The Netherlands is located on the mainland and insular parts of Western Europe. This is one of the most progressive countries in the world. Relations between Russia and the Netherlands developed progressively. At the moment, the Netherlands remains a key trading partner of Russia, although in 2020 the trade turnover decreased.

Features of import from the Netherlands

Imports from the Netherlands are quite active. Various food products, textiles, tobacco and tobacco substitutes, fruits, vegetables, food products of animal origin are imported from this country. Cut flowers, ornamental foliage, and planting material occupy a special place in the structure of imports.

Legal import of plant products requires compliance with phytosanitary control rules. This means that the seller must accompany the product with a certificate from the Dutch Phytopathology Service. It is included in the standard package of customs documents. In addition, it is unacceptable to transport plants in soil, because the import of soil into the Russian Federation is prohibited, they are transported in a special substrate.

If planting material is imported, documents are required that confirm its varietal and sowing qualities. The material must be registered in the state register of breeding achievements approved for use on the territory of Russia.

According to a letter from the Ministry of Agriculture, issued in 2018, the list of nurseries in the Netherlands, from where it is possible to import planting material, has been fixed.

As for the import of tobacco and tobacco products, such products are cleared through customs at excise customs posts (as well as vehicles with equipment). In advance, before arriving at the customs post, you need to order excise stamps and apply them to the packaging, as well as pay the excise duty. Since mid-2020, mandatory labeling of tobacco products with DataMatrix codes has been introduced. They are issued after the supplier is registered in the " Chestny Znak " system and are also applied to the packaging. This must be done, since the sale of products without labeling or with fake CIMs threatens criminal liability. By the way, the release of codes is paid.

Please, keep in mind:

1. When importing branded products, you must obtain an import permit from the manufacturer. Otherwise, the cargo will be considered counterfeit.

2. For the release into free circulation of many goods, the necessary permits are: a certificate or declaration of conformity, for which the product samples are preliminarily imported for research in laboratory conditions.
   

Export Features

In the Netherlands, Russian goods are in demand:

• products of inorganic chemistry;

• fertilizers;

• nickel and aluminum;

• Kamchatka crabs,

• fish;

• products from base metals. 

Export products also go through the customs clearance procedure with a standard package of documents, including permits. The Russian origin of the goods is confirmed by a certificate of form A. Some goods are prohibited for export to the Netherlands. This applies primarily to drugs, weapons, unregistered medical products.

Certain categories of products, in particular animals, precious metals, oil and gas, have restrictions on the place of declaration.

Organization of export is no less complicated process than registration of import, so the help of an intermediary in this case will not hurt. SB Cargo offers its assistance in the clearance of goods for export to the Netherlands, certification, selection of transport and development of a delivery route.

Categories and types of exported and imported goods

In 2020, Russia exported the following categories of goods to the Netherlands:

• products of mineral origin - 75.88% (HS code 25-27);

• metals and metal products - 16.60% (HS code 72-83);

• agricultural raw materials and food products - 3.99% (HS code 01-24);

• chemical products - 2.23% (HS code 28-40).

There was no significant increase in product groups, but there was a decrease in the volume of supplies of some types of products: petroleum products, organic chemistry products, nickel, copper, aluminum and products made from these metals, as well as ferrous metals (HS code 27, 29, 72, 74, 75, 76).

As for imports, the main volume of supplies fell on:

• equipment, transport, machinery - 42.50% (HS code 84-90);

• chemical industry products - 27.54% (HS code 28-40);

• agricultural raw materials and foodstuffs - 15.90% (HS code 01-24);

• metals and metal products - 6.70% (HS code 72-83);

• mineral products - 1.83% (HS code 25-27);

• footwear and textiles - 1.57% (HS code 50-67);

• wood and cellulose products, paper - 1.26% (HS code 44-49).

Imports of goods from such categories as nuclear reactors, equipment and mechanical devices, copper, glass and products made from these materials, ceramics, products made of base metals (HS code 69, 70, 74, 83, 84) increased. Compared to 2019, imports of pharmaceutical products, equipment and electrical machines, land vehicles, live animals and plants, processed products of vegetables and fruits, fats and oils of vegetable and animal origin, animal feed decreased (HS code 01, 06, 15, 20, 23, 30, 85, 87).

Peculiarities of cargo transportation from the Netherlands and back

For the transportation of goods to the Netherlands and in the opposite direction, various types of transport can be used:

• road;

• railway;

• nautical;

• air. 

Road transport is used in most cases for medium-sized deliveries. Sea transport is optimal for delivery of cargo with non-standard dimensions. Air transport is applicable for the transportation of valuable, urgent, perishable goods.

As for road transport, cargoes are transported by eurotrucks, refrigerators (if it is necessary to transport goods sensitive to high temperatures), tractors and other types of transport, which are selected individually, taking into account the characteristics of the transported products. Delivery time is on average 7-10 days. The most developed route is from the Netherlands through Belarus, Poland and Germany. Delivery is carried out as soon as possible.

Rail transportation is used for the transportation of lumber, building materials, bulk, liquid cargo.

By sea, cargo is most often sent in 20- or 40-foot containers to the harbors of Rotterdam and Amsterdam from the Russian ports of St. Petersburg, Ust-Luga, Novorossiysk. Delivery time is about 15 days.

The disadvantage of rail and sea transport is that the cargo must be delivered to the place of loading at the port or railway station. In addition, the Russian and European railways have different track gauges, therefore, when crossing the border, it is necessary to reload the wagons.

Multimodal delivery is used to save money and time. For example, you can deliver a cargo by ferry from St. Petersburg to Germany, and then send it to the Netherlands by road.

Advantages of air transportation 

The cost of air transportation is high, but some goods - valuable, perishable - can be transported only by this type of transport. The transportation time is from 1 to 5 days. Considering that flowers for bouquets are imported from the Netherlands, air transport is in great demand. Cargo planes from the Netherlands arrive at the international airports Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo and others.

Please note that SB Cargo is an IATA accredited cargo agent. and this means that we offer the most favorable rates for air transportation, guarantees high speed of cargo handling and its safety.

Customs clearance

Customs clearance is required when sending export goods from Russia and when importing goods from the Netherlands. To implement the procedure, a standard package of documents is required:

• customs declaration;

• invoice;

• foreign economic contract;

• waybill;

• packing list;

• product description;

• permits.

The Netherlands is a member of the European Union, therefore, in order to transport cargo, you need to comply with European standards. You can customs your cargo in any EU country, for example, in Latvia.

"SB Cargo" will help transport, customs and customs clearance of any cargo: perishable, valuable, oversized, general or groupage. Our company employs a well-coordinated team of specialists who will select transport, develop a route, help resolve legal issues, draw up documents, carry out certification and customs clearance. We offer a comprehensive import support service. You can find out more about these and other services by phone.