A manufacturer, importer and distributor specialising in outdoor living and sports goods, AMG Group sources products from Asia before distributing them across the UK and Europe. As international trading requirements evolved following Brexit, the business identified an opportunity to review its customs strategy and implement a more efficient approach to managing the movement of goods between markets.

One key area of focus was the duty payable on goods imported into the UK and subsequently re-exported to European markets. In some cases, products attracting import duties of up to 12% were subject to additional duty costs when moving across borders, creating avoidable pressure on margins and cash flow.

Following a detailed review of AMG’s operations and customs requirements, CSG identified an opportunity to optimise duty management through the introduction of a customs warehouse solution tailored to the company’s international distribution model.

Smarter Duty Management for International Trade

Customs warehousing enables imported goods to be stored under duty suspension, meaning duties are only payable when products are released onto the domestic market. For businesses that regularly move goods across multiple markets, this approach can improve cash flow, increase flexibility and reduce unnecessary duty costs on re-exported goods.

By implementing the solution, AMG established a more efficient customs framework aligned with its international trading model.

Embedding Compliance Across the Supply Chain

For the past three years, CSG has worked alongside AMG to integrate customs compliance throughout the movement of goods, supporting everything from import processes through to final distribution.

This includes:

• Entries into Declarant Records (EIDR)
• Supplementary declarations
• UCR allocation
• Verification of shipment documentation
• Management of duty-suspended stock movements
• Ongoing customs compliance support

This collaborative approach has helped ensure customs processes remain efficient, compliant and aligned with AMG’s operational requirements.

Expertise That Delivers Tangible Results

AMG’s international supply chain requires specialist customs knowledge and robust controls. CSG’s ongoing support has helped the company develop processes that underpin efficient operations and long-term growth.

Jim McLeish, Operations Director at AMG Group, said:

“CSG has provided strong expertise, reliability and responsiveness throughout the partnership.

Customs Support Group were a massive knowledge bank for us at the start. Their expertise made what is a complex process far more manageable.

Before implementing the customs warehouse, we were effectively paying duty twice on some goods, in some cases up to 12 percent each time. Removing that has made a significant difference to the business.

Holding goods under duty suspension means we’re no longer paying UK duty on products that are re-exported to Europe, which has been a major benefit both in cost and cash flow.

I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them. They know exactly what they’re doing, and they’ve been a strong partner for us. When we hit issues during the Customs Declaration Service transition, they went above and beyond – even working weekends to keep our exports moving.”

A Partnership Focused on Continuous Improvement

CSG’s role extends beyond customs declarations and compliance management. By working closely with AMG’s team, the partnership has helped create more efficient customs processes, improve visibility across the supply chain and support the company’s international trade operations as they continue to evolve.

Keiron Myall, Managing Director of Customs Support Group UK & Ireland, said:

“Our approach was to first understand AMG’s business and challenges in detail before recommending solutions. This enabled us to develop a tailored customs and compliance strategy designed to future-proof their international trade operations. The real success of the project is that it has evolved into a long-term partnership, creating opportunities to deliver additional value, unlock further efficiencies and support AMG’s evolving business needs.”

Supporting International Trade Through Customs Expertise

For businesses operating across international markets, customs warehousing can play an important role in improving cash flow, strengthening compliance and creating a more efficient supply chain.

By combining customs expertise with a detailed understanding of its customers’ operations, CSG helps businesses identify opportunities to optimise customs processes, manage duty costs and support sustainable growth.

If you’d like to explore how customs warehousing could benefit your business, contact our team today.