Be ready to breeze past borders with ease

Navigating an increasingly complex customs landscape

Global trade regulations are in a constant state of flux, making customs management more challenging than ever before.

For example, UK-Switzerland trade hit £45.4 billion in 2024, showing how vital efficient customs processes are as new trade agreements take shape. Businesses must navigate fragmented rules and documentation requirements as procedures vary significantly across Europe. For instance, policies like the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism impose additional reporting requirements on specific imports, compelling businesses to navigate new and increasingly rigorous environmental compliance standards. Moreover, ongoing economic shifts mean tariffs and trade barriers can change unexpectedly, affecting supply chain stability and cost projections.

Customs clearance can be a real-time supply chain risk factor unless it is actively managed. Maersk’s dedicated team of customs clearance specialists is a critical enabler in delivering on-time clearance through a single, strategic partner. Our deep customs expertise and local regulatory knowledge ensures we are on top of changes to tariffs and trade restrictions across your entire logistics journey

Mitigating the high cost of customs delays and disruptions

Customs inefficiencies can cause significant disruptions to supply chain logistics. Delays at borders can create bottlenecks that result in missed distribution slots, product spoilage – particularly for perishable goods that depend on just-in-time delivery – and lost revenue from late product release.

In fact, according to Everstream Analytics, there’s a consistent rise in the number of ships at anchor waiting to berth at a port right across the world – with the global average surpassing 20 cargo and container vessels at any given time. This highlights how external factors, such as port backlogs, can quickly compound customs-related slowdowns.

At Maersk, we prepare the customs clearance documents well ahead of the cargo’s arrival, making sure that the documentation is sent to customs authorities for approach once the cargo arrives – helping to reduce clearance times and delays at the border.

Here is the difference between what happens when customs clearance is delayed versus when it is completed on time:

Reducing compliance risks in an evolving regulatory environment

As global customs regulations become more digitised and complex, businesses face more compliance scrutiny. And the risks associated with non-compliance will only continue to rise as standards shift across EU countries.

Inaccurate documentation or misclassified goods can leave businesses facing hefty fines, with shipments also likely to be held at the border, causing costly delays. Non-compliance can also result in a higher chance of being heavily audited in the future, leading to administrative burdens and potential supply chain slowdowns.

Maersk can help businesses be ready for customs checks through our experienced customs declarants, who can handle data and document validation during the course of preparing the customs clearance declaration.

At Maersk, we are constantly auditing our internal customs processes to minimise errors, so businesses maintain compliance with regulations and avoid penalties.

Harnessing the strategic power of expert customs management

While avoiding penalties and disruptions is important for supporting the bottom line, customs management is more than that – it’s a competitive differentiator.

According to a Swedish Customs report, out of 250 post-clearance audits carried out in 2023, errors were detected in 90% of them. This highlights the need for stronger guidance from strategic partnerships that can help businesses to handle customs documentation correctly and efficiently.

Businesses that engage Maersk for customs clearance benefit from a dedicated point of contact to manage processes, global regulatory expertise to help navigate evolving trade landscapes with confidence, and internal auditing processes that continuously improve customs handling and minimise errors.

Because Maersk is recognised as an expert customs provider under the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) international standard, we’re ideally placed to support businesses looking to streamline their customs operations.

Maersk’s deep customs expertise, global footprint and automated solutions simplify clearance and reduce risks – transforming customs from a bottleneck into a real strategic advantage.