In Russia there are dozens of customs stations but only St. Petersburg has a number of unique features which without a doubt makes this city a leader among others.

LOCATION OF THE “BIG PORT ST. PETERSBURG”

Once the trade route from the Varangians to the Greeks went over the Neva; today St. Petersburg is still the most important point on the map of international transportation. Sea and land logistics routes converge in this place connecting Europe and Russia, West and East. One of the largest in the country and in the Baltics port which cargo turn-over exceeds 60 mln tons per year and constantly grows works here all the year round. 55 % of Russian marine container cargos are passed through the port St. Petersburg.

Due to its good location as a “gateway to Europe” St. Petersburg is a major transit link on the way to Moscow, to national distribution centers. However its own logistics city infrastructure is developed at a quick rate.

CONCEPT OF CUSTOMS CLEARANCE AT THE BORDER

According to the “Concept of customs clearance and customs control of goods in places close to the state border of Russian Federation” approved in 2009, St. Petersburg could be taken as a standard – works have been performed successfully in a near-border format for many years.

In the area of the Baltic and other St. Petersburg customs there are registered several thousand companies engaged in foreign trade and many customs brokers. Their close competition leads to a high professionalism and competence that positively affects quality and terms of customs clearance, in-port forwarding, product certification and other customs and logistics services.

CUSTOMS AND LOGISTICS INFRASTRUCTURE

Great experience gained by customs brokers and state inspectors at St. Petersburg customs both naturally supported by the developed and modern customs and logistics infrastructure. In St. Petersburg they work with any cargos including excise, hazardous, perishable, oversized, etc. There is a large number of terminals for customs clearance: both for different transport modes and different types of cargos. Additional convenience for customers is an ability to draw up cargos coming by land and sea transport in the area of the same customs operation by registering the Foreign Economic Activities member once only.

St. Petersburg terminals are equipped with all the necessary equipment for cargo unloading and reloading, automated record keeping and control systems, temporary storage warehouses, cold storages, etc.

COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO LOGISTICS

Thus, the main advantage of customs clearance in St. Petersburg is its complexity.

It does not matter whether your cargo was delivered in different modes of transport, whether it should be stored in special conditions, whether it requires to take additional control measures or a quick cleaning, whether it simply requires customs clearance or it should be delivered to the final destination – all of this and many other things can be performed at one customs station and by one customs broker, thus, obtaining the “turnkey” service.