Bring Cargo in the Mornings, Please

The following Public Notice was issued by the Commissioner of Customs (Export) Air Cargo Complex on 19th April 2010.

[Customs Public Notice No. 13 dated 19th April 2010]

Subject – Utilization of the morning and early afternoon hours for bringing in larger volumes of general export cargoes.

Trade Associations, Exporters and their representative CHAs are aware that general export cargoes (i.e. other than perishable cargoes) are permitted to be registered with Customs from 8 am to 8.30 pm (6 pm for scheme shipping bills) on all working days. These cargoes account for over 80% of shipping bills and sizeable portion are odd sized/weighted.

2. Locally, at the Complex, concern is frequently expressed about increased export volumes and the extreme congestion, and other related problems that it causes with reference to available physical infrastructure.

3. The matter was examined. While, the increase in tonnage, numbers of packages, and numbers of consignments (shipping bills) between years 2000-01 to 2009-10 reveals considerable growth in volume of exports handled at air cargo, and this does not include bonded cargoes exported through this facility, it is simultaneously the case that 75-80% of general cargoes physically brought by exporters’ representatives for registration with the Customs for export come only between 2.30 pm and 6/8.30 pm.

4. It is evident that there is extensive under-utilization of the hours from 8 am to 2.30 pm. Moreover, concentration of export cargo arrivals into barely 40% of the time available implies that every physical resource, say machines in use, are technically ‘over-worked’ in the shorter periods making them liable to break down.

5. Therefore, the Trade Associations, Exporters and their CHAs are requested to ensure extensive utilization of the morning and early afternoon hours by bringing in more and more quantum of general export cargoes during 8 am to 2.30 pm on the working days.

F.No. S/3-Prev Admn – 33/2010 ACC