International Ocean Freight Process
Publish Time: 2025-09-08 Origin: Site
Goods are transported between countries for various reasons, primarily to increase their value. With the rapid development of e-commerce, many small businesses now require international shipping. This article explains the key steps involved in the process.
Multiple parties participate in international shipping, including shipping lines, booking agents, freight forwarders, and customs brokers. For less-than-container-load (LCL) shipments, the four main participants are the shipper, consignee, freight forwarder, and shipping line.
The shipping line is the company that transports goods by sea. You may never directly communicate with them or see their documents.
The freight forwarder is the logistics provider you will interact with. They arrange transportation from the shipper to the consignee.
The shipper is the party initiating the shipment, which could be you, a factory, or a seller.
The consignee is the receiver of the goods, which could be you or your customer.
International shipping involves five physical steps and two documentation steps. Each step incurs costs, typically borne by either the shipper or consignee. To avoid unexpected expenses and delays, clearly agree on responsibility for each of the seven steps before booking shipments.
The Seven Steps of International Ocean Freight:
Export Haulage: Movement of goods from the shipper’s premises to the freight forwarder’s warehouse. This is done via truck, rail, or multimodal transport.
Export Customs Clearance: Required for goods leaving any country. Handled by a licensed customs broker (e.g., the freight forwarder or a designated agent). Must be completed before goods depart the origin country.
Origin Handling: Physical handling and inspection of goods at the origin warehouse, including loading into containers and movement to the port. Coordinated by the freight forwarder.
Ocean Freight: Transportation via shipping line from the origin port to the destination port. The freight forwarder selects the carrier based on schedule requirements. Additional surcharges (e.g., fuel adjustments) may apply.
Import Customs Clearance: Begins before goods arrive at the destination country. Involves submission of declarations and documents to authorities. Must be completed before goods leave the destination bonded area.
Destination Handling: Unloading containers from the ship, moving them to the freight forwarder’s warehouse, and preparing goods for pickup. Includes various destination fees.
Import Haulage: Final delivery to the consignee’s address. Does not include unloading, which is the consignee’s responsibility.
Key Considerations:
Responsibility for costs should be clearly defined in the contract between shipper and consignee.
Freight forwarders often manage multiple steps, but shippers/consignees may also appoint separate agents.
Delays or unexpected costs can arise if roles and responsibilities are not agreed upon in advance.