February 25, 2025

What is a Customs Bonded Warehouse? 

A customs bonded warehouse is a secure location where goods and inventory can be stored under bonded storage, imported and exported. The difference between a non-bonded standard warehouse and that which is bonded relates to the connection with customs. A bonded warehouse falls under the regulatory supervision of the country's customs agency. 

Bonded warehousing vs Non-Bonded warehousing

When goods are stored in a non-bonded warehouse, an importer must pay taxes on goods received and ensure they are fully inspected immediately. However, when using a customs bonded warehouse, goods can be held until duties and inspections are addressed. In some cases, exporters can defer payment of duty and taxes until the goods have been purchased and save money in this way. Bonded storage can provide significant cost savings and allow for goods to be stored closer to the end user.

What are the benefits of a customs bonded warehouse?

• A privately owned customs bonded warehouse must have a designated area within the warehouse that is used solely for importing goods safely and securely. 
• The use of a customs bonded warehouse has advantages for long term storage, allowing importers to develop strategic relationships with local vendors. 
• Cost Savings are significant as payment of customs duties are deferred until the goods leave the bonded warehouse for a faster delivery experience.
• Customs bonded warehouses have advantages for storing restricted goods, as lengthier periods of time are allowed for storage, giving the importer additional time to take care of paper work and legal requirements. 
• Ideal for international businesses, a customs bonded warehouse allows a shipper to store imported goods in strategic locations across the world in order to be closer to the end-user.
• Value added services can be conducted to manage local requirements for the products held in a bonded warehouse such as labelling, testing, packaging etc. in order to prepare the goods for the local market. 

In summary, storing goods in a customs bonded warehouse allows an importer to have a simplified approach to its international shipping processes and supply chain procedures. Goods are held securely and safely whilst duties and taxes are deferred until the goods leave the warehouse. Lengthier time is allowed for paperwork, payments and inspection and storage can be long term.

Global Warehouse Footprint

Crane Worldwide Logistics has a global footprint of warehouses throughout the world, our 3PL contract logistics capabilities provide flexible logistics solutions to meet the needs of our clients including major European hubs and Johannesburg as a gateway to logistics in Africa.

In the United States, Canada and Mexico, we have warehouse space available.

The international trade environment is changing and we work in partnership with our clients to provide international trade advisory services to support your global business.

Leveraging our suite of flexible and scalable logistics applications, Crane Worldwide Logistics understand the need to be agile and quick to implement your warehouse and distribution programs providing customized logistics solutions to support your worldwide operations and fulfillment needs. Using our warehouse technology can provide inventory visibility at multiple locations. You can learn more about our warehouse management system here

Additionally, with our "Any to Any" technology translation toolset, we can implement new projects with integration leveraging our client's existing file formats. How can we help you with cost savings for your future bonded warehouse requirements?

Did you know? Crane Worldwide Logistics offers Global Trade Advisory and Customs Services support. Reach out if we can help.