Our services
Tea Import Services
Our goal is to simplify your supply chain by providing stress-free logistics solutions. Hence, we offer the following solutions for tea importers in Los Angeles and the United States, powered by over 15 years of freight forwarding experience. Comex is here to keep your cargo moving so you can focus on growing your business.
From Farm to Cup
End-to-End Logistics
Whether you’re importing green tea or chai tea from India, Japan, or other countries, we can arrange an end-to-end service from the tea farm to your doorstep in the United States. This stress-free service is ideal if you prefer to have control over every aspect of your shipment.
Air Freight
We can ship tea via our air freight service if you’re not interested in shipping your tea in ocean containers. We’re a licensed and TSA-approved indirect air carrier, which allows us to work directly with airlines to ship your freight at a discount through our high shipping volume.
Green or Chai, Count on Us
Ocean Freight
We offer weekly direct sailings for full container loads (FCL) and less-than-container-loads (LCL) from tea-growing countries in Asia to the United States. You’ll have access to over 50 global ports and end-to-end container visibility when you partner with us. This includes live container tracking, so you can monitor every step of your container’s journey to the U.S.
Warehousing and Distribution
Our warehouse facility in Carson, CA, is equipped to handle transloads, consolidations, and distribution of tea to all 48 contiguous states, Canada, and Mexico.
Shipping tips
Tea Shipping Tips
PierPass
All containers that discharge at L.A. or Long Beach ports incur a fee called PierPass. You can clear this on your own or your forwarder can, usually for an additional fee. The fee for 20′ containers is $ 37.71 and $ 75.42 for 40′ containers. Check your incoterms to determine who’s responsible for this fee.
Weight Restrictions
Keep your cargo weight at or below 44,000 lbs. to avoid extra costs for overweight and to meet CA legal weight limits. We can secure overweight permits if your cargo is considered non-divisible.
Terminal Operations
The terminal operator unloads your container from the vessel and places it inside their storage yard for pickup. Appointment times are available at random, and your desired time might not be available.
The Last Free Day
Your containers is assigned a “last free day” when discharged from the vessel. Your forwarder will schedule a pickup time on or before this day to avoid a daily storage charge called demurrage.
Empty Container Return
Your forwarder will schedule an empty container return appointment with the terminal once you’ve unloaded your cargo. Appointment times are available at random, and sometimes the terminal will only accept empty containers on dual transactions. This means your forwarder can only return your empty container if they pull a loaded container out.
Less Than Container Loads
Your cargo is taken to a designated container freight station (CFS) and unloaded and stored until you or your forwarder can arrange pickup.
our step by step
How to Import Tea to the United States
Here are the steps you must follow before you can start importing tea to the U.S. We highly recommend partnering with an experienced tea freight forwarder to simplify your import process and to avoid issues once your cargo reaches a U.S. Port. Partnering with us gets you access to over 16 years of freight forwarding experience.
Step 1
Summary Checklist
- Check import requirements with APHIS
- Register as an importer with U.S. Customs.
- Arrange for shipping and delivery with a U.S.-based freight forwarder.
- Prepare documentation for U.S. Customs clearance.
- Pay duties, fees, and taxes upon arrival.
Step 2
Dried Tea Import Requirements
USDA APHIS requirements for the entry of tea (Camellia sinensis) depend on the product’s form.
- Dried Tea: USDA does not require a permit for dried tea leaves because they are ground, dried, and processed. Subject to inspection at the port of entry. Make sure you have a phytosanitary certificate from your cargo’s country of origin.
Step 3
Obtain an Importer of Record Number & DUNS
If you’re importing goods for resale or business, you must register with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and obtain an Importer of Record (IOR) number through a licensed customs broker. You must also have a DUNS number to import food products into the U.S.
Step 4
FDA Facility Registration and Prior Notice Filing
Step 5
Classify the Product’s HTS Code
Step 6
Arrange for Shipping
Step 7
Prepare Import Documents
Required documentation typically includes:
- Commercial Invoice: Details of the sale and value of the coffee in USD.
- Packing List: Description of the contents of the shipment.
- Arrival Notice: a document issued by a carrier, freight forwarder, or shipping agent to inform the consignee that their cargo is scheduled to arrive at the destination port or terminal, containing shipment details and instructions for pickup.
- Certificate of Origin (if necessary) to prove where the tea was produced and harvested.
Step 8
U.S. Customs Clearance and Duties
Step 9
Arrange for Delivery
Step 10
Stay Up to Date
Keep track of any changes in regulations or tariffs on coffee imports, as trade policies can change due to shifts in international relations or U.S. trade agreements.
Ready to Ship?
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