Brexit warning from Gothenburg

Sweden’s biggest port has warned that Swedish goods bound for the UK after Brexit will not be accepted unless they are ready for clearance through customs before they reach the port. Similarly UK exports to Sweden risk being stuck in the terminal if they have not been pre-cleared

“The exporter must ensure its goods are ready for clearance through customs before they reach the Port of Gothenburg and our terminals, that is the message we are sending out to the market,” said Elvir Dzanic, Gothenburg Port Authority chief executive.

“If an exporter does not have everything in place, they won’t get in to the port. The same principle applies to imports from the UK – goods that are not ready for clearance before they are shipped to Sweden risk getting stuck at our terminals.

“My view is that the major players are well prepared. It is generally the smaller enterprises that do not have the administrative capacity as the large freight owners and freight forwarders. Having said that, I repeat - do not turn up at the Port of Gothenburg without having all your customs documents in order.”

And it is not just companies dealing with the UK who are worried about Brexit. Other companies that use the port are wondering how potential queues at the gates will affect those using the port other than for trade with the UK.

“We don’t believe there will be queues at the terminal gates," said Dzanic. "If there are problems, they will occur earlier in the system - at the main port entry gate for example - where we need to be prepared. As a contingency, we have identified a number of areas in the vicinity of the port where trucks may need to be temporarily parked pending clearance.”

The main pinch point for Gothenburg is the ro-ro terminal, which hosts a number of daily links with the UK.

Source: WorldCargo News