Marhaba Shipping & Clearing
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Precision at the Port, Excellence in Motion
Navigating the landscape of modern customs requires more than just paperwork; it demands a deep-seated knowledge of international law and local port protocols across the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and Africa. Our dedicated clearing agents act as your on-the-ground advocates, managing every nuance of customs documentation, duty assessments, and government inspections. By anticipating regulatory shifts and maintaining strong relationships with port authorities, we prevent the costly bottlenecks that often hinder global supply chains.
Beyond the harbor, our freight operations are built on a foundation of reliability and scale. We coordinate the logistics of multi-modal transport, seamlessly connecting sea and air freight with inland distribution networks. Whether you are handling high-volume bulk commodities or time-sensitive shipments, our team monitors every mile of the journey. We treat every container with the urgency it deserves, providing the oversight necessary to protect your investment from the moment it leaves the supplier until it clears the final checkpoint.
If You Need Customs Clearance Support
Our Coordinated Customs Clearance Support
At Marhaba Shipping & Clearing, we believe that transparency is the key to successful trade. We provide our partners with the peace of mind that comes from knowing their logistics are in the hands of seasoned professionals. By integrating our clearing expertise with the broader Marhaba Group ecosystem, we offer a frictionless experience that allows you to scale your international operations with total confidence.
Import and Export Clearance Coordination
Whether you are bringing spices into Dubai or exporting dates to Europe, the principles of clearance remain the same: accuracy, compliance, and timing. We work with experienced clearing partners who possess deep knowledge of the specific requirements for agro-commodities.
Import Clearance
We coordinate the arrival process, ensuring that goods entering the UAE or other GCC countries are declared correctly. This involves managing the submission of the Bill of Entry, coordinating inspections by municipality or food control authorities, and facilitating the release of cargo from the port or airport.
Export Clearance
For suppliers sending goods out of the region, we coordinate the export declaration process. This ensures that your goods are cleared for departure and that you have the necessary proof of export to reclaim VAT or meet international contract obligations.
Document Checklist and Compliance Support
The foundation of successful clearance is perfect documentation. Agro-commodities require a specific set of papers that go beyond standard general cargo. We provide a rigorous pre-shipment document review service. Before your supplier ships the goods, our team (in coordination with our partners) reviews drafts of all critical documents.
Port and Airport Handling Assistance
The physical movement of goods within the port or airport terminal is a critical phase. Through our partners, we coordinate the necessary handling services required during the clearance process. If customs authorities request a physical inspection or sampling of your agricultural products,
Guidance on Duty and VAT Requirements
Understanding the financial implications of your trade is essential for maintaining your margins. While we do not provide legal tax advice, we work with partners who can offer guidance on applicable customs duties and Value Added Tax (VAT) requirements.
Essential Documentation for Agro Clearance
In the world of customs, if it isn’t documented, it didn’t happen. Agricultural products demand a higher standard of documentation to prove safety, origin, and quality. We guide you through compiling the specific “document packet” required for your shipment. While requirements can vary by origin and destination, the following are the pillars of agro-clearance.
Certificate of Origin (COO)
Customs authorities need to know where the product was grown or processed to determine duty rates and applicability of trade embargoes or sanctions. The COO is an official document issued by a Chamber of Commerce in the exporting country. For cross-GCC trade, a specific format of the COO is often required to claim duty-free entry under the customs union agreement. We guide suppliers on exactly which format to procure.
Phytosanitary and Health Certificates
This is the most critical category for agricultural products.
- Phytosanitary Certificate: Issued by the plant protection organization of the exporting country, this certifies that the plant products (like grains, fruits, vegetables) have been inspected and are free from quarantine pests and diseases. Without this original document, entry will almost certainly be denied.
- Health Certificate: Required for processed foods or animal by-products, certifying that the goods are fit for human or animal consumption and meet the hygiene standards of the importing country.
Bill of Lading (BL) or Air Waybill (AWB)
This is the transport contract and the title to the goods.
- Bill of Lading: For sea freight, the BL is crucial. It acts as a receipt for the cargo and a contract of carriage. We ensure the BL instructions match the Letter of Credit or buyer requirements perfectly.
- Air Waybill: For air freight, the AWB serves a similar function but is non-negotiable. Speed is key here, and we ensure the AWB accompanies the goods to facilitate immediate clearance upon landing.
Commercial Invoice & Packing List
These are the fundamental commercial documents.
- Commercial Invoice: Must clearly state the buyer and seller details, a precise description of the goods, the HS code (Harmonized System code), the value, currency, and the Incoterms governing the transaction. For agro-goods, specific details like crop year or grade may also be required.
- Packing List: This details the physical makeup of the shipment—gross weight, net weight, number of packages, and type of packaging (e.g., 50kg PP bags, cartons).
Certificate of Analysis (COA) and Fumigation
- Certificate of Analysis (COA): A lab report detailing the specific quality parameters of the product (e.g., moisture content, purity, admixture). While primarily a commercial document for quality verification, customs or food control authorities may request it to verify the product classification.
- Fumigation Certificate: Evidence that the cargo (and often the wood packaging material) has been fumigated to kill pests. This is mandatory for many agro-imports to prevent the introduction of invasive species.
Why Trust Marhaba Agro with Your Clearance?
We treat your cargo as if it were our own. By integrating customs clearance coordination into our broader brokerage and logistics services, we provide a seamless experience that fragmented providers cannot match.
Integrated Workflow
When we manage the brokerage and the logistics, we have full visibility. We know exactly when the deal was signed and when the ship sails, allowing us to prepare clearance documents in parallel, saving valuable days.
Risk Mitigation
By reviewing documents before shipment, we drastically reduce the risk of fines, rejections, and delays. We don’t just hope for the best; we prepare for it.
Agro Specialization
Our partners are not generalists; they understand the specific nuances of clearing food and agricultural products. They know the difference between a phytosanitary requirement for wheat versus spices.
Clear Your Path to Profit
Don’t let customs complexities hold your business back. Let Marhaba Agro Commercial Brokers handle the regulatory heavy lifting so you can focus on trading. Whether you are an importer looking to clear a container in Jebel Ali or an exporter targeting the Saudi market, we have the expertise to get it done.