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Europe and America have holidays in July and August, but what about South America?
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We mainly focus on the European and American markets, and every year in July and August, our clients are on summer vacation, so our business operations basically come to a halt. Now we want to prioritize developing the South American market. Could you please tell me if they also take summer vacation in July and August? How will this affect our shipments, customs clearance, and client communication?
Evelyn LiYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Cross-border Compliance SupervisorStart a Chat
South American countries do not have a unified summer vacation like Europe and the United States in July-August，but the compliance risks may be even higher，requiring differentiated treatment. Countries in the Southern Cone such as Brazil and Argentina have a two-week winter vacation in mid-to-late July. Although customs and commodity inspection departments maintain staffing，the approval efficiency will drop by 30-50%. Countries like Chile and Peru do not have nationwide long holidays，but Peru celebrates Independence Day on July 28 with a three-day holiday. The key point is that port operations remain largely normal during this period，but the approval of documents such as certificates of origin and permits may be delayed，leading to cargo delays and additional port fees. It is recommended to handle all documents 15 days in advance and purchase insurance for delays caused by government actions. Particularly，Colombia and Ecuador do not observe winter vacation，but have local festivals in late August，which may cause confusion. All documents must be double-checked，and customs spot checks may even increase during holidays.
Andy GuoYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Supply Chain Management ExpertStart a Chat
South America experiences winter from July to August, with logistics operations running in complete opposite to those in Europe and the United States during summer. While port terminals generally operate normally, staff at shipping companies' local offices, customs brokers, and inland transportation companies may take rotating breaks, leading to slower response times. During July 15-31, document processing efficiency at Santos Port in Brazil and Buenos Aires Port in Argentina will significantly decline, so it is recommended to book shipping space three weeks in advance. Valparaiso Port in Chile remains relatively stable, but inland transportation should pay attention to the problem of road icing in the Andes Mountains during winter. From a practical perspective, it is advisable to choose CIF or DDP clauses to transfer the risk of delays to freight forwarders. Additionally, allow 3-5 extra working days for document preparation and prepare both electronic and paper versions simultaneously. As far as possible, use L/C as the payment method to avoid buyers delaying payments during holidays. It is essential to obtain winter operation schedules for various South American countries from freight forwarders now, rather than waiting until the goods arrive at the port only to find no one to receive them.
Victor SunYears of service：5Customer Rating：5.0
Trade Risk Control ManagerStart a Chat
This is a good question, as many foreign trade professionals have encountered pitfalls here. South American clients do take vacations in July and August, but the pattern is different - they usually take dispersed vacations, unlike the collective holidays in Europe and America. Brazilian clients tend to start their 2-week vacation from the second week of July, while Argentine clients may take intermittent vacations throughout July. Communication strategies need to be adjusted: Confirm all urgent matters before the end of June, and mark emails with the subject "[URGENT]" to ensure they get noticed. This period is actually a good opportunity to build personal relationships. You can send messages to inquire about their winter vacation arrangements and casually explore their purchasing plans. Clearly mark the validity period of quotes until early September to avoid clients using the "didn't see it during the holidays" excuse to negotiate lower prices. For payment methods, try to collect a 30% deposit for orders received in July and August to reduce the risk of clients backing out after the holidays. Remember, South American clients value personal connections. Sending a holiday card or greeting during the vacation period can help strengthen relationships with them more easily than with European and American clients, paving the way for a busy September season.