A customs broker is a licensed professional who carries out declarations and formalities under customs legislation on behalf of the owner of the goods. They file the declaration and follow the formalities before the administration.
The warehouse operator, by contrast, physically keeps the goods, maintains their records and carries out handling. The two professions do not replace one another; they work together.
What the broker does
- Files and registers customs declarations
- Determines the HS code and calculates the duty
- Advises on the choice of procedure
- Handles correspondence and appeals with the administration
- Follows exemption, incentive and documentation processes
What the warehouse operator does
- Physically keeps and stacks the goods
- Draws up weighing, counting and measurement reports
- Maintains the inbound–outbound register and stock records
- Carries out handling operations
- Produces the balance reconciliation on partial withdrawals
How the two work together
In a healthy process the warehouse has the data the broker needs ready before the declaration: quantity, packaging, weighing. The broker in turn tells the warehouse the declaration and permission status.
If the two wait on each other the process drags; if they inform each other in advance, no surprise appears on the day of despatch.
Choosing a broker
Experience in your product group matters: steel, food and chemicals require different HS code and regulatory knowledge.
The contract is formed directly between you and the broker; the warehouse operator is not a party to that relationship.