Logistics advice

The two main challenges for first-time shippers

Customs Duties and Taxes

The first challenge can be summed up in one word: costs. Some first-time shippers don’t realize they have to pay Import Customs Duties and Taxes to government authorities. They assume that once they’ve paid the shipping company, that’s it – all done. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. These extra costs have nothing to do with your shipping provider, but are set by the government authorities of the country you’re shipping to. DHL Express has developed MyGTS (My Global Trade Services), a dedicated portal with all the tools you’ll need for easy international shipping – including a landed cost calculator. This will give you an estimate of the total end-to-end cost of shipping a product to another country, including all transportation fees, customs charges, duties and taxes. Knowing these costs upfront will help your business stay on budget.