Outlined below are some of the key abbreviations used in international export. Some are legal or contractual definitions; you are therefore advised to contact your local Chamber for further information if required.
ANF Arrival Notification Form
Arab-British Certificate of Origin Customs clearance requirement in some countries to evidence the origin of the goods for Arab League States
ASEAN Association of South East Asia Nations
ATR Movement Certificate Entitles goods, which are in 'free circulation' in the EU to receive preferential import duty treatment when shipped to Turkey
ATA Carnet International customs document that allows the duty-free and tax-free temporary export and import of goods for up to one year.
AV Average Value - freight rate based on average value of goods shipped
AWB Air Waybill
BD Bond guarantee to Customs for payment of duty or tax
BE Bill of Exchange
BS Bill of Sight
CAD Cash Against Documents
CCC Customs Clearance Certificate
CET Central European Time
CFR Cost and Freight Seller delivers the goods on board the vessel or procures the goods already so delivered. The risk of loss of or damage to the goods passes when the goods are on board the vessel
CIF Cost of Insurance & Freight
CIF&C Cost of Insurance & Freight & Commission
CIFC&I Cost of Insurance, Freight, Commission & Interest
CIP Carriage And Insurance Paid To. Seller delivers goods to the carrier or another person nominated by the seller to an agreed place. Seller must contract for and pay the costs of carriage necessary to bring the goods to the named place of destination.
CPD Charter Pays Due
CPT Carriage Paid To. The seller delivers the goods to the carrier or another person nominated by the seller at an agreed place. The seller must contract for and pay the costs of carriage necessary to bring the goods to the named place of destination
CRN Customs Registered Number
CTC Customs Tariff Code
DAN Deferment Account Number
DAT Delivered At Terminal. Seller delivers goods; once unloaded from the arriving means of transport, they are placed at the disposal of the buyer at a named terminal at the named port or place of destination
DAP Delivered At Place Seller delivers goods when placed at the disposal of the buyer on the arriving means of transport ready for unloading at the named place of destination
DDP Delivered Duty Paid
DDU Delivered Duty Unpaid
ECGD Export Credits Guarantee Department
ETA Estimated Time of Arrival
ETD Estimated Time of Departure
EXW Ex Works. Goods deemed to have been delivered when the seller places the goods at the disposal of the buyer at their premises or at another named place (i.e.,works, factory, warehouse, etc.)
EU Certificates of Origin Commercial or Customs clearance requirement to evidence the origin of the goods
EUR1 Movement Certificate Supports claims for preferential (often zero) rates of duty in the country of importation
FAS Free Alongside Ship - Seller delivers goods when they are placed alongside the vessel (e.g., on a quay or a barge) nominated by the buyer at the named port of shipment
FCA Free Carrier “Free Carrier” means that the seller delivers the goods to the carrier or another person nominated by the buyer at the seller’s premises or another named place, the risk passes to the buyer at this point
FCR Freight Forwarders Certificate of Receipt
FOB Free On Board Seller delivers the goods on board the vessel nominated by the buyer at the named port of shipment
GRS WT Gross Weight
GRT Gross Registered Tonnage
GSP Generalised System of Preferences
ID Import Duty
ISO International Standards Organisation
ITOPS International Trade Operations and Procedures
LEC Local Export Clearance
MaWB Master Air Waybill
NCV No Commercial Value
NET WT Net Weight
OBN Overseas Business Network
Per Pro On behalf of
POD Proof of Delivery
SB Short Bill
SCP Simplified Customs Procedure
SN Shipping Note
SWL Safe Working Load
TARE Weight of a container without goods
TQ Tariff Quota
WB Waybill
WTO World Trade Organisation
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