Incoterms were developed and first published by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in 1936 as a means of regulating trade agreements and defining rights and responsibilities throughout the supply chain. They are often described as being the terms that the buyer and seller of goods both agree to during international transactions.

Incoterms are accepted by governments and legal authorities around the world. Having a thorough understanding of all Incoterms is critical in international trade as they define which tasks, costs, and risks are associated with either the buyer or seller.

Each Incoterm states when the seller’s costs and risks are transferred onto the buyer. Not all rules apply in all cases, however. Some terms cover all modes of transport (road, rail, air, and sea). These are FCA, CPT, CIP, DAP, DPU, and DDP. Other terms cover only sea/inland waterway transport (sea). These are FAS, FOB, CFR, and CIF.

Incoterms play an important role in regulating international trade. They provide internationally accepted definitions and rules of interpretation for most common commercial terms used in contracts for the sale of goods.

All International purchases are processed on an agreed Incoterm to define which party legally incurs costs and risks. Incoterms will be clearly stated on relevant shipping documents.

For more information, get in contact with ISS today.

What is Sea Freight Shipping?

Sea freight shipping involves transporting goods from one place to another by boat.

It is a cost-effective and reliable method of transport, and can carry larger quantities in a shorter amount of time

Who Uses Sea Freight?

There are much fewer limitations when it comes to what can be transported by sea freight as opposed to other shipping options. For this reason, sea freight is a viable option for most businesses.

It is also suitable for transporting very large and heavy items that cannot be transported via airplane or truck.

Why Ship by Sea?

There are numerous benefits to shipping via sea. Many businesses choose sea freight as it is more cost-effective than other transport options. As ships can transport larger quantities in less time, products can be shipped in bulk for less. There are also fewer restrictions when it comes to the volume and weight of your cargo.

Sea freight is also the greener option. It doesn’t require as much fuel as air freight or trucking and releases fewer carbon emissions.

Getting Started With Sea Freight

Similarly to air freight, sea freight requires a lot of documentation and certification.

To ensure you have all required information, we recommend you give ISS a call. We can also help get the best sea freight rates to ensure you get the most for less.

LCL (less-than-container load) is a term given to container loads that are filled by multiple orders or goods. It’s a common option many businesses take when shipping smaller orders as it presents many benefits, particularly in terms of cost. There are, however, some disadvantages to consider too though.

Read on to find out the pros and cons of LCL.

LCL Pros

• Less Expensive: LCL shipping can save businesses a lot of money if they often ship small orders. As they are sharing the container with other orders, they are able to split shipping container expenses among multiple businesses.

• Shorter Delivery Time: Many businesses wait until they have a sufficient amount of orders before shipping to be able to fill out a whole container. LCL can therefore cut waiting times for you and your customers.

• Less Inventory Management: As you will have a lower volume of goods with LCL as opposed to a full container, inventory management will be minimal.

LCL Cons 

• Increased Risk of Logistical Issues: As LCL involves combining goods from various suppliers, there is an increased risk of logistical issues occurring (such as items getting delivered to the wrong buyer).

• Higher Costs Per Unit: As there are additional logistics and management involved with shipping multiple goods in one container, LCL shipping costs are normally more expensive per container.

Determining whether LCL is the best logistical solution for your business can be tough as there are a number of factors to consider. Fortunately, ISS is here to help.

Our services include container shipping, and we are able to help you determine the fastest and most cost-effective way to ship your goods.

Get in touch with the ISS team for more information.

At International Shipping Services, we have an abundance of long-standing relationships with freight companies across the globe. Being proudly founded and owned by a Serbian-Australian family, our relationships with shipping companies in Serbia are particularly strong. This allows us to fast-track shipments between Australia and Serbia and ensure the best rates for our customers.

When shipping to and from Serbia, there are some things our clients should keep in mind.

Duty and Tax Information

Serbia has a “de minimis rule”, whereby shipments that fall below a certain monetary value will not incur duty or tax. In Serbia, the de minimis value is:

• 20 RSD for duty
• 20 RSD for tax.

This excludes alcohol and tobacco shipments where duty and tax are applied.

Prohibited and Restricted Imports

As of August 2021, new product restrictions have been introduced on Serbian imports. Products that are banned include those that pose threats to the environment, such as:

• Second-hand cars that do not comply with at least Euro 3 noise and exhaust standards
• Gas tractors, building and mining equipment more than 3 years old (except those imported for humanitarian reasons)
• Dangerous waste and toxic chemicals.

Import Requirements and Documentation

Serbia follows a standardised import and export documentation process. Such documentation often includes a commercial invoice, quarantine packing declaration, packing list, bill of lading, and insurance certificates.

In addition, there are a number of items that require additional certification such as narcotics, unregistered medicine, raw materials, fauna and flora, and weapons. A full list can be found on the Serbian customs website.

At ISS, we specialise in shipments between Serbia and Australia. We are well-aware of the certification required on all imports and exports, and restrictions on certain products. Our connections also allow us to ship to anywhere in Serbia and Australia in minimal turn-around time and with minimal expense.

Proudly sponsored by ISS Shipping, the newly unveiled Sixth Man Zone has been changing the game for our Illawarra Hawks at their NBL22 home fixtures.

The purpose of the Sixth Man Zone is to set a vibrant atmosphere that motivates the Hawks and intimidates their opponents.

Positioned behind the backboard, adjacent to the Hawks’ bench, the Sixth Man Zone combines different community groups to cheer on our team and act as the Hawk’s sixth teammate on the court.

The community groups in the zone will provide vocal support for the Hawks through pre-scripted chants and activities led by Hawks game-day volunteers, mascots, cheerleaders, and MCs.

Our ISS Managing Director, Zoran Ilic, saw the potential of the Sixth Man Zone and wanted to jump on board as the official sponsors.

“Coming from a strong background in high-level sport and being in a position to give back to the community, I thought the Sixth Man Zone would be a great opportunity to support our local basketball club,” said Zoran.

“The kids love it, it’s a fantastic initiative, and it’s great exposure for both ISS and the Hawks.”

The Sixth Man Zone has had substantial effects on the Hawks’ performance, electrifying the atmosphere of their stadium and motivating them during their home fixtures.

We are excited to continue supporting the Hawks throughout the season and watch as they power up the NBL22 rankings.