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Say hello to yet another day where we talk about how we can make importing to the United States more seamless for you!  

You know how we’ve talked about all the import regulations and policies that you have to take care of? Well, all previously said import and export CBP laws and regulations are implemented at the ports of entry.  

In the United States, you can find 3 types of ports of entry – land, air, or sea. Other than enforcement of policies, CBP officers or employees have other crucial roles at ports of entry, including accepting merchandise and collecting duties.  

How Can You Get It Right?  

Choosing the right port of entry is an important decision you need to make as an importer. Your port of entry will facilitate the entry of your products and will allow you to contact the right people – or wrong if you choose the wrong port of entry – to effectively track your imports.  

Here are a few factors to look at when choosing your port of entry: 

The Location 

Shipment costs are a major determining factor. But that’s not the only thing. The closest ports often look the most affordable, given the accessibility and resulting in reduced transport cost. However, a port that is located farther away might offer direct service, which can help save money in times of urgent or valuable imports.  

 Instead of just opting for one, you might have to work with multiple ports to make sure your operations don’t come to a halt in case of any unexpected disruptions. Many importers learned this lesson the hard way when a few years ago the West Coast port faced significant work stoppages and their operations grinded to a complete halt – causing some major losses.  

Transit Time & Costs 

Shipping from Asia, for instance, takes less time if your port is located on the West Coast, while it takes longer somewhere on the East Coast. Do your research to see which port works best for you; each has its own set of benefits and drawbacks. However, you want to pick one that reduces your transit time.  

Pro tip: Here you can check out all the different US ports close to your state. 

Inventory and Warehousing 

It’s wise to pick a port of entry that’s close to your warehouse to reduce costs. If your imports involve retailers and distributors, look to be somewhere that’s close to them.   

Choose the wrong one and the costs of getting the goods to your warehouse and then to the retailers and distributors will quickly add up – leaving you with a tiny profit margin.   

If you really want to cut down on your transportation costs, it is best to go for a port close to the major metropolitan areas or your retailers, which resultantly brings you closer to your consumers.  

How Can We Help?  

So, it’s been established that choosing the right Port of Entry is yet another challenging decision you need to make as an importer.  

With the number of Ports of Entry available into the United States, it can often get confusing to decide which one can serve your needs the best. At IZZI Logistics, we can help you get through the process effortlessly.  

Our experts help you identify which Port of Entry, rather Ports of Entry, can work best for your business. Importing through multiple ports will add resilience to your supply chain.  

With global trade seeing a huge boom of 30% in 2021 compared to the previous year, now is the best time to launch your import business in full swing! Let IZZI Logistics help you take the leap and jumpstart your success.  

Struggling with a tough import logistics decision? Feel free to reach out to us at izzicontact@izzilogistics.com and we’ll point you in the right direction.