Products
At A-Z Cargo (Import & Export) & General Merchant Limited, we pride ourselves on offering specialized logistics and merchant services across the full spectrum of the United Kingdom’s most significant export commodities. Built upon more than fifteen years of experience—since our incorporation on 18 June 2009 in London—we understand that each product category poses unique challenges, from regulatory compliance and handling requirements to packaging, transport modes, and customs intricacies. Below is an in-depth overview of the ten core product lines we manage. Each category links to its own dedicated page for exhaustive details on our capabilities, case studies, and tailored service offerings
Non-Ferrous Metals
Global Market Overview
The global market for non-ferrous metals—including aluminium, copper, zinc, and nickel—was valued at over USD 350 billion in 2024. Demand stems from the construction, automotive, aerospace, and electronics industries. The UK exports millions of tonnes of ingots and cathodes annually, with primary destinations across Europe, Asia, and North America.
Regulatory & Compliance Requirements
Exporting refined metals involves detailed certification, regulatory alignment, and customs precision.
- Product Certification & Assaying: Each shipment requires a Certificate of Analysis (COA) indicating purity, alloy content, and mechanical properties, verified by an ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratory.
- Safety & Transport Regulations: Under ADR and IMDG codes, certain alloys—such as magnesium—are classified as hazardous, requiring specialized packaging, labeling, and a Shipper’s Declaration for Dangerous Goods.
- Customs & Origin Rules: Accurate country-of-origin declarations are essential for securing tariff benefits under agreements like the UK–Japan CEP. Binding Tariff Information (BTI) helps prevent costly misclassifications.
Logistics & Handling Challenges
Shipping non-ferrous metals poses challenges related to load integrity, environmental control, and material-specific safety risks.
- Weight & Stability: Ingot stacks can weigh several tonnes per pallet. Load-securing systems must balance safety with surface protection.
- Moisture & Corrosion Control: Marine shipments require desiccant packs, humidity-indicator cards, and corrosion-inhibitor films to prevent metal oxidation.
- Handling Electrostatic Risk: Fine metal powders or filings may pose electrostatic hazards; ESD-safe containers and grounding procedures are necessary.
A-Z Cargo’s Tailored Solutions
- Custom Palletising & Crating: We build steel-reinforced pallets with anti-slip interfaces and ratchet-strap lashings, engineered for alloy-specific weights and dimensions.
- Pre-Shipment Quality Coordination: Our QC team works directly with smelters to coordinate sampling, stamping, and COA issuance to accelerate shipment readiness.
- Environmental Controls: For moisture-sensitive cargo, we use humidity-controlled liners and round-trip desiccant management systems.
- Digital Documentation Workflow: Assay reports, certificates, and customs filings are consolidated in our secure digital platform for instant access.
Case Study: Copper Cathodes to East Asia
An electronics manufacturer in South Korea required 5,000 tonnes of high-purity copper cathodes within a six-week production window. A-Z Cargo:
- Scheduled in-plant sampling and issued COAs within five business days.
- Organised steel-banded pallet consolidation and moisture-barrier container loading.
- Secured spot charter on a geared bulk carrier, avoiding congested container terminals.
- Coordinated Korean port agency services and customs clearance to align with factory intake schedules—achieving zero production delay.
The operation ensured uninterrupted supply to the customer’s production line and met all regulatory and quality expectations.