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Between two countries,
managed from one place.

Cross trade moves your cargo directly from one country to another, without it ever passing through the UK. We arrange and manage the whole movement from origin to destination.

What is cross trade?

Cargo that never needs to touch the UK.

Cross-trade shipping moves goods between two countries. Our global network handles the transport, customs, and documentation, enabling goods to move directly from supplier to buyer quickly, efficiently, and compliantly.

  • Avoids unnecessary handling and storage
  • Reduces transit time and cost
  • Supports global procurement and distribution
  • All modes of transport supported
Cross Trade
Common scenarios

How cross trade works in practice.

Direct factory to customer

Goods ship straight from a factory in China to a customer in Mexico, managed by us from the UK.

Triangular trading

A UK company buys from China, the goods go direct to the Canadian buyer, and the UK company invoices them.

Seamless global trade

Freight from Singapore to Australia, arranged and tracked by a UK logistics partner.

Italy to Saudi Arabia, without passing through the UK.
An example

Italy to Saudi Arabia, without passing through the UK.

A UK customer buys machinery from a supplier in Italy and sells it to a buyer in Saudi Arabia. ThinkPrime arranges every step.

  • Collection in Milan
  • Export customs clearance in Italy
  • Air or sea freight to Saudi Arabia
  • Import clearance and delivery
Key considerations

What we manage for you.

Customs at both ends

Export and import requirements in the origin and destination countries.

Accurate documentation

Invoices, packing lists and transport documents checked before they move.

Incoterms clarity

Clear responsibilities between supplier, buyer and forwarder.

Tax and VAT

Potential tax and VAT implications considered up front.

Multiple routing options

A choice of routing options on each route.

Sanctions and compliance

Compliance checks carried out on every route.

Your specialist contact

Talk to a specialist

Marissa Dixon

Marissa Dixon

Senior Logistics Co-Ordinator View profile
FAQ

Cross Trade: your questions answered

What is cross trade shipping?

Cross trade shipping is when cargo moves directly between two countries while being managed by a freight forwarder based in a third country. The goods do not have to transit through the buyer's home country.

What are the benefits of cross trade shipping?

Cross trade allows businesses to reduce transit times, lower transportation costs, simplify supply chains, and avoid unnecessary handling of cargo.

Which countries can be involved in a cross trade shipment?

Cross trade shipments can take place between virtually any two countries, subject to local regulations, sanctions, carrier acceptance, and customs requirements.

Can ThinkPrime handle customs clearance for cross trade shipments?

Yes. We can arrange export customs clearance at origin and import clearance at destination through our global partner network.

What transport modes are available for cross trade shipments?

We offer air freight, sea freight, road freight, rail freight, multimodal solutions, and time-critical services depending on your requirements.

Is cross trade shipping suitable for small shipments?

Yes. Cross trade services can be arranged for parcels, pallets and LCL shipments.

Can I track my cross trade shipment?

Yes. Shipment visibility and status updates can be provided throughout the transportation process, and you can follow your shipment through our client portal.

Are there restrictions on cross trade shipments?

Certain countries, commodities, military goods, dangerous goods, and sanctioned destinations may be subject to restrictions or additional compliance checks.

Can you manage supplier-to-customer shipments without revealing supplier details?

In many cases, yes. Depending on the trade lane and carrier requirements, we can discuss solutions such as neutral documentation and switch bills of lading where legally permissible.

How do you calculate pricing for cross trade freight?

Pricing depends on factors including origin, destination, cargo dimensions, weight, mode of transport, customs requirements, and delivery times.

Can ThinkPrime arrange urgent cross trade shipments?

Yes. We offer express air freight and time-critical solutions for urgent international shipments between third countries.

Do I need a company presence in the origin or destination country?

Not necessarily. Our team can advise on importer/exporter requirements and help determine the most suitable shipping structure.

Why choose ThinkPrime for cross trade logistics?

ThinkPrime provides a single point of contact, global freight expertise, customs support, multimodal transport options, and proactive shipment management across international trade lanes.

Ready when you are

Move cross trade your way.

Tell us what you ship and where it needs to be. We will build the smarter route around it.

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