Puerto Logistica Canaria accelerates customs clearance by 60% with abemonTRANSPORT and abemonCUSTOMS

The challenge

Puerto Logistica Canaria is a full-service logistics operator based in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, specializing in maritime traffic between mainland Spain, the islands, and the West African coast. They manage imports, exports, transits, and free zone operations, with an average volume of 300 files per month.

The Canary Islands customs regime is one of the most complex in Europe. VAT doesn’t apply; instead, IGIC (Canary Islands General Indirect Tax) does, with multiple rates. AIEM exists as an additional tax on certain imports. SADs (Single Administrative Documents) have territory-specific particularities. And West African operations add a layer of complexity with certificates of origin, consular visas, and phytosanitary regulations that vary by country.

The customs clearance team, composed of 8 people, faced a growing volume of operations with a fundamentally manual process. Each SAD required manual verification of the tariff code, tax calculation (IGIC + AIEM when applicable), preparation of supporting documentation, and communication with the Tax Agency through the Customs system. An error in a single field could mean a detention, a penalty, or both.

Customs detentions were a chronic pain point. An average of 12 files per month suffered some type of detention due to documentary errors or declaration discrepancies. Each detention generated a direct cost (port storage, transport delays) and an indirect cost (client complaints, reputation damage).

The solution

The Blueprint revealed that 75% of errors generating detentions were avoidable with automatic validation: incorrect tariff codes, incomplete customs values, missing documentation, and incorrect tax calculations.

We implemented a combined solution of abemonTRANSPORT for logistics operations and abemonCUSTOMS for customs compliance, built on three Engine layers:

Integration connected the port systems (PORTIC), the Tax Agency (AEAT/Customs system), shipping lines, ground carriers, and the company’s ERP in a continuous data flow. When a shipping line confirms a booking, the system automatically receives the cargo manifest, identifies the affected files, and begins documentary preparation before the vessel reaches port.

Orchestration automated the complete customs clearance flow. The system receives the file data, classifies the goods with AI assistance (suggesting the most likely tariff code based on description and history), automatically calculates IGIC, import IGIC, and AIEM when applicable, generates the SAD draft with all validated fields, compiles supporting documentation, and submits the declaration to Customs electronically.

The customs broker no longer fills out forms. They review and approve the system’s proposals. Their work has transformed from data entry to quality control.

Data unified definitions and master data. Tariff headings are kept up to date with regulatory changes. Preferential origin agreements are applied automatically when certificates are in the system. The history of each type of goods feeds the classification model, which improves with each operation.

The results

Customs clearance time was reduced by 60%. A clearance that previously required 4-6 hours of manual work is now completed in 1.5-2 hours, including the broker’s review. Documentation is prepared before the vessel reaches port, which allows same-day clearance upon discharge in most cases.

Tariff classification accuracy reached 95%. The AI model suggests the correct code 95% of the time. In the remaining 5%, the broker corrects and the system learns. Detentions due to classification errors dropped from 12 per month to fewer than 1.

The team’s capacity tripled. With the same 8 people, Puerto Logistica Canaria now handles over 900 files per month. Growth was absorbed without additional hiring.

In the last 12 months, the company has not received a single customs penalty. Automatic validation catches errors before the declaration is submitted. Problems are resolved in the office, not at the customs window.

Engine layers used

• Integration: Connectivity with port systems, Tax Agency, shipping lines, carriers, and ERP. Anticipatory data flow based on cargo manifests.
• Orchestration: Automated customs clearance workflow. AI-assisted classification, tax calculation, SAD generation, document compilation, and electronic submission.
• Data: Updated tariff heading master data, classification history, preferential origin agreements, and AI model that improves with each operation.