Relaxation in Europe: Update of the current loading restrictions

Brexit deal agreed - customs administration from 01.01.2021

On 24.12.2020, an agreement on future cooperation and trade was reached between the EU and the UK.

An essential point is that between EU and UK for goods deliveries from both areas no customs duties are to be levied. However, this does not mean that the administrative "customs clearance" will be eliminated. This means that all documents and customs relevant information must be submitted by the customer in advance and only after the shipment has been released by the customs team of DACHSER, the shipment can be accepted for dispatch.

Please note that from 01.01.2021 this applies to all shipments between the EU and UK, only shipments from the EU to Northern Ireland are excluded. In particular, proof of preferential origin of goods should be provided. The most important necessary information for exporters and importers can be found in the document below.

Current situation in India and the impact on DACHSER’s operations

Regarding the current situation in India, we would like to give an update about DACHSER’s operations in India. The situation as of today, April 28, 2021, is as follows:

DACHSER branches in India:

Most branch offices across India are being kept closed as a precautionary measure due to the sudden rise of COVID cases. Our teams are working from home, with only skeletal staff at the offices and hence there are likely to be delays in responses due to the ongoing crisis.

As a consequence of the lockdown, there are some operational impacts for air, sea, customs clearance and domestic trucking.

Air Freight: 

Most countries have barred passenger traffic from India leading to no passenger carrying flights operating on International routes from/to India.

• This has created some additional constraint on already stressed space availability situation.
• Rates are bound to inch upwards for all sectors.
• Transit times too have increased as a consequence of capacity crunch.

Sea Freight:

• Sea freight was already facing the challenges due to the Suez Canal blockage end of March.  Ports and terminals are functioning normally, but vessel schedules are impacted by the Suez Canal blockage as well as the sudden rise of COVID cases in India.
• Therefore delays are expected. Customers are advised to factor in delays of 1-2 weeks while planning their inventories.

Expect more delays in communication or operations due to increasing COVID infections among staff at ports, customs, CFS and shipping lines.

Customs:

We do not have any unexpected disruptions in cargo movement in India, nor is any work stoppage expected at present.

• Customs clearance activities are functional at the movement.
• Customs is working with less manpower, no Customs Brokers is allowed to meet the customs officials, all processes is done faceless and things are moving in slow phase.

At DACHSER, we have undertaken significant measures to ensure our employees’ health and safety, at the same time continue to manage our day-to-day operations with minimal impact to our customers’ supply chains. Our teams are working diligently by all possible means in these testing times to assist and to overcome the challenges being faced.

Please rest assured that we will keep you updated of any changes to the current situation. In case of questions, please feel free to contact your local DACHSER representative in the region.

DACHSER secures long-term air freight capacity

DACHSER Air & Sea Logistics is extending its charter program on the route between Shanghai and Frankfurt to cover the period from May 2022 to April 2024. This enables the logistics provider to continue to offer its customers reliable transport capacity. DACHSER flies a widebody aircraft between Asia and Europe two days a week, transporting 33 metric tons at a time.

DACHSER’s charter program offers the company’s air freight customers additional capacity they can rely on in their planning—especially now that the trade lanes between Asia and Europe have been hit hard by the lockdown in Shanghai as well as the war in Ukraine and the accompanying sanctions. “Our customers’ demand for charter capacity remains as high as ever,” says Timo Stroh, Head of Global Air Freight at DACHSER. “That’s why we’ve created our own transport network with regular connections between Asia, Europe, and North America: to be able to offer flexible solutions here.”

An option in challenging times

Air freight is also feeling the effects that the current situation is having on the world markets. While capacity was already in short supply before the pandemic, the situation has deteriorated significantly in recent months. The closure of airspace due to the war in Ukraine makes flights about two and a half hours longer. This means they need to carry more fuel, the cost of which has gone up and the weight of which reduces the possible cargo load.

“Operating our own charter connections opens up options for capacity and gives us a degree of independence in terms of handling,” Stroh says. DACHSER’s air freight network is also closely linked to its European overland transport network, so customers benefit from end-to-end transportation of their air freight shipments between Europe and Asia. “Even in these turbulent economic times, we stand by our own charters, ensuring predictable transport capacity for our customers.”

DACHSER Life Science and Healthcare receives GDP certification

The logistics provider has undergone good distribution practice (GDP) audits at its sites in Frankfurt, Madrid, Barcelona, and Mumbai, as well as at the Head Office in Kempten. An independent institute certified that DACHSER complies with the specifications relating to safe and secure transport chains in the pharmaceutical sector.