Cross-border sales and supply chains

Import export business insurance

Business insurance for importers, exporters, wholesalers, online sellers and distributors with overseas suppliers, overseas customers or cross-border product exposure.

Unusual trades New ventures Imports and exports Prior disclosures

Who this page is for

Creates a broader SME import/export target beyond the existing manufacturing-specific import and export pages.

Imports and exports can change products liability, contracts, jurisdiction, transit, stock, customs and recall exposure. The insurer needs to know where goods come from, where they go and who is responsible if something fails.

Who we can help

  • UK importers bringing products from overseas suppliers.
  • Exporters selling goods or services outside the UK.
  • Online sellers using marketplaces, fulfilment centres or international suppliers.
  • Wholesalers and distributors with goods in transit, stock and contractual liability exposure.

What insurers usually need

  • Countries imported from and exported to.
  • Product type, labelling, instructions, testing and traceability.
  • Contracts, Incoterms, fulfilment arrangements and responsibility for transit.
  • Turnover split by territory, platform, customer type and product group.

Placement notes

  • Importing consumer products can create greater liability than simply reselling UK-sourced stock.
  • Exports may require territory-specific limits, exclusions or insurer approval.
  • Goods in transit and stock cover should match how goods actually move and where they are stored.

Why disclosure matters

  • A product imported from overseas causes injury and the UK seller is pursued because the manufacturer is outside easy legal reach.
  • A shipment is damaged in transit and the contract terms decide who carries the loss.

Related non-standard insurance pages

Non-standard business insuranceSpecialist business insurance for UK firms that do not fit standard online schemes, including unusual trades, new ventures, prior financial issues, imports, exports and work at height. Hard to place business insuranceBusiness insurance for UK SMEs that have been declined, referred or restricted by standard markets because of trade, claims, disclosures, premises or unusual activities. New venture business insuranceBusiness insurance for new ventures, start-ups and first-year trading businesses that need liability, property, stock, tools, products or employers' liability cover. Unusual products business insuranceInsurance for businesses selling, importing, making or distributing unusual products where product liability, recall, stock, labelling and overseas sourcing need review.

Common questions

Do importers need product liability insurance?

Often yes. Importers can face liability even when another company manufactured the product.

Can business insurance cover exports?

Sometimes, but insurers need to know the countries, products, contracts and turnover split before agreeing terms.

Is goods in transit included automatically?

Not always. Transit cover, stock cover and marine cargo cover should be checked against the actual supply chain.

Need a quote for a non-standard business?

Tell us what the business really does, what has made it hard to place, and what cover you need. We will review the details and route the enquiry to suitable commercial insurance markets where possible.

Start a business insurance quote