Yusen Logistics, a leading third-party logistics provider, has gained bonded status for its Bajio Logistics Center (BLC) in Mexico, which will enable customers to securely store cargo without immediate payment of duty and taxes.

Located near Celaya, the BLC includes a 53,280-square-foot warehouse and an ocean container depot with capacity for 1,000 TEUs.

“Our customs bonded services will enable our customers to lower their costs through duty and tax-free storage of imported goods into Mexico,” said Jordan Dewart, President, Yusen Logistics Mexico, noting that the warehouse is only one of a few bonded warehouse operations supporting the automotive industry in the Bajio region.

“With this service, we’re able to provide increased flexibility to our local customers, while allowing our foreign customers to have a larger presence in the Mexico market,” he added.

A customs bonded warehouse is a secured area where imported dutiable merchandise may be stored, manipulated, or undergo manufacturing operations without payment of duty for up to two years from the date of importation. This enables companies to extend the payment of taxes until the moment in which the product is consumed or sold, allowing the importer to improve the flow of cash.

Currently, Yusen Logistics has two customers utilizing the service. The warehouse and container depot areas are protected by video surveillance, access control, fences, and guards. Warehouse services include Inventory management, sorting and repacking of goods, expiration supply management, customs brokerage services, storage-in-transit, reverse logistics management, export preparation, and other value-added services. Container depot services include inventory control by specialized management System, domestic and bonded service, cargo weight certified (Verified Gross Mass or VGM), quality control inspection, maintenance and repair, container conditioning and transportation port-to-port and door-to-door.