Bonded Warehouses Basics

Learn about the benefits of customs bonded warehouse storage

If part of your business involves importing goods into the United States, then you likely can benefit from using bonded warehouses. Bonded warehousing allows you to store imported goods in a facility without paying customs until the goods are moved out of the bonded warehouse. This is a great way to ensure that you receive payment from your buyers before your goods are delivered.

Before you can fully appreciate the benefits of bonded warehouse storage, you might want to gather as much information about bonded warehouses as you can. From delayed payment of customs duties to prolonged storage periods, bonded warehousing has many advantages to importers. Before you find a bonded warehouse, take the time to learn bonded warehouses basics:

1. Get a clear understanding of what bonded warehouses are and what they do.
2. Learn about the many services a US bonded warehouse offers.
3. Compare US customs bonded warehouses to Foreign Trade Zones (FTZs).

Learn about the role and function of a bonded warehouse

There's more to bonded warehouses than simply storing your goods. Activities such as repacking, assembling and relabeling may take place in a bonded warehouse. There are also different types of bonded warehouses specific to particular goods and supplies being shipped.
Vermont Department of Economic Development gives a detailed explanation of what a bonded warehouse is, how it works and even how bonds are applied for. Find a brief description of a bonded warehouse and the advantages for using one at Las Vegas Import Export.

Discover how a bonded warehouse can benefit your business

Perhaps the best way to understand and appreciate what bonded warehouses do is to look specifically at a customs bonded warehouse. Find out firsthand exactly what services a customs bonded warehouse offers, what type of goods it stores and handles and even how much storage space it provides.

Find out how bonded warehouses differ from Foreign Trade Zones

While there are some similarities, bonded warehouses differ from Foreign Trade Zones. To avoid confusion between the two and make an educated decision about which program works best for your business, it's best to know how bonded warehouses and FTZs differ, such as duty requirements, storage periods, tariff rates and how goods are controlled.

• Some bonded warehouses specialize in handling and storing specific products and goods. Find a bonded warehouse that is best equipped to accommodate your particular shipments.

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