International Trading Business

Forwarder

Firm specializing in arranging storage and shipping of merchandise on behalf of its shippers. It usually provides a full range of services including: tracking inland transportation, preparation of shipping and export documents, warehousing, booking cargo space, negotiating freight charges, freight consolidation, cargo insurance, and filing of insurance claims. Freight forwarders usually ship under their own bills of lading or air waybills (called house bill of lading or house air waybill) and their agents or associates at the destination (overseas freight forwarders) provide document delivery, deconsolidation, and freight collection services.(Business dictionary)

Processing Deal/ Reverse Processing Deal

Processing Deal Trade is a process in which the overseas consignor (1) provides some or all of the raw materials, (2) has the raw materials processed at the domestic subcontractor (Japanese subcontractor), (3) has the finished products re-exported back to the consignor or to designated customer(s), (4) pays the processing fee. Reverse consignment processing trade, on the contrary, a domestic contractor becomes the consignor.

Fumigation

There is a possibility that wooden packaging materials are infested by pests. There are cases where exotic pests and diseases are spread from the exporting port or receiving point throughout the consignee’s domestic area. In order to prevent this, international standards such as “using materials that has been fumigated for wood packaging” has been passed and operated.

Crate C/R

A way of packing goods using crates (wooden or steel made) that packed goods can be seen from outside and often used for packing heavy objects such as machine equipment and machine tools.

Invoice

Document required by customs to determine true value of the imported goods, for assessment of duties and taxes. A commercial invoice (in addition to other information), must identify the buyer and seller, and clearly indicate the (1) date and terms of sale, (2) quantity, weight and/or volume of the shipment, (3) type of packaging, (4) complete description of goods, (5) unit value and total value, and (6) insurance, shipping and other charges (as applicable).(Business dictionary)

LCL Less than Container / FCL Full Container Load

FCL (Full Container Load) is a cargo that one consigner’s goods occupy a single container, and LCL (Less than Container) is used when the consignor’s goods only occupy a part of the container. In the case of FCL, cargo containers are usually ordered by shippers, but consolidation on LCL is done at Container Freight Station (CFS) by forwarders or shipping companies.