When your company manufactures a fantastic product, you want to share it with the world. A good way of doing this is to exhibit at a trade show in the country you want to establish a presence in or compete in their market with other international brands. For this particular article, we are going to give you useful tips on how to ship to Mexico City safely and on time. The same principles apply to shipping to a trade show or conference in Guadalajara or Cancun just the time frame in shipping will change.
Trucking – when trucking your shipment from the US to Mexico it will most likely pass over the border in Laredo, TX. Your shipping carrier will hopefully have a customs broker in Laredo that can do the customs clearance and transfer the freight from the US side to the Mexico side and truck the shipment to its final destination in Mexico City for example Centro Banamex which is the largest trade show and conference venue in Mexico.
LTL – Less than Trailer load, this is when you are only sending smaller freight for example 1 crate or pallet with your merchandise and portable exhibit booth included. This is a reliable way of shipping it can just take longer because LTL Carriers have to stop in the HUB Cities to offload and reload other freight.
FTL – Full Truck Load, this is when you have enough cargo that you can utilize using an exclusive 53’ truck to transport your materials and or exhibit to Mexico. Unfortunately, when the truck gets to the border it will most likely have to be offloaded at the border and reloaded on to a Mexico based truck to continue the journey to the final destination. There are not many US Base Carriers that want to have their trucks in Mexico for long periods of time.
Air freight – this is the easiest and quickest way to get your goods into Mexico from anywhere in the world. Once the freight arrives into Mexico City the goods are customs cleared and then collected and delivered to the venue on where the trade show or conference is taking place.
Time frame – you should give yourself at least 7-10 business days from the time your freight arrives at the border in Laredo in order to have your goods clear customs and be ready to deliver to your stand for set up of the show.
For air freight you should give yourself at least 5 - 7 working days from the time the freight arrives into Mexico City Airport before the freight can clear customs and deliver to your booth for set up.
Commercial invoice / Packing list – whether you are shipping your goods via truck or air freight you need to complete a commercial invoice packing list. This document should include the following information.
Items to Avoid putting in your shipment
There are 3 different ways your goods can enter Mexico.
Goods listed on the combined commercial invoice / packing list will be admitted in one of the following ways.
Trucking – when trucking your shipment from the US to Mexico it will most likely pass over the border in Laredo, TX. Your shipping carrier will hopefully have a customs broker in Laredo that can do the customs clearance and transfer the freight from the US side to the Mexico side and truck the shipment to its final destination in Mexico City for example Centro Banamex which is the largest trade show and conference venue in Mexico.
LTL – Less than Trailer load, this is when you are only sending smaller freight for example 1 crate or pallet with your merchandise and portable exhibit booth included. This is a reliable way of shipping it can just take longer because LTL Carriers have to stop in the HUB Cities to offload and reload other freight.
FTL – Full Truck Load, this is when you have enough cargo that you can utilize using an exclusive 53’ truck to transport your materials and or exhibit to Mexico. Unfortunately, when the truck gets to the border it will most likely have to be offloaded at the border and reloaded on to a Mexico based truck to continue the journey to the final destination. There are not many US Base Carriers that want to have their trucks in Mexico for long periods of time.
Air freight – this is the easiest and quickest way to get your goods into Mexico from anywhere in the world. Once the freight arrives into Mexico City the goods are customs cleared and then collected and delivered to the venue on where the trade show or conference is taking place.
Time frame – you should give yourself at least 7-10 business days from the time your freight arrives at the border in Laredo in order to have your goods clear customs and be ready to deliver to your stand for set up of the show.
For air freight you should give yourself at least 5 - 7 working days from the time the freight arrives into Mexico City Airport before the freight can clear customs and deliver to your booth for set up.
Commercial invoice / Packing list – whether you are shipping your goods via truck or air freight you need to complete a commercial invoice packing list. This document should include the following information.
- Your company name and address since you are the owner of the goods being imported
- Name of trade show or consignee on who is conducting the customs clearance on the goods.
- Description of goods
- Quantity of the items with itemized cost of goods $ and total value of goods $
- Serial number if applicable
- Country of origin on where the goods were manufactured
- Harmonized code so customs can determine what the goods are and what their duty and tax value should be.
Items to Avoid putting in your shipment
- First aid kit – anything that “touches your skin” needs special permission by the Health Minister in order to clear customs. Just buy what you need in country.
- Alcohol – if customs find alcohol they will confiscate it and delay your shipment clearing customs for the event.
- Weapons or ammunition – I shouldn’t have to explain on why you should bring anything like this.
- Food items – anything that can be ingested needs special health permits to clear customs. Unless you are exhibiting at a Food Show do not bring it. Buy it in country.
- Ionized batteries – items such as laptop computers, batteries for portable drill, i-pad, tablet, etc. can be considered Dangerous Goods if they are not declared and or packed properly the airline can deny the shipment before it even departs the US.
There are 3 different ways your goods can enter Mexico.
Goods listed on the combined commercial invoice / packing list will be admitted in one of the following ways.
- Consumption entry (duty paid) – goods sold or “give a way’s” are entered as a permanent entry into Mexico and then duty and VAT is assessed and paid on the exhibitors behalf and invoiced back to them.
- TIB – Temporary import bond – goods that are going to the show in Mexico and will re-export Mexico after the event is completed. A non-refundable bond is charged to the exhibitor based on the value of their goods from the commercial invoice / packing list.
- ATA Carnet – goods can be brought into Mexico with an ATA Carnet on a temporary basis and you do not have to pay any Duty or VAT as long as the goods re-export Mexico.