60 Most Important Shipping Terms for International Trade Business

Common Shipping Terms Abbreviation for International Trade

Shipment Terms and Conditions:

We have to face so many shipping terms and abbreviations during shipping or shipment (LCL sea shipment or air shipment) the products to the foreign buyers. In some cases, these terms are known and in most of the cases, it’s unknown to us. As an apparel merchandiser or responsible commercial personnel, we should have a clear idea about it. This article has presented mostly used 60 shipping terms and abbreviations which will be very effective in our merchandising or other career development.

Shipping Terminology Used in Import Export Business:

Mostly used 60 shipping terms have presented in the below:

1. What is CM?

CM stands at cost of making or cutting and making.

2. What is FOB?

FOB means Freight on board.

3. What is C&F?

C&F means cost and freight or clearing and forwarding.

4. What is CIF?

CIF includes cost, insurance, and freight.

5. What is CIFI?

In the case of shipping terms, CIFI includes cost, insurance, freight, and interest.

6. What is CIFE?

CIFE means cost, insurance, freight, and exchange.

7. What is COD?

COD stands at cash on delivery.

8. What is CWO?

CWO means cash with order.

9. What is FOW?

FOW stands at free on a wagon.

10. What is CPT?

CPT stands at carriage paid to.

11. What is CIP?

In the case of shipping terms, CIP means carriage and instruction paid to.

12. What is DAF?

DAF means delivered at the frontier.

13. What is DES?

DES stands at delivered ex ship.

14. What is DEQ?

DEQ includes delivered ex quay.

15. What is DDU?

DDU means delivered duty unpaid.

16. What is DDO?

DDO stands at delivered duty paid.

17. What is A.D.I.S?

A.D.I.S stands for automated computer-based data interchange system.

18. What is A/F?

A/F stands at advanced freight.

19. What is A.F.R.A?

A.F.R.A stands at average freight rate assessment.

20. What is A.G.B?

A.G.B stands at any good brand.

21.What is Agt?

In the case of shipping terms, Agt means the agent or against.

22. What is A.I.F.T.A?

A.I.F.T.A means associate institute freight trades association.

23. What is AN?

AN means arrival notice.

24. What is AMT?

AMT stands at the amount.

25. What is A/O?

A/O means the account of (also AO.)

26. What is AP?

AP stands at an additional premium or average payable.

27. What is A/R?

A/R stands at all risks (also A.R.) regards to insurance.

28. What is ASABOSA?

ASABOSA means an association of ship agents and brokers of South Africa.

29. What is A.T.A?

A.T.A means an actual time of arrival.

30. What is AV?

In the case of shipping terms, AV means available container.

31. What is BAF?

BAF means bunker adjustment factor.

32. What is BCV?

BCV means barge carrying vessel.

33. What is BD?

In the case of shipping terms, BD means bank draft.

34. What is B/E?

B/E means a bill of entry customs.

35. What is BIFA?

BIFA stands for British international freight association of freight forwarders.

36. What is B/L?

B/L means Bill of Loading.

37. What is BN?

In case of shipping terms, BN stands at booking note.

38. What is B/P?

B/P stands at bills payable.

39. What is B.P.B?

B.P.B means bank post bill.

40. What is BSC?

BSC means British shippers council.

41. What is BV?

In the case of shipping terms, BV stands at Bureau Veritas – French ship classification society.

42. What is C&E?

C&E stands at customs and excise.

43. What is C.A.D?

C.A.D stands at cash against documents.

44. What is CAF?

CAF stands at container availability forecast.

45. What is C.A.N?

C.A.N means customs assigned number.

46. What is CCM?

CCM stands for central container management.

47. What is C.H?

C.H stands at the custom-house.

48. What is F&D?

F&D means freight and demurrage.

49. What is FCL?

FCL means full container load.

50. What is FCS?

FCS means freight calculation sheet.

51. What is FPD?

FPD means freight payable at destination.

52. What is I.C. &C?

I.C. &C stands at invoice cost and charges.

53. What is I.C.B?

I.C.B stands for International container bureau.

54. What is ICC?

In the case of sipping terms, ICC means the International chamber of commerce

55. What is IEF?

IEF means International exchange file.

56. What is I.S.F?

I.S.F stands for International shipping federation.

57. What is L/C?

L/C means Letter of credit.

58. What is TIR?

TIR means turn-in reconciliation.

59. What is SOB?

SOB stands at shipped on board.

60. What is RPT?

In shipping terms, RPT stands at the rate per ton.

-Written by

Mayedul Islam
Merchandiser at Fashion Xpress Buying House.
Badda, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Email: mayedul.islam66@gmail.com

Mayedul Islam

Mayedul Islam is a Founder and Editor of Garments Merchandising. He is an Expert in Garments Merchandising. Writing is his passion. He loves to write articles about Apparel, Textile and Garment Washing specially on Merchandising. Mail him at mayedul.islam66@gmail.com