Let’s assume you are doing everything right: you’ve conducted thorough research, hired a reliable Mexican customs broker, verified your suppliers’ backgrounds, and properly managed transportation. Yet, despite these efforts, you still encounter delays, trade disagreements, or unexpected compliance issues.
One way to reduce those risks is by diversifying your suppliers. Instead of relying on just one company or country, you spread your sources across different vendors and regions. This makes your supply chain more resilient. But here’s the catch: if not done carefully, diversification can make your customs logistics more complicated and expensive.
S, how do you do it without adding more chaos? Here are some practical ways to expand your supplier network without complicating your customs process.
7 strategies to divert your suppliers
When we say diversify your suppliers, we’re referring to spreading out your sources—getting your materials or products from different vendors in different regions instead of depending on just one country or company.
With insights from our custom brokers in Manzanillo, we’ve put together 7 practical strategies you can use to make supplier diversification work.
1.- Choose suppliers who already know your market
If a supplier has shipped to your country before, that’s a big plus. It means they probably already understand the local customs regulations, customs audits, required documentation, labeling standards, and compliance processes.
These details matter. A small paperwork mistake can lead to delays at customs, extra costs, or even cargo getting stuck or returned. But when you choose suppliers who are already familiar with your market, you save time, reduce the chances of problems, and make your supply chain smoother right from the start.
2.- Consolidate logistics where possible
Working with several suppliers can quickly turn into a logistical headache. You might end up with multiple shipments arriving at different times, extra customs entries, and more coordination to handle.
One way to simplify this is by consolidating your logistics. That could mean using a single third-party logistics provider (3PL) to handle everything. Or it could mean setting up a regional hub, a location where products from different suppliers are collected, stored, and shipped together.
3.- Negotiate Incoterms that reduce your liability
Incoterms are basically rules that say who is responsible for what in an international shipment, who pays for transport, who handles customs, who takes the risk, etc.
When you start working with suppliers in new regions, especially if you’re not familiar with their logistics environment, pick Incoterms that limit your liability. For example, Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) means the supplier takes care of customs, transportation, and duties. It might cost a bit more, but it protects you from surprise costs or paperwork issues on your end.
4.- Establish clear compliance standards
Just because you’re working with more suppliers doesn’t mean you should lower your standards. In fact, it’s more important than ever to make sure everyone’s on the same page.
That means being extra clear about your expectations: what kind of documents you need, what certifications are required, how invoices should be formatted, how products should be labeled, and so on.
You can make this easy by creating a simple supplier handbook. Something that spells out the rules in plain terms. That way, everyone follows the same process, and your customs team doesn’t have to deal with surprises every time a shipment arrives.
5.- Work with multiple regional suppliers
Instead of working with just one supplier from, say, China or Brazil, try working with two or three from the same region. That way, you get the benefits of shared shipping routes and similar customs regulations.
This setup also helps you avoid disruptions. If one supplier shuts down due to a local issue like a strike, natural disaster, or political unrest, you’ve still got others nearby who can keep you supplied.
6.- Consider bonded warehousing
Bonded warehouses can be a game-changer if you’re dealing with high-volume or high-value imports. These are storage facilities where you can keep imported goods without paying customs duties right away. You only pay when the goods leave the warehouse for sale or final use.
This gives you more flexibility with your inventory and cash flow. It’s especially useful if you’re unsure about demand or want to delay duties until you sell the product.
It’s worth noting that bonded warehouses are different from regional hubs. Bonded warehouses help with tax timing, while regional hubs are more about logistics speed and customer proximity.
7.- User customs management software
As your supply chain grows, it becomes harder to keep track of all the moving parts. That’s where customs management software comes in. These tools help you centralize key tasks like document preparation, tariff classification, shipment tracking, and compliance checks.
They also flag inconsistencies, like invoice errors or missing certificates, that could cause delays or get your shipment flagged.
The goal of all of these strategies isn’t just to grow, it’s to grow smart. Keep your operations lean and your risks low. By picking the right partners, setting clear rules, using technology, and finding ways to simplify logistics, you can build a more flexible, resilient supply chain without losing control of your customs process.
Want more content like this? Check out our blog for practical ideas to help you simplify trade and make better supply chain decisions.
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