The official forms and other paperwork required to transport exported goods and clear customs.

Quotation or pro forma invoice: issued on

request by potential customers to advise a potential buyer about the price and description of the exporters product or service. Commercial invoice: actual demand for payment issued by the exporter when a sale is concluded. Packing list: indicates exact contents of a shipment, particularly when there are many goods

Health certificate document issued when agricultural products are being exported to certify that they comply with the relevant legislation in the exporters country. It certifies that the product was in good condition at the time of inspection Quality certificate- confirms that the description of the cargo is as found on the Bill of Lading

Bill of lading: basic contract between exporter and

shipper. Authorizes the shipping company to transport the goods to the buyers destination. Shipper's export declaration: lists the contact information of the exporter and the buyer, full description, declared value, and destination of the products being shipped. Used by governments to collect statistics. Certificate of origin: the "birth certificate" of the goods being shipped, indicating the country where the product originated. Insurance certificate: protects the exported goods against damage, loss, pilferage (theft) and, in some cases, delay.

Freight forwarder= a person or company which is involved in the processing and/or movement of goods on behalf of another company or person which crosses international boundaries Activities: To provide a range of independent services such as packing, warehousing, port agency, customs clearance To provide a range of advice on all the areas relative to the international consignment distribution To act as shipper agent processing transport/shipping space on behalf of his principal/shipper and executing his instructions To act as a principal, as a multimodal transport operator conveying the goods from A to B and involving usually several carriers.

1. dealing with unfamiliar overseas market and selling under DDP terms 2.exporter is a small firm and needs to concentrate on marketing product overseas 3. freight forwarder can obtain more favorable freight rates especially for groupage shipments Having an in house shipping department depends on: - the volume of overseas business - number of markets and degree of similarity - availability of suitable qualified staff - pattern of business and degree of seasonal variation

When faced with the decision of selecting a mode of transportation, the exporter has five basic types available from which to choose, depending upon the geographical proximity of the countries of export and import: ocean, air, rail, truck and inland water. The choice between available methods of transportation is usually determined by a combination of cost, time and security. Ocean transportation is the most dominant mode of international transportation and air transport is the fastest growing. Ocean transportation is widely used because it is a relatively low-cost way to transport goods and it can easily handle large shipments. Exporters may send small shipments by international parcel post, air parcel post or air courier service rather than pay the higher minimum bill of lading charges for ocean freight or air shipments. Most large shipment of goods are sent by sea and charged on a per-container basis, with a maximum weight allowed per container.

Internet technology may make things easier for shippers of smaller shipments. For example, there is a website in the US- www.intershipper.com that offers a service for helping US exporter compare rates among eight carriers. The site also helps choose the best rate, call for a package pickup or locate a drop-off location, track shipments automatically, or notify the exporter or the recipient when the package is delivered or if it is delayed. This service is free. Transportation insurance Marine insurance- protection from the risk of loss or damage to goods during their physical movement from seller to buyer. When a CIF price is quoted to a buyer the exporter must furnish marine insurance.

1. expenses linked to the ship 2. method of payment and currency used 3.level of insurance 4. type of goods 5. distance 6. classification of the ship 7. transit fees 8.fuel price 9. distance between the ship and the loading port 10. the social-political situation from the area