Insights
Practical notes from the trade desk.
Short, specific notes on the parts of importing that are easy to get wrong: classification, documents, inspection and landed cost. Written for buyers who need to make a decision.
Latest briefing
2 min read
Incoterms 2026: what actually changed, and which clauses will be disputed
Three clauses changed in ways that move cost and risk between buyer and seller. Here is what to amend in your contracts before the first shipment.
Read the briefing
Residue testing for spice buyers: a practical guide to the multi-class panel
Why a single-analyte certificate is the weakest document in spice importing, and what to specify instead. Includes the panel we run on every lot.
2 min read
Landed cost is more than the invoice: ten other numbers to price
Most import price comparisons are made on an ex-works figure that quietly omits freight, duty, insurance, inspection and demurrage exposure. Here is the full model we quote against.
2 min read
HS classification: the four-digit line that decides whether a shipment makes money
A wrong HS code does not show up at the border. It shows up eighteen months later in an audit, with interest and a penalty attached. How to reduce that risk.
2 min read
What a private label regulatory file should contain before you ship
Artwork is the easy part. The file behind it (claims substantiation, allergen assessment, nutrition panels per market) is what gets a product detained.
3 min read