4 Common Mistakes While Creating Export Documents

The success of every export consignment depends largely on the accuracy of the export documents. Even a small error may lead to a big hurdle and your shipment may get trapped for days or weeks. In most of the cases, human errors, lack of knowledge and inexperience are the main culprits that leave loopholes in the important documents required for international trading. Here are the most common mistakes that you should essentially take note of before beginning the export documentation process.

Incorrect Contact Information

If you misspell the name or address of the consignee, be prepared for the late delivery of the consignment. It usually happens due to typos or unverified/outdated data in your records. For example, one of your old consignees might update their phone numbers and fail to inform you. Make sure that you verify this information before starting the documentation for every consignment.

Erroneous Classification of Goods

Many exporters commit the mistake while classifying the export items. For example, salted or smoked seafood comes under the category of unprocessed primary products while frozen seafood should be classified as processed primary products. Going further, you can classify four or more products in the category of mixed goods for a single consignment only if each of the commodities has values less than A$5,000.

Incorrect Product Descriptions and Labels

Product descriptions should match the content of the letter of credit, an important export document. In case of a mismatch, the customs might have to carry out time-consuming reviews of the consignment and they might object to providing clearance. The same is true about labels and packing list inconsistencies. For example, the products in the category of dangerous goods should be appropriately labeled.

Wrong Trade Codes

Familiarity with the International Commercial Terms (Incoterms) and trade codes is important to ensure smooth shipments. However, many exporters jumble up the codes only to land into frustrating situations. One common mistake is regarding the destination country code, especially in the case of North Korea (KP) and South Korea (KR). Another example is filling the wrong currency and currency code.

If you have export documentation software, chances of these mistakes diminish. Otherwise, you must invest great care and a good amount of time to keep a check on these mistakes.