Case Studies
From Inconsistent Specs to 30+ Containers, Zero Returns
How Vietnamese frozen octopus became a stable, Japan-standard supply
Business
Frozen seafood supply
Origin
Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
Destination
Port of Kobe, Japan
Partnership since
Since 2017
The Challenge
Before 2017 the client sourced from Vietnam directly and hit three pain points: same-spec octopus varied between factories; a misdated Form VJ voided FTA tariff treatment (~8% extra duty); and translator-dependent communication stretched inquiry-to-shipment to ~6 weeks. The worst incident: a 40ft container failed sanitation inspection at Kobe and was returned in full — a JPY 2.8M loss.
Our Approach
Factory re-selection & spec standardization
Screened 8 Vietnamese suppliers down to 2 stable partners, locked unified spec protocols (size, moisture, thaw-drip rate), and sampled every container on-site — non-compliant lots rejected at origin.
Pre-Japan compliance
Re-reviewed export documents, built a Japan-compliant labeling table, reclassified the HS code (saving 2% duty), and set up Form VJ pre-review with Vietnam customs — zero documentation errors.
Full Japanese-language desk
The client’s procurement team works directly with our Japanese desk: weekly shipment reports with B/L preview and QC photos, and 24-hour response on all commercial matters.
From inquiry to first shipment in as little as 4 weeks
Tell us your products, volume, destination port and timeline — our Japanese desk replies within 24 hours with an initial quote and spec advice.