Export/Import Terms Company Profile

International Chemical Business Terms

Below is a list of export and import related terms to help you navigate the international chemical business. All terms are listed alphabetically.

R

Reassessment

In trade, the situations when the Chief Customs Inspector modifies the amount of tax, in general when an understatement of the amount of customs duty reported in the import declaration is found. In case of overstatements of the amount of tax, the importer (the taxpayer) can also request a reassessment to the Chief Customs Inspector.

Received B/L

Regarding the bill of lading, the bill of lading (B/L) issued when the cargo was transferred at the shipping company’s container yard (CY) or container freight station (CSF) in the port of loading. In contrast to this, the bill of lading (B/L) issued after the goods were actually loaded on the ship is called on board bill of lading (Shipped B/L or On Board B/L). In general, it can be assumed that if the text written in English in small letter starts with “Received”, the document is a received bill of lading. After the cargo is actually loaded, the shipping company mentions this fact (On Board Notation or On Board Endorsement) adding the loading date and signature, by this being considered to have the same effect as the on board bill of lading.

Registered Customs Specialist (Licensed Customs Specialist)

The person who after having passed the examination for Registered Customs Specialist which is a national qualification, has submitted the necessary items to the Chief Customs Inspector and is engaged in custom-house business. According to the Customs Law, the use of the Registered Customs Specialist title by persons who don’t have this qualification is forbidden. Recently, the Registered Customs Specialist examination pass rate is about 10%.

Regulations for the Carriage and Storage of Dangerous Goods in Ships (Dangerous Goods regulations)

Establishes standards for transportation of dangerous goods by ship, regarding container’s durability, labeling, storage method, etc. It successively implements the international standards provided in the SOLAS convention from 1974, such as the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code), the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (IBC Code) and the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (IGC Code). It is necessary to be familiar with the latest rules regarding the transportation of dangerous goods by ship.

Restricted L/C

The letter of credit (L/C) that appoints a certain bank to undertake the bill. If the appointed bank is not the exporter’s bank, in case the exporter submits the documents (bill of exchange, bill of lading, invoice, etc.) upon undertaking or collection, it is necessary that the negotiating bank sends the documents to the importer’s bank (the bank issuing the letter of credit) through the appointed bank. As a result, this operation leads to an increased cost.
In case the importer brings the documents directly to the bank appointed in the letter of credit (L/C), it is necessary to negotiate the terms of the transaction with the bank.

Revenue Ton (R/T, Chargeable Weight)

When transporting consolidated cargo (LCL Cargo or CFS Cargo) by ship, the consolidator (forwarder) considers either the weight or volume of the cargo, whichever is higher as the standard for the freight calculation, therefore the revenue ton refers to the weight or volume, whichever is higher in terms of freight. For example, if the freight per one revenue ton is 100 dollar and the cargo has a weight of 1 ton and a volume of 2m3 (cubic meter), the volume being double the weight, the freight will be “100 dollars x 2= 200 dollars”. In this way, when the volume is higher than the weight it is called “yoseki-gachi” (volume basis), and conversely when the weight is higher it is called “juryo-gachi” (weight basis).
Regarding air transportation, the volume (length x width x height in cm) divided by 5000 or 6000 is compared with the weight (kilograms) and the higher number is used.

Revolving L/C

A type of letter of credit (L/C) by which, when the importer continuously imports the same product from the same customer, a letter of credit for the amount of one loading is first issued, and when the loading and settlements are completed, a letter of credit with the same amount is automatically renewed. It is used to reduce the cost and burden required for the issue of the letter of credit.