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Boat for sending beans out of Panama

Replies: 16 - Last Post: Oct 17, 2012 6:22 PM Last Post By: greenbeanbuyer

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greenbeanbuyer

greenbeanbuyer avatar

Oct 12, 2012 1:37 PM
Posts:  26

Boat for sending beans out of Panama

If I arrive in Panama with a backpack full of beans from Colombia will I be able to put them on a boat to Europe? for an affordable price? and have a good chance of them arriving safely?
How can I find said boat????

SoloHobo

SoloHobo avatar

Oct 12, 2012 2:12 PM
Posts:  9,914

1

Customs in Panama and outbound, as well inbound to EU, will determine if you can import beans as its food product, and there are restrictions on items like these, just depends on the item, and the country.

mebesaturday

mebesaturday avatar

Oct 12, 2012 5:07 PM
Posts:  49

2

if by beans you mean cocaine...... im sure you can find said boat

chefhagan

chefhagan avatar

Oct 12, 2012 5:16 PM
Posts:  2,392

3

What type of beans and why not ship from Colombia?

STD

STD avatar

Oct 12, 2012 9:00 PM
Posts:  20

4

Does begin with a C -- but is brown (when processed) not white -- and you would sip it rather than sniff it

greenbeanbuyer

greenbeanbuyer avatar

Oct 13, 2012 5:28 AM
Posts:  26

5

yep. probably should have mentioned I want to export coffee. Im addmittedly making lots of assumptions. 1 is that boats from Colombia to Europe would pass through Panama anyway. My problem is finding an affordable but resonably reliable 1. Could be from Colombia as well.

Could I just go to 1 of the ports (including Panama City) and ask around?

STD

STD avatar

Oct 13, 2012 6:21 AM
Posts:  20

6

No I don't think that will work -- unless you had enough to fill a whole TEU or something

You could send them by courier but obviously that's going to cost a bit

Can't you just carry them in you luggage when you go back?

greenbeanbuyer

greenbeanbuyer avatar

Oct 13, 2012 7:20 AM
Posts:  26

7

That can work to get started but I wont be able to make a profit untill I can ship much more.

greenbeanbuyer

greenbeanbuyer avatar

Oct 13, 2012 7:27 AM
Posts:  26

8

for some reason most shipping companies only seem to send stuff by air.

SoloHobo

SoloHobo avatar

Oct 13, 2012 9:26 AM
Posts:  9,914

9

So if you plan to export/import coffee, for a commercial business, thats is a entire different can of worms. you need a freight/shipping broker, that can handle the export/import duties/customs and shipping, and adhere to the EU rules/laws for importing food products.

chefhagan

chefhagan avatar

Oct 13, 2012 4:46 PM
Posts:  2,392

10

There are freight consolidators in every country. Slow but much cheaper than air. A 100# bag?

greenbeanbuyer

greenbeanbuyer avatar

Oct 14, 2012 6:53 PM
Posts:  26

11

if not less.

greenbeanbuyer

greenbeanbuyer avatar

Oct 15, 2012 6:13 AM
Posts:  26

12

there are shipping companies who can act as brokers but still lots of red tape attached.

SoloHobo

SoloHobo avatar

Oct 15, 2012 7:06 AM
Posts:  9,914

13

of course there is, otherwise, everyone would be doing it, think about it.

STD

STD avatar

Oct 15, 2012 10:39 AM
Posts:  20

14

If you are heading to Panama and interested in coffee you should visit some of the small coffee producers in and around the Boquete area -- they produce some fabulous coffee and in the case of geisha coffee (Hacienda la Esmeralda) some of the most expensive. Cafe de Eleta produces superb coffe. Maybe they would be able to give you an idea of the feasibilty of purchasing relatively small amounts and being able to ship it.
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