Do you ever order goods from international e-shops? Or simply use products that were made abroad? Their availability is thanks in large part to international logistics, which has been rapidly growing in recent years. Let’s take a closer look — how it works, the challenges it faces, and what the future holds.
International logistics simply encompasses everything related to the movement of goods, information, and finances across the borders of different countries—and in some cases, even continents. Thanks to globalization, which now permeates every industry, its importance is constantly growing.
International logistics is a complex logistical process that includes transportation, warehousing, and distribution of goods between different countries, including compliance with all customs and tax regulations—which often distinguishes it from domestic logistics.
Its goal is to enable efficient product movement over long distances, ideally with the lowest costs and highest speed. A key part of international logistics is risk management associated with long-distance goods movement, which has its own specific challenges.
Thanks to international logistics, companies can easily enter global markets and end customers can receive products—even from the other side of the world—in a very short time. It ensures the availability of goods that would otherwise be unknown in certain markets and supports overall economic growth by facilitating international trade.
If you're unsure what international logistics entails, we’re happy to guide you through the entire process. It includes several key components that play a crucial role in ensuring smooth logistics operations.
A key component is, of course, the actual transportation of products from one country to another. We use various modes of transport depending on the distance and connectivity of the markets.
Ideal for short distances and regional transport. We use our fleet for transportation within Europe, or as part of long-distance transport combined with other transport methods.
We use maritime shipping for transporting containers, heavy machinery, or raw materials. It’s ideal for transporting large volumes of goods over long distances, although it may take longer than other transport types.
Air transport is fast and very efficient. It's used for transporting high-value goods or perishable items such as food or medicine.
Offers an efficient and eco-friendly option for transporting heavy goods over medium and long distances. We use rail transport, among other things, to connect Europe with Asian markets, which is currently key.
International logistics is unique in that it requires compliance with customs regulations. These differ from country to country, especially when transporting to/from countries outside the European Union. Customs procedures may include document preparation, communication with customs authorities, and handling tax obligations.
For us at HOPI, this process is often simpler because we hold an AEO certification. This certifies that we are a trusted partner meeting strict safety, transparency, and reliability standards. As a result, our shipments benefit from certain customs advantages:
Within international logistics, we provide comprehensive services, including warehousing products at the destination and delivering them to the final customer. We use strategically located logistics centers across Central and Eastern Europe and storage facilities from our international partners in other markets. When storing abroad, we apply the same strict measures as in regional logistics.
One of the most challenging aspects of international logistics is coordinating all steps in the supply chain to ensure smooth operation and a positive customer experience. It’s essential to communicate effectively and maintain good business relationships across the supply chain to minimize delays. Real-time shipment tracking systems are particularly beneficial, helping us work more efficiently and providing customers with peace of mind about their package’s location.
International logistics is a highly complex field with its own specific challenges. These may—but do not have to—impact the efficiency and success of supply chains if managed properly.
One major issue in international logistics is the cultural and language differences between countries. Communication is a crucial part of logistics, and when it’s insufficient or unclear for either party, misunderstandings and delays occur. This includes inaccurate document translations, different communication styles, and local work customs that might confuse partners from other cultures.
For example, the Chinese New Year, India’s Diwali Festival, or the Muslim Ramadan often cause annual disruptions in trade with Asian markets.
Differences in national regulations can pose a significant barrier. It's common for companies to meet customs or safety requirements in one country but face challenges in a neighboring one. This can lead to difficulties, increased delivery costs, and delays.
That's why it’s best to work with a partner with extensive experience in the field, who keeps up with legal changes and consults regularly with international law and customs experts. At HOPI, we know that our deep knowledge of these issues helps us guarantee smooth international transport with maximum efficiency and minimal cost.
With long-distance transport and multimodal shipping, the risks inherently increase. Common problems include damage during transit, losses, or delays caused by natural disasters, political changes, or other unforeseen events. This makes it even more important to carefully select a logistics provider and consider insuring valuable shipments beyond standard contract terms.
Subtle but significant complications can arise from currency exchange fluctuations. These can be somewhat anticipated but are also influenced by unpredictable (geo)political events. Currency changes can affect transport costs, customs fees, and even product pricing.
We’ve mentioned that international logistics can be complicated. However, by using proven strategies, it’s possible to minimize the risk of issues and ensure maximum process efficiency.
Choosing a logistics partner is the most important step for you as a customer. A reliable partner ensures a smooth process, safe transportation, efficient resource use, and ongoing support in case of any complications.
When choosing the right logistics partner, consider their experience in international shipping, service availability across required regions, technological readiness, and transparent communication. Certifications confirming service quality are also important. If the partner holds an AEO certification, your shipments will go through customs clearance more quickly.
Real-time shipment tracking is now a basic requirement in both international and regional logistics. With tracking systems like GPS, RFID, or IoT, transport efficiency increases while the impact of potential errors or delays is minimized. These systems also allow route analysis and process improvement over time. Customers are also more satisfied when they can see where their shipment is and when to expect delivery.
One challenge in international logistics can be the high cost of transportation and associated expenses like customs clearance. It’s therefore essential to focus on cost optimization while also considering delivery speed.
We achieve this through transport mode combinations, which allow us to balance speed and cost-efficiency. Another effective strategy is consolidating shipments into larger packages.
Knowing and following all relevant regulations and requirements is crucial for successful international logistics. That’s why we have well-established systems to ensure smooth customs processes and minimize delays, penalties, or goods seizure. Certifications such as ISO or AEO (Authorized Economic Operator) not only prove quality but also help speed up and simplify border procedures.
International logistics is one of the fastest-evolving industries. It is adapting to a constantly changing global market, technological innovations, and the general push toward sustainable solutions.
Today, automation is at the forefront of efforts to streamline logistics processes. It allows higher performance and efficiency at lower costs and with minimal errors—marking a significant advancement. We already use automation in our logistics centers, helping us reduce manual labor and make better use of our human resources.
In the near future—possibly as soon as 2025—we may see complete robotization of some tasks, especially loading, unloading, and sorting of goods.
Artificial intelligence is gradually entering all areas of our lives, and logistics is no exception. By 2025, we expect predictive demand analytics to advance, contributing to better logistics planning. We will increasingly use AI to optimize routes and automate certain logistics operations, particularly in warehouse management.
Sustainability has become one of the most discussed topics in recent years. In 2025, efforts to promote more sustainable logistics—especially in transport—will certainly continue. For example, we’ve long worked to reduce emissions during both transportation and warehousing in logistics centers.
In the coming year, broader discussions may open around reducing waste in logistics, including leftover materials, packaging, or unnecessary pallets. We hope other logistics companies will join us in handling waste more efficiently and sustainably.
The Internet of Things (IoT) is becoming a key tool for improving shipment traceability in international logistics. It combines internet connectivity and physical devices—such as sensors on containers and vehicles—that allow real-time tracking. Besides location, it’s also possible to monitor temperature, humidity, and other metrics critical for transporting certain types of goods.
Inefficient supply chain management is one of the most common barriers when working with Asian markets. It results in delays and, more importantly, higher costs. For shipments from Asia, we now routinely use advanced tracking technologies, which—combined with improved communication with manufacturers and distributors—have increased our efficiency and reduced costs.
In Europe, where we are among the leading players in the logistics market, we have recently been actively focused on implementing sustainable solutions. Key steps include modernizing our fleet to significantly reduce CO2 emissions. We've also introduced packaging recycling systems and waste reduction initiatives at all stages of the supply chain.