During the same period, there were 83,000 Chinese enterprises engaged in bilateral trade between China and Thailand, of which there were more than 2,300 high-level certified Chinese enterprises engaged in import and export business with Thailand, with an import and export volume of about 143 billion yuan, accounting for about 143 billion yuan in imports and exports from China to Thailand. The total is nearly two percent.

According to the "Action Plan", China-Thailand Customs will speed up the negotiation on various issues of the AE0 mutual recognition arrangement, strive to realize China-Thailand AE0 mutual recognition as soon as possible, and effectively make the China-Thailand AEO mutual recognition cooperation a model of customs cooperation among RCEP member states.

China and Thailand have had close economic and trade cooperation for a long time. China has been Thailand's largest trading partner for many years, and Thailand's largest export market for agricultural products; Thailand is China's third largest trading partner among ASEAN countries. In 2021, the total bilateral trade volume between China and Thailand exceeded the US$100 billion mark for the first time, reaching US$131.18 billion, a year-on-year increase of 33%. During the same period, there were 83,000 Chinese enterprises engaged in bilateral trade between China and Thailand, of which there were more than 2,300 high-level certified Chinese enterprises engaged in import and export business with Thailand, with an import and export volume of about 143 billion yuan, accounting for about 143 billion yuan in imports and exports from China to Thailand. The total is nearly two percent.

According to the "Action Plan", China-Thailand Customs will speed up the negotiation on various issues of the AE0 mutual recognition arrangement, strive to realize China-Thailand AE0 mutual recognition as soon as possible, and effectively make the China-Thailand AEO mutual recognition cooperation a model of customs cooperation among RCEP member states.

AEO is the abbreviation of Authorized Economic Operator, that is, "authenticated operator". It is advocated by the World Customs Organization. The customs will certify enterprises with high credit status, law-abiding and level, and provide preferential customs clearance facilities to certified enterprises. of a system.

Since the implementation of the AEO system in 2008, China Customs has been vigorously promoting the international mutual recognition of AEO, focusing on improving the level of domestic and overseas customs clearance facilitation of Chinese enterprises, reducing the customs clearance cost of enterprises, and enhancing the competitiveness of enterprises in the international market. Up to now, China Customs has signed AEO mutual recognition agreements with 22 economies such as the European Union and Singapore, covering 48 countries (regions), and the number of countries (regions) in mutual recognition ranks first in the world. Among them, there are 32 countries jointly building the "Belt and Road", 5 RCEP member countries and 13 Central and Eastern European countries.

/ By tjchinafreight ivy / Shipping

Biden administration re-exempts 352 tariffs on Chinese goods

The U.S. government announced it would restore tariff exemptions for 352 Chinese products that were first hit with punitive tariffs in 2018 when then-President Donald Trump launched a trade war with Beijing.

"Today's decision was made after careful consideration of public comments and consultation with other U.S. agencies," the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) said in a statement Wednesday.
In a statement, the Office of the US Trade Representative said the exceptions were retroactive to October 12 last year and extended through the end of 2022.

The exemption expires at the end of 2020, but President Joe Biden's administration began seeking comments last October on which of the 549 eligible Chinese products should again be excluded from the tariffs.

The list released by the USTR includes industrial parts such as pumps and electric motors, certain auto parts and chemicals, backpacks, bicycles, vacuum cleaners and other consumer products. Those goods account for about two-thirds of the tariff-exempt goods that expire at the end of 2020. Goods exempted from duties include certain types of consumer goods such as electronic components, bicycle parts, motors, machinery, chemicals, seafood and backpacks.

A spokesman for China's Commerce Ministry said on Thursday that the U.S. decision is conducive to the normalization of trade in these products and hopes that bilateral trade relations can return to a normal track.

"Amid soaring inflation and challenges to the global economic recovery, we hope that the U.S. will remove all tariffs on Chinese products as soon as possible to safeguard the fundamental interests of Chinese and U.S. consumers and producers," spokesman Shu Jueting told reporters. .

The Trump administration initially approved more than 2,200 tariff exemptions to ease the burden on certain industries and retailers. Most were allowed to expire, but 549 were extended for a year and these expire at the end of 2020.

In October, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai began reviewing whether to reinstate the 549 waivers as part of her strategy to confront China over trade practices.
Since then, a series of virtual meetings with her Chinese counterparts have done little to improve China's performance under Trump's "phase one" trade deal with Beijing.