21 August 2023
Maritime transport: discover the main advantages of the modal
The maritime modal has been widely used for merchandise transportation. It’s been like this from the beginning of human history, when small boats and caravels made it possible to transport people and products.
According to data from the Review of Maritime Transport, in 2018, cargo transported in the world reached the mark of 11 billion tons, with a total value of $ 27 trillion.
In Brazil, according to the National Waterway Transport Agency (Antaq), 1.117 billion tons were transported. In comparison between 2010/2018, maritime cargo transport grew 33% in the country.
The numbers are expressive and portray the importance of this type of modal for foreign trade. Managers of companies that work with export need to know this alternative. That’s because it brings a series of advantages.
In this blog post, we present the main information about the maritime modal and the potential benefits for yourexport strategy.
Keep on reading!
Maritime transport: how does it work?
Maritime transport is recommended for several types of cargo. From liquid bulk, chemical products, food, sand, coal, cereals, ores and even high value goods, such as automobiles.
In practice, the maritime modal can be classified in two ways. It all depends on its itinerary. Take a look:
- Cabotage: also known as coastal transport, it’s carried out between ports or points in the Brazilian territory, using sea and/or inland waterways.
- International: also known as long haul transport. Navigation is carried out between Brazilian and foreign ports.
In this way, maritime transport stands out, mainly, because, even with long export timeframes, it reaches remote regions. That is, the freighter can take merchandise to cities that don’t have airports or structure for land transportation.
Undoubtedly, the maritime transport is a great ally of foreign trade. However, it also requires attention in several processes and involves dedicated professionals.
That’s because there’s a series of legal and bureaucratic requirements that need to be fulfilled to the letter. Only then can the exporter be calm, knowing that the merchandise will reach its destination.
To export using maritime transport, it’s necessary to:
- Make the registration on the Integrated Foreign Trade System (Siscomex);
- Be licensed in the System for Registration and Track-down of Customs Agents' Activities (RADAR);
- Categorize the products in one of the many categories of Nomenclature or Fiscal Classification (NCM).
With so many details to manage, when choosing the maritime transport modal, to feel more secure, you can seek the support of an expert partner.
Thus, you can be sure that your export strategy is being carried out in the best and most intelligent way possible.
4 main advantages of the maritime modal
When you choose to prioritize export by maritime transportation, you need to know that it’s a great alternative, mainly due to security. The handling of cargo in maritime transport follows strict rules that guarantee high efficiency for export.
In this modal, the palletization of containers contribute to safer handling. That’s because the method guarantees resistance in the storage of large and heavy products. In addition to rationalizing storage spaces, handling products also becomes simpler, reducing the rate of damage to products.
Next, we list the main advantages and disadvantages of the maritime modal. Take a look:
Advantages
- Greater versatility and load capacity: the maritime modal carries any type of cargo in large quantities;
- Lower transport cost: as ships cover great distances in a longer period of time, maritime transportation offers a more affordable freight cost;
- Accessible routes: in addition to covering long distances, the modal reaches destinations that are inaccessible by land or air;
- More security: strict regulations make maritime export safer.
Disadvantages
On the other hand, it’s worth noting the disadvantages of maritime transport. Before choosing this modal for your export strategy, it’s important to keep the following aspects in mind:
- Need for transshipment at ports: once the merchandise reaches the port, it needs to be sent to its final destination, requiring the use of another type of transport;
- Careful packaging: due to strict safety standards, it’s necessary to pay attention to requirements related to packaging standards;
- Less flexibility in services: in addition to taking longer, maritime transport faces some difficulties in quickly adjusting to new demands, as well as congestion in ports.
As we’ve seen so far, maritime transport offers new possibilities for those who need to export merchandise. However, it’s essential to know all the processes to be successful in your foreign trade activities.
Therefore, you should seek an expert on the subject to guide you. ASIA SHIPPING has a team with expertise to help your company define the best export strategy and use of maritime transport. You can count on us!
