In June 2014, Leader Mutual Freight System was entrusted by Sumitomo Chemical, a firm listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, with the dismantlement and transportation of its fertilizer production factory in China. The monumental assignment was secured by Julie Xu, general manager of Leader Mutual’s Dalian Branch who made several trips between Liaodong Peninsula and Sumitomo’s headquarters in Japan to present a comprehensive work-flow proposal.

It took four months to dismantle Dalian Zhuhua Jingang Chemical Industry Limited Company’s fertilizer plant before its transport to Japan. The endeavor encompassed demolishment, crane operations, sanitization and waste disposal, and packaging of large- and irregular-shaped items for short-distance land transport and transnational shipping.

From there, tasks included paperwork for customs declaration, booking of ship routes and cargo space, loading and securing all items for maritime transport, and unloading everything upon arrival at their final destination in Japan.

Leader Mutual also handled communications with — and inspections by — regulatory bodies such as the PRC’s State Administration of Work Safety, China Fire and Rescue, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Public Security, and Dalian Customs. Logistics included finding shipping partners and meeting port standards.

From fertilizer-manufacturing equipment measuring up to 100 tonnes in weight and 30 meters in length, to the humble screw used in factory valve doors, Leader Mutual tailored all packaging and logistics to specifications listed by Sumitomo Chemical, documenting and photographing each step of the way.

Then came the customs paperwork, starting from applying for tax exemption for return shipments, compiling the required documents, and categorizing the goods based on China’s dual-use items’ list for export control purposes. Leader Mutual delivered all the paperwork correctly, down to each and last customs receipt and departure stamp.

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