What ChannelPorts does

ChannelPorts is a UK-based customs clearance specialist founded in 1974 and headquartered at Folkestone Services, Junction 11 M20 in Hythe. The company operates as an Authorised Economic Operator with over 50 years of experience processing customs declarations for goods moving through UK Roll-on/Roll-off ports, historically as a traditional customs broker and increasingly as a software-enabled platform provider. ChannelPorts serves manufacturers, traders, freight forwarders, hauliers, express pallet networks, and logistics companies across the UK and continental Europe, with named enterprise customers including Pall-Ex, ZF Group, Waberer's International, Focchi Group, Arcese, Solstor, Flash Global, Ursa, Transped, and World Cargo Logistics, alongside small operators such as the four-person Hungarian forwarder Suggero Trans.

The company's core product is CustomsPro, a self-service web-based customs declaration platform launched in 2021 to address post-Brexit customs complexity. CustomsPro enables users to complete UK import, export, and transit declarations in under two minutes with documents delivered within 15 minutes, supported by integrations into GVMS, IPAFFS, CDS, CHIEF, and the S&S GB platform, plus a full API for embedding into customer ERP and warehouse management systems (demonstrated by Pall-Ex's MyNexus integration processing up to 100 declarations daily). Adjacent offerings include CustomsPro ENS (launched 2024 as a standalone Entry Summary Declaration service for the 31 January 2025 mandate), a full-service Customs Bureau for outsourced declarations, and the Park Mark Freight-accredited Folkestone Services Truck Stop facility.

ChannelPorts generates revenue on a transaction-based model, charging a flat fee per consignment regardless of HS-code count, with no sign-up fees, monthly subscriptions, or minimum contracts; customers are invoiced monthly for the prior month's successful transactions, and free T1 documents and CSP port badges are bundled into the price. Distribution is split between a product-led growth self-service motion (sign-up and go-live within one hour) and an enterprise/API-first motion with no integration costs. The company markets through content (blogs, FAQs, case studies, video explainers) and LinkedIn, targeting Transport & Logistics and Manufacturers & Traders as primary segments and Customs Bureaus as a partnership/white-label channel.

Name

ChannelPorts

Legal name

ChannelPorts Ltd

Website

https://channelports.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

ChannelPorts is a UK customs clearance specialist founded in 1974 that operates CustomsPro, a self-service digital platform for completing UK import, export, and transit declarations, serving manufacturers, traders, freight forwarders, and hauliers trading between the UK and Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Customs Clearance Software

SIC

Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro primary industry

Customs Brokerage Workflow & Case Management Software (TLAEAOAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Import Customs Clearance (Entry Filing & Release) (TLACAFAA), Customs Consulting & Brokerage Outsourcing (Managed Brokerage, Brokerage Operations) (TLACAFAI), Export Customs Clearance (Export Declarations & AES/EEI) (TLACAFAB)

Keywords

• Customs clearance software
• Trade compliance platform
• Customs declaration services
• Border logistics solutions
• ENS compliance systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Hythe

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Transaction-based Customs Clearance: Flat fee per consignment for customs declarations, irrespective of the number of HS codes. No sign-up fees, no monthly subscription, no long-term contract. Customers invoiced monthly for previous month's successful transactions. Free T1 transit documents when combined with EAD documents.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ChannelPorts provides the CustomsPro web-based platform enabling businesses to complete UK customs declarations in under 2 minutes with documents returned within 15 minutes, priced on a flat per-transaction basis with no subscription or contract. The offering covers imports, exports, transit documentation, ENS safety and security compliance, and full API integration into customers' ERP and warehouse management systems, supported by 24/7 expert customs agent assistance.

Product overview

ChannelPorts operates as a customs clearance specialist offering a unified platform-plus-services model centered on the CustomsPro digital product. The core CustomsPro platform handles UK imports, exports, and transit documentation through a web-based interface, while the CustomsPro ENS sub-product addresses mandatory Entry Summary Declaration requirements. Services include a full-service Customs Bureau for outsourced handling and the Folkestone Services TruckStop facility. All offerings share ChannelPorts' 50-year heritage as UK customs agents and leverage their CSP badges at UK RoRo ports.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CustomsPro: A web-based customs declaration platform that allows users to complete UK customs declarations in under 2 minutes, with integrated ENS compliance, API automation, and 24/7 support.

Products and services

• CustomsPro Primary web-based customs declaration platform enabling businesses to complete UK customs declarations in under 2 minutes with documents returned within 15 minutes. Offers flat per-transaction pricing with no subscription, automated document generation, real-time status updates, full API integration, and 24/7 support from experienced customs agents. Covers UK imports, exports, and transit documentation at all RoRo ports.
• CustomsPro ENS Stand-alone Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) compliance solution for submitting safety and security declarations required for all freight vehicles entering the UK from 31 January 2025. Integrated within standard CustomsPro product at no additional cost, or available separately for hauliers not using CustomsPro for full customs clearance.
• Customs Bureau Service Full-service customs brokerage providing 'done for you' customs declaration handling for businesses wanting to outsource their customs processes entirely. ChannelPorts manages declarations on behalf of clients, including handling IPAFFS pre-notifications and ECMS references for excise goods.
• Folkestone Services TruckStop Truck stop facility at Junction 11 M20, Hythe offering secure HGV parking, driver amenities, and proximity to the Channel Tunnel. Holds Park Mark Freight accreditation for security standards and serves as an Inland Border Facility location for customs and transit documentation processing.

Quantifiable outcome

• Complete customs declarations in under 2 minutes
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

AI capability1 record

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Kent County Council/Stop 24coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerChannelPorts provides on-site assistance during DEFRA inspections at Stop 24 (Folkestone Services, Junction 11 M20) and offers 24/7 telephone support for Sevinton BCP (Border Control Post) inspections.
• Folkestone Services Truck StopcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFolkestone Services Truck Stop, operated by ChannelPorts, provides secure parking for HGVs with 24-hour CCTV, security guards, and secure fencing. Achieved Park Mark Freight accreditation. One of the busiest RoRo ports is the Eurotunnel at Folkestone.
• Pall-Ex (MyNexus System)coreTechnology or IntegrationFull API integration between CustomsPro and Pall-Ex's MyNexus system enables seamless customs clearance embedded in the pallet booking process. Processing up to 100 declarations daily with real-time customs handling.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ClearCustoms: UK-focused customs clearance and duty drawback specialist offering declaration services for importers and exporters. Comparable as a UK-domestic customs broker competing for similar SMB and mid-market customers.
• AEB (Atlas Eberhard): Provider of customs and trade compliance software including declaration filing and export controls, widely used by European logistics and manufacturing firms. Directly comparable as a customs declaration workflow and case management software vendor.
• KlearNow: AI-driven customs clearance and trade compliance platform offering automated import/export filing for cross-border shipments. Directly comparable as a software-led customs broker competing for similar UK and EU logistics customers.
• Customs Support Group: European customs brokerage and trade compliance services provider offering outsourced declaration handling across multiple EU jurisdictions. Comparable as a customs broker competing for similar UK-EU cross-border declaration volume.
• Magaya Software: Logistics and customs software platform with customs declaration filing capabilities targeting freight forwarders and 3PLs. Comparable as a customs automation platform for SMB and mid-market logistics customers.
• Cargocentric: Customs brokerage and freight forwarding platform with digital filing tools serving European cross-border logistics customers. Comparable as a customs-focused services and software provider for UK-EU flows.
• Descartes Visual Compliance: Trade compliance and customs filing software from Descartes Systems Group, used by logistics providers and brokers for declaration management. Comparable technology and customer base in customs brokerage workflow automation.

Broad incumbents

• Flexport: Global digital freight forwarder offering customs brokerage as part of its end-to-end forwarding platform. Comparable customs capability bundled within a larger freight offering rather than a stand-alone clearance product.
• WiseTech Global (CargoWise): Global logistics platform with embedded customs declaration functionality within the CargoWise TMS used by freight forwarders worldwide. Comparable customs capability but as part of a broader logistics suite rather than a stand-alone customs focus.
• DHL Global Forwarding (Customs Services): One of the world's largest customs brokerage operations, providing declaration filing across the UK and EU as part of its broader forwarding network. Comparable customs capability from a major incumbent rather than a focused tech-led player.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks2 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/channelports

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ChannelPorts