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our Essential Export-Import Logistics Glossary
1. Core Documentation & Title Terms
These are the most important legal documents that define the transaction and the cargo’s movement.
| Term | Abbreviation | Definition |
| Bill of Lading | B/L or BOL | A legal document issued by the carrier (or agent) to the shipper. It serves three functions: Receipt of cargo, Contract of carriage, and Document of Title (allowing the holder to take possession of the goods). |
| Commercial Invoice | CI | The primary document used by customs to determine duties and taxes. It’s issued by the seller to the buyer and details the product description, quantity, price, and terms of sale (Incoterm). |
| Air Waybill | AWB | A non-negotiable document issued by an air carrier. It serves as a receipt for the shipper and evidences the contract of carriage. It is NOT a document of title. |
| Certificate of Origin | CoO | A document that certifies the country in which the goods were produced or manufactured. It is essential for claiming preferential tariff rates under Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). |
| Bill of Entry | BoE | A legal document filed by the Importer (or their agent) with Customs at the destination port. It is required to get imported goods cleared from the Customs authority. |
2. Incoterms® (International Commercial Terms)
These are 11 internationally recognized rules published by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) that define the responsibilities, costs, and risks between buyers and sellers in international trade.
| Term | Definition of Responsibility/Risk Transfer | Mode of Transport |
| EXW | Ex Works. The seller’s responsibility ends when the goods are available at their premises. The Buyer bears all costs and risks thereafter. | Any |
| FOB | Free On Board. The seller’s risk transfers to the Buyer when the goods are loaded on board the vessel at the named port of shipment. | Sea/Inland Waterway Only |
| CIF | Cost, Insurance, and Freight. The seller pays for the cost of the goods, insurance, and freight to the named port of destination. Risk transfers when goods are on board the vessel. | Sea/Inland Waterway Only |
| DAP | Delivered At Place. The seller delivers when the goods are placed at the disposal of the Buyer at the named destination, ready for unloading. Buyer handles import clearance and duties. | Any |
| DDP | Delivered Duty Paid. The seller bears all costs and risks, including import duties and taxes, until the goods are delivered to the named place of destination. Maximum obligation for the seller. | Any |
3. Customs & Compliance Terms
These terms relate to the regulatory and financial processes managed by government agencies.
| Term | Abbreviation | Definition |
| HS Code | HSN | Harmonized System (of Nomenclature) Code. A globally standardized system of names and numbers for classifying traded products. It determines import duties and statistical tracking. Accurate HS Codes are critical to customs clearance. |
| Importer Exporter Code | IEC | A mandatory 10-digit number issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), required for any entity in India to carry out export or import business. |
| Authorized Dealer Code | AD Code | A mandatory registration code required from your bank (Authorised Dealer) to process foreign currency transactions and file your Shipping Bill with Customs. |
| Customs House Agent | CHA | A licensed professional (or firm) who manages customs clearance formalities, documentation filing, and compliance on behalf of the exporter or importer. |
| Customs Duty | N/A | A tariff or tax levied on goods when transported across international borders, determined by the product’s HS Code and Country of Origin. |
4. Logistics & Shipping Terms
These terms describe the physical movement and financial charges associated with cargo transport.
| Term | Abbreviation | Definition |
| Freight Forwarder | FF | A company that organizes shipments for individuals or corporations to move goods from the manufacturer to the market. They act as an intermediary, utilizing various carriers (air, sea, road). |
| Less than Container Load | LCL | A shipment of cargo that is too small to fill a standard shipping container. These goods are consolidated with other shippers’ goods into one container by the freight forwarder. |
| Full Container Load | FCL | A shipment of cargo that fills an entire standard shipping container, meaning the entire container is leased by a single shipper. |
| Demurrage | N/A | A penalty charge levied by the Shipping Line for using their container inside the port terminal for longer than the free time allotted. |
| Detention | N/A | A penalty charge levied by the Shipping Line for the late return of the container outside the port terminal (e.g., at the factory or warehouse). |
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