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Portsmouth: Significant rise in business as fresh produce imports grow

11 May 2017
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INTERNATIONAL-DEFAULT

MMD Customs Clearance Agents, the specialist import intermediary based at Portsmouth International Port, has reported strong results. The company has just reported year-end figures that show a 37% rise in its contributions to the city budget in the past 12 months, and a 378% increase since the operation was taken over by Portsmouth City Council in 2009.

MMD Customs Clearance Agents is now responsible for clearing 60% of total UK imports of fresh produce declared to DEFRA during the financial year 2016/17. 

The company acts as an intermediary between the importers and the UK government. It is able to advise them on how to achieve the best possible duty rates, what documents are needed, and how to clear customs in the most efficient manner possible. It also calculates taxes that need to be paid to HMRC and arranges the documentation needed to clear customs depending on the Country of Origin.

MMD Customs Clearance Agents has carved a niche in the fruit and perishable goods market and is a part of MMD (Shipping Services), a leading UK handler and logistics expert for the fruit and vegetables industry.

Clayton Green, customs agency manager at MMD, explained the growth in business. He said: “It is largely due to the vast experience of our employees and their dedication to get the best possible deal for customers. It’s a relatively small team of just seven people, but between us there is over 100 years of experience. I am very proud of them all, and their dedication to meeting the needs of the customer.”

The company has worked hard to build an excellent reputation in Morocco, and is now responsible for clearing almost 100% of tomatoes and citrus fruit that come to the UK from the North African country. The Moroccan trade is responsible for much of MMD Customs Clearance Agent’s recent growth, with the company recently branching out into garment imports from Morocco and even arranging for a film set to make the return journey.

The banana trade is still a big part of the company’s balance sheet. It handles imports for major banana importers from South America, the Windward Islands and Caribbean to Portsmouth International Port, which welcomes 70% of all bananas eaten in the UK.  It is also responsible for clearing other imports to all major mainland UK seaports, which means in total it handles payments and paperwork for 80% of all bananas that arrive in Great Britain.

With the UK government about to start negotiations to leave the European Union in March 2019, Green said staff at MMD CCA were studying developments closely. Life outside of the single market could make the company even busier. Asked about post-Brexit plans, he said: “We are busy planning and running through all possible scenarios to prepare both our customers and staff for any changes which could come into effect following negotiations in Brussels.”


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