/ By tjchinafreight ivy / Shipping

South Korean shipbuilding industry returns to No. 1 after 7 years

With its strong performance in the field of LNG ships, the Korean shipbuilding industry has won half of the orders in the global newbuilding market.

According to data released by Clarkson on April 5, in the first quarter of this year, the global new ship order volume was 9.2 million revised gross tons (CGT), a decrease of 41% compared with the same period last year. Among them, South Korea undertook 4.57 million CGT, and the global The market share reached 49.7%, an increase of more than 12 percentage points from 37.2% in the first quarter of last year; China has undertaken 3.855 million CGT, and the global market share has dropped from 46% in the first quarter of last year to 41.9%; Japan has undertaken 248,400 CGT , the global market share fell to 2.7% from 12.8% in the same period last year.

This is the first time in the past seven years that a Korean shipping company has ranked first in the world in terms of orders received in the first quarter. At the same time, this is also the first time since Clarkson started statistics in 1996 that the number of orders received by South Korean shipping companies in the first quarter has reached about 50% of the global market share.

In addition, in March this year, the global order volume for new ships was 3.23 million CGT. The number of orders received by South Korean shipping companies also ranks first in the world in a single month, with a total of 1.64 million CGTs, accounting for 51% of the global share. Chinese shipbuilding companies ranked second with 1.36 million CGT orders, accounting for 42% of the global share.

As of the end of March, the number of global hand-held orders was 94.71 million CGT, an increase of 1.55 million CGT from the end of February. Among them, South Korean shipping companies have the largest increase in orders, reaching 1.12 million CGT; Chinese shipping companies have increased orders by 610,000 CGT, and Japanese orders have decreased by 240,000 CGT.

Industry insiders in South Korea said that last year, South Korea handed over the world's largest new ship order volume to China. In the first quarter of this year, the global new ship order transaction volume decreased significantly year-on-year, but South Korean shipbuilding companies worked hard and preemptively seized the place. The order finally overtook China to regain the first position. This is mainly due to the large number of LNG ship orders undertaken by South Korean shipbuilders. Regarding the reasons for the significant decrease in the number of orders received by Japanese shipbuilding companies, a Korean industry official explained that the data of the Japanese shipbuilding industry traditionally lags behind, so there may be changes in the future.

According to statistics, among the 38 large-scale LNG ships of 174,000 cubic meters or more ordered globally in the first quarter of this year, South Korea has undertaken 27 vessels, accounting for 71%; China has undertaken 11 vessels, accounting for 29%. In addition, a total of 44 container ships above 8000TEU have been ordered globally this year, of which South Korea has undertaken 21 ships, accounting for 47.7%.

A relevant person in the Korean industry said: "Although the number of new ship orders has decreased this year, Korean ship companies are benefiting from the booming LNG ship market. In the first quarter of this year, the number of LNG ships undertaken by Korean ship companies increased significantly, and the number of orders on hand It is also increasing, and the delivery time has been scheduled to the end of 2025. At present, European countries are looking for alternative sources of Russian energy, and the demand for LNG ships will continue in the future.”

/ By tjchinafreight ivy / Shipping

The epidemic will not bring down Shanghai Port and Ningbo Zhoushan Port

Recently, the epidemic prevention and control in Shanghai has been in a severe period, and the infection rate has continued to rise. Shanghai Port cannot survive alone, and is making every effort to coordinate resources from all parties to keep the port open. On the other hand, many truck drivers were diagnosed in Ningbo, and the local government immediately introduced a policy of one nucleic acid per day for truck drivers to further tighten the prevention and control policy. As the two largest ports in the world, Shanghai Port will complete a container throughput of 47.3 million TEU in 2021, and Ningbo Zhoushan Port will complete a cargo throughput of 31.08 million TEU. These two ports account for nearly 40% of the national port container throughput. In this regard, the normal operation of the two ports is related to the smooth global supply chain, and the sensitive market remains highly concerned about this.

Recently, a screenshot of densely crowded ships in the waters near Shanghai circulated on the Internet. The screenshot was accompanied by a caption saying, "Hundreds of ocean-going freighters have been stranded in the open seas of Shanghai, and the supply chain is broken here."

The impact of this round of Shanghai epidemic on international shipping has also aroused high public attention.

On April 2, SIPG also responded to the news of "severe congestion in Shanghai Port": "We have noticed that some media have published false reports on the serious congestion in Shanghai Port, which mentioned that 'Shanghai's port is delayed. The situation is getting more and more serious', 'the number of ships waiting to be loaded and unloaded in Shanghai port has soared to more than 300 this week' and other unverified remarks and pictures, according to the internal data monitoring of Shanghai port, since February, Shanghai port terminal production and operation As usual, there is no congestion of container ships." SIPG further stated that there is absolutely no "congestion comparable to the port congestion in West America" ​​in Shanghai Port. The number of waiting ships is in single digits, and the average number of waiting days is normal.

Previously, it was believed that due to the severe epidemic situation in Shanghai, the transportation of import and export goods was also affected, and some ships calling at Shanghai Port may be diverted to Ningbo Zhoushan Port or Nanjing Port.

On April 6, the "Daily Economic News" reporter asked the relevant person in charge of Ningbo Port (601018.SH) to verify the above situation. The person in charge responded: "The company is now doing a good job of epidemic prevention and control in accordance with the requirements of the superior and the actual situation of the enterprise to ensure the continuous, stable and healthy development of port production. As for the ships that previously berthed at Shanghai Port, they will be moved to Ningbo Zhoushan Port. The situation is not obvious at the moment and we are monitoring it.”

On the same day, a person in charge of a shipping agency in charge of Ningbo also told reporters that from what he knew, Shanghai's port calls are relatively normal, and there has not been a large number of changes to Ningbo port.

At the same time, Ningbo Zhoushan Port had to face the problem of epidemic spillover. From April 4th to 5th, 6 of the 7 cases found in Ningbo City were road freight-related drivers and express service area staff, and one of them was in Beilun District; as a model of anti-epidemic, Ningbo Zhoushan The port quickly made a decision to close some container shipping bases in Beilun District, and organized truck drivers to conduct nucleic acid tests every 24 hours. For example, Ningbo Meidong Container Terminal Co., Ltd. issued a notice on April 3 that truck drivers entering the port area. A free nucleic acid test needs to be completed immediately before entering the port area; at the same time, for foreign vehicles, Ningbo City requires drivers to actively cooperate with nucleic acid testing and antigen testing at the high-speed bayonet. In addition, Ningbo has implemented closed management of staff in the city's expressway service areas, strictly implemented daily nucleic acid testing measures, and suspended refueling operations.

At present, Ningbo Zhoushan Port is still in normal operation as a whole, and the warehouses that were temporarily closed due to the detection of tight connections will also be unsealed from tomorrow. In addition to Ningbo City, two freight drivers in Shaoxing City were also found to be infected with the new crown. The freight drivers and passengers outside the city are required to perform nucleic acid tests every two days on the basis of implementing nucleic acid tests every two days, and each time they return to Shaoxing Expressway.

The port circle (ID: gangkouquan) believes that if the impact of the epidemic expands, the impact of the collection and distribution problem continues to expand, and the ports in the Yangtze River Delta region cannot handle the problem of transportation route configuration, which will be a heavy blow to the global supply chain. of. On the premise of "preventing imports from outside and preventing exports from inside", Shanghai should increase the capacity of waterway barges as soon as possible to transfer the pressure of road collection and distribution, while Ningbo Zhoushan Port must learn lessons and give priority to preventing the spread of the epidemic. The two ports will not be dragged down as the outside world fears, but for a period of time in the future, whether it is the cargo owner, the shipping company, or the port, it will be under the pressure of repeated epidemics.

/ By tjchinafreight ivy / Shipping

Evergreen’s container ship ‘Ever Forward’ has declared general average

After the ship left Baltimore on March 13, the Ever Forward ran aground. For the common interests of cargo owners and the safety of all involved, Evergreen Shipping has been making every effort to refloat the stranded ship. Evergreen declared general average on April 17, given the increased cost of continued attempts to re-float the vessel. There have been no reports of injuries or contamination.

Ever Forward, a 12,000 TEU container ship owned by Evergreen Shipping (Hong Kong) Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Evergreen Shipping Group, ran aground in Chesapeake Bay after leaving Baltimore on the evening of March 13. No casualties have been reported to the ship or its cargo. , and there are no signs of fuel leaks or contamination.

Dredgers have been digging around the stranded container ship, and groups of tugboats made two unsuccessful attempts to pull the 1,095-foot vessel out of the silt last week.

Under new plans announced by the Coast Guard, cranes will be used to remove some of the containers from the "long haul" to reduce their weight before the next rescue effort. The lifting operation will start as soon as a crane with the right lifting height is installed. Meanwhile, the dredger will continue to dig to a depth of 43 feet around the vessel. During these operations, the fairway will remain one-way traffic and a 500-yard safety zone will remain around the vessel.

Salvage experts determined that in their current state of loading, they would not be able to overcome the gravity of the "long-range wheel". The new program offers the best chance of successfully relaunching the long haul. ' said the Coast Guard.

Containers will be unloaded from the port and starboard sides of the 12,000TEU container ship and placed on a barge, which will transport the containers to the Seagrit Marine Terminal in the Port of Baltimore and unload them. The ship is currently carrying 4,964 general dry cargo containers, according to the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard said that for safety reasons, lifting operations can only be carried out during the day.

Once the required number of containers has been removed, another re-float attempt will be made using tugboats and pulling barges.

According to the Baltimore Sun, the plan calls for the removal of several hundred of the 4,964 containers on the long-haul ship, with most of the cargo remaining on board. Since the shipowner Evergreen Shipping has declared general average, the shipper needs to provide the necessary guarantees and documents to the general average adjustment company before the container cargo shipped to the Seagirt terminal can be recovered.

/ By tjchinafreight ivy / Shipping

FOB Shipping Point vs. FOB Destination

Container ship in the harbor in Asia 

International business terms (incoterms) were designed by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) to simplify international trade by creating a common standard language, a globally recognized list of terms related to the international transport and transport of goods.
Importers and exporters need to be proficient and proficient in many terms. Some terms are more common than others, such as Free On Board (FOB), Free Carrier (FCA) and Ex Works (EXW). FOB, while common, is largely misunderstood.
Although their language is largely drafted in legal language, it is the responsibility of all parties involved in a shipment to ensure that they understand all Incoterms, otherwise a simple shipment can turn into a costly accident .

Incoterms are important for several reasons. If you find yourself wondering what FOB means in shipping, be sure to take the time to understand FOB shipping

Free shipping on board

The FOB point of dispatch, also known as the FOB origin, is when title and responsibility for the goods pass from the seller to the buyer when the goods are placed on the delivery vehicle.
Since the FOB shipping point transfers title to the shipment of the goods when they are placed at the shipping point, legal title to those goods passes to the buyer. Therefore, the seller is not responsible for the goods during delivery. FOB Shipping Point is a further limitation or condition of FOB as liability changes hands at the seller's shipping terminal.

For example, suppose that ABC Company in the United States purchases electronic equipment from its supplier in China, and the company has a FOB point-of-ship agreement. If the nominated carrier damages the package during delivery, ABC Company will be solely responsible and cannot claim compensation from the supplier for the loss or damage. Suppliers are solely responsible for bringing electronic equipment to the carrier.

Free destinations on board

Conversely, for FOB destinations, title transfers at the buyer's loading dock, PO box, or office building. Title to the goods passes from the seller to the buyer once the goods have been delivered to the place designated by the buyer. Therefore, the seller legally owns the goods and is responsible for the goods in transit.

Types of free destinations on board

  • FOB freight prepaid and allows the named seller to be obligated to pay the freight and have the goods in transit. The seller bears the risk of loss of or damage to the goods in transit. Title to the goods passes to the buyer at the buyer's place of business.
  • FOB shipping prepaid and adding the specified seller is obligated to pay shipping. However, the seller charges the buyer for shipping. The seller bears the risk of loss of or damage to the goods in transit because the seller owns the goods in transit. Title to the goods transfers to the buyer's place of business.
  • FOB freight collect specifies that the buyer must pay the freight upon receipt of the goods. However, the seller bears the risks associated with shipping the goods because the seller still owns the goods during the shipping process.
  • FOB freight collect specifies that the buyer must pay the freight. However, the buyer deducts the fee from the seller's invoice. The seller is responsible for the goods because the seller still owns the goods during shipping.

Main difference

Another key difference between the two terms is how they are calculated. Since the buyer is liable after the goods are shipped, the company can record an increase in its inventory at this time. Likewise, the seller records the sale at the same time. If the goods are damaged or lost in transit, the buyer can file a claim as the company holds title during delivery.

The accounting rules for FOB destinations have changed. In this case, the seller completes the sale on its records once the goods arrive at the receiving dock. That's when the buyer records the increase in their inventory.

There are also differences in the division of costs. For the FOB shipping point option, the seller bears the shipping costs and charges until the goods arrive at the port of origin.

Once the goods are loaded on the ship, the buyer is responsible for all costs associated with shipping, as well as customs, taxes and other charges. For FOB destinations, the seller bears all costs and expenses until the goods arrive at the destination. Once in port, all costs - including duties, taxes and other charges - are borne by the buyer.

/ By tjchinafreight ivy / Shipping

Shipping companies are buying container ships?

According to Alphaliner, some ocean carriers are turning to buying ships to increase capacity, rather than chartering them, reducing capacity in the containership leasing market by 1.6 million TEU.

In addition, there are concerns in shipbroker circles that this reduction in open capacity will weaken the industry's ability to cope with the normal seasonal peak and low seasons of liner trade.

According to shipbrokers, the loss of capacity controlled by NOOs (non-operating shipowners) began in August 2020, when shipping lines, flush with cash due to soaring freight rates, began to add capacity to their own fleets.

In just 18 months, more than 500 container ships have been sold to liner operators through the secondary market, a massive fleet exodus rooted in high demand for freight post-COVID-19, Alphaliner said.

"The huge demand for container ships has caused container ship rents to soar to levels never seen before in the history of container shipping, almost overnight."

"MSC has been the main buyer so far, buying 169 second-hand container ships with a total capacity of 636,900TEU," Alphaliner said.

CMA CGM was the second most active shipping company in the container ship market, purchasing 62 vessels with a total capacity of 207,000TEU; Maersk ranked third with 27 vessels purchased with a total capacity of 141,600TEU; followed by Wanhai with 23 vessels ship with a total capacity of 139,700TEU.

However, some shipping companies have decided to take advantage of the freight rate gained on newbuildings to increase dividends to shareholders, or to seize opportunities in the charter market for longer-term fixed charters.

According to Alphaliner data, in the past 20 months, non-operating shipowners have ordered 175 ships with a total capacity of 710,321TEU, more than half of which have signed long-term charter contracts with shipping companies.

“The low number of newbuildings relative to the loss of capacity suggests that non-operating owners’ fleets need to order more 1,000-9,000 TEU-sized container ships,” the shipbroker said.

But he added that several factors were preventing owners from ordering new ships, including soaring costs, longer lead times, and uncertainty over environmental regulations and fuel options.

Meanwhile, sources at shipbrokers said they were concerned about the current lack of open container ship capacity in the market, as well as the lack of spare container ships in the future.

"At the moment, the outlook is not very good," said one broker. "However, we think that when the situation returns to some form of normalcy, shipping companies may consider moving some of the excess smaller ships they have purchased. Rent out, that will give us something to sell," he said.

/ By tjchinafreight ivy / Shipping

Easily handle international returns

If you sell online, you will inevitably be rewarded. While many online sellers see international sales as a one-way ticket to business growth, few seem to think about international returns.
While cross-border trade is a key focus for online retailers looking to expand sales, it also faces challenges. Specifically, one of the main reasons small and midsize companies shy away from international sales is the fear of returns.
That said, the process is getting easier as governments and postal service operators work together to optimize cross-border e-commerce deliveries and returns.

Take care of taxes and duties

One of the biggest challenges mentioned by small businesses when dealing with international returns is managing taxes and duties. This is because different countries—even states, provinces, republics, and territories—have unique tax laws. Failure to properly calculate taxes can result in delayed shipments, or worse, forfeitures.
In some cases, taxation can be a simple process. For example, there are no taxes or duties on items under $40 shipped from the U.S. to Canada. Others may be more complex and the tools available are invaluable for estimating these potential costs.

Why are products being returned?

A lower rate of return means more profit and more satisfied customers. That's why it's important to find out why a product was returned. Here are some common reasons:

  • Customer receives wrong product or wrong size
  • Product does not match product description
  • Damage to the customer when the order arrives

Of course, the reasons may vary depending on what you sell, your industry, and many other factors.

5 Tips for Handling International Returns

1. Let your customers choose how to return

The first and easiest option for you is to leave the return method to your customers. The only thing that is fixed is the address your client has to send to (that is, your address).
Your customers choose which carrier to ship with and which delivery point to ship the package to. However, this is the least customer friendly solution, so it may cost you switching costs in international online stores.
The advantage is that once you receive the product, you can evaluate it yourself and add it back to your inventory faster.
As an online retailer, you are not reimbursed for returns.
However, if the customer returns their entire order (within the EU), you will have to reimburse the outbound shipping. In addition to that, you can choose whether to let your customers pay for returns. You can make this return method more customer-friendly.
But how?
Extend the return period. Your customers will then become attached to the product or care less about it. This also reduces the chance of returns.

2. Arrangements with International Carriers

If you're shipping a lot, including returns, you can make a lot of deals with international carriers.
A good example is fashion chain Zalando, which has a partnership with DHL for both shipping and returns. By making a custom arrangement with a carrier, you can often not only discuss lower rates, but also get more services from the carrier, such as pickups and returns.
Furthermore, with Sendcloud you can offer multiple shipping methods and optimal integration with local and international carriers. In this way, you can provide a more efficient and budget-friendly return process.

3. Subtly offset return costs for your customers

Our research shows that 74% of European consumers would not reorder from an online store if they had to pay for the return themselves. 77% agree that free returns are more convincing to order from online stores more frequently.
However, if you don't want to incur the return costs yourself but still want some form of service, you have another option. You can add a return label to your order and deduct the return fee from your order refund. This method is allowed since you do not need to be reimbursed for returns.
This is great for customers because they don't have to pay immediately when they return the package. This eases the pain of returns, especially the cost of returns.
More importantly, it makes returns a little easier. 37% of European consumers say they would reorder from an online store if they were offered a quick and easy return process.
So it's also in your favor: your customers will come back to you faster thanks to your easy return policy.

4. Outsource international returns to a local party

Have you ever thought about processing returns through your local party? By doing this, you allow customers to return their products to the party you are working with in the country of sale.
This party specialises in handling consignment/returns and therefore ensures that processes, including administration, run as efficiently as possible.
When there are many packages, the parties can return to your warehouse in large quantities, which is cost-effective. Working in this way also allows you to pay back your customers faster, as the product can be received and evaluated faster locally.
This option is relatively expensive because you are doing external collaboration. However, if you receive a lot of returns (like fashion), it can help you save as much as possible.
Create clear protocols and ensure good connections between your online store, inventory and external parties. When you receive a return notification for a product, you can immediately refund the customer or ship a new product, even before your warehouse receives the order.

5. Easily process returns for you and your customers

Would you rather take your online store's returns process into your own hands?
Then use smart solutions to process returns more efficiently. With the Sendcloud returns portal, you can provide your customers with a simple and smooth returns process.
You can offer other refund options and let your customers decide how to return them using flexible returns.

/ By tjchinafreight ivy / Cargo • Shipping

Invisible ‘killer’ microplastics

What are microplastics?

Microplastics generally refer to plastic particles between 0.33 mm and 5 mm in size [1]. Microplastics can come from a variety of sources, including microbeads from personal care products; fibers from synthetic clothing; pre-manufactured granules and powders; and fragments that degrade from larger plastic products. These smaller plastic particles can be ingested by aquatic organisms. ACC's Plastics Division and its member companies work to better understand the potential role of microplastics in the marine environment.

Multiple studies have shown that microplastics in the marine environment can absorb persistent organic pollutants (POPs).
Microplastics are small in size, but have a very large specific surface area, and have a strong ability to adsorb pollutants in the environment. Why is this?

Specific surface area refers to the total area possessed by a unit volume of material. Assuming that the microplastic is a cube, it is continuously cut, but the total volume remains unchanged. It can be found that the smaller the microplastic is cut, the larger the total contact area. The larger the contact area, the more adsorption sites, and the larger the adsorption capacity, so the microplastics have strong adsorption.

Why are microplastics bad?

We've known for years that microplastics are problematic, but a growing body of research continues to highlight just how much they affect the environment and our health. Microplastics are extremely persistent, which means it is nearly impossible to remove them from the environment in which they accumulate. Because of their persistence and the chemicals that make them up, research suggests they can be very harmful to the organisms they come into contact with, including causing reduced feeding, poisoning, and increased mortality. They also tend to facilitate the transfer of contaminants along the food chain, with potentially serious consequences for human health. Scientists warn that the situation is out of control. They found microplastics almost everywhere they looked: on mountains, in the ocean, in Arctic sea ice, and in our air, drinking water and bodies.

Where exactly do microplastics come from?

On the one hand, there is plastic waste, which is formed by physical, chemical and biological decomposition, which is secondary microplastics. Another major source is the friction particles such as polyethylene and polypropylene added in our daily use of toiletries, such as facial cleansers, toothpaste, and scrubs, which are primary microplastics. There may be more than 300,000 plastic microbeads in just one scrub. Microplastics eventually flow into the sea continuously. It is estimated that the amount of sediments on the seabed around the world has reached tens of millions of tons. It is imperative to control microplastics!

How to reduce microplastics?

Wastewater and drinking water treatment is very effective in removing microplastics. Research, albeit limited, has shown that they can remove more than 90 percent of microplastics.
But there is also a lot that individuals can do to reduce microplastics. Perhaps the most important step is to change the way we think and behave.
Modern lifestyles are full of single-use plastic items such as straws and cups. People think we use plastic cutlery for an average of three minutes at a time, but it remains in the environment for hundreds of years. Single-use plastics, including food packaging, are also one of the biggest contributors to plastic pollution.
Thinking about how plastic is made and what happens to it after it's used makes a difference.

"We need to ask ourselves if we really need to use certain types of plastic, like disposable forks," Alex said. "If we do, we need to question how we are responsible for it and how we can best handle it. It only takes a few seconds.

'An example of this is accidental littering. People might throw garbage into a full bin thinking they've done their part and the garbage collectors will take it from there, but all it takes is a gust of wind to blow it down and you've got Garbage everywhere. So while it may be well-intentioned, it is not a responsible disposal.

"Responsible disposal may be that you end up taking your rubbish home so you can properly recycle it. Every situation and individual is different.

/ By tjchinafreight ivy / Shipping

Packing List Guide

What is a packing list?

A packing slip is a document that describes the contents of the shipment to the customer. A packing slip contains separate line items for each shipped item. Each line item describes the product number, product description, and quantity of units shipped. Weight can also be stated. This document is printed by the seller, who either includes it in the package or attaches it to the outside of the package in a sealed bag.
The consignee can use the packing slip to verify the contents of the delivery.

 What is the difference between a packing list and an invoice?

While similar in nature (almost identical at first glance), packing slips and invoices serve different purposes for purchase orders. A packing slip is used to represent physical goods received, where an invoice is a financial document for an order that contains information such as the selling price of each product, payment terms, payment method, and date.

In some cases, packing lists and invoices are for different people. An invoice is a bill sent to the person responsible for payment, and a packing list is sent to the consignee. If you order something for yourself, both documents will appear in front of you. However, if you buy something for someone else, you get an invoice, but the recipient gets a packing slip.

While both documents start with an e-commerce store, invoices are triggered by payment platforms, while packing slips are triggered by shipping or fulfillment technology.

Also, all businesses use invoices, but not all businesses use packing lists.

Why is the packing list important?

1.Make sure the right item is shipped to the right customer

One of the most frustrating experiences for customers is missing items from their order or not receiving the product they purchased. This negative customer experience reduces the likelihood of a business getting repeat customers. After all, no one likes receiving parts or orders or the wrong product. The cost of shipping lost or correct items eats into profits. If left unchecked, these can hinder the company's growth.
There are some great ways to help improve accuracy when picking. However, implementing a technically superior picking solution is worthless if the items are still not packaged correctly. A printed packing slip can be used as a basic but effective check during the packing process to ensure that all the correct items have been placed in the pack.

2.Items put in the package

Often, warehouse pickers collect items from multiple orders at the same time. During the packaging process, products need to be packaged for each customer. The packer will use the product list to determine which items should be packed together.

3.Identify damaged items

Packing lists help identify and organize damaged items—whether a fragile item was damaged in transit or an entire package was damaged in transit. Delivery exceptions like this will happen, but having a packing slip as a backup can help expedite refunds or resending of packages

4.Confirm receipt of all items

Packing slips are used to identify lost items and ensure receipt of all items ordered. You can think of it as a written record or record that should be included with the shipment. If your order is delivered in multiple packages, you can more easily keep an eye out for any inaccuracies if the e-commerce order tracking shows that all packages were delivered.

5.Streamline returns and refunds

Returns and refunds are sometimes unavoidable in e-commerce. But a packing list can stop this little headache from turning into a migraine. Having a packing slip can help expedite the process of refunding a customer or sending a new package if an item is damaged in transit.

Likewise, having a packing list can help customers quickly identify if a product that should be in the package is not. While they're unlikely to be happy with a lost item, at least now it's faster to spot the problem and fix a refund or send the product again.

For companies that sell fashion items or other products with a high volume of returns or exchanges, it's even more important to try to reduce the number of customer inquiries about the return/exchange process. Having a large customer support team can be costly, so clear return/refund instructions on the packing slip can help reduce the number of touchpoints the customer support team needs to be involved in.

What information is usually included on a packing slip?

1.Detailed list of shipped and out-of-stock items
A key element of a packing list is to clearly state what is in the package. It's an easy way to help packers ensure accuracy before shipping a package and help your customers quickly determine if their order was received correctly.
While customers should have been informed that one of the items they ordered is out of stock, it is best to include it on the packing list.

2.Quantity per piece
To check every item with a packing slip, it's not enough to just look at the product name or SKU, as many sellers order more than one item. The Quantity column helps reduce the length of the list so that if many of the same items are ordered, the packing list won't be several pages long.

3.Other important information
While packing slips do vary from company to company, standard practice is to include information such as shipping address, company name, purchaser's name and address, order date, and relevant contact information on the packing slip.

What is the difference between a packing list, a bill of lading, and a shipping label?

A packing slip contains information for a single customer order, while a picking list contains multiple customer orders on a single document. Pick list items tend to be ordered in a way that is efficient for pickers to navigate the warehouse. Picking with a packing list is not as efficient as a pick list, because pickers may visit the same warehouse rack multiple times while picking turns.
The shipping label allows a package to move smoothly through the supply network because it contains important information about the shipping of your order, including: its source address, destination address, tracking barcode and its shipping category.

/ By tjchinafreight ivy / Transport

Various types of bills of lading

 

In foreign trade, the bill of lading is a document issued to the consignor by the transportation department when carrying the goods. The consignee picks up the goods with the bill of lading to the transportation department at the destination of the freight. The bill of lading must be signed by the carrier or the ship to take effect. It is one of the valid documents for the declaration of goods by sea to the customs.

1. Different types of bills of lading based on negotiable and non-negotiable documents

The main difference between the two types is that the title (ownership) of one can be transferred to another party, while the other is consigned to a named party, so he/she must be the ultimate receiver of the goods, as this type of title bill of lading cannot. transfer.
Readers should not confuse negotiable and non-negotiable bills of lading with "negotiable" and "non-negotiable" copies of a signed bill of lading.

① Direct bill of lading
A direct bill of lading is designated to a specific party, and the designated party cannot reassign it to anyone else. One party only needs to pick up the goods and cannot sell the goods by transferring the bill of lading to the other party's name.
② Order bill of lading
This is the bill of lading that most people encounter on board. The bill of lading is for the consignee, or for him. That is, the named consignee will be the owner of the goods or he can order the delivery of the goods to the other party by means of a bill of lading endorsed to the other party.
An order bill of lading is a negotiable document as the title (ownership) of the bill of lading is transferable.
③Bearer bill of lading
A bearer bill of lading is a bill of lading that states that the goods should be delivered to anyone who holds the bill of lading. These documents are issued exclusively or are purchase orders that do not specify the consignee by original or blank endorsement. Bearer notes can be negotiated by physical delivery.

2. According to whether the goods have been shipped

①Shipped B/L, or On Board B/L
Refers to the bill of lading issued to the shipper by the carrier or its authorized agent on the basis of the chief mate's receipt after the goods are loaded on board. If the carrier issues an on-board bill of lading, it confirms that he has the goods on board.
②Received for Shipment B/L
It is a bill of lading issued by the carrier at the request of the shipper when it has received the goods from the shipper but has not yet been loaded on board.

3. According to whether there are comments on the order or not

①Clean B/L
Refers to the bill of lading that the goods are in good condition when loaded on the ship, and the carrier has not added any damage to the goods, poor packaging or other obstacles to the settlement of foreign exchange.
②Unclean B/L or Foul B/L
Unclean B/L or foul B/L refers to the bill of lading marked on the bill of lading by the carrier that the goods and packaging are in poor condition or defective, such as wet, oily, stained, rusted, etc.

4. According to the different modes of transportation

①Direct B/L
Refers to the bill of lading issued after the goods are loaded from the port of loading and sailed directly to the port of unloading without changing ships in the middle.
②Transhipment B/L
It refers to the full bill of lading issued by the carrier at the port of shipment for the goods to be transshipped to reach the port of destination.
③Multimodal transport document/multimodal transport document
A multimodal transport document or combined transport document is an intermodal bill of lading involving at least two different modes of transport, land or sea. However, the mode of transportation can be anything from cargo ships to air.

5. Special Bill of Lading

①Container Bill of Lading
A container bill of lading is a document that provides information about the shipment of goods in secure containers or containers from one port to another.
②Combined B/L
Refers to two or more batches of liquid bulk cargo of the same variety, quality, port of loading and unloading, but belonging to different consignees and packed in the same liquid cargo tank, and are respectively the consignee of each batch of goods Issuing a bill of lading with the seal of 'Consolidation Clause' stamped on it.
③Parcel Receipt B/L
Refers to the bill of lading issued for goods consigned in the form of parcels. This is a bill of lading set by the carrier according to the special needs of the trade, and the weight must not exceed 45kg.

/ By tjchinafreight ivy / Shipping

Ownership-based container terminal types

What is a container terminal?

Container terminal or container port (used interchangeably) is a term designated for an intermediate destination facility that enables containers to switch modes of transport on their way to their final destination.
Many times, cargo arrives at a container terminal on a single vessel and is distributed to inland customers by multiple modes of transport. The terminal is also an area dedicated to maintenance and temporary storage of containers. Occasionally, the unloading, loading and storage of the cargo in these containers is also carried out here.

Container Terminal Type

Container terminals around the world are divided into five categories based on their ownership:

Public terminals, operator leased terminals, joint ventures between operators and terminal operators, terminal built and operated by operators, and finally terminals built and operated by operators. Below is a brief overview of the five terminals -

1. Public Pier
All facilities of the public terminal, such as loading and unloading processes, tariff rates and allocated entry and exit locations are shared by all shipping lines and operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Regular duty rates apply to container handling and other related charges, or are otherwise discounted or at agreed rates.

2. The carrier leases a dedicated terminal
These are the result of major carriers working with port authorities, culminating in the signing of long-term leases that are exclusively used by these carriers. The carrier is responsible for paying the costs incurred as carrier preference. For example, Maersk has a number of terminals that have signed long-term use contracts. In addition, some shipping companies have formed partnerships to share terminal usage using multi-user long-term contracts.

3. Terminal construction and operation of terminals
Terminal operators invest directly in the construction, operation and handling of terminals. The operator enters into a lease contract with the port authority by depositing a sum into the gross handling charge of the container business.

4. Operators – build and operate terminals
The method is similar to that used for terminal construction and operation of terminals. In this type of licence, one or more carriers jointly lease a container terminal through deposits with port authorities or direct investment in construction, operation and handling services

5. Joint venture between carrier and terminal operator
In this type of contract, an agreement is reached between the shipping company and the terminal operator, thus forming a company. Direct investment, combined terminal operations for safe, prioritized and efficient container handling.