Are you ready for Brexit?

Brexit. If you’re shipping goods from and to the UK to the European continent, the word might have raised a few concerns recently. Will new customs regulations cause delays at the border? How will that affect your perishable and FMCG cargo? Will your supply chain be as reliable as it is today?

You’re not the only one to wonder. To make sure things keep running smoothly, you’ll need to take action. But Brexit might just present itself as a business opportunity. Why not just change the game by looking at transport differently? Let Brexit be your motivator to re-evaluate your supply chain.

Think Brexit will get your berries into a jam?

Use Brexit as an opportunity to re-evaluate your supply chain. Unaccompanied transport is probably the way to go. Read all about it in this white paper.

Download our white paper

Antwerp and UK strongly linked to each other

Each year over 16 million tonnes of cargo are being transported between the Port of Antwerp and the UK. This makes the UK the second maritime trade partner of the Port of Antwerp. Conversely, the largest market for the United Kingdom is still continental Europe.

“Brexit creates new opportunities. The modal shift from accompanied to unaccompanied transport in particular, puts Port of Antwerp, as the second-largest port in Europe, at the advantage to become the gateway to and from Europe for the UK and Ireland.” Wim Dillen, Brexit task force president, Antwerp Port Authority

Discover all shortsea services to the UK and Ireland from Port of Antwerp.

Port of Antwerp offers British and European shippers and forwarders a sustainable and reliable transport alternative to road haulage, so that each day – also after Brexit – cargo reaches its final destination just-in-time.

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Port of Antwerp is ready for Brexit

Ever since the British Brexit referendum in 2016, Port of Antwerp’s Brexit taskforce has worked with all stakeholders – including Belgian Customs, the Belgian Food Safety Agency and major port community and business representatives – to make sure we can tackle the challenge. We have appointed Justin Atkin, Port of Antwerp representative in the UK to keep an eye on the situation in the UK and Ireland and to build our network. We have informed shippers and forwarders during roadshows the UK and Europe.

Two men discussing papers in front of ship

How to prepare for Brexit customs regulations

Register for an EORI number. EORI stands for ‘Economic Operators Registration and Identification’ and you need it as an identification number in all customs procedures.
Assess whether your business is ready to continue shipping to the EU:
- Do you have staff that’s trained in customs matters?
- Do you have the technical capacity and know-how?
- Do you know where your goods are coming from?
Check how customs declarations on import and export will affect your supply chain. What’s the impact on your finances, your stock, your IT systems?
Make sure what customs facilities you can make use of. Consider if you want to submit the necessary declarations yourself or if you’d prefer to hire a third party agent.
In case you choose to do it yourself, you will need to buy software that lets you interact with the customs authority.
For more information and a handy checklist, check out the European Commission’s Customs Guide for businesses.

Want to know if you should take the leap?
Just take the test below: if you answer 'yes' to three or more questions, you should definitely switch to shortsea transport.

Do you operate a time critical 'just-in-time' supply chain?	No / Yes

Do you ship perishable goods or pharmaceuticals?	No / Yes

Do you have warehousing and cash flow to build a resilience stock?	No / Yes

Are you concerned about the impact of border friction to your supply chain?	No / Yes

Will delays in your supply chain effect your ability to meet contractual obligations?	No / Yes

Port of Antwerp supports you to rethink your supply chain. We’ll assist you in every step.

Check out the scenario below and where to find more information

Supply chain from UK to Europe		Supply chain from Europe to the UK
Departure in warehouse of origin (UK-Doncaster) Find your UK forwarder with expertise in bringing your freight to a third country in the EU. More info		Departure in warehouse of origin (BE-Meerhout) Find your Antwerp forwarder with great expertise in customs declaration and shipping documents such as summary declaration, Temporary storage declaration, follow-up declaration, cargo release and fytosanitary documentations. More info

Transport towards UK Port Find out which transport mode is best suited to get from the warehouse of origin to the UK port. Get in touch with the Freight transport Association. More info		Transport towards Port of Antwerp Find out which transport mode is best suited to get from the warehouse of origin to the Port of Antwerp. Check your intermodal connections on the connectivity platform. More info

Arrival in UK Seaport (Immingham) Choose your port of origin and check the list maritime connections to Antwerp. More info		Arrival at Port of Antwerp terminal Choose your port of origin and check the list maritime connections to Antwerp. More info

Transport to the Port of Antwerp by shortsea shipping		Transport to the UK (Port of Hull)

Arrival at the port/customs declaratio Choose your partner to store the cargo, handle it or strip the container in our company guide. More info Looking for warehousing capacity in Belgium? More info		Arrival at the port/customs declaratio Choose your partner to store the cargo, handle it or strip the container. More info Looking for warehousing capacity in the UK? More info

Choose mode of transport to the hinterland All Antwerp terminals are trimodally connected to the European hinterland. Barge, rail and truck connections bring your cargo smootly to any corner in Europe. Find out which transport mode is best suited to get from Antwerp to your final destination. More info		Choose mode of transport to the hinterland Find out which transport mode is the best suited from the port to the warehouse. More info

Arrival in your warehouse		Arrival in your warehouse