Paperwork – what paperwork?

Shipping a bale of cotton from A to B can be a pretty daunting affair to someone new to the business. Whether 1 container is shipped or 50 containers, the amount of paperwork remains the same. A typical shipment requires paperwork consisting of:

• Original and copy commercial invoices;
• Originals and copy bills of lading;
• Original and copy certificates of origin;
• Original and copy phytosanitary certificates;
• Original and copy fumigation certificates;
• Original packing list;
• Original bale-by-bale weight list;
• Letters to insurance companies confirming shipment details;
• Copy of courier receipts confirming dispatch of documents.

Different countries have different customs formalities. China may require 3 copies of each document, while Bangladesh may call for 12 copies of each. It seems there is just no getting away from paper.