Shipping Policy
Shipping is a significant part of the business and sometimes the ultimate barrier. Shipping a bulky material such as cork from Portugal can be a challenge and everytime we have an order or even a quotation request, we look for the best solution, service and price for our shippings. Some clients prefer arranging the transport themselves, others want us to take care of it. Either way, shipping small quantities is possible but not worth most of the times and we advise to buy locally from our clients or other stores. This is also one of the reasons why we don't sell to final consumers, we focus on supplying professionals and our partners the best way we can and allow them to take these items to final consumers in markets abroad, believing their success is our success and their sales are new future businesses for us.
Europe
We export on a regular basis to some european countries to professional distributors and pet supplies stores. Transport in Europe is by truck and we work more often with DHL but not exclusively. We don't have standard prices, for each order we need to ask and calculate shipping costs.
Cork treatment and phytosanitary certificates are not mandatory.
Asia
Currently the Asian countries benefit from low price shipping, specially when it comes to full 20' and 40' containers. We have experience in a significant number of Asian countries where we also have good clients, it's one of our main markets.
Shorter quantities than a full container are also possible but we don't recommend less than 600 kg, not only price isn't (much) cheaper than a full container but also because cork treatment and phytosanitary certificate are a considerable cost that influences the final price, a cost that is the same for any quantity ordered and represents more in proportion when quantity is shorter.
The U.S. and Canada
Shipping costs are usually expensive and small orders simply don't work, it's not worth at all. We keep receiving requests on social media for small amounts of cork and we forward them to our distribution clients. We are currently only accepting orders for at least a 20' container and we even encourage a 40' container by contributing with final discounts and better rates.