Our Approach

Our Story

Néstor Reyes, Inc. is Puerto Rico's No. 1 U.S. Customs Brokers & Freight Forwarders Firm, and Free Trade Zone Consultants, currently handles import and exports transactions, as well as domestic shipments, for many companies in the Island.


Initial Beginings

NRI was founded by Néstor Reyes, a Customhouse Broker, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Established in 1973, by the name of Néstor Reyes, with only three employees and one office, Néstor Reyes Inc. has become the Principal Customs Broker Firm in the Island having two offices and serving all the three principal Marine Ports of Entry as well as the two International Airports. What started as a small air shipments operation eventually expanded its services to include marine shipments import transactions.

As the number of transactions grew, so did the company. In 1982, Mr. Edmundo Rodríguez, current President & CEO, became a licensed U.S. Customhouse Broker. That same year, Néstor Reyes became Néstor Reyes Incorporated (NRI). Five years later, in 1987, Mr. Angel C. Escalera, Administrative Vice President, became part of the NRI family, and the Aguadilla Rafael Hernandez Airport office was established in the Northwestern coast of the Island.

In 1986 we received our FMC License, and have handled Marine & Air Exports ever since. We are also NVOCC’s (Non Vessel Operator Cargo Consolidator) since 2003.


Purchase of Company

In 2002, after working at Nestor Reyes, Inc. for 29 years, Edmundo Rodríguez, current President & CEO, acquired the company and all of its assets. Nowadays, NRI is the most well-rounded and competitive service provider of its kind, being able to provide services as U.S. Customs Brokerage, Freight Forwarding, and Foreign Trade Zone development and consulting.

In 2005, Rodríguez purchased Imex Zone Logistics, Inc. NRI’s sister company. ImEx, has been servicing the export community for over seven years specializing in e-commerce fulfillment, full service third party logistics, public/contract warehousing, and integrated marketing and logistics. ImEx operates under FTZ #61 and has provided NRI with a hub for warehousing and distribution.


Leading the way to Effective Local Trade Policies

Being a native industry, Néstor Reyes, Inc. has always been involved in the development of key Trade Programs for the Island, such as the Caribbean Basin Initiative, for which we developed the Public Policy for former Governor Rafael Hernández Colón. We were also engaged in the training of the CBI Office personnel, which was part of Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company (PRIDCO). In 1990, when CBI-II became a permanent program, NRI submitted a Ruling Request to U.S. Customs, which was acknowledged in 1992, to exempt from Merchandise Processing Fees any article assembled and/or manufactured completely of U.S./Puerto Rican components. As result, all fees collected during those 2 years were refunded to importers in Puerto Rico and the U.S.

NRI has extensive experience an has acted as Consultants to San Juan Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ # 61) and to the expansion of FTZ # 7, Puerto Rico Foreign-Trade Zone. This “Mega Zone” Project, as it is commonly known, created the largest non-contiguous FTZ in the U.S. Territory, allowing local companies established/operating within a PRIDCO Property to become a Sub-Zone or Distribution Center.

In 1995, Néstor Reyes, Inc. was chosen as member of the Puerto Rican Commission for Free Trade Agreement to analyze the impact of recent Free-Trade Agreements signed by the U.S. Government, such as NAFTA in 1993 and GATT in 1995, to Puerto Rican laws. As part of the U.S. Customs Territory, Puerto Rico is affected by all treaties signed by the President.

With the help of ImEx Zone Logistics, Inc., sister company of NRI, Néstor Reyes, Inc. has developed the concept of “Puerto Rico as a Transshipment Hub”. This combines the Fiscal and Operational advantages of using San Juan Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ # 61) as a warehouse / distribution center which provides 4% Flat Tax for sales outside Puerto Rico, including the United States. No municipal Taxes are paid while the merchandise is under FTZ status.


Networking Relationships

Néstor Reyes, Inc. works directly with U.S. Government agencies, such as U.S. Customs Service, “Negociado de Arbitrios Generales” (Local Excise Tax Department), World Trade Organization (GATT Uruguay Round of 1994), Federal Department of Commerce and Puerto Rico Commerce Dept. (NAFTA 1993), Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company (PRIDCO); Puerto Rico Trade (Compañía de Comercio y Exportación de Puerto Rico) and Puerto Rico Foreign Trade Zone Users Association among others.

Having established partnerships with worldwide agent BDP International, NRI, provides all-inclusive Integrated Logistics Services, including door-to-door service to / from most major cities around the world, serving as International Trade Consultants for major industries inside and outside the Island.


Foreign Trade Zones Consultants

NRI has developed extensive expertise being and acting as the only Puerto Rican based Foreign Trade Zone Program Consultants, having been instrumental in the development of a vast majority of Foreign Trade Zone Projects in the Island. We currently (2012) handle over 60% of all Active FTZ Projects in the Island. For the years, 2010 & 2011, over 80% of new FTZ Projects were promoted by us.


C-TPAT and FDA Compliance

Being a firm believer of the protection and promotion of the U.S. Nation and Trade Community Safety, Néstor Reyes, Inc. is the first Puerto Rican based U.S. Customs Brokerage and Freight Forwarder Firm – and the fifth one nationwide – to be elected as member of the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT); a dual initiative between the Government and the Public/Private Business Sector launched to promote safer Trade and Supply Chain Management. NRI was also one of the first companies to comply with the new FDA (Federal and Drug Administration) Bioterrorism Act of 2002, including the Prior Notice requirements on Imports after December 2003.


Customs & Trade Institute

The firm has also established the first International Trade Institute in the Caribbean, the Customs & Trade Institute (CTI), an educational and training initiative developed to provide companies with Customs Compliance Assessment, Pre-Audit evaluations, Weakness Identification, and Assistance on Implementing Corrective Actions, when needed. CTI also helps broaden in-depth knowledge on import / export essential areas such as Customs laws and Procedures and International and Global Trade Aspects. The Institute imparts in-house and public conferences and seminars to key company officials and personnel throughout the Island. Some of the seminars already conferred include: “Import/Export Procedures”, “Assessment to Customs Compliance”; “How to be Competitive in Today’s Globalization”, “Foreign Trade Zones”, “E-Logistics & International Trade” among others. We recently added the Tutorials for the Customs Broker Exam.

After 35 years of excellent service, NRI has reassured its commitment with the import/export industry, maintaining and providing its high standards of professional excellence in the field, in a cost effective environment, maximizing the benefits of their clientele and promoting their success by fulfilling the requirements of today’s Global Trade.