STRATEGIC BONDED WAREHOUSE: USE AND BENEFITS OF STRATEGIC BONDED WAREHOUSES TO IMPROVE COMPETITIVENESS AND EFFICIENCY IN CUSTOMS OPERATIONS

This regime allows foreign, domestic, or nationalized goods to be stored, handled, transformed, or subjected to various processes for a limited time without the immediate payment of taxes and tariffs. These warehouses are designed to facilitate foreign trade operations, enabling companies to reduce costs and streamline their logistics and customs processes.

Goods destined for the SBW are legally sourced goods, except for petroleum products. These goods can be withdrawn from the SBW for definitive importation, in the case of foreign-origin goods; definitive export, for domestic goods; return to their country of origin, or reintegration into the domestic market; temporary import by maquiladoras or companies with export programs authorized by the Ministry of Economy; or they can be allocated to the customs warehousing regime.

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Benefits

Strategic Bonded Warehouses (SBW) optimize costs by allowing the deferment or reduction of tax and tariff payments until goods enter the domestic market. Additionally, they offer operational flexibility, allowing companies to carry out transformation, repair, assembly, and labeling processes without customs restrictions. Their use also translates into greater agility in foreign trade, simplifying administrative procedures and reducing customs clearance times. Finally, SBWs support logistics strategies by allowing for more efficient consolidation and distribution of goods, thereby improving supply chain efficiency.

The SBW fiscal and operational regime offers various benefits and streamlined procedures. Fiscal benefits include immediate VAT/IEPS certification and a DTA (Customs Processing Fee) of 1.76 per thousand for fixed assets. It is possible to introduce domestic or definitively imported goods into the SBW for storage, display, sale, and distribution without considering them exported or subject to the SBW regime.

Operationally, benefits include automatic validity extension, immediate registration in the importer registry, the possibility of customs clearance at any customs office, even on holidays and non-business hours, with goods able to remain in the SBW for up to 60 months. Moreover, it allows for the SBW to operate under the IMMEX program, the rectification of the origin of the goods, and the extraction of national or nationalized goods from the SBW.

State-level incentives include exemptions or reductions on payroll taxes, vehicle use or ownership taxes, and fees associated with license renewals, leasehold rights, and alcoholic beverage licenses. Additionally, procedures like obtaining territorial compatibility certificates for industrial park projects, environmental impact statements, property and commercial registry, and sanitary verifications are streamlined.

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Impact on Competitiveness and Efficiency of Customs Operations

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"The Strategic Bonded Warehouse (SBW) is a model that will receive renewed focus and application, seeing it proliferate as a competitive tool in foreign trade, both at the border and in other areas of the country, thanks to measures included in the Decree promoting this scheme." — Dr. Luis Videgaray aso, Secretary of Finance and Public Credit

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Strategic Bonded Warehouses (SBWs) enhance companies' competitiveness by reducing operating and tax costs, allowing them to offer more competitive prices in the market. Moreover, these warehouses contribute to better inventory management, as companies can adapt production and storage to market demand. They also increase logistical efficiency, given their strategic locations that provide easy access to transportation routes and distribution centers. Finally, they encourage foreign investment by providing a more favorable customs and logistics environment for international companies, which is crucial in a context of globalization and intense competition.

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Factors for Implementing an SBW

Strategic Bonded Warehouses (SBWs) should be located near ports, airports, or industrial zones to maximize logistical efficiency and facilitate access to transportation routes. Furthermore, it is essential to have modern infrastructure and efficient connectivity to support high-volume operations and necessary customs processes. Companies operating within an SBW must also comply with local and international regulations to ensure legal and operational conformity. Lastly, having trained personnel who can handle the specific processes in these warehouses is crucial for more efficient and effective operations.

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Challenges and Considerations

Strategic Bonded Warehouses (SBWs) face various challenges that limit their effectiveness and adoption. One of the main issues is infrastructure, as the country needs to improve its roads, airports, and logistical platforms to optimize transportation and operations. Additionally, there is a disconnect between customs offices and SBWs, as each customs office has different procedures and interpretations of customs regulations, which can complicate the implementation and operation of SBWs across regions.

Another significant challenge is the lack of awareness regarding SBW benefits. Many industrial parks, which play a vital role in nearshoring development, are not interested in this fiscal model, highlighting the need to inform and educate companies on the advantages that SBWs offer for improving operations and competitiveness.

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Strategic Bonded Warehouses (SBWs) represent a key tool for optimizing customs operations and enhancing companies' competitiveness in foreign trade. These warehouses allow the introduction of goods under a fiscal regime that facilitates storage and handling without immediate tax and tariff payments, significantly reducing costs. The operational flexibility offered by SBWs enables companies to carry out transformations and other logistical processes without usual restrictions, in addition to simplifying administrative procedures and speeding up customs clearance.

However, to maximize the benefits of SBWs, certain challenges need to be addressed. Adequate infrastructure and better coordination between customs offices and SBWs are necessary for effective implementation. Additionally, the limited awareness of SBW benefits has led many industrial parks to overlook this fiscal model, underlining the need to educate companies on the advantages they can gain.

As the country continues to develop its logistical and customs capabilities, SBWs have the potential to become a fundamental pillar for fostering foreign investment and strengthening companies' competitiveness in an increasingly competitive global market. Therefore, coordinated efforts between authorities and the private sector are crucial to overcoming current challenges and promoting broader adoption of Strategic Bonded Warehouses.

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