If you import goods into Europe, the words bonded warehouse come up quickly. It sounds technical, but the idea is simple: it is a secure storage facility where your goods can sit before import duty and VAT are paid. You only pay those charges when the goods actually leave the warehouse for the market.
How a bonded warehouse works
When goods arrive from outside the EU, they are normally cleared and taxed straight away. In a bonded warehouse, that moment is postponed. The goods are stored under customs supervision, and the duty and VAT are suspended until they move on. If you re-export part of a shipment to another country outside the EU, you may avoid EU import duty on that part altogether.
Why importers use one
- Cash flow. You do not tie up money in duty and VAT on stock you have not sold yet.
- Flexibility. You can hold a large shipment centrally and release it in smaller batches as orders come in.
- Re-export. Goods that leave the EU again can skip EU import charges.
- Compliance. Everything is recorded under customs supervision, so your stock administration is always in order.
Bonded storage for beverages and FMCG
For drinks and fast moving consumer goods, bonded storage often goes hand in hand with excise storage under an AGP licence. That combination lets you hold alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages with both import duty and excise suspended, which is a real advantage when you are building up stock for a launch or a season.
Working with C-Land
C-Land Group runs high-security warehousing in the Netherlands with bonded and excise storage, so your goods stay compliant and your costs stay low until the moment you sell. Because we also handle fulfilment and European transport under one roof, your bonded stock can move straight into pick, pack and distribution without changing partners.
Want to know if bonded storage fits your supply chain? Get in touch and we will walk you through it.
