Glossary
ALL
A/N (Arrival Notice)
A Notice from a carrier to let the buyer know the shipment has arrived.
Air waybill
A bill of lading that covers both domestic and international air transport of goods to a specified destination. This serves as a receipt for the shipper, indicating that the carrier has accepted the goods listed and obligates itself to carry the consignment to the airport of destination according to specified conditions.
B/L(Bill of Landing)
A document issued by a carrier which serves as a receipt for the goods to be delivered to a designated person or to his order.
BAF(Bunker Adjustment factor)
A percentage of the freight added to or deducted in order to reflect the current cost of fuel.
Bonded warehouse
A warehouse authorized by Customs authorities for storage of goods on which payment of duties is deferred until the goods are removed.
C&F (Cost and Freight)
Seller owns goods until they are loaded on vessel; selling price includes all costs so far plus cost of freight. The buyer is responsible for insurance.
C/O
Notary
Halal Food Certificate
Kosher Food Certificate
Genetically Modified/non-modified Food Certificate
Agricultural Chemical Use Certificate
CAF(Currency Adjustment Factor)
An ancillary charge on some ocean freight shipments, expressed as a percentage of a base rate, to compensate ocean carriers for fluctuations in the value of the U.S. dollar against foreign currencies.
CFS（Container Freight Station）
A carrier facility where less-than-container load shipments are consolidated for shipment or unloaded for final delivery.
CIF (Cost Insurance and Freight)
Seller owns goods until they are loaded on vessel; selling price includes all costs so far plus cost of ocean marine insurance.
Carrier
The company that transportｓ goods from one point to another.
Certificate
We issue various certificates. See "What are the common certificates?"(Help - Exporting / Importing) for more information.
Certificate of Inspection
A document certifying that merchandise was in good condition immediately prior to its shipment.
Certificate of Insurance
A document stating that insurance is in effect.
Certificate of Origin
A document, required by certain foreign countries for tariff purposes, certifying the country of origin of specified goods.
Commercial invoice
An itemized list of goods shipped, usually included among an exporter's collection papers.
Customhouse Broker
An individual or firm licensed to enter and clear goods through Customs.
Customs
The authorities designated to collect duties levied by a country on imports and exports. The term also applies to the procedures involved in such collection.
DC(Dry Container)
A dry container capable of accommodating bulk cargo
EMS(Express Mail Service)
The fastest mail service for all international destinations that comes with many other great features.
ETA(Estimate Time of Arrival)
A measure of when a shipment is expected to arrive at a certain place.
ETD(Estimate Time of Departure)
A measure of when a shipment is expected to departure at loading place.
FAF(Fuel Adjustment Factor)
Also referred to as BAF or bunker adjustment factor.
FAS(Free Alongside)
A pricing term indicating that the quoted price includes the cost of delivering the goods alongside a designated vessel.
FCL(Full Container Load)
Sole use of a sea freight-shipping container.
FDA(Food and Drug Administration)
An agency within the U.S. Public Health Service, which is a part of the Department of Health and Human Services.
FEU(Forty Foot Equivalent Unit)
Commonly describes a 40-foot container.
FOB (Free On Board)
Seller pays the shipping costs from the point of manufacture to a specified destination, at which point the buyer takes responsibility.
Form A
A certificate to prove the original production country which can be used as duty free form.
Gross Weight
The full weight of a shipment, including goods and packaging.
HLC(Heavy Lift Charge)
A charge made for lifting heavy articles to load or unload them.
I/A(Independent action)
An ocean shipping conference member carrier sets a tariff for a rate or service that is different from the established conference tariff.
IPI(Interior Points Intermodal)
A term used by ocean carriers to describe door to door delivery service.
Import License
A document required and issued by some national governments for the importation of goods into their country.
L/C (Letter of Credit)
A letter issued by a bank authorizing the bearer to draw a stated amount of money from the issuing bank, its branches, or other associated banks or agencies.
L/G (Letter of Guarantee)
A document which can be used as B/L.
LCL(Less Than Container Load)
A quantity of product/commodity less than the amount needed to completely fill a container.
MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity)
Minimum order is required for some products.
Manifest
An invoice of cargo
Marine Insurance
Insurance that compensates the owner of goods transported overseas in the event of loss that cannot be legally recovered from the carrier. Also covers air shipments.
NOVOCC (non-vessel operating common carrier)
Cargo consolidator of small shipments in ocean trade, generally arranging for, or performing, containerization functions at the port.
Open Insurance Policy
A marine insurance policy that applies to all shipments made by an exporter over a period of time rather than to one shipment only.
Packing List
A document about the details (item name, number, weight,) of shipments.
Paypal
PayPal lets you send money to anyone with email. See www.paypal.com for more information.
Perils of the sea
A marine insurance term used to designate heavy weather, stranding, lightning, collision, and sea water damage.
Pro forma invoice
An invoice provided by a supplier prior to the shipment of merchandise, informing the buyer of the kinds and quantities of goods to be sent, their value, and important specifications.
Reefer Container
a refrigerated container used in intermodal freight transport for transportation of temperature sensitive cargo.
S/I (Shipping Instructions)
Important information for transport, handling and insurance of shipment.
SOC (Shipper Own Container)
A container that is owned by shipper.
Shipment
Freight tendered to a carrier by one consignor at one place for delivery to one consignee at one place on one bill of lading.
