Laem Chabang Port Customs

[yankee99]

Not many post of positive experiences on this board as maybe its not exciting enough. I know everyone likes to hear about mafia, high so and thai connection. Is it true or a myth?

Earlier this year i decide to import a container of goods for resale. As you may know some of the prices in thailand are over the top. I looked for things not common but sought after and cheap abroad and expensive here.

I loaded a container in south florida and shipped it to laem chabang http://www.lcit.com $1780 door to port ( cheap in my mind). The documents were simple a packing list, invoice and bill of lading. I also had a logistics company register my 100% thai company with customs for paperless clearing (2500 baht [expensive]). 50 days later i get a email from the ship company with a arrival date. The day of arrival i email my docs to the logistics company for clearing. My understanding is the logistics company enters the items details (weight, qty, cost, hs code, etc...)online and then a bill is returned if there are no flags. Let me say that your logistics company will/should return your paperwork if they see a issue...mine was cleared in about a hour.

The system is automated and unless your paperwork is bad the human factor is basically out of the picture...So in my limited experience no bribes, no uncles in the army, no high so and no payoffs. My next container is coming under the asean trade agreement which should mean no duty only vat...we will see.

[GrantSmith]

Agreed... The key is getting the logistics bang on point... My guy is contactable at any time and he will kick everything back to me if something's not right... Unfortunately time differences and government bureaucracy slows the process.. It's often really minor points but as annoying as it is, it's got to be done...

In commercial terms customs is playing by the book, you want your product, everything has to be spot on. Want to take advantage of an FTA? Make sure all the i's are dotted and the t's crossed. Otherwise, no dice and the games begin.

Excise, Customs and Revenue Departments are all linked now in Bangkok, which makes things a lot easier.

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