International trade glossary

The seller makes goods available at a named place; the buyer normally takes on loading, export, freight, and import work.

The seller clears the goods for export and delivers them to the buyer's nominated carrier at the named place.

For sea freight, the seller delivers export-cleared goods on board the vessel at the named port of shipment.

The seller pays sea freight and minimum insurance to the named destination port, while risk transfers at origin on board.

The seller carries the broadest delivery obligation, including export and import clearance, to the named destination.

A sea shipment that shares container space with other cargo and is charged by volume, weight, and local handling.

A shipment booked with exclusive use of a container, even when the container is not physically full.

Demurrage usually covers container time inside a terminal; detention usually covers time outside before equipment return.

The international product-classification code used as the basis for customs declarations, duty, controls, and trade statistics.

The sale document that records the parties, goods, quantity, price, currency, Incoterm, and customs value.

A preliminary invoice used to confirm the proposed goods, price, payment, and delivery basis before the final sale invoice.

A carton- or pallet-level record of quantities, package count, weight, dimensions, volume, and shipping marks.

A carrier transport document recording the cargo, parties, route, and shipment receipt or loading status.

A document certifying where goods originate for customs, trade-policy, or preferential-tariff treatment.

A structured buyer request asking suppliers to quote the same product, quantity, specification, delivery, and commercial scope.

The smallest quantity a supplier will accept for a product, variant, material run, or production setup.

The time required for approval, materials, production, inspection, packing, and cargo readiness—not automatically transit time.

A person or company that helps a buyer identify, verify, coordinate, and communicate with suppliers in a source market.

A factory arrangement in which goods are manufactured to a buyer's product design, specification, or controlled requirements.

A supplier model in which the manufacturer provides an existing product design that a buyer can select and customize.

A supplier-made product sold under the buyer's brand, usually with agreed packaging, labeling, and limited customization.

The planned checks used to verify that materials, production, dimensions, function, packaging, and shipment evidence meet requirements.

A statistical sampling threshold used to decide whether an inspected lot is accepted or rejected under a defined plan.

A bank undertaking to pay when the seller presents documents that comply with the credit's stated terms and deadlines.

The full cost to place imported goods at the buyer's destination, including goods, freight, duty, tax, fees, and delivery.