Lineage is ready to help customers seize market opportunities as tariffs on food products roll back

With both bonded warehouse and transportation capacity, extensive blast freezing capabilities and a specialized team of trade and compliance experts, Lineage is helping customers navigate an evolving global trade landscape.

Lineage, Inc. has expanded its import and export services to help customers move products in and out of the U.S. with greater confidence and efficiency. As global companies look to adapt to shifting trade conditions, including the rollback of tariffs on more than 200 food products announced last Friday, Lineage’s industry-leading network and cold chain expertise enable food companies to seize strategic opportunities to move nimbly through ports and markets around the globe.

“At times of inflection in policy or market conditions, Lineage offers a unique ability to move with our customers because we can offer warehousing, transportation and port services under one roof,” says Chris Skraba, a Head of Business Development for Lineage in North America. “Whether the tariff rollback is the right market opportunity or customers just want to be sure they’re in the best position down the line—Lineage has invested strategically in the integrated transportation and import/export expertise to enable companies to move product across borders seamlessly and efficiently.”

The Company offers an array of comprehensive services that can take product from origin pickup and ocean freight to customs clearance, drayage and delivery with additional options to respond to regulatory changes and extend shelf life:

• Bonded warehousing capacity at more than 60 facilities worldwide – providing expanded access for customers who rely on secure, compliant storage ahead of customs clearance
• Bonded transportation services that enable in-bond transfers that allow customers to move cargo between bonded facilities without triggering duty payments
• USDA Inspection (I-House) capabilities on site at 42 facilities in the U.S., which specialize in USDA-approved in-house inspection of imported meat, poultry, and select seafoods (including catfish)
• Blast freezing capacity at more than 100 facilities around the globe – enabling protein and seafood exporters to leverage these services that capture freshness and quality before leaving port
• Port-centric warehousing is baked into Lineage’s warehousing network by design, with the Company operating more than 220 port-centric locations around the world
• Freight forwarding capabilities that span the US, UK, Netherlands, Poland, and South Africa, and trusted, established partners in other global markets – allowing Lineage to coordinate customers’ product journey from end to end on a global scale
• Customs brokerage services to navigate the regulatory headaches for customers and clear all commodities (not just food) at ports across the US, UK, and EU

Supporting these offerings is Lineage’s dedicated Import and Export Excellence Team, comprised of over 20 specialists focused exclusively on compliance, documentation and process optimization for products moving in and out of the U.S. Led by Dr. Stephen Neel, Lineage’s Vice President of Global Food Optimization, the expert team helps customers avoid costly delays and liabilities, allowing shipments to move smoothly to over 120 global export markets, or via close supervision through the customs and import inspection process.

“International logistics will always bring complexity and, as the last year has shown, trade regulation and policy can be incredibly dynamic,” said Neel. “Reflecting this, Lineage’s experts collaborate across service lines to deliver a single, unified experience for customers that affords them the ability to make quick decisions, experience fewer delays, and, ultimately, have confidence that their products are handled correctly from start to finish.”