Key insights for smoother cross-border shipping
Customs in e-commerce
On this page, you’ll find everything you need to ship confidently across Europe and beyond.
Whether you’re sending a few orders a week or running a high-volume e-commerce operation, we’ll show you how to handle customs without the headaches.
Let’s make customs easier!
Shipping internationally? Then you’re also shipping into the world of customs. And that world loves forms, codes, duties and… delays.
But don’t worry. We’ve got your back with tools that simplify the process and a guide that explains the basics.
Customs compliance is no longer just an admin task. As e-commerce goes global, it’s a crucial part of a seamless delivery experience.
E-commerce challenge
Customs clearance:
stay ahead of delays
Customs decides if your parcel gets through or gets stuck. They check what’s inside, who’s sending it, who’s receiving it, and if you’ve done your homework. No documents? Wrong code? Say hello to delays, fines or frustrated customers.
We help you get it right the first time.
Who pays what?
Incoterms
have the answers
Imagine you’re shipping a parcel from Germany to the United Kingdom. It may sound simple, but there are key questions that need answers.
Who pays for the transport? Who pays the customs duties? Incoterms make those things crystal clear. Without them, you’re just hoping for the best.
Pro tip: don’t ship internationally without agreeing on Incoterms.
>12 mio
parcels hit EU
customs daily
65%
of issues bad paperwork
or wrong codes
€ 26,8 bil
in customs duties
collected in 2024
Low-value threshold volume
>4.6 billion parcels entered the EU under low-value treshold last year
Top delay reasons
- Missing incoterms
- Unknown IOR
- No invoice
Keep learning, keep shipping
Want smart updates on customs changes, new rules and shipping best practices? We’ve got something for that.
Customs codes
One wrong number
can ruin your shipment
Customs doesn’t guess what you’re shipping. It’s your job to make sure customs know what you’re shipping.
Every product needs a correct HS/commodity code. Using the wrong code leads to delays, higher fees or even blocked shipments.
Accuracy here means faster clearance and happier customers.
Exporting?
Without an EOR your
shipment goes nowhere
Selling products internationally sounds exciting! Until you hit the wall of customs regulations, export documents and legal responsibilities.
One key piece of the puzzle is the Exporter of Record, better known as EOR.
Without EOR, your shipments might never leave the country.
Import smoothly
with the right IOR setup
When you run an ecommerce business and start shipping products to other countries, you quickly learn there’s more to it than just printing a label and handing the package to a carrier.
One key part of international shipping is something called the Importer of Record, or IOR. If nobody steps up as IOR, your shipment isn’t going anywhere. Customs wants to know who’s responsible. And if that’s you, you better be ready.
Smoother customs process
with Shipcloud
Customs procedures can seem complicated, but they don’t have to be. Shipcloud helps you stay in control by automating key parts of the process.
Here’s what we automate for you:
- CN22, CN23 and commercial invoice generation
- Paperless invoicing = less printing, more doing
- Real-time tracking (customs hold? You’ll know.)
- Integrations with major international carriers
We don’t give customs advice or classify your products for you. For that, we can recommend a licensed customs broker. But we do save your team time, stress and repeated support tickets.
