M6T was contacted by one of our regular customers with a customs clearing inquiry, regarding the Bitumen Manufacturing Plant they were in the process of purchasing from India. The Bitumen Manufacturing Plant would need to be re-exported into SADC once retrofitted, therefore the client was looking for the best solution on Customs VAT claims in the short-term versus Provisional Payment claims, once the shipment has been re-exported.
The client’s shipment challenge
The expected arrival of the client’s shipment unfortunately coincided with the devastating floods that occurred in KZN. The floods in question resulted in temporary closure of the Durban port and surrounding roads, with our trucks stuck in the queue into the port. To add to the current challenge, we were heading into the Easter long weekend which meant making arrangements for a staggered delivery more difficult.
The M6T solution
M6T needed to provide the client with a hybrid transport solution as the shipment was a mix of Standard (GP), Open Top (OT), and Flat Rack (FR) containers. We also coordinated closely with the client regarding the loading of their cargo onto the trucks, as there were cranes hired to assist. This coordination and persistence from the M6T team, and the client, we were able to mitigate standing time and container demurrage costs.
Results
By assisting the client throughout this process and being aware of potential costs to the client, we strove to mitigate risks and get the cargo delivered, resulting in a very happy customer.
At M6T, we place customer experience at the heart of all our activities, to ensure a happy client at the end of each project. You can experience the quality in our customs clearing and freight forwarding services today, but contacting us at 011 397 1241 or emailing us at info@m6t.co.za
