Important Export documents you should know

Its been business time and you are excited about cracking the deal having found the precise buyers for your products offshore. What’s next in your mind is sure to find out the best ways and means to deliver your products to your customers. For those who have been in business for quite a while now are quite familiar about the procedures and various intricacies involved in delivering goods but it won’t be the same for many who have just started doing business in particular to buyers outside one’s country.

A lot of time and effort is involved in planning the delivery of your goods especially when you have to move your goods which will have to cross foreign waters.  You have to prepare for the shipment of goods to a foreign buyer which will be based on certain specific terms and agreements.  As your goods need to cross borders on foreign waters there are certain key documents which are essentials to support the export of goods from one country to another. Hence it is very important to understand these documents to carry out any export of goods. A few key documents are as follows:

• • Bill of Lading: This is one of the most important and common documents one comes across and is used in every international shipping, also a must know. The document normally will contain what goods are to be shipped, the origin and the destinations of the goods and once the shipment is picked this document will serve as a receipt which will be issued by the carrier.

• • Certificate of Origin: Basically this document is used to identify the country where the goods have been manufactured or made. It is prepared by the manufacturer and is certified by the respective government entity responsible or the chamber of commerce.

• • Commercial Invoice: This is a document which will have the entire export transaction which will also include the shipping terms once your international sale is complete and the goods are ready to ship out. This can be considered as one of the most important document as it provides all critical information and instructions to all the parties involved in the transaction.

• • Consular Invoice: This document is generally not required in all the countries and is a form which is available through the consular representative of the country you are shipping to. The document certifies the shipment of goods.

• • Dock Receipts: This is a document which is a receipt which is used to provide exporter with a proof that the delivery of goods to the international carrier was successful and was in good condition.

• • Inspection Certificate: A very credible certificate that is done with perishable, industrial equipment or meat products and it certifies that the items received are in good condition and the shipment contained the exact quantity.

• • Insurance Certificate: As liability and losses are always a major concern to the exporters its imperative that the goods or shipment are well covered under insurances. This document certifies that you have bought an insurance policy for the cargo.

• • Packing List: Though this seems to be similar to the shipping list a packing list will have the goods being shipping, all information on how the goods are packed, numbered and the weight and height dimensions. It is also an important document which is used by freight forwarders in order to prepare the bill of lading.

If you have any consultations required for Export Shipping and Logistics transportation then we have a very committed team of professionals to help you out. You can get in touch with us at Nautical Cargo any time of the day or drop it an Email to info@nauticalcargo.in