The main characteristics of international logistics

The main characteristics of international logistics can be summarized as follows:

1. Internationality

The international logistics system involves multiple countries, and the system covers a large geographical range, spanning different countries and regions, as well as oceans and continents. Therefore, the transportation distance is long and the transportation methods are diverse. It is necessary to choose appropriate transportation routes and transportation methods to minimize the transportation distance and the time of goods in transit, accelerate the turnover of goods and reduce logistics costs.

2. Complexity

The complexity of international logistics is mainly reflected in the following aspects:

1. Complexity of the operating environment: Different countries apply different logistics laws and regulations, different levels of economic, technological and logistics development, different logistics standards, different cultural customs, and different status quo of the logistics industry.

2. Complexity of the operation process: International logistics often requires the connection of multiple modes of transportation, and the transportation process and the information involved are very complex. Due to the long transportation routes and many links of goods, the long completion cycle of the logistics process, the complex climatic conditions, the high requirements for the storage and storage of goods during transportation, and the complexity of the processing and storage of goods. At the same time, the control, inspection and related procedures in the logistics process are also complex and cumbersome.

3. Complexity of operation documents: International logistics operations often require a large number of business documents, settlement documents, shipping documents, transport documents, inspection and customs declaration documents, port documents and loading and unloading documents. At the same time, every time the goods are shipped and delivered through a country, documents in the language of that country or region are required.

3. Ocean transportation is the main mode, combined with multiple modes of transportation

International logistics transportation is mainly ocean transportation, combined with multiple modes of transportation. In international logistics activities, the "door-to-door" mode of transportation is increasingly popular with cargo owners, so that international composite transportation methods that can meet this demand have developed rapidly and gradually become the mainstream in international logistics transportation.

4. High requirements for standardization

The operation of international logistics involves macro-control and management issues of governments in different countries and regions, as well as issues of different logistics infrastructure and equipment. Therefore, international logistics not only requires standardized information system support, but also requires the standardization of logistics infrastructure in different countries and regions to ensure the efficient operation of international logistics. Standardization mainly includes global information system standardization, infrastructure equipment standardization and universal trade agreement standardization.

5. Risks

There are many risks in the process of international logistics. In addition to general logistics risks (such as accidents, force majeure, operational damage, negligence in tallying and inspection, natural properties of goods, and contractual risks), there are also higher risks in politics, economy, and nature. Political risks include disruptions in logistics processes, transportation delays, damage to goods, and even loss of goods due to political instability, strikes, unrest, or war. Economic risks include exchange rate risk and interest rate risk, especially the risk of funds associated with international logistics due to changes in exchange rates and interest rates. The longer the logistics process is completed, the greater the uncertainty.

International logistics has the characteristics of internationality, complexity, ocean transportation as the main mode of transportation and a combination of multiple modes of transportation, high standardization requirements, and risk. These characteristics require that international logistics needs to fully consider various factors during operation to ensure the efficiency, safety, and smooth progress of logistics activities.