The rise of ecommerce is arguably the single greatest leap in the business realm over the last few decades. It opened up a brand new global market that would propel the international economy to amazing new heights. Inasmuch as the whole world is set to benefit from the exciting advancements in the ecommerce sector, first-world nations are likely to get the most out of it. This is because such countries have both the technological infrastructure required to maintain massive amounts of traffic in their digital platforms and effective operational systems, to deliver satisfactory services. Europe for instance, provides one of the most robust markets for ecommerce merchants, with tons of packages being shipped to European countries every day.
Although the European ecommerce market is projected to create close to 400 million dollars in revenue, shipping packages to the region isn’t as simple as it may seem. There have been a lot of changes in the shipping trends of European countries; thus, business owners are supposed to get with the times in order to gain the much-needed headway in the market. Fortunately, there are lots of resources that you can take advantage of when Shipping to Europe to make the process easier and bearable. Still, having a basic understanding of the shipping processes involved when sending a package to European countries will be of great assistance. To help you ensure you tick all the boxes when you want to send commodities to Europe, here are some of the most important things to clarify.
Shipping Goods to Countries in The European Union (EU)
When someone sends goods to countries that are part of the EU, they’re considered as exporters, and their goods are required to go through customs. Even so, businesses within the European Union can benefit from the free movement of goods without the need of going through customs. Most of the other requirements when shipping commodities from outside the European Union depend on the type of package that’s being delivered. There are mainly two categories that are considered when checking on imports from other countries; personal and commercial shipments.
Personal Shipments
Personal shipments, which can otherwise be referred to as personal effects, are items being imported for personal use by a single person. Such items include articles of clothing, jewelry, shoes, and other items that are typically used by one person. Since these commodities are usually of lower value compared to their counterparts, all that’s required is a commercial invoice to clear at the customs of the destination EU nation. In addition, the package should also be accompanied by a detailed description of the contents and the value of the items.
Commercial Shipments
When it comes to shipping commercial items or regulated goods, business owners have to comply with several additional documentation as per the EU regulations. On top of having a commercial invoice, enterprises in countries that aren’t part of the EU are required to have an Economic Operators Registration and Identification Number (EORI) before being allowed to shop commercial goods. For shippers who’re based outside the EU, they can acquire an EORI from the customs authority of the EU country they first file a customs declaration.
In the case where the sender’s country shares a trade agreement with the EU, their shipments may be eligible for waived or reduced taxes and duties depending on the goods they’re shipping. Moreover, you should also check with your carrier to ensure that there aren’t any special requirements and licenses that may have been overlooked. Even though the requirements for commercial shipments are the same across all EU nations, there are a few countries that have other extra requirements.
Beware of Differences Between Certain EU Countries
For the most part, all processes and requirements for goods being shipped into the Eurozone are similar; however, there are a few countries that are part of the EU with slightly different protocols. For instance, regions such as the Vatican, the Canary Islands, San Marino, and Andorra are all technically part of the EU but have a few different requirements when it comes to handling commercial imports. It is extremely paramount for all business owners to familiarize themselves with the import regulations of the destination.
Confirm All Shipping Restrictions
Like every other country, there is a list of items that aren’t allowed to be shipped to Europe. All business owners and exporters should be extremely cautious about this in order to avoid ending up on the wrong side of the law. It’s also very important that all shipments should follow the guidelines set aside to govern how they’re brought into the country; this will go a long way in preventing inconveniences such as delays and returns. Inasmuch as these rules may vary depending on the country, ensure that all shipments comply with the destination country’s laws.
Cost of Shipping and Delivery Timeline
There are a lot of things that can determine the type of transportation you use to ship your products. Some of the most instrumental elements include price, speed, and availability. Even so, there needs to be a balance in all these elements to ensure that consumers remain satisfied with the services being rendered. For instance, although sea transport is quite affordable, it may not be the best option for goods with high urgency since ocean transport is considerably slow. Similarly, even though air freight is almost 10 times faster than ocean freight, it may cost five to 10 times more. Therefore, it’s important for exporters to be able to strike a balance between the time taken to deliver a package and the cost of shipping.
Comprehending Customs, Taxes and Duties
For exporters and business owners, understanding how customs functions is an important skill in the global ecommerce market. Ensure that you research as much as possible on the requirements for the destination country’s customs and whether your shipment is liable for any taxes or duties. Not having this knowledge can be quite detrimental to a business since it brings about the problem of hidden fees, which is the biggest reason why people abandon online carts.
Conclusion
Shipping products to European countries can be quite a hassle if you don’t have the right knowledge. Thus, ensure that you have as much information as possible before shipping your goods to their destination. Following the tips provided above will ensure you avoid any hiccups along the way and facilitate a smooth shipping process.
