The logistical planning for importing machinery and equipment is very important and requires great care to avoid high costs, damages and to be able to meet the time expectations for receiving the machinery.
Some points should be considered such as:
What will be the Incoterm of the negotiation?
Incoterm is the one who will define the responsibilities of the importer and exporter with packaging, transport and other expenses,
Whose transportation costs will be and to what specific location is the manufacturer/importer's obligation to deliver/receive the equipment?
For example, in Incoterm FOB, the exporter is responsible for the cost of transport to the first wall of the ship, including costs and expenses at the port of origin. In other Incoterms such as Ex Works, for example, the responsibility for transport and other expenses at origin and destination are all of the importer.
It is important to know the Incoterms well to plan all the transport part that will be up to you, the importer, to hire.
Should I opt for air, sea or land freight?
Air freight is faster but more expensive. Values vary according to the volume and weight of the cargo for both cases.
In the case of relatively heavy and high volume equipment, maritime transport is recommended, but nothing prevents them from being transported by air.
Both in the delivery at the port of origin and from the destination port to the importer's address, land transport such as trucks, trailers, etc. is usually used, but several others can also be used, such as train, plane, boat, etc. What ends up making the naturally multimodal operation, where different types of transport are used.
What will be the port or airport of destination?
Choosing ports close to the machine's destination is important, as it reduces the travel distance between the port and the final address and can mean cost savings.
However, it is interesting to analyze the possibilities of routes and costs for different ports / airports that have more cargo movements to understand which one can best meet your needs. Some routes to certain ports are more scarce and time-consuming while others can be more available in larger ports, saving money and time.
What is shipping via DTA? Can I consider bringing cargo from a bonded facility from one port to another for nationalization?
The customs transit declaration that allows the movement of the equipment within the national territory even before the taxes are paid, which must be paid in the customs area of destination, either in other Ports or Airports or other places where there is one of the Federal Revenue units for customs purposes.
It is possible to transport cargo from one port to another via land transport in the DTA mode. The nationalization of the goods will take place at the next port. Oftentimes for reasons of cost and availability of routes, it can be a good option.
Some states have specific legislation regarding ICMS taxation. It is worth checking your state legislation and checking if there is any requirement for clearance to be carried out in the destination state. In these cases, DTA transport may be required.
Is it necessary to assemble and disassemble the equipment for loading? And what are the precautions with packaging?
Some equipment by size can come all disassembled or come fully assembled. It is important to check, because often, in cases of those that need subsequent assembly, it may be necessary to have a specialized technician and even a technician from the manufacturing company with expertise to do so.
It is important that all equipment is well conditioned to avoid sudden movements with the balance of transport at sea. Even good packaging can prevent rust and deterioration due to poor handling. Because in many cases the equipment can be transported for several weeks, even months!
Depending on the size of the item or items, in ocean freights, the equipment may come in shared containers.
However, for larger equipment or sets of equipment, it is often necessary to load them in 20 to 40′ ft containers.
Some machines exceed the limit height of a common container and need special containers such as high-cube containers (High Cube or HC) and the flat rack, a kind of all-open container that does not have a roof and sides.
It is commonly used for large and heavy equipment that surpasses other models.
Having decided on the above points, it is important to check whether the machine will be removed (spawned) from the container on arrival at the port and will continue with its proper loading in land transport or if such spawning will take place at the destination.
Some machines are more fragile, and moving without some care can bring damage. Therefore, it can be very valid to study the best option for moving the machine considering the risks, costs and benefits for each option.
Remember, the logistics of machinery and equipment can be quite complex and must always be planned in advance and with all the details, avoiding unpleasant surprises.