Since the beginning of this year (2020), a resolution of the Management Committee of the Foreign Trade Chamber (Camex) has been in effect that zeroed the Import Tax (IP) rates on various capital goods, such as industrial machinery and equipment, until December 31, 2021.
All the benefited products are in the condition of “ex-tariff”. Basically, this condition consists in the temporary reduction of the IP rate, with the objective of unburdening investments when there is no similar Brazilian production. Before the measure, the average import incidence of such equipment, classified as capital goods, was 14% – with the new resolution, this percentage was reduced to zero.
This measure encourages import of machinery and equipment that are not yet produced in the country, making it less costly and allowing for a modernization of the Brazilian manufacturing park, whose machines, according to data from the Brazilian Machinery and Equipment Industry Association (Abimaq), have an average age of 17 years in use – more than three times the average in Germany, which is five years, and more than twice that of the United States, which is seven years.
With the tax benefits and the need to renew our industrial park, it is expected that there will be a growing investment in the modernization of Brazilian machinery, even to bring to our country the technological innovations that, many times, are only available abroad.
In today’s post, we continue our series “
Import
” and talk about some of the main aspects behind importing cargo handling machinery. We also list the types of machine that are most common and what they are used for. Read on to learn more!
Material handling machines
Widely used in infrastructure works and also on factory floors, load handling machines are manual or automated equipment that are used to move intermittent loads over distances. Choosing the right equipment for transporting and moving cargo is fundamental from a logistics point of view.
Below is a list of some of the most common material handling machines.
Forklifts
Forklift trucks are among the most widely used machines for loading and unloading loads. With them, it is possible to move loads of up to 16,000 kg without much human effort. There are several subtypes of forklift trucks – the reach truck, the skidder, and the counterbalanced forklift are examples.
Pallet trucks
Pallet trucks are equipment that allow the horizontal movement of loads. There are manual and electric ones, the latter being widely used in industries and docks all over the country.
One advantage is the low maintenance costs of this equipment.
Cranes
Cranes are widely used in civil construction, in industries, and in port and airport terminals to move heavier loads.
Cranes, multi-angle, gantry, and munks are all subtypes of cranes.
Stacker Cranes
Stacker cranes are robots that store products in an automated way, either on pallets or in small units. They are able to go through the stocks and allocate goods, moving them in and out of the warehouse.
There are also several types of stacker cranes, adapted to the characteristics of the stock and the loads that will be moved.
Crane and conveyor belts
Overhead cranes are a type of equipment for lifting and transferring many different types of loads within a fixed area. They are most often used to transfer heavy, large-volume products within a warehouse or on a factory floor over shorter distances.
Widely used in various industries, the belts speed up the movement of loads, and can be fixed or flexible.
Tips for importers
Now that we have introduced some of the main cargo-handling machines, it is important to emphasize that importing is a complex activity that requires mastering not only logistical, but also legal and bureaucratic procedures.
Therefore, below we list some of the main aspects linked to the requirements for an importing company that wishes to bring foreign machines to Brazilian soil.
Import Radar
In order for your company to be able to start export and/or import activities, it must be registered with the so-called “Radar de Importação” (Customs Intervening Party Tracker). This is a mandatory system of the Federal Government, which allows individuals and companies to conduct foreign trade operations.
To do this registration, it is necessary to gather a series of documents. If everything is in conformity, the company now has access to another system, the Integrated Foreign Trade System(Siscomex), through which it monitors the entire import process.
A Normative Instruction no. 1288/2012 is the reference legislation that lists the documents required for legal entities wishing to perform import activities – among them are documents of incorporation of the company, documents of the legal representatives, proof of paid-up capital stock, company certificates, digital certificate for the company and legal representative.
The average time it takes to get approval to access the Radar varies, and can reach up to 10 days. Companies with pending tax issues will be denied access.
After this first stage has been regularized, the next steps are, in short, the preparation of the documents relating to the purchase of the machine you wish to import, the contraction of the freight, and the customs clearance.
Contract with the supplier company
The importation of cargo handling machines falls into the category called “capital goods”. As these are items that are rare have a high value, it is important to take every precaution to make a safe import, without surprises that can lead to unnecessary losses. An excellent idea is to visit trade shows and talk directly to potential suppliers.
During the conclusion of the contract, it is important to include all possible details, such as technical requirements, responsibility for transport and insurance, warranty in case of damage, delivery time, forms of payment, among other factors. The so-called “incoterm” is another fundamental document. In it, risks of damage, logistical costs, insurance, etc. are foreseen.
If you want to import these types of machines, but are thinking of doing it yourself, be aware that this is a risky option and your request may end up being denied. This is a complex issue, which needs a technical performance, from someone who understands the subject.
Therefore, you should also know that you can count on Open Market‘s expertise. For more than 20 years in the market, we offer intelligent solutions in foreign trade management. With services in the import and export area, we guarantee total control of these processes. Want to know more? Contact us right now and we will be happy to answer your questions!
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Until the next post!