31. 12

FMCG & Customs: How We Handle Fast-Moving Supply Chains

FMCG & Customs: How We Handle Fast-Moving Supply Chains

Imagine this: You’ve confirmed a major order with a retail chain. Your packaged foods are manufactured, quality-checked, and shipped. The container reaches the port on schedule.

Then you get the call from customs: “We need additional documentation for clearance.”

While you work to gather the required documents, your products remain at the port. Each day reduces your shelf life, increases demurrage charges, and puts your buyer relationship at risk. Meanwhile, competitors with faster clearance processes are securing the market opportunities you worked hard to win.

In the FMCG business, delays do not just inconvenience you. They directly cost you revenue, damage your reputation, and hand opportunities to competitors. When your products have expiry dates and your buyers have zero tolerance for late deliveries, there is absolutely no room for customs complications.

Why FMCG Logistics is Different

  1. Shelf life creates urgency. Every extra day in customs reduces product usability, and many retailers reject shipments with less than 60% shelf life remaining. A delay of even one week can turn a profitable shipment into a total loss.

  2. High volumes demand consistency. When you ship multiple containers every week, a single clearance delay can disrupt your entire supply schedule. Warehouses run out of stock, retail orders get canceled, and the impact goes far beyond one shipment.

  3. Compliance adds complexity. Food products require FSSAI approvals, cosmetics need safety assessments, and packaged goods must meet strict labeling standards. Missing even one document can result in the entire container being held.

  4. Unplanned costs erode margins. Demurrage, storage charges, and last-minute air freight quickly wipe out profitability.

Real Results for FMCG Businesses

  • Successfully cleared 1,000+ TEUs of packaged goods, beverages, and personal care products Clearance times 40% faster than industry averages

  • Zero demurrage charges for clients using our pre-clearance process

  • 24/7 support for time-sensitive shipments

Ready for Faster, Smoother FMCG Clearances?

If you are importing or exporting FMCG products and need a logistics partner who understands the urgency of your business, let us talk.

We will ensure your fast-moving products keep moving through customs, into warehouses, and onto shelves without delays or unexpected costs.

Import Drivers:

  • Crude oil & petroleum products
  • Gold demand
  • Electronic consumer goods
  • Industrial capital goods

What This Means for Businesses

Exporters: Focus on high-demand categories like energy products, engineering goods, and agri-exports to leverage global demand.

Importers: Use market intelligence to negotiate better deals, diversify sourcing, and reduce dependency on volatile commodities.

Manufacturers: Tap into technology transfers from trade to modernise production and reduce costs.

📌 Takeaway:

India’s trade is evolving fast, the winners will be those who act on data, adapt to global shifts, and align with high-growth sectors. Whether you’re exporting to new markets or sourcing materials, 2025 offers both challenges and untapped opportunities. To know more about the same, connect with us for more insights.