Transport of fresh produce
From Alexandria and Damietta, ships bring the produce to Rotterdam quickly, while it is still fresh. In the Netherlands, companies ripen, pack and distribute it to shops across the EU. The Dutch cold-chain facilities are built for this work.
Want stock close to your EU customers? See how importing and distributing through the Netherlands works.
The rules and certificates
You need a phytosanitary certificate (plant health certificate) for each shipment and must meet the EU marketing standards for each product. Retailers also do their own audits. One Dutch entity as importer of record keeps all documents in one administration, ready for an audit. Keep the import files as carefully as the export evidence.
Who keeps the margin
If you sell CIF Rotterdam (with the price including shipping and insurance to Rotterdam), traders keep the EU margin. The grower can also sell from its own Dutch BV (besloten vennootschap, the Dutch private limited company). The BV then supplies the goods to the distribution centre of the retailer and invoices locally. The grower keeps the distribution margin and the customer relationship. For VAT, the BV uses Article 23 at import and charges the reduced rates on its sales, so VAT is neutral for the BV.
Is your group setting up a Dutch entity? See setting up a Dutch subsidiary for what you need, how long it takes and what the parent company must sign.
The entity step
See the guide for Egyptian exporters for the setup from Egypt. For season finance and a holding company above the BV, the standard model applies, see holding and operating BV.