International Seafreight Services

How does an import via Antwerp work?

• Your supplier delivers the goods to the port of loading, under the agreed incoterm.

• Before the container is loaded on board, the entry summary declaration (ENS) must be filed in ICS2. That requires an accurate goods description and HS code.

• The vessel arrives in Antwerp and the container is discharged at the terminal.

• The container is released once the freight is paid and the bill of lading is in order.

• Customs clearance takes place in Antwerp, or the container moves under T1 and is cleared in the country of destination.

• We have the container delivered to your address in Belgium or elsewhere in Europe.

Customs or the FASFC, the Belgian food safety agency, can select a container for a scan or physical inspection. We then reschedule the haulage as soon as the container is released. Importing from China? Read our article on importing from China as well.

Why should one party handle both customs and haulage?

We see the same scenario every month. A customer has another broker handle customs and books the container haulage with us. The customs data is wrong, the container stays blocked, and the truck turns up at the terminal for nothing.

That trip is then charged. If the truck is already on site, you pay the full cost of the road haulage. If the trip is cancelled the day before, it is 80% of that cost.

When customs and haulage are both with us, we catch an error in the paperwork before any truck leaves. We only plan the trip once the container is actually released. That is simpler and cheaper in the end. Read more about our customs services and our container transport.

How does an export via Antwerp work?

• We book the container with the shipping line, or you book it yourself.

• The container is loaded at your premises, or through container stuffing at a warehouse in Antwerp. In that case, ideally allow 3 days before the vessel's cut-off.

• The VGM (Verified Gross Mass) of the loaded container is submitted to the shipping line. Without a VGM, the container does not go on board.

• The export declaration (EX-A) is filed.

• We pre-notify the container in APCS, the Port Community System of the port.

• The container is delivered to the quay before the cut-off.

• We only close the file once the export declaration has been discharged. That is the proof your goods have left the EU.

FCL or LCL?

With FCL you have a full container for your own cargo. With LCL you share the container with other shipments and pay per W/M. We arrange FCL ourselves. LCL runs through partners, as PLS has no consolidation service of its own. Which is cheaper for your shipment is explained in our article on FCL vs LCL.

Which container should you choose?

For heavy cargo such as coils or steel, a 20ft is often the better choice, because weight sets the limit rather than volume. For light, bulky goods, a 40ft high cube gives you the most space. You will find the internal measurements per type in our article on container dimensions.

If your cargo is too high, too wide or too heavy for a closed container, it goes on a flat rack or in an open top. If such a piece first has to travel by road to Antwerp, we also arrange the abnormal load transport.

Which documents do you need for sea freight?

• Commercial invoice and packing list

• HS code of the goods

• Bill of lading (B/L) or sea waybill

• For export: VGM and export declaration (EX-A)

• For transit to another EU country: T1 document

• Where applicable: certificate of origin or EUR.1, for reduced import duties

What does PLS do differently?

You have one dedicated contact who knows your file, from booking to delivery. No call centre and no ticket number. With more than 20 years of experience and a work phone that is staffed 24/7, you also get an answer in the evening and at weekends when something goes wrong with your container.