Importing and Exporting

The importing and exporting services Terrapane provides range from helping customers select off-the-shelf products to selecting manufacturers to design and build new products.

We start by establishing communication with the manufacturers, suppliers, assembly facilities, or warehouses where the products are produced or stored. Establishing good communication is essential in order to ensure there are no delays and that products are delivered according to schedule.

We then work with all parties involved to ensure that you receive what you expect. This may entail shipping samples, visiting the manufacturing facilities, or assigning a person to provide quality control and/or inspection services before your products are shipped. In some cases, components of products may be manufactured at multiple facilities and then assembled at a different facility before export.

We examine the various shipping options, including air, truck, rail, and sea. Each form of shipping has an associated cost, benefit, and negative aspect. As you can imagine, shipping by air is fastest and most expensive, whereas shipping by sea is usually cheapest and is the most time consuming. The size and weight of the goods to be shipped are definitely important attributes that we consider as we look at shipping options. We also examine such options as shipping smaller quantities in a partially-filled container that is shared with other cargo, which can often reduce shipping costs significantly. We work with our customers through the entire decision making process.

We will also interact with customs brokers in each country where necessary to ensure smooth passage through customs. This means working with them to ensure that all documentation is in order even before the products leave the port headed to the other country.

We will work with you to understand the taxes that might be assessed on goods once they arrive, explain what insurance options you have to protect your goods while in transit, and help work through issues that might arise during the customs clearance process.

Most importantly, we actively engage with every person involved in the importing or exporting project to ensure proper communication and will quickly take steps to address any issues that arise. Our objective is to help you avoid frustration and headaches and to ensure timely delivery of your goods.