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020 7664 8682

Your logistics partner

A Local Company With Global Network

We connect your business to the world

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Quotes answered within 4 working hours, Monday to Saturday.

01 · Freight Sea, air and road We are everywhere.
02 · Customs Less worry about customs More focus on business.
03 · Warehousing Warehouse facility Close to all major UK ports.
BIFA Member
5,000+ Shipments handled
8 Origin offices in Asia and the Gulf
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"We love exports! And imports too"

From your warehouse to destination, we support every needs.

Trade lane Bangladesh to UK Sea and air freight from Chittagong and Dhaka to the UK, run by our own offices in Bangladesh. Minimizing risk of cargo damage and inventory issues. 45 days port to port → High volume China to UK Full container and groupage sea freight from the main Chinese ports to the UK, with consolidation at origin and customs clearance on arrival. 30 Days port to port → Car imports Japan to UK Car imports from Japan to the UK, door to road. Shipping, customs clearance, NOVA and IVA handled by one team, so your car arrives ready to register. 60-90 Days port to port → Also served India and the Gulf to UK Sea and air freight from India, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to the UK, with agent offices in Mumbai, Dubai, Jeddah and Kuwait. See the lane →

What we handle

Sea freight — full container (FCL) Full container, delivered to your door or a nominated depot. Sea freight — part load (LCL) Groupage from a single pallet, consolidated at origin. Air freight For deadlines, samples and high-value cargo. Customs clearance UK import and export declarations, duty and VAT, HS classification. Container transport Port collection and delivery across the UK. Vehicle import and export Cars and plant, roll-on roll-off or containerised.

The process

How a shipment runs with us

Four stages, the same person looking after you through all of them.

  1. Tell us the shipment

    Origin, destination, what it is and roughly how much. You get a real rate back within 4 working hours.

  2. Booked and checked at origin

    Our office or agent at origin books the space, checks the loading and prepares the export paperwork with your supplier.

  3. On the water

    One named contact keeps you posted on sailing, transhipment and arrival — you never chase three companies for an answer.

  4. Cleared and delivered

    Our Essex team lodges the customs declaration, settles duty and VAT with you, and delivers to your door or depot.

Why Westconn

People on the ground where your goods are made

When a supplier is late, a container is short-shipped or a document is wrong, someone needs to be there. We have our own offices in Bangladesh and agent offices across Asia and the Gulf, so there's always someone close to your supplier.

  • Our own offices in Dhaka and Chittagong (Chattogram)
  • Agent offices in Dubai, Mumbai, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Jeddah and Kuwait
  • Customs clearance done in-house by our team in Essex
  • One point of contact from booking to delivery
  • A member of the British International Freight Association (BIFA)
Typical forwarderWestconn
At originAgents found case by caseOur own offices and regular agents
Customs clearancePassed to a brokerIn-house, Essex
Your contactChanges each legOne person, end to end
Quote turnaroundA call to re-ask detailsRate in 4 working hours

Latest news

From the Westconn desk

All news →
Customs & regulation
Customs & regulation · Bangladesh keeps duty-free UK access for three years after LDC graduation The UK has confirmed Bangladesh will keep its current duty-free access for three years after leaving LDC status, with garment rules of origin relaxed.
How-to guides
How-to guides · Can I import small cargo from China? Yes, here's how Importing a few cartons or a pallet from China: courier, air freight and sea part load compared, with timings, charges and paperwork.
Customs & regulation
Customs & regulation · Everything you need to know about the Developing Countries Trading Scheme How the UK DCTS cuts import duty on goods from 65 developing countries: the three tiers, rules of origin, proof of origin and how to claim it.

FAQ

Questions importers ask us

More detail in our importer guides.

How long does sea freight from Bangladesh to the UK take?

It depends on the sailing and where the vessel tranships. We give you the transit time for the specific sailing when we quote, rather than a generic figure that may not apply.

Do I need an EORI number to import?

Yes. To import goods into Great Britain you need an EORI number starting with GB. It's free from HMRC and usually issued quickly. If you don't have one yet, we can point you through it.

Is there import duty on goods from Bangladesh?

Most goods from Bangladesh enter the UK duty-free under the Developing Countries Trading Scheme, as long as they meet the rules of origin. Import VAT still applies. Our guide to duty on Bangladesh imports explains how it works.

Should I ship a full container or a part load?

As a rule of thumb, a full container starts to make sense at around 15 cubic metres. Below that, a part load (groupage) is usually cheaper because you only pay for the space you use. Tell us the volume and we'll price both.

Can you clear goods that another forwarder shipped?

Yes. We handle customs clearance on its own for importers who've arranged the freight elsewhere. Send us the arrival details and commercial documents.

What terms do you trade on?

All business is transacted under the BIFA Standard Trading Conditions, the standard terms for UK freight forwarders. We're happy to send you a copy.

Tell us the shipment

Give us the details once and you get a real rate back, rather than a call asking for the same information again.

  • Answered within 4 working hours
  • Or call us, Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm
  • 020 7664 8682

We reply within 4 working hours. Your details are only used to answer this enquiry.