The process of transporting a shipment abroad is quite varied and the documents to be provided in the face of different authorities are different, so which ones do you know?
Transport documents are an important part of any transport (China Air Freight / China Sea shipping / China Rail Freight). Customs in each country will determine the type of shipment based on the import and export documents provided by the shipper. It is not possible to import or export to various countries without providing transport documents, especially if you need to transport dangerous goods, chemicals, water samples or perishable goods, for which you may need to provide specified documents. These documents are particularly important during the shipping process.
Commercial invoices
In air, sea, rail freight or road freight, a commercial invoice helps you to do business with your customers. This document details the agreement between the seller and buyer, including the international trade terms involved in the sale and purchase of goods. The commercial invoice includes the names of the shipper and the consignee as the parties involved in the transportation of the goods purchased. This is to show that you have purchased a certain type and quantity of goods for him/her. This document details the type of goods purchased, the total value and the port of destination.
Bill of Lading
In air, sea, rail freight or road freight, the bill of lading is an important part of the process. The bill of lading shows that the goods have been received on board in the form of cargo ready for shipment to the contracted destination and signed by the shipping department of the carrier or sometimes by the ship’s owner. It is some written proof given by the shipping company to the consignee and it includes: the name of your consignor, the name of your consignee, information about the owner of the ship (for sea shipments), the name of the place of departure, the port, the price of the freight, the markings and the quantity of goods to be delivered.
The bill of lading is used by all parties involved in the transport of the goods. This means that you can fill in the bill of lading in many different ways. For example: – you may need to add additional details to comply with local customs or regulations – you may need to modify it according to how you want to invoice your customer – you may want to include other details specific to your business process
Insurance certificates
To protect your goods during transit and to ensure you are compensated in the event of loss or damage to your goods, you will need a certificate of insurance. This certificate will provide details of the goods being transported, the risks covered and will indicate the amount of insurance cover for the customer.
If you do not have a certificate of insurance for your goods, ask your freight forwarder to take care of this for you.
Packing list
When transporting your goods by air, sea, rail or road, the packing list is an important part of the transport process. The packing list contains details and information about the goods being transported. This information must be as detailed and accurate as possible, as it will be used to complete the paperwork associated with the shipment and to submit the necessary customs documents. The weight of the goods will determine which mode of transport is more economical. The type of cargo itself will also influence the choice of transport: for example, furniture is likely to be delivered by truck rather than by air.
For each type of cargo, there are different types of packing list: one for sea freight, another for air freight and another for road freight, as well as rail freight in China. Each of these needs to describe the contents of the container in an appropriate way.
Certificate of Origin (C/O)
A Certificate of Origin, also known as a C/O, is a document detailing the location of the origin of the items in the shipment. This document is usually required in order to meet trade and customs requirements. Some countries require importers to submit the C/O in order for the goods to be verified by customs/trade authorities. In some countries, the form must be submitted for importation.
