Trade handbook
In-depth guides to international raw material trade: Incoterms, payment methods, shipping documents, quality certificates, customs and contracts.
Glossary of trade terms · 133Incoterms 2020 guide: the 11 rules and how to choose
The delivery term decides what the price covers, when risk passes and who handles freight, insurance and customs. This guide walks through the 11 Incoterms used in raw material trade, from the least seller obligation (EXW) to the most (DDP), and explains what to watch for in each. Use FCA/CPT/CIP for containers and FOB/CFR/CIF for bulk sea cargo.
18 termsInternational payment methods: from prepayment to letters of credit
The payment method decides whose money is at risk and for how long. Prepayment exposes the buyer, open account exposes the seller; documentary collections and letters of credit balance that risk through banks. This guide explains payment methods from the simplest to the most secure, their costs and the precautions to take against fraud.
12 termsExport and import documents: a complete document set guide
In a raw material shipment, payment, customs clearance and taking delivery all run on documents; a single missing or wrong document can leave goods stuck in port, cause a letter-of-credit discrepancy or trigger a fine. This guide sets out, in order, which document is issued by whom, when and with what information, from quotation to delivery.
18 termsOcean freight guide: containers, bulk cargo, freight and insurance
Most raw materials travel by sea, and freight is often a major part of the cost. This guide explains container types and liquid packaging, bulk cargo and chartering, laytime and demurrage, quantity determination, cargo insurance and general average for buyers and sellers who want to control cost and risk.
13 termsImport and customs guide: HS codes, duties and landed cost
The true cost of importing raw materials is set by the duties, additional taxes and customs charges added to the product price. Correct classification and the right regime – inward processing, bonded warehousing, preferential origin – save serious money, while wrong declarations lead to back duties and penalties. This guide explains the core concepts of importing, from classification to landed-cost calculation and sanctions checks.
12 termsQuality assurance guide: specifications, sampling, analysis and inspection
Most raw material disputes concern quality: the specification was vague, the sample was not representative, or nobody agreed whose analysis counts. This guide shows how to secure quality in the contract – from the difference between a TDS and a COA, through sampling, independent inspection and umpire analysis, to lot traceability, shelf life and sector certifications.
15 termsRaw material contracts and pricing guide: from offer to hedging
A good raw material deal starts with the right price but is protected by the details of the contract. This guide brings together requests for quotation and firm offers, minimum quantities and tolerances, spot and term contracts, formula pricing and indices, exchanges and hedging, and force majeure, arbitration and standard contract forms.
13 termsSustainability and compliance guide: EUDR, CBAM, REACH and traceability
Selling a raw material today takes more than price and quality: who the counterparty is, where the goods come from, how much carbon they embody and which chemical rules they meet must all be documented. This guide summarises the key obligations – from know-your-customer checks to deforestation and carbon rules, chemical registration and labelling, recycled content and food contact – for suppliers selling into Europe and manufacturers building international supply chains.