Trade Guide

Understand trade terms in document workflow context.

Use short definitions to align the team before preparing CI, PL, transport documents, and bundles.

Singapore Trade Terms

Plain-English terms for document operations.

Use this guide to align the team on shared trade terms and the customs, tax, authority, and business identifiers used in Singapore.

Commercial Invoice

Document

The main commercial document that states seller, buyer, goods, quantity, price, currency, Incoterms, and payment terms.

Packing List

Document

A packing and logistics document that explains package count, quantities, gross weight, net weight, CBM, and marks.

B/L

Transport

Bill of Lading. A sea transport document often used for cargo release, bank submission, and shipment evidence.

AWB

Transport

Air Waybill. An air transport document used as carriage evidence and a shipment tracking reference.

Incoterms 2020

Trade Terms

A standard set of trade terms that allocates cost, risk, delivery point, insurance, and clearance responsibilities.

Letter of Credit

Payment

A bank payment arrangement where document wording, shipment dates, copies, signatures, and values are reviewed strictly.

Merchant of Record

Billing

The seller of record for checkout. For Documents Dock global billing, Paddle handles payment, tax, receipts, invoices, and refunds.

Proforma Invoice

Document

A preliminary invoice sent before shipment to confirm price, quantity, currency, and Incoterms, often used to arrange payment or an import permit.

Purchase Order (PO)

Document

A buyer-issued order that fixes the agreed items, quantities, price, and terms; its number is referenced across the shipment's documents.

Certificate of Origin (CO)

Document

A document identifying where goods originate. It may support a preferential tariff claim or satisfy an importing-country evidence requirement.

Consignee

Transport

The party to whom the goods are shipped and released, named on the transport document (B/L or AWB).

Notify Party

Transport

The contact the carrier notifies when cargo arrives, often the consignee or its forwarder or customs representative.

Gross / Net Weight

Transport

Gross weight includes packaging; net weight is the goods only. Both appear on the Packing List and are cross-checked against the B/L or AWB.

CBM

Transport

Cubic metres: the shipment volume used for freight pricing and to verify the Packing List against transport documents.

Telex Release

Transport

An electronic cargo release that lets the consignee collect goods without an original paper B/L after the shipper surrenders it at origin.

Free Trade Agreement (FTA)

Trade Terms

An agreement that may lower tariffs when the goods meet its origin rules and the required proof of origin is available.

HS Code

Customs

The Harmonized System code used to classify goods. Singapore declarations use the 8-digit STCCED/AHTN tariff line; confirm the final code with Singapore Customs or your declaring agent.

Declaring Agent

Singapore

A party authorised to prepare and submit customs declarations through TradeNet. Documents Dock prepares handoff materials but does not act as a declaring agent.

Singapore Customs

Singapore

The authority responsible for customs, duties, trade facilitation, and enforcement in Singapore.

TradeNet

Singapore

Singapore's national single window through which import, export, and transhipment permit applications are submitted.

Cargo Clearance Permit (CCP)

Singapore

The customs permit output associated with an approved TradeNet declaration for import, export, or transhipment.

GST

Singapore

Singapore's Goods and Services Tax. Import GST and any relief, suspension, or deferment treatment should be confirmed from IRAS and Singapore Customs guidance.

UEN

Singapore

Unique Entity Number: the identifier used by Singapore-registered entities in government and customs workflows.

Trade Terms — Singapore | Documents Dock