Freight Forwarding

To successfully digitalise Bills of Lading, the three necessary foundations are law, standards and technology. Without their proper application, any eBL SaaS platform, notwithstanding the attractiveness of the business model, is unstable.

In international trade, shipping containers are vital for transporting goods safely and securely. To use them, however, many shipping lines require traders to put down deposits – known as container deposits – to safeguard against possible liabilities such as damage, demurrage, or total loss of the container.

The 52-page ICC DSI report identifies and defines the key data elements held within each of the seven identified key trade documents: namely, the certificate of origin, customs declaration, packing list, bill of lading, commercial invoice, warehouse receipt, and insurance certificate.

Having a sustainable approach to supply chain and logistics is proven to have numerous long-term benefits for businesses. Relying on efficient and eco-friendly transportation methods can reduce costs associated with fuel consumption, maintenance fees, and other expenses related to traditional delivery methods. 

Nine ocean carriers recently committed to 100% adoption of an electronic bill of lading (eBL) by 2030, with a waypoint goal of 50% adoption within five years. It is a significant step along the road to digitalisation, one that heralds a future for container trade processes that are simpler, more sustainable and more resilient.

Your Monday morning coffee briefing from TFG: RELEASED – Trade Finance Talks – Sailing into 2023: Navigating the new year To agriculture and beyond: a look at how IoT technology… read more →

The latest issue of TFG’s Trade Finance Talks, ‘Sailing into 2023: Navigating the new year’, is out now!

‘Permacrisis’ was crowned word of the year by the editors of the Collins English Dictionary at the end of 2022, defined as “an extended period of instability and insecurity”. It seems an appropriate term to describe the state of global trade, finance, and supply chains as we enter 2023.

As 2023 unfolds, shippers are experiencing signs of relief from the supply chain upheaval over the past few years. U.S. container imports in December continued to close in on 2019 volumes, port delays continued to improve, the maritime capacity crunch has eased, and ocean shipping rates have approached pre-pandemic levels. 

Certainty has been in short supply in the world of shipping in recent years. Shippers, manufacturers, and carriers have all had to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances, from the lingering impacts of COVID to geopolitical conflicts, from stocking trends to industrial action. 

I remember reading a quote which has stuck in my mind ever since – “Sharing among an entire ecosystem of innovative partners is a crucial step for modernisation.” 

This article was originally published on December 19 2022 by Watson Farley & Williams LLP. TFG would like to thank Kimarie Cheang and Chengxi Tan for their contribution.

What a year it has been for Trade Finance Global. We took the time to review over 500 pieces of content to bring you the most popular themes, articles, podcasts, and videos.

There is little doubt that 2022 has been an unprecedented year and for better or for worse, there has been a lot that has happened in the trade, treasury, payments and supply chain spaces.

Your Monday morning coffee briefing from TFG: VIDEO | Updated digital trade rules: ITFA, URTEPO, and streamlining payment obligations