Ask the Collective

Which European forwarders offer reliable customs handling for UK drinks shipments, and what are the typical costs?

Members shipping beverages to Europe via groupage pallets and part-loads recommend several forwarders with customs capability, though costs and service levels vary significantly. **Forwarders with customs handling:** - **Supplychain21** (contact: richard.jones@supplychain21.com) — reliable for groupage pallets on T1 transit, though some customers have requested customs stops that S21 cannot facilitate. Competitive pricing. - **Wineflow** — confirmed to handle customs stops and Italy shipments well; members report reasonable rates for direct transports, though single-pallet quotes can exceed £900+. Several members have used them successfully. - **Alpi UK** — used for Germany shipments; worth contacting as an alternative. - **Vidale Nordest** — operates on Italy routes and may work in reverse direction with good agent relationships. **Key caveats:** - **Albatrans** — reported to have stopped shipping to Italy; no longer a reliable option. - **Hillebrand** — flagged by community members as "a bit of a nightmare" to work with. - **Customs stops:** If your customer's customs agent insists on a customs stop (rather than in-transit procedures), costs can double; Wineflow quoted £1k+ versus Supplychain21's standard rates for this service. - **Single-pallet economics:** Groupage rates are cheaper than single pallets; full direct transports are most economical. Single-pallet shipments to Germany on quoted rates appear to run £900+.