The different roles involved in international freight

① Shipper.
Strictly speaking, the consignor in the import business is the raw material supplier or the original manufacturer of the company's agent product.In some cases, the shipper may also be the local distributor of the supplier or manufacturer.In the export business, due to my country's import and export policies, many enterprises (especially domestically funded state-owned or private enterprises) do not have import and export rights and cannot import and export on their own. The shipper of international freight is often an export agent (import and export). company).Sometimes, import and export business personnel will find that the shipper on some waybills is neither a supplier or manufacturer, nor their local distributor, but a freight company or freight forwarder.This is mainly due to the production of master waybill and sub-waybill during the freight link.In this case, the consignor often shown on the master waybill is the freight forwarder.

② Forwarder.
Freight forwarding is a newly developed industry in the past 20 to 30 years.With the development of international trade, the freight business has become increasingly complex, traditional carriers (shipping companies or airlines) have focused on their business, and the role of freight forwarders has emerged, making the entire freight industry increasingly professional.At present, most of our business is dealing with freight forwarders, so understanding the business of freight forwarders will be of great help to companies in cost and time control in international freight.In addition, many current freight forwarders continue to evolve into third-party logistics companies.

③ Shipping Agent.

Carrier agents mainly arrange berthing, loading and unloading, supply and other services at the port for the carrier (such as shipping companies and airlines), and sometimes issue waybills on behalf of the carrier.Carrier agents are more common in ocean freight and less common in air freight.Some carrier agents are also engaged in freight forwarding business.

④ Carrier.
The carrier mainly refers to the shipping company or airline, which is the main body that implements transportation.Although some carriers also deal directly with cargo owners, in most cases cargo owners do not deal directly with them, but directly with the carrier's agent.

⑤ Customs broker (Broker).
Although various countries have different control policies on import and export goods, customs in all countries basically require import and export goods to be declared.Some cargo owners have their own customs brokers, so there is no need for the intervention of customs brokers.Many freight forwarders are also qualified for customs declaration, and there is no need for a separate customs broker to intervene.Customs declaration services provided by customs brokers or freight forwarders require the cargo owner to provide necessary documents, and they will declare at the customs on their behalf.After the tariff bill is generated, the cargo owner must pay the tariff (in China, there is also value-added tax on imported goods collected by the customs), and the cargo owner can pick up the goods himself or have a service agency pick up and deliver the goods on his behalf.Generally, few customs brokers advance customs duties.Some customs brokers also provide services such as commodity inspection on their behalf.

⑥Consignee.
The situation of the consignee named on the waybill is more complicated.This is somewhat similar to the situation of shippers.Sometimes, due to import controls, the final consignee (such as an agent) is not reflected on the waybill.The consignee on the waybill is often the importer, and the 'Notify Party' may be the real consignee.In addition, in complex freight situations, the consignee shown on the main waybill and sub-waybill has different meanings.The consignee on the sub-waybill is often the real consignee, while the consignee on the main waybill is often the freight forwarder.