| bill of lading |
n. list of all goods being sent and shipping instructions; waybill |
| The list of goods on the bill of lading is correct. |
| c.&f. |
abbr. cost & freight: includes shipping to named port but not insurance |
| Do they want a quote for sending the shipment c.&f. or c.i.f.? |
| c.i.f. |
abbr. cost, insurance & freight: includes insurance and shipping to named port |
| They usually want c.i.f., but check to make sure. |
| cargo |
n. goods or products that are being transported or shipped |
| How's the cargo getting from the port to our warehouse? |
| certificate of origin |
n. a document that shows where goods come from |
| Should I put the city on the certificate of origin, or just the country? |
| container |
n. huge box to hold goods for transport - container port n. to containerise v. |
| Have you ever watched containers being loaded from a dock onto a ship? |
| customs |
n. 1 government tax or duty on imported goods 2 officials who collect this tax |
| Customs won't clear our shipment until we've paid customs duty. |
| declare |
v. to make a statement of taxable goods - customs declaration form n. |
| If customs officials find taxable goods that you haven't declared, you'll have to pay a fine. |
| f.a.s. |
abbr. free alongside ship [includes delivery to quayside but not loading] |
| If the shipment's sent f.a.s., the buyer pays for loading onto the ship. |
| f.o.b. |
abbr. free on board: includes loading onto ship |
| If it's f.o.b., the loading cost is included. |
| freight |
n. goods being transported; cargo |
| Let's pay a freight forwarder to arrange transport and prepare all the documents. |
| irrevocable |
adj. that cannot be undone; unalterable - irrevocable letter of credit n. |
| The granting of citizenship is irrevocable, isn't it? |
| letter of credit |
n. a letter from a bank authorising a person to draw money from another bank |
| Before shipping, we'd require either payment in advance or a letter of credit. |
| merchandise |
n. things bought and sold; commodities; wares - also v. |
| We import a range of merchandise, from clothes to furniture and electrical goods. |
| packing list |
n. a document that is sent with goods to show that they have been checked |
| Make sure the quantity of each item matches the quantity on the packing list. |
| pro forma invoice |
n. an invoice or request for payment sent in advance of goods supplied |
| Could you send us a pro forma invoice, please? |
| quay |
n. a solid, artificial landing place for (un)loading ships; wharf - quayside n. |
| The customs warehouse is in the docklands area near the old quay. |
| ship |
v. to send or transport by land, sea or air - also n. shipment n. |
| The latest models are being shipped from Osaka this week. |
| shipping agent |
n. a person acting for or representing a ship or ships at a port |
| If you use a freight forwarder, you won't have to find a shipping agent yourself. |
| waybill |
n. list of goods and shipping instructions; bill of lading - air waybill n. |
| If you're sending air freight, use an air waybill instead of a standard bill of lading. |