The time between signing a green coffee contract and having the beans in a Gulf warehouse is longer than the sea voyage alone. It usually includes milling and bagging at origin, pre-shipment sample approval, export paperwork, securing space on a vessel, a transit that may involve transhipment at a regional hub, and import clearance on arrival. When vessel space is tight, a container can also be rolled to a later sailing, adding days or weeks with little warning.
Atlas can help plan an order backward from the date the roaster needs the coffee in stock, and confirm the booking, planned vessel and any transhipment port with the buyer before the coffee leaves origin. Buyers should place their next order well before current stock runs low, keep a safety buffer of green coffee on hand, and avoid tying a new blend launch or seasonal promotion to a single shipment. Schedules remain subject to the shipping line and port operations.