What is a freight forwarder in green coffee logistics?

A freight forwarder is a logistics intermediary who arranges the transportation of goods on behalf of importers and exporters. In the green coffee supply chain, freight forwarders handle the practical complexity of moving coffee from origin ports to destination warehouses - booking ocean freight, coordinating port handling, preparing or checking shipping documentation, managing customs clearance, and arranging onward domestic delivery.

Most green coffee importers use freight forwarders to manage their shipments, and the cost of their services is typically built into the freight and handling charges that appear on your invoice. When you buy green coffee from a UK importer at CIF or DDP terms, you may never deal with a freight forwarder directly - the importer absorbs that role.

Where freight forwarders become directly relevant to roasters is when buying closer to origin - at FOB or FCA terms - where the buyer is responsible for arranging their own freight. In that case, you'll need to appoint a freight forwarder to handle the shipment from origin port onwards. They'll typically also handle customs clearance in the destination country, either directly or through a customs broker they work with. For new roasters buying from UK importers at landed or DDP prices, understanding the freight forwarder's role helps make sense of the logistics chain even when you're not dealing with one directly.