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A logistics company with its own warehouse can provide customers with services more directly and with more safety at every stage of transportation. This way, customers’ total costs are optimized and service quality is maximized. To help clients import and export goods, a temporary storage permit is required.
Goods may be stored temporarily only in a placed approved for the purposes of customs clearance. The approved place must meet conditions which guarantee the integrity and nature of the imported or exported goods. At the beginning of the year, AsstrA Polska Sp. z o.o. obtained a positive ruling that the parking area in front of the company’s warehouse in Blonie, near Warsaw, is such a place approved for customs clearance.
Karol Baranczuk
“We met a number of conditions related to appropriate warehouse marking, lighting, monitoring and technical equipment. The approved place will be used for goods being exported outside the EU customs union as well as goods inside the customs union with a TIR carnet,” says Karol Baranczuk, Deputy COO for Partial Loads and Air Freight at AsstrA.
In March, the warehouse underwent a thorough inspection regarding cleanliness, escape route markings, and compliance with technical issues in order to obtain a permit from the customs and revenue authorities to run a temporary storage warehouse.
“We should receive an official letter within 2-3 weeks. Goods can be stored for up to 90 days while formalities are handled or irregularities are resolved before paying customs duties or sending the goods on by another means of transport,” adds Karol Baranczuk.
Last year, 53% of AsstrA clients took advantage of the company’s cross-docking services, 36% took advantage of co-packing services, and 11% relied on AsstrA for fulfillment services. Medical equipment and POSM materials were the most frequently reloaded and stored products, accounting for 31% and 11% of cargo processed this way, respectively. The warehouse provides reloading services for full truck and groupage cargo, containers, pallets oversized cargo, and loose cartons. The current warehouse fill percentage is 94%.
Robert Szymanczak
“In April 2021, one year will have passed since the opening of the warehouse in Blonie. Investing in space, purchasing equipment, implementing and configuring the Warehouse Management System has involved high initial costs. However, at the end of last year, we turned a profit. In February, we reloaded over 1.2 million kg of goods, including FMCG products,” says Robert Szymanczak, AsstrA Warehouse Manager in Blonie.
According to Colliers, a company in the real estate and investment management sector, warehouse space in Poland increased by over 2 million sq.m. in 2020. Despite the pandemic and government restrictions, the supply of warehouse space increased by over 10% compared to 2019. Experts forecast high supply levels for 2021 as well.
Transshipment volumes in the warehouse in Blonie are increasing from month to month, more clients are being served, and the warehouse’s current 2,500 m² may need to be expanded soon.