For logistic glass - Research Paper Example

To be a successful exporter, one needs to seek a good forwarder. These third party companies dealing in transportation coordinate the movement of products across the globe. They also act as information sources that can be used as a guide by new exporters. Some of these exporters include BDP Logistics, Panalpina, Kintetsu, Expeditors, and Schenker (Kafiris, 2010). Export documents are integral in international shipments. Sans proper documentation, coffee beans cannot be exported. Proforma invoices are used to confirm that coffee beans were ordered in the United States, incoterms before they are shipped, payment terms, and pricing.

Clients to obtain import licenses and financing that make accuracy essential will use the Proforma invoice. On shipment, the coffee beans require a commercial invoice, a shipper’s export declaration, and a packing list. Additional required documents are material-safety data sheets, ocean bill of lading, and certificate of origin. Good customer service involves; enquiring import requirements for coffee beans from consumers and sending the customer accurate documents before arrival of the coffee beans at the port (Kafiris, 2010).

To become an exporter, we will need knowledge and skills to be successful. These are harmonization code knowledge for classification of the coffee beans for SED, fundamental understanding on the working of ocean freight, know dialing codes for faxes and phone calls, know global geography like major ports, and selection of appropriate incoterms (Kafiris, 2010). For export payments, there are four methods of payment with different risk levels. The highest risk method is open terms where the coffee beans will be shipped in good faith that payment will be made.

Pre-payment has the lowest risk for the exporter, but high risks for importers as the customer pays before shipping. Time and sight drafts are similar to cash on delivery with moderate protection to the exporter. Goods are shipped without pre-payment but are released only after payment. Letters of credit refer to financial contracts that involve mediation by a bank in the transfer and payment of the coffee beans. It is the safest mode of payment for exporters, although one should seek training in this method to avoid fee discrepancy and fraud (Kafiris, 2010).

Imports of coffee beans from Vietnam to the United States have gone up by 70% in the last decade with coffee consumption in Vietnam going up by a similar percentage (International Trade Program 2008). The demand for coffee beans has gone above market clearing level with crop yield and market price being at an all time high. The additional use of independent specialty roasters has acted as an indicator of coffee’s increased demand. Our company will target the specialty roaster market. Discerning customers insist on coffee beans of the highest quality and furnish the gourmet coffee market that is growing and represented by large US companies including Starbucks, as well as other thousands of small scale specialty roasters.

Specialty roasters are also willing to pay more for Arabica beans that our company will deal in. They attempt to distinguish their companies through the characteristics of the coffee beans that they utilize, such as growing location, methods of farming, and bean size (International T