A customs warehouse in Klaipėda can be an important part of the supply chain for companies importing goods through the Port of Klaipėda and seeking greater flexibility in managing inventory, cash flow and import costs.
In today’s business environment, efficient supply-chain management is becoming an increasingly important source of competitive advantage. The ability to store goods close to the port and choose when to release them for free circulation therefore gives businesses greater flexibility.
What is a customs warehouse?
Non-Union goods can be stored in a customs warehouse while a decision is made on what to do with them next. While the goods remain under the customs warehousing procedure, import duties and other import-related charges are suspended. They become payable when the goods are released for free circulation in the European Union.
More information about the customs warehousing procedure is available from the European Commission Taxation and Customs Union website.
What does a customs warehouse mean for a business?
“This important milestone changes the rules of the game for our clients. We give companies the opportunity to manage inventory more strategically, optimise cash flow and reduce costs.” says the company’s Managing Director Žilvinas Urbonas.
A customs warehouse in Klaipėda can be particularly useful when goods arrive from third countries but their final sales or distribution plan is not yet clear. In that case, the business does not have to release the entire shipment into free circulation immediately.
Main advantages
- Strategic location near the Port of Klaipėda – a shorter container journey to the warehouse can help reduce local transport costs.
- Customs warehousing procedure – payment of import duties and other import-related charges is deferred until the goods are released for free circulation.
- More flexible cash-flow management – import charges are not paid on all goods held in the warehouse at once.
- Flexible storage – short-term or longer-term storage can be planned according to actual sales and distribution needs.
- Integrated logistics services – cargo handling, coordination of customs procedures, warehousing, distribution and 3PL solutions can be managed within one chain.
Why is a location near the Port of Klaipėda important?
When imported goods arrive through the Port of Klaipėda, transporting them to a customs warehouse in Klaipėda can reduce the need for additional inland transport stages. This is particularly relevant for companies planning to distribute part of their goods in Lithuania, the Baltic States or Scandinavia while potentially re-exporting another part.
Under this model, inventory can be kept closer to the point of arrival and released from the warehouse according to actual demand.
A customs warehouse as part of the entire logistics chain
A customs warehouse in Klaipėda is more than a place to store goods. It can be integrated into a broader 3PL model covering cargo reception, warehousing, coordination of customs procedures, order preparation and distribution to final consignees.
Such a solution allows the supply chain to be planned around actual sales and goods movement rather than solely around the date the cargo arrives in port.
Optimise your supply chain and assess whether a customs warehousing model could benefit your business.
