Sheremetyevo Airport co-operates with customs to meet international cargo growth
24 / 10 / 2019
Sheremetyevo International Airport has been ramping up its relationship with customs at the airport in order to meet international cargo volume growth.
According to the Federal Air Transport Agency of the Russian Federation, over the first nine months of 2019, Sheremetyevo Airport handled more than 268,000 tons of cargo and mail, showing a 7.7% year-on-year growth.
Of this increase, 73.8% are international items that are subject to customs control.
Mikhail Chuvilkin, first deputy general director airfreight of Sheremetyevo cargo terminal operator Moscow Cargo, said e-commerce growth was driving the need to develop a closer relationship with customs and invest in technology.
He said: “Given that over 65% of the terminal turnover today consists of international cargo and mail, beneficial co-operation with Sheremetyevo customs is a necessary condition [to attract] new clients and increase in cargo turnover.”
Chuvilkin said that 23.7% of international air imports handled by Moscow Cargo’s terminal are e-commerce shipments and the share is constantly growing.
In response, Moscow Cargo and Sheremetyevo Customs are investing in developing new solutions aimed at reducing processing times and simplifying clearance procedures for express cargo.
Maksim Balandin, acting head of the cargo customs office at Sheremetyevo Airport, said: “In March 2019, for the sake of convenience of foreign trade participants, including express carriers, a physical control post was placed directly on the premises of Moscow Cargo’s terminal; the post carries out customs inspection, as well as registration of goods shipped by individuals and express cargoes.
“Thanks to the introduction of electronic declaration and document flow in regard to the release of goods at Sheremetyevo Customs, and considering the simplified procedure of customs declaration for express cargoes, provided there are no issues with documentation, and imported goods have been classified in the ‘risk-free’ group, most items are now released on the same day they have been accepted.”
