End-to-end windows import handling

1. Manufacturers with experience

Poland is one of the largest producers of windows and doors in the entire European Union. It is no coincidence that in the joinery industry Poland has gained the name of “little China”. Our producers generate over 30% of all global exports of window joinery.

2. You buy good quality joinery 30-50% cheaper than in Western Europe or the USA

The Polish window and door industry is highly competitive thanks to subsidies from the European Union and a cheaper workforce. Thanks to the reduced production costs of windows, doors and roller shutters, they can be cheaper by up to 30-50%.

3. Lower price, German high quality

The quality of the products is based on German technology. Almost all products are made on German systems and on German machines.

Additionally – thanks to the aforementioned subsidies from the European Union – Polish windows are made in the most modern machine parks, and the production is supervised by employees with many years of experience.

4. Customer service in English

You run a company in USA and speak English? No problem! The young generation of Poles serving export markets will easily advise you in English. Feel free to contact our experts (quick contact).

5. Your transactions are 100% safe

debesto.com, as a joinery broker, verifies the financial reliability of suppliers for you, helps in choosing the right solution, as well as a trustworthy manufacturer.

Moreover, we will arrange all the logistics. Thanks to this, the purchase of windows, doors and roller shutters from Poland is safer, faster, easier than you’d have to do it on your own.

How to save on import from Poland to the United States?

To make your order the most cost-effective, consider three factors:

1. The first is to order a full container (approximately 20 windows). This solution is cheaper than LCL (less than container load) transport (i.e. importing single pieces of windows).
   
2. The second factor concerns the type of windows imported. When you decide to import aluminium windows, their advantage is lighter weight compared to wooden windows. Thanks to this, more of them can fit in one container.
   
3. The third one is the import of exclusive windows (such as frameless terrace windows). Purchase price of which in Poland is much lower than the price in the USA.

How to organize a shipment from Poland to the USA?

Importing windows from Poland to the USA is financially profitable, but requires proper preparation, application of import procedures, preparation of documentation, proper and safe packaging of windows, as well as other, additional “paperwork”. You can find a list of activities that must be done to arrange the transport yourself below.

Import activities list:

1. Selection and purchase of appropriate windows
2. Preparation of windows for shipment from Poland
3. Choosing a transport and forwarding company
4. Preparation of invoices and documents entitling to use the preferential VAT rate
5. Ordering a container and supervising safe loading
6. Choosing one of the Incoterms 2020 rules (determining the cost of transport, insurance and liability for the windows import)
7. Customs clearance and related documentation
8. Window transport monitoring
9. Collection and unloading of a container with windows at the destination port
10. Transport of windows from the port to the investment site
11. Unpacking windows by your people at the investment site and securing them before assembly

VAT rate on importing windows from Poland to the USA

What is the amount of VAT rate on imports from Poland to the USA? When buying goods in Poland and exporting them outside the European Union, we are entitled to a 0% VAT rate.

Two priority documents that justify preferential VAT rate

• IE 529 MRN – This is a confirmation of the beginning of the exportation procedure. We get this document in Polish port, at the time of the customs clearance.
• IE 599 – This is a confirmation of the export of goods outside the EU. We receive it within 14 days of the goods leaving the last European Union port.

How much is a window and door container from Poland to the USA?

The estimated price of renting a window container from Poland to the USA (the container measures 40 feet – i.e. just over 12 meters) is approximately 4,900 USD, and along with the handling of the container and the preparation of boxes in which the windows are packed, an additional approximately 1,900 USD.

debesto.com has signed contracts with the best transport and forwarding companies, thanks to which you can save on transport even double.

Window’s customs clearance – required documents

To organise a customs clearance you need:

• A commercial invoice (It is good to have an English version)
• A packing list (List of the goods and it’s net/gross weight)
• Company’s registration documents – exporter’s (NIP, REGON, EORI number)
• Authorization for the customs agency

Collection and unloading of a container with windows from Poland

How does the windows pickup shipped to the USA look like?

The windows, secured for transport, are already on board. What’s next?

After the goods leave the port, you will be contacted by an agent on the American side who will take care of all formalities and documents for you, including:

• guiding you through local duty and state tax
• determining the method of picking up the goods after their arrival at the port

You can pick up an order on your own or ask for home delivery.

What is worth remembering when collecting and unloading a container with windows?

• Decide if you want to use the services of an agent recommended by debesto or another (organized on your own).
• Take care of all the data that must be provided to the agent.
• At the target location, check that the number of packages is correct and that none of them has any visible damage.
• Take photos of the packed goods and after opening them, in case of any damage that is not visible at first glance.
• It is worth finding out in advance what dimensions the delivered goods have so that the right car will arrive. The dimensions of the car should also be selected in terms of the destination, so that it can efficiently bring the windows to the target place.
• In addition, appropriate unloading tools should be organized, e.g. a forklift, and in the case of large structures, such as frameless sliding windows, even a crane may help, which will definitely facilitate every operation on the construction site.

Delivery to the port in the USA – customer obligations

Now the most important thing! From the moment the windows are in the USA, you will be responsible for the next steps. What will you have to do?

1. Collection of goods from the port on your own within the prescribed time (usually 48-72 hours after the container arrives at the port)
2. Paying the USA duty (check what the rate is)
3. Arranging and paying for transport from the port to the place of investment/warehouse
4. Payment of port service costs:

• for LCL (less than container load – in OSB boxes) it will be about (strongly estimated: 100-200 dollars per 1m3 (cubic) of goods
• in the case of full container transport (FCL – the entire container exclusively for one customer) the costs depend of your agreement with the sea fright

Remember!
Remember not to miss any of the points mentioned above because it may be connected with high fees, e.g. for the additional day the goods are kept in the port, they can reach even several hundred dollars. It is definitely worth keeping an eye on the deadlines.