Smooth Sailing to the US: All About IPI And RIPI Terms

Understanding IPI and RIPI is crucial for exporters to the US. These terms precisely outline the transportation mode and routes for export goods. Such specifics significantly impact the choice of suitable services for diverse transportation requirements.

LM had the opportunity to converse with Mr. Naruecha Samannui, Export Customer Service Manager, and Ms. Yanisa Rodbanyang, Assistant Export Customer Service Manager at Kerry-Apex Thailand. Both possess over a decade of expertise in shipping operations to the United States. They shared insights on route and distribution model selection for exporting to the US.

IPI/RIPI: Essential US Transportation Routes for Beyond-Port Destinations

In sea freight to the US, the goods’ import destination is classified into the United States West Coast (USWC) and the United States East Coast (USEC).

Asian shipments destined for US West Coast ports, like the Port of Long Beach/Los Angeles, follow a specific shipping route – the Transpacific route. Containers are subsequently transported to US inland destinations in Groups 4, 1, and 2 via road transport for short distances and rail transport for longer ones. This journey of cargo is termed ‘Interior Point Intermodal’ (IPI), a comprehensive multimodal process from western ports to continental US destinations.

Conversely, Asian shipments arriving at East Coast ports, like the New York/New Jersey ports, adopt the Transpacific route. Following this, they navigate through the Panama Canal to reach a port on the United States East Coast (USEC). From there, containers are transported to US inland destinations in Groups 3 and 2. This process is referred to as ‘Reverse Interior Point Intermodal’ (RIPI), representing the multimodal journey from eastern ports to continental US destinations in a reverse procedure.

AWS/MLB: A Crucial Alternate Route for Shipping to US Ports

Apart from considering the aforementioned transportation routes, customers keen on cost or transit time can explore additional multimodal solutions. These include ‘All Water Service’ (AWS) and ‘Mini Land Bridge’ (MLB) delivery options, offering tailored solutions to address specific concerns.

All Water Service (AWS) entails using water transport exclusively for the entire journey of goods. It’s an economical mode of transportation with minimal environmental impact. However, it typically takes longer for transportation compared to land-based options.

Mini Land Bridge (MLB) freight involves multimodal transport from a US West Coast (USWC) port to a US East Coast (USEC) port. Contrasting with IPI, MLB offers port-to-port service instead of door-to-door. In essence, MLB shipping is swifter than AWS shipping, but it comes at a higher cost when destined for East Coast ports like New York/New Jersey.

Crafting Informed and Comprehensive Choices

“Gaining a comprehensive understanding of IPI, RIPI, AWS, and MLB holds the key to making well-informed decisions in various scenarios. For instance, during Panama Canal congestion, opting for shipments to the USWC ports and subsequently distributing MLB shipments according to the port’s network can mitigate delays and expedite product delivery. While this approach incurs higher costs compared to choosing RIPI shipping, which is more economical for USEC shipments, it ensures faster deliveries.” Ms. Rodbanyang said.

Coincidentally, opting for a transport service with expertise in US shipping and a robust multimodal network is crucial. Kerry-Apex, for instance, boasts an extensive door-to-door delivery system tailored to the central US destinations’ requirements. They offer both IPI and RIPI services, backed by an expansive branch network supporting cargo operations across the United States. This network spans California, Illinois, Washington, Florida, New York, and Texas.

Coincidentally, opting for a transport service with expertise in US shipping and a robust multimodal network is crucial. Kerry-Apex, for instance, boasts an extensive door-to-door delivery system tailored to the central US destinations’ requirements. They offer both IPI and RIPI services, backed by an expansive branch network supporting cargo operations across the United States. This network spans California, Illinois, Washington, Florida, New York, and Texas.

“Furthermore, we provide an array of supplementary services to further cater to customers’ logistics demands. These encompass marine cargo insurance, fumigation services for diverse materials and wooden products, customs clearance, warehouse solutions, tracking services, and comprehensive booking agent services, encompassing both FCL and LCL clientele,” said Mr. Samannui.

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