A.T.A. Carnet

The A.T.A. (Admission Temporaire - Temporary Admission) Carnet is an international customs document designed to simplify and streamline the transit of goods and the temporary importation procedures between signatory countries.

Bill of Lading / Airway Bill of Lading

A bill of lading is a document of title, a receipt for shipped goods, and a contract between a carrier and shipper. For shipments shipped on board a vessel, a bill of lading is issued by a sea carrier while for items transported by air, an airway bill of lading is issued by an air carrier.

Carrier

refers to airlines, shipping lines, or their agents (NVOCC/IFF).

Certificate of Origin

A Certificate of Origin (CO) is an important international trade document that certifies that goods in a particular export shipment are wholly obtained, produced, manufactured, or processed in a particular country. They declare the ‘nationality’ of the product and also serve as a declaration by the exporter to satisfy customs or trade requirements.

Closing time

Closing date (closing time) - the deadline for delivery of the goods to the port indicated by the shipowner, where there is to be loaded. Adherence to the agreed deadline allows the loading of the goods to the ship on time, according to the booking. (LCL).

Commercial Invoice

It is a legal document issued by the seller (exporter) to the buyer (importer) in an international transaction and serves as a contract and proof of sale between the buyer and seller.

Cut-off

the deadline for delivery of the goods to the port indicated by the shipowner, where there is to be loaded. Adherence to the agreed deadline allows the loading of the container to the ship on time, according to the booking. The concept of cut-off applies only to freight FCL (FLC - Full Container Loading).

CY/CY

essentially means ‘Container Yard to Container Yard’, referring to the Carrier’s port or terminal where goods are dispatched and the delivery port or terminal where a consignee accepts the goods.

CFS

Container freight station is mainly used for less than container load (LCL) shipments where the goods need to be consolidated before being loaded on board and de-consolidated after they are off-loaded from the vessel.

Delivery

refers to bringing of goods to a specific or to a carrier/forwarder at the country of origin or destination and used as a reference point when liability against risk for loss of or damage to the goods passes on from seller to buyer.

Freight collects

means the main carriage was paid by the buyer upon arrival of imported goods at the country of destination and not included in the seller’s invoice price.

Freight pre-paid

means the main carriage for the exported goods was paid by seller prior to departure from the country of origin and therefore included in the seller’s invoice price.

Internal Insurance

insurance coverage taken up by the seller to cover risks against loss or damage to the goods while in transit from his premises to a delivery point at origin.

Main carriage

refers to freight cost, by air or sea, charged by the carrier (airlines/shipping lines) or amount paid by the shipper to carrier for the transport of goods from the country of origin to the country of destination.

Material Data Safety Sheet

- A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is a document produced in alignment with the UN’s Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) that the manufacturer, importer, or distributor of a chemical product is required to provide to downstream users. The purpose of an MSDS is to ensure that all workers who handle chemicals have the hazard information they need to safely use, handle and store them.

Multimodal transport

refers to inter-continental transit of goods involving main carriage that can be carried out both by air and by sea.

On-Carriage

refers to the cost of transport for hauling goods from the port of discharge to buyer’s warehouse or designated place at destination. Also known as “Destination Inland Freight”.

Origin/Destination LCL Charges

refers to a cost of handling and moving loose or breakbulk cargoes within a seaport at the country of origin or destination.

Origin/Destination Terminal Handling Charges

refers to cost of handling and moving containerized cargoes within the terminal facilities of a seaport at the country of origin or destination.

Other Charges

refers to incidental expenses (except main carriage and port to port insurance) incurred by the seller/exporter in relation to fulfilling his contractual obligation to deliver the goods for each of the 11 incoterms.

Packing List

A packing list is a document used in international trade. It provides the exporter, international freight forwarder, and ultimate consignee with accurate and clear information about the shipment, including the quantity, how it's packed (such as boxes, crates, drums, etc.), the dimensions, the net weight and gross weight of each package, and the marks and numbers that are noted on the outside of the boxes.

Port to Port Insurance

generic name for cargo insurance. It refers to the insurance premium paid in the international transport of goods by air/sea. This is procured by the buyer or seller to cover risks against loss or damage to the cargo during pendency of the voyage from the country of origin to the destination.

Pre-carriage

refers to the cost of transport for hauling goods from seller’s premises to a designated point at the country of origin. Also known as Origin Inland Freight.

Product Brochure

It is a pamphlet or booklet that contains pictures and information on a product. The Bureau of Customs often requires a more detailed description of the merchandise for correct tariff classification.

Proforma Invoice

A proforma invoice is a preliminary bill or estimated invoice that is used to request payment from the committed buyer for goods or services before they are supplied. A proforma invoice includes a description of the goods, the total payable amount and other details about the transaction.

Proof of Payment

To verify the value declared in the commercial invoice, the submission of the proof of payment and purchase order of the buyer to the seller. Proof of payment could be in the form of telegraphic transfer, proof of wire transfers, and credit card payments.

Purchase Order

A purchase order is a commercial source document that is issued by a business’s purchasing department when placing an order with its vendors or suppliers. The document indicates the details of the items that are to be purchased, such as the types of goods, quantity, and price. In simple terms, it is the contract drafted by the buyer when purchasing goods from the seller.

Sailing schedule

shipping details such as vessel, its voyage number, the ETA and ETD dates, and the ports of call.

Transit Time

the total time it takes for goods to get from Point A to Point B, measured in hours and/or days.