Nestled in the clear blue waters of the Greater Antilles in the Caribbean Sea, the Dominican Republic is perhaps best known for its white sandy beaches and world-class golf courses. But here's a little-known economic fact: According to the World Bank, the Dominican Republic has actually enjoyed one of the strongest growth rates in Latin America and the Caribbean over the past 25 years.
The Dominican Republic's economy has largely rebounded from the global recession. It remains one of the fastest growing economies in the region. Its top three trading partners include the United States, China and Haiti. As a small island nation, the Dominican Republic relies far more on imports than on exports. In this article, we will take a closer look at importsfrom the Dominican Republic.
What are the main imports of the Dominican Republic?
Destination ship generation: your eyes and ears are there
The world of shippingis huge, complex, and definitely not lacking in regulations. Given the complex systems of this sprawling industry, hiccups are not uncommon. Whether you are an experienced shipper or not, it is always advisable to have an agent at the destination. This avoids unnecessary problems that can result in additional costs, delays, not to mention headaches.
Freight Forwarder: The designated party at the destination who handles your shipment and helps monitor it.
In case of unexpected problems, you can rely on your proxy. It is his/her responsibility to properly identify and resolve these issues. All this without any hassle for yourself - the client. Generally speaking, the responsibilities of an agent include document presentation, customs clearance, and delivery. It can even be a combination of these. But this is just an overview. What an agent is really responsible for varies from situation to situation and largely depends on the scope of the job.
What could be wrong
Shipping regulations and processes vary widely. Typically, they depend on the type of cargo, the country of destination, etc. Certain countries require very specific paperwork, not to mention the different logistics availability at each port. It is a risk not to pre-register an agent at the destination before the shipment leaves. This means having to deal with your own customs clearance, delivery services and any other unexpected issues.
All of this can lead to additional costs and logistical inefficiencies. The shipper/consignee will have a lot of extra work to do to determine what went wrong. This is just the first step. Then he may have to find a provider who can solve his problem. This all translates into unnecessary extra costs and delays.
Shipping without a shipping agent at the destination
At TJ chinafreight we are sometimes hired to deliver to port and told not to entrust to any agent. In this case, we only communicate all relevant information to the shipper. We send final warnings of estimated departure time and estimated arrival time to customers. But no one is responsible for notifying the consignee of the arrival of the goods.
If you use a vetted TJ chinafreightagent, we send alerts to shippers and agents at no extra cost. Our agents don't just check that all documents are correct. They also ensure destination charges meet expectations and adhere to industry and national practices. They can also meet any other requirements the consignee may have.
Importing from China: What you need to know (Part 2)
What do you think of China's unclear regulation of imports? What is the best way to overcome this problem?
I don't think the lack of clarity in Chinese regulations actually affects importers directly. If you import shoes, you won't have any problems with Chinese regulations. Suppliers load goods into containers (for FOC Incoterm) and you won't have any problems.
Importing from China does have tax benefits. But this is already included in our supplier's FOB price. That said, we don't need to know about legislation. There are also regulations that control and monitor the products that suppliers can export. For example, shoe suppliers cannot export sofas. This is why so many manufacturing companies in China entrust their exports to other companies. All of this is done to avoid China's strict regulations. But as mentioned earlier, this has little impact on importers.
What are the main difficulties and challenges that importers face when importing from China?
For first-time importers, the lack of understanding of the entire process is undoubtedly the biggest hurdle. They don't know how to hire a shippingcompany or who they have to pay duties and taxes to when shipping containers.
For experienced importers, their biggest problem is often the volatility of container prices. You can agree to a price of $500, but it goes up to $2,500 on the day it ships. Right now, this is the most vexing problem.
What advice do you have for shippers importing from China?
I recommend working under FOB Incoterm. Always negotiate FOB prices to avoid surprises from CIF prices. Under FOB conditions, you can control the entire shipping process from the origin port to the warehouse. This way, you can avoid any unexpected charges and get everything organized before the importprocess begins.
Can China maintain its status as the world's largest producer for a long time? Are there any signs that this will change?
I have no doubt that China will continue to be the world's largest producer for quite some time. What is happening today is that the processes that took place in China ten years ago have moved to other countries where labor costs are low, just like China ten years ago.
But having said that, some processes are just moved. A large portion remains in China. I think the production of raw materials in China will continue for some time.
How can importers minimize the impact of the General Tax Rate Increase (GRI)?
Since most GRIs are in effect in the first week of the month, importers can avoid the impact of GRIs by billing in the last week. Another option is to negotiate with your forwarder to get a better price than another shipping company that is not affected by GRI.
In terms of technology, what are the main opportunities for imports from China? What are the main advantages of using technology to book ocean freight?
Find suppliers through the Alibaba platform, new payment methods with companies like Transfermate, container tracking, and door-to-door services with companies like TJ chinafreight. Technology has definitely made life easier for importers.
In your opinion, which markets in China currently offer the greatest potential and opportunities for exporters?
I am not an expert on exporting to China. But every time I travel to China, I always try to find out what the Chinese are looking for.
I talk to people in my China office and they always tell me the same thing. Health and quality of life are the top concerns for Chinese people. Being able to feed a family is one of them, especially after the tainted baby milk incident. Pollution is also a big problem in China. That said, anything that offers a solution or can improve the quality of life in China is always a huge business opportunity.
As always, luxury. international well-known brand. The Chinese middle class is willing to pay higher prices for quality European products than for local Chinese products.
Importing from China: What you need to know (Part 1)
The biggest challenge of importing from China
Imported from China? If you want to learn about the biggest challenges and opportunities when importing from China, you've come to the right place.
We sat down with Jorge Mora, an import expert consultant from China, the world's largest exporter, and author of the Import from China blog. In this article, he explains toTJ chinafreight what are the main challenges importers face when dealing with China, and tips on how to overcome them. We'll also provide advice, best practices, and common misconceptions to clarify your concerns about importing from China.
You have over 10 years of experience helping SMEs import products from China. When importing from China for the first time, what do you think are their main problems?
I think the main problem that all companies, big and small, face when importing from China for the first time is how overwhelmed it can become. Most of them don't know the difference between FOB and CIF Incoterms. Nor do they know the specific documents and/or licenses they need to import from China. They often encounter difficulties negotiating with Chinese suppliers and are overwhelmed with ensuring product quality. But these challenges are perfectly normal, especially when you're dealing with something so complex for the first time.
What advice do you have for SMEs to minimise risks and potential problems?
These will be basic common sense advice, such as requesting samples before placing an order. Or choose small items such as LCL from the beginning when everything is still unclear. If all goes well and you feel that you can trust your supplier, you can continue to use FCL.
Throughout the process, your interactions with Chinese suppliers should give you a clear idea of whether you are dealing with an experienced and honest supplier. Watch for the following signs:
Slow and sluggish responses to emails/phone calls
Sudden price increase after reaching a certain price
Sample shipping costs are too high
Unconventional payment methods
If you encounter any of these situations, you should pay extra attention and be extra careful to avoid surprises during the importprocess.
Is it possible to import from China without meeting the supplier and seeing the product in person? How important is this visit to the success of the import process?
Yes, of course it is possible to import from China without going to China. Many of my clients have never set foot in China. No more traveling 10,000 kilometers to meet suppliers and validate their products. There are plenty of other quality control companies out there that can do a better job than you fly to China.
That said, when you import a product that requires a lot of investment and/or has to be customized, I recommend visiting China. These include, for example, specific types of machinery or new furniture collections. This is where the physical presence of a company designer or engineer comes in handy to make sure everything goes according to plan.
Would you say that there are a large number of importers who have been defrauded of importing from China?
No, I think scams are rare. There are many rumors about Chinese imports. These include containers that ship with empty boxes, footwear suppliers who send only one side of the shoe to force you to pay for the other side. But that's just hearsay. If you think about it, it doesn't make sense to change the line to make only one side of the shoe.
There have been cases where importers received merchandise that did not meet their expectations. But this is more the result of miscommunication between the supplier and buyer than an attempt to defraud.
Be in awe of the fanatical of all storm chasers. The clean-up operation began shortly thereafter. But that's expected to last for a while -- if not longer. On land, the cleanup can be both physical and emotional for some. But on land, companies continue to struggle to restore some sort of logistical normalcy.
Hurricane Precautions
Hurricane Irma was one of the five strongest hurricanes on record in the Atlantic. Thanks to highly sophisticated weather forecasting technology, early warnings are issued. Given their seriousness, the recommended precautions are noted. Shipping operations ceased, with suspected operations all the way to the South Carolina port. Cruise ships such as Carnival Corp and Royal Caribbean Lines canceled various sailings. All this is to avoid the wrath of nature.
It is better to be safe than sorry, and shippingoperators who have the ability to divert their ships away from danger should definitely do so. But this has considerable financial implications. An 8,000 container ship can consume up to 225 tons of fuel per day. For cruise ships, the number could be as high as 250. That said, even minimal diversions can be costly to operators.
Despite all the precautions taken for Irma, delays are bound to be disruptive. Not only the maritime industry, but the logisticsindustry as a whole. it has. Irma After the past few days, intermodal shippers continue to face delays for cargoes that need to be transported by rail through the southeastern United States. Even industry giants like Amazon have struggled to deliver on the two-day delivery promises it promises customers.
Other inconveniences include passing less cargo through the port or finding yourself having to store additional cargo. Thanks to shippers, many ports have waived or reduced delay fees. Certain operators also stopped their demurrage and demurrage clocks as Irma approached and restarted them when ports began to reopen. But even so, shippers may still find themselves having to pay truckers additional freight, storage fees, or possibly make other plans to get their goods to other ports.
Shippingis a huge industry. Almost every trade or business has been exposed to ocean shipping at some point. If you're thinking about venturing into the business world and considering ocean shipping as your primary mode of transportation, there are certain misconceptions you need to be aware of.
Get familiar with the facts to avoid nasty surprises that can cost you unnecessary delays. In this article, we'll address major misconceptions about ocean shipping.
Not exactly correct. Yes, there is a cost to shipping. But compared to other international shipping methods, sea freight is definitely the most cost-effective. If you didn't already know, shipping accounts for 90% of world trade. That said, it is clearly the best and most cost-effective option for global importers and exporters.
If you're moving overseas and want to ship your household items by sea, reducing the number of items you bring with you when you move may cut costs. If you're looking for a cheap outlet, maybe it's best to consider leaving these behind (depending on their value) and buying new furniture in your new destination country.
At the end of the day, your final shipping fee depends a lot on how many items you're shipping. This brings us to the next point.
2. I can ship anything I want
Incorrect. Everything you put in the container needs to be listed on the packing slip and then submitted to customs inspection. Each country has its own regulations for certain commodities and commodities. Some items may be prohibited, while others may require you to obtain a special permit to enter. For example, if you're shipping wood-related items or have wood packaging material, you must make sure they're pre-treated. When in doubt, always consult your freight forwarder.
You can't get any further from the truth. Not only do container shipping rates fluctuate regularly, they are also affected by many factors - some beyond your control. These include seasonal, political, and economic (demand and supply) factors. You should also be familiar with the concept of general rate increases or GRIs announced by shipping companies from time to time.
4. The content I post is private and not accessible to anyone but me
Sound the alarm! Even if only a fraction of the world's containers are inspected, you should not assume that your cargo will not be marked (randomly or otherwise) for inspection. For shipments arriving in the United States, the number is higher. But not a lot - 5%. U.S. Customs has only gotten stricter over the years, which means you should always be prepared for inspections that may occur.
5. I can plan my supply chain based on the estimated arrival date of my shipments
The latest figures show that only 74.7% of ships arrive on time. In other words, one out of every four shipments is late. If you think you can plan your logistics based on the estimated arrival date indicated by the shipping line, think again. The reliability of the carrier program has declined compared to last year and is still returning to its previous on-time rate. Late arrivals are not uncommon and can be the result of a variety of factors, including natural phenomena such as hurricanes, large shipments, etc. Keep up with the latest shipping news and keep up to date with the latest industry developments.
In any business where the two companies decide to work more closely together, the overall success will largely depend on the trust and reliability between them. Enterprise data protection should never be underestimated. But let's make a clear distinction between necessary and redundant. Secrecy about costs and opportunities protects our competitive advantage...or does it?
Rate transparency
On average, it takes 4 to 7 business days to negotiate and complete a reservation. This includes time spent sending back and forth emails and phone calls to reconfirm costs and possible discounts between direct customers and overseas quoting agents. With TJ chinafreight, freight forwarders can get the lowest NET NET rates directly online and negotiate with end customers without further delays and share in possible after-sales profits.
Transparency of methods and know-how
Complete and instant information on carriers, transit times and available routes to evaluate options for better decision-making, as well as clear instructions on customs requirements and related regulations, all of which create confidence in professionally managed shipments.
Instant access to timely updates on cargo status is a thorny topic in our industry. Repeating follow-up calls and reminder emails for long-awaited information is a daily routine for too many of us. Now, with our Track & Trace tool, you can get complete information on the status of the latest shipments online directly on your personal dashboard. You can also take advantage of our automatic notifications and receive proactive updates.
Transparency of business opportunities
Leads account for a large portion of customer growth, especially when they are fresh and supported with full details and direct contact information. Instead of dropping an inquiry that interests you, share it with your partner. Let them grow with you and bring more opportunities to everyone involved.
Far beyond the competition, agents can complement each other through service and opportunity. Thanks to TJ chinafreight's innovative online platform, we can now track inquiries and rate searches of all global web users and share these detailed opportunities with our overseas partner agents. Read our post on how agents can benefit from using TJ chinafreight.
Transparency in practice
Strategic thinking and long-term cooperation between freight forwarders assume mutual trust and reliability, as well as a certain degree of transparency. We now operate in a more integrated and fast-paced world, where timely access to complete information is critical for better decision-making and therefore increased productivity.
Working with Holistic Transparency will optimize shipping operations and save time for both parties:
Focus on further development and greater results
Get better solutions for mutual customers in the fastest and most efficient way
Maintain customer satisfaction, enhance corporate image, and win new customers
Global expansion of business scope and achievements
As a practical example, a recent study by Harvard Business School outlines the concept of transparency in restaurant settings, where kitchen staff and customers are effectively separated by clear glass, so both parties can see food being prepared and consumed. Results showed an unexpected 17% increase in customer satisfaction and a 13% increase in service speed when customers and employees could see each other. This is just one of many fascinating powers of transparency in practice.
As the cornerstone of international trade and development, the shipping industry basically maintains the operation of the world economy. Those who know it will tell you that it is an exciting industry and one that involves enormous responsibility. Deciding who you want to work with and how you want to collaborate in this business are two very important decisions that you have to think carefully from the start.
A professional relationship with a freight forwarder can be reduced to two basic forms:
Agent as client
Request your help, rates and services in a specific area and the agent will become your customer. They will receive the utmost professionalism and attention, complete bookings in a timely manner, and send invoices correctly until the next opportunity to meet their needs. From our point of view, we value good service the most and follow up with them for more business opportunities. But at the end of the day, being the client's agent is the one who decides who they prefer to work with.
Agents as partners
This is a more integrated and complex form of cooperation. In this case, we consider agents within our professional network not only as possible customers, but also as suppliers or sub-suppliers. Going further, a good overseas partner might be our eyes and hands (or better, sales and operations) in areas where we don't have a live presence.
Consider long term and short term
For the most part, the cooperation of agents is fairly intuitive and depends largely on external opportunities and personal relationships among company employees. In this way, we find ourselves working with many different agencies on just-in-time shipments and most short-term agreements.
Logically, people will always look for better conditions, prices and available services, which can mean inconsistent and limited business relationships. But by applying some strategic thinking and statistical analysis, we can achieve long-term cooperation, from which both parties can benefit and grow together:
Reliable connections and clear procedures for every shipment
Through direct contact with the relevant responsible persons, we have a better understanding of the standard processes and requirements of both parties.
Deep insight into foreign markets and regulations
Do you know the maximum authorized weight for U.S. inland haulage? Countries and goods for which the EUR1 certificate is applicable? Best Incoterms when shipping from China? All of these and more are useful tips that form part of the solid expertise and local knowledge that partners share with each other.
Better understand customer needs
Either way works. The longer you work with a client, the smoother and faster it will be to manage their bookings. Your customers will rely on tailor-made service and the most competitive prices in foreign destinations/origins, resulting in increased overall satisfaction and, of course, your company image.
Taking a long-term view, more integrated cooperation with overseas agents will provide diversified opportunities for win-win development.
As more of the freight forwarding industry demands technology adoption, more and more freight forwarding startups are springing up. Online freight forwarders also do a lot. But why is digitization urgently needed? How is an online freight forwarder different from a traditional freight forwarder? In this article, we will address this issue.
According to a survey conducted earlier this year by global logistics research and consulting partner LOGISTICS, while 68% of respondents believe that traditional freight forwarders are still important in today's environment, 92% of respondents said that digitalization will provide freight forwarders add value.
The need to go digital is obvious. But how many freight forwarders are doing this, and how does digitization affect workflows and processes?
Website features
While most traditional freight forwarders have websites, they mostly only talk about the services they offer. Only the more advanced online freight forwarders offer documentation and rate features on their website.
Quote request
Some traditional freight forwarders may have a "Request for Quote" feature, but you may not be able to get in touch with them right away. Sending a quote request may only get you a quote via email, sometimes a few days later - if that's the case. According to a survey by TJ chinafreight, 40% of freight forwarders take 4 to 7 days to provide customers with a quote.
Quote now
Perhaps only a few traditional freight forwarders offer instant quotes, often for their own LCL products. They also often come in the form of tariffs, and shippers have to look at ocean freight and surcharges separately. In short, the math is not done for them, and the final cost must be calculated by themselves.
For example, for online freight forwarders like TJ chinafreight, quotes are provided within 15 seconds and all fees are broken down and included for full transparency.
Track
Today, only a few traditionalfreight forwarders offer tracking tools and sailing schedules. Again, these may only apply to their own LCL shipments. Online freight forwarders tend to have tracking tools for various types of shipments.
At TJ chinafreight, we are constantly striving to improve tracking efficiency and transparency. This year, we launched our own Track & Trace feature and automated notification system for shippers. Not many online freight forwarders offer these tools, and those who understand the importance of transparency may be the ones leading the industry's digital revolution.
If you've ever purchased anything on Amazon, you probably opted for same-day or one-day delivery at some point, even if the item wasn't sold by Amazon. After all, as the world's largest retailer, Amazon prides itself not only on the variety of products on its site, but also on its fast delivery.
But have you ever wondered what happens behind the scenes when shopping on Amazon? According to Statista, Amazon's main source of revenue is the online sales of its electronics and other products. The second is third-party seller revenue.
Third-party sellers on Amazon
The world's largest retailer has more than 2 million third-party sellers registered on its online platform. In fact, it is estimated that more than 47% of items shipped by Amazon are sold by third-party sellers.
More and more businesses are building and growing their wealth on Amazon. In trade and commerce, like it or not, there is always a very important aspect to deal with: logistics.
Fulfilled by Amazon or Dropshipped
Given these advantages, it's no surprise that most third-party sellers on Amazon use its Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) service. With FBA, sellers' products are eligible for Amazon's Prime and Super Saver Shipping. They can also take advantage of Amazon's customer service experience, which all translates to more sales when competing with non-FBA sellers.
However, not everything that glows is gold. Amazon's FBA also has its disadvantages, and many sellers often choose to handle this part of the logistics themselves. In other words, direct fulfillment.
If you are a third-party seller who chooses direct fulfillment, you may need to hire an outside service to help you manage the logisticspart. As the demand has increased over the past decade, direct or other implementations have become more popular and advanced. Technology is obviously a big help when it comes to managing the entire process, tracking individual shipments, and inventory in warehouses. For most people, the dream right now is to reach Amazon Prime levels, where, for example, when you preorder, you know the shipment will arrive at your door on a given date. And it actually delivered on that date.
