Air Cargo Border Efficiency Report 2023: Enhancing Global Logistics
In the ever-evolving landscape of global logistics, understanding border efficiency trends is essential for optimizing supply chains and ensuring the seamless movement of air cargo. Cargo iQ, an IATA interest group dedicated to quality standards for the worldwide air cargo community, recently released its Air Cargo Border Efficiency Report for 2023. The report is published once a year by Cargo iQ, using its membership data from NFD to DLV, calculating the average time for each region between these two events, where the customs clearance process generally takes place.
The 2023 report unveils findings that help shape the discourse around air cargo border efficiency. Latin America experienced a significant uptick in processing times, primarily driven by Argentina and Brazil, signaling potential challenges in the region's customs clearance processes and/or customer behavior. Conversely, China and Saudi Arabia showcased substantial reductions in processing times in East Asia. Sub-Sahara Africa and South Asia encountered operational hurdles, emphasizing the opportunity to further streamline border operations and mitigate delays. North America, Western Europe and East Asia & the Pacific are regions that consistently lead the way in border efficiency.
“It is estimated that up to 85% of the total transportation time for air cargo is not spent in the air, but on the ground. A good part of that time spent on the ground is at arrival, as shown by this Cargo iQ report. When we know where cargo clearance is lagging, we can focus our advocacy efforts to gain more efficiency at destination, by trying to reduce lengthy processes and unnecessary delays which are obviously detrimental to a mode of transport relying primarily on speed and predictability” - Christian Piaget, IATA’s Head, Cargo Border Management & Claims.
The insights gleaned from the Air Cargo Border Efficiency Report serve as a powerful tool for stakeholders across the air cargo industry. “By highlighting the areas that need support and those that may have best practices to share, we trust that all relevant stakeholders can sit together to implement targeted strategies aimed at streamlining border processes for the benefit of our members and the air cargo industry at large”, commented Cargo iQ’s Manager Implementation and Quality Assurance Laura Rodriguez. Leveraging the data and insights provided by Cargo iQ's report, stakeholders can navigate challenges, optimize processes, and unlock new opportunities towards seamless cross-border trade.