Customs Clearance
Customs Clearance Limited is a UK-based gateway logistics and customs brokerage 3PL serving eCommerce retailers, freight forwarders and postal operators with customs clearance, ETSF warehousing, freight forwarding and a proprietary CCL Tech software suite, operating as a subsidiary of Lenton Group under GeoPost/DPD.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersMiddlesex, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Customs Clearance does
Customs Clearance Limited (CCL) is a UK-headquartered gateway logistics and customs brokerage provider founded in 1999, operating from a 2,000 sqm External Temporary Storage Facility near London Heathrow Airport. The company is a subsidiary of Lenton Group, majority-owned by GeoPost (formerly DPD Group) since 2019, and functions as an independent neutral third-party logistics (3PL) intermediary serving global eCommerce retailers, freight forwarders, postal operators and couriers requiring UK and EU customs clearance. CCL operates through two pillars: CCL Service, providing manual customs brokerage, gateway warehousing, break bulk, freight forwarding (air/sea/road/rail) and Amazon FBA fulfilment support; and CCL Tech, a software suite comprising Customs Central (digital customs declaration platform), Customs ePay (mobile duty/VAT payment platform) and eTurns (returns processing with duty drawback), which has been deployed in customised versions for partners in Canada, Netherlands, Switzerland and France.
Revenue is generated across multiple streams: professional services fees for customs clearance and freight forwarding, managed services revenue from ETSF warehousing and bonded storage, licensing royalties from the Customs Central technology platform, and transaction fees from Customs ePay payment processing. The go-to-market is sales-led through a dedicated business development team supplemented by active participation in global logistics events (WMX, CILF, INTERMODAL, ECOMMERCE EXPO, GLA, Americas Freight Cargo Conference) and supported by content marketing, a podcast platform (CCL TV) and bilingual sales coverage through Beijing and Shanghai offices targeting Asian eCommerce exporters. Named enterprise customers include Sinotrans, Sprint Pack, SEKO Logistics, Wanb Express, PostNL and Shanghai Gehuang Express, with partnership durations of 3-8 years indicating strong retention.
CCL holds Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) certification from HMRC plus BIFA and IATA approved-agent status, providing regulatory standing as a trusted trader. It maintains direct integrations with HMRC's Customs Declaration Service, Amazon's Carrier Appointment Request Portal (CARP), and all major UK last-mile carriers (Royal Mail, DPD, Evri, Yodel), as well as Visa and Mastercard payment rails through Customs ePay. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed.
Customs Clearance firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Customs Clearance
- Legal name
- Customs Clearance Limited
- Website
- https://ccllhr.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Customs Clearance Limited is a UK-based gateway logistics and customs brokerage 3PL serving eCommerce retailers, freight forwarders and postal operators with customs clearance, ETSF warehousing, freight forwarding and a proprietary CCL Tech software suite, operating as a subsidiary of Lenton Group under GeoPost/DPD.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Customs Clearance industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Customs Brokerage and Gateway Logistics
- akta.pro primary industry
- Customs Consulting & Brokerage Outsourcing (Managed Brokerage, Brokerage Operations) (TLACAFAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Customs Bonded Distribution Centers (In-Bond DCs) (TLALAGAC), Import Customs Clearance (Entry Filing & Release) (TLACAFAA)
Keywords
Where Customs Clearance is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Middlesex
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Customs Clearance business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Customs Clearance Services: CCL provides customs brokerage and clearance services for goods imported into or exported from the UK and Eurozone. As an independent neutral third-party logistics (3PL) service provider, they handle customs clearance for freight forwarding clients, couriers, and eCommerce businesses.
- Gateway Logistics and Warehousing: ETSF warehouse services near Heathrow Airport providing storage, break bulk, and onward delivery for imported goods. Services include handling FBA boxes, same-day dispatch through distribution partners, and bonded storage for duty deferment.
- Technology Platform Licensing: CCL Tech suite including Customs Central, Customs ePay, and eTurns provides software solutions. Customs Central has been implemented in customized versions for partners including FB Express in Canada, YCC in Netherlands, and Belglobe in Switzerland.
- Freight Forwarding Services: Air freight, sea freight, road freight, and rail freight logistics services. CCL is an approved agent by BIFA and IATA with established partnerships worldwide to offer comprehensive shipping solutions.
- Import Duty and VAT Collection (Customs ePay): Payment processing platform for collecting import duty and VAT on DDU parcels from consignees, with convenience fees integrated into the service.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Customs ePay platform available as free mobile app download |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels9 records
Customs Clearance product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Customs Clearance Limited (CCL) is an independent neutral third-party gateway logistics provider specializing in cross-border customs brokerage, bonded warehousing (ETSF), and freight forwarding for eCommerce and FBA shipments entering UK and EU markets. It also offers a proprietary CCL Tech software suite — Customs Central (customs declaration automation), Customs ePay (import duty/VAT mobile payment), and eTurns (returns and duty drawback) — used internally and licensed to international partners.
Product overview
CCL operates as a gateway logistics and customs brokerage provider, offering two integrated pillars: CCL Service (manual and advisory cross-border logistics) and CCL Tech (digital technology products). CCL Tech is a modular platform consisting of three named products: Customs Central (digital customs declaration automation), Customs ePay (import duty/VAT mobile payment platform), and eTurns (returns and duty drawback processing). These three modules are designed to work together as an integrated supply chain solution for cross-border eCommerce — covering the full lifecycle of an eCommerce shipment from customs declaration through payment collection to returns. CCL Service covers the human-led customs clearance and logistics operations (FBA, B2C, freight forwarding), while CCL IT Solutions offers bespoke EMS design. The ETSF warehouse provides the physical infrastructure underpinning these digital services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Customs Central: Fully digital customs declaration platform for eCommerce and FBA shipments, streamlining UK and EU gateway logistics with automated data handling, HS code classification, real-time tracking, and bespoke tax reporting.
- Customs ePay
- eTurns
Products and services
- CCL Service Cross-border customs clearance and gateway logistics service covering Amazon FBA shipments, B2C direct-to-consumer shipments, DDU/DAP delivery, freight forwarding (air/sea/road/rail), and returns and duty drawback services for eCommerce retailers and logistics intermediaries.
- Customs Central Fully digital, end-to-end customs declaration platform automating data and document management for eCommerce and FBA shipments across UK and EU gateway hubs (London Heathrow, Paris CDG, Amsterdam Schiphol, Johannesburg). Features HS code classification, IOSS/BIRDs automation, real-time tracking, bespoke tax reporting, and duty drawback handling.
- Customs ePay One-stop import payment platform for DDU (Delivered Duty Unpaid) shipments enabling quick and secure online and mobile payment of import duty and VAT via credit card. Offers three-click payment, automated goods release on payment confirmation, scheduled email and SMS reminders, and dedicated gateway branding. Available on iOS and Android.
- eTurns International returns processing and duty drawback solution for eCommerce businesses, enabling recovery of import VAT and/or duty on undelivered or returned goods. Features QR-code-driven returns, parcel consolidation for export back to origin, and integration with Clicksit Returns for data-driven processing.
- ETSF Warehouse External Temporary Storage Facility (ETSF) located near London Heathrow Airport providing temporary storage for imported goods without immediate duty or customs fee payment, with a storage window of up to 90 days for customs nationalisation before final-mile delivery. Approximately 2,000 sqm, handling hundreds to thousands of FBA boxes daily.
- CCL IT Solutions Bespoke Enterprise Management System (EMS) design and consultancy services for gateway logistics operations, tailored to specific organisational needs. CCL has previously developed customised EMS systems for partners in Europe and North America.
Quantifiable outcome
- 62% of shoppers would stop buying from a brand after a poor return experience (Signifyd, 2023)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Customs Clearance
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Customs Clearance technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration9 records
AI capability3 records
Feature5 records
Customs Clearance partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.
- BIFA (British International Freight Association)coreCCL is an approved agent by BIFA, demonstrating professional standards and compliance in freight forwarding services.
- IATA (International Air Transport Association)coreCCL is an approved agent by IATA, providing accreditation for air freight services and operations.
- Royal MailcoreRoyal Mail is a key last-mile delivery partner for CCL, handling final-mile delivery of parcels to UK consumers as part of the cross-border eCommerce logistics chain.
- DPD UKcoreDPD is a major last-mile carrier partner collaborating with CCL for B2C customs clearance and delivery solutions.
- EvricoreEvri (formerly Hermes) partners with CCL for last-mile delivery solutions in the UK eCommerce logistics network.
- YodelcoreYodel is a key last-mile delivery partner for CCL, providing delivery from CCL's warehouse to final recipients including Amazon FBA centers.
- Clicksit ReturnsstrategicCCL partners with Clicksit Returns to automate returns processing through a single hub system for the eTurns platform, enabling data-driven returns with clear return reasons.
- FB Express (Canada)strategicFB Express in Canada uses a customized version of CCL's Customs Central software platform for their customs declaration operations.
- YCC (Netherlands)strategicYCC in the Netherlands has implemented a customized version of CCL's Customs Central software platform for their operations.
- Belglobe (Switzerland)strategicBelglobe in Switzerland uses a customized version of CCL's Customs Central software platform for their customs operations.
- Linex (France)coreCCL's core Customs Central software runs Linex operations in France as part of the Lenton Group network.
- British Chamber of Commerce in ShanghaistrategicCCL joined the British Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai in early 2025 to help Chinese/UK businesses expand internationally, benefiting from a dynamic network of international businesses, collaboration opportunities, and market insights.
- Amazon (CARP)coreCCL has its own CARP (Carrier Appointment Request Portal) account enabling direct delivery bookings with Amazon for FBA fulfillment, simplifying the process for clients.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Customs Clearance competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- FedEx Trade Networks: FedEx Trade Networks (now FedEx Logistics) is one of the largest customs brokerage and global trade services providers in the world, part of FedEx Corp. It is a broad incumbent providing customs, forwarding, and eCommerce fulfillment capabilities comparable in scope to CCL's stack, but on a vastly larger scale.
- DHL Global Forwarding: DHL Global Forwarding is Deutsche Post DHL Group's air and ocean freight forwarding unit, providing customs clearance, trade compliance, and eCommerce logistics worldwide. Its customs practice directly overlaps CCL's offerings, though as part of a much broader portfolio.
- C.H. Robinson: C.H. Robinson is a major global logistics platform with a sizable customs brokerage division (NAFTA and global trade services) plus digital customs tech. It is a broad incumbent serving many of the same freight forwarder and shipper customers as CCL, with significantly broader scale.
- Kuehne+Nagel: Kuehne+Nagel is one of the world's largest freight forwarders with integrated customs brokerage, contract logistics, and increasingly digital customs tooling. A broad incumbent with overlapping customs + eCommerce services but vastly larger scale and network breadth than CCL.
Direct peers
- Livingston International: Livingston International is one of North America's largest customs brokers and trade compliance specialists, with international gateway capabilities. Comparable in business model (neutral third-party customs broker serving forwarders and shippers) and in extending into technology-enabled customs services.
- JAS Worldwide: JAS is a global freight forwarder with deep customs brokerage and trade compliance services across air, sea, and road. It is a comparable specialist forwarder with a similar mix of physical and digital customs services targeting eCommerce and traditional freight customers.
- ePost Global: ePost Global is a US-based international shipping and logistics platform focused on cross-border eCommerce parcel, returns, and customs services. It competes directly with CCL on offering tech-enabled, brokerage-led cross-border eCommerce solutions for retailers.
- Landmark Global: Landmark Global is PostNL's cross-border logistics arm providing international parcel delivery, customs brokerage, and returns solutions for retail and eCommerce shippers. It is a direct competitor to CCL in UK/Europe gateway customs and parcel cross-border services, even sharing overlap with PostNL as a CCL customer.
- Asendia: Asendia is a Switzerland-headquartered cross-border eCommerce logistics company created by Swiss Post and La Poste, offering eCommerce parcel shipping, customs clearance, and returns processing across Europe and global corridors — a direct structural match to CCL's gateway brokerage plus ETSF plus eTurns model.
Emerging players
- Global-E: Global-E is a publicly listed cross-border eCommerce enablement platform providing landed cost calculation, duty/tax collection, and returns for DTC brands. It is an emerging tech player addressing the same cross-border eCommerce compliance and payment pain points as Customs ePay and eTurns, though as a SaaS-led merchant-facing solution rather than a 3PL broker.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat7 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Customs Clearance social profiles
Digital presenceCustoms Clearance compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Customs Clearance financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Customs Clearance leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Customs Clearance funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Customs Clearance M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Customs Clearance
What does Customs Clearance do?
Customs Clearance Limited (CCL) is an independent neutral third-party gateway logistics provider specializing in cross-border customs brokerage, bonded warehousing (ETSF), and freight forwarding for eCommerce and FBA shipments entering UK and EU markets. It also offers a proprietary CCL Tech software suite — Customs Central (customs declaration automation), Customs ePay (import duty/VAT mobile payment), and eTurns (returns and duty drawback) — used internally and licensed to international partners.
Is Customs Clearance a public or private company?
Customs Clearance is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Customs Clearance founded?
Customs Clearance was founded in 1999. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Customs Clearance based?
Customs Clearance is headquartered in Middlesex, United States, in the North America region.
How does Customs Clearance make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Customs Clearance Services are the primary driver. The others are gateway Logistics and Warehousing, technology Platform Licensing, freight Forwarding Services and import Duty and VAT Collection (Customs ePay).
Who are Customs Clearance's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are FedEx Trade Networks, DHL Global Forwarding, C.H. Robinson and Kuehne+Nagel. Direct peers are Livingston International, JAS Worldwide, ePost Global, Landmark Global and Asendia. Global-E is listed as an emerging player.
Does Customs Clearance have an API?
No public API is recorded for Customs Clearance.
What industry is Customs Clearance in?
Customs Clearance's product category is Customs Brokerage and Gateway Logistics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLACAFAI, Customs Consulting & Brokerage Outsourcing (Managed Brokerage, Brokerage Operations), with a secondary code of TLALAGAC, Customs Bonded Distribution Centers (In-Bond DCs).