Import-export, in plain English.

011 · Buyer & seller — what each party owes

Trade is at heart a contract: the seller delivers conforming goods on time; the buyer pays on agreed terms. The chapters below dig into how this contract gets papered, financed, shipped, cleared and resolved if anything breaks.

What good practice looks like

• A clear product spec — grade, packaging, lot size, shelf life.
• Agreed Incoterms (next chapter) so cost and risk are unambiguous.
• A defined payment milestone — TT, LC, escrow, or BRHUB Trade Assurance.

022 · The paperwork — documents you cannot skip

A typical international shipment moves on a stack of documents that prove what was sent, who owns it, and that it is legal to import. Missing one stalls the cargo at customs.

• Commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin.
• Bill of Lading (sea) or Air Waybill — the title document.
• Sector-specific certs: SASO/SFDA (Saudi), Anvisa/INMETRO (Brazil), halal where applicable.

033 · Incoterms — who pays for what

Incoterms 2020 are the international shorthand for splitting cost and risk between buyer and seller. Pick the wrong one and you will pay for it — sometimes literally.

A practical recap

• FOB — FOB — seller delivers on board the vessel at the named port. Risk transfers there.
• CIF — CIF — seller covers freight and insurance to the destination port. Buyer takes risk on board.
• DAP — DAP — seller delivers the goods to a named place in the buyer's country. Buyer handles import clearance.

Read the dedicated Incoterms page for the full ladder of 11 terms with diagrams.

044 · Payments — the four mechanisms that matter

Payment terms are negotiated alongside price. Pick a mechanism that matches the trust level between the parties and the size of the order.

• TT (telegraphic transfer / wire) — fast, cheap, but unsecured. Common for repeat parties.
• Letter of Credit (LC) — bank-mediated, protective for both sides, but expensive and document-heavy.
• Trade Assurance / escrow — funds held until the buyer confirms acceptance. The default for first-time relationships on BRHUB.

055 · Customs — clearing both sides

Customs is paperwork plus tariffs. Most delays are about paperwork.

• HS code: classify the product correctly. Wrong code = wrong duty = held shipment.
• Pre-shipment inspections may be required (especially for Saudi imports).
• Saudi: SABER + SASO conformity. Brazil: SISCOMEX, RFB, and possibly Anvisa.
• Use a licensed customs broker the first few times — the savings on a held container alone are worth it.

066 · Freight — getting it from A to B

Most B2B cargo on the Brazil-Saudi corridor goes by sea (cheapest, slowest) with air for high-value or perishable goods.

Modes & when to use them

• Sea LCL — small volume, share a container. Cheap per CBM, slow.
• Sea FCL — your own 20' or 40' container. Best unit economics for full loads.
• Air freight — premium, useful for samples, urgent restocks, and high-value goods.

077 · Certifications & compliance

Each market has must-have certifications. Knowing them up front saves rejected shipments.

• Saudi Arabia: SASO/SABER conformity for most goods, SFDA for food and cosmetics, halal for animal products.
• Brazil: INMETRO for regulated electrical/measurement goods, Anvisa for food, drugs and cosmetics.
• Sector add-ons: organic, Kosher, FSC, ISO 9001, BRC, GMP+ — often demanded by retail buyers.

088 · Disputes — when something does not go to plan

Disputes happen even with great suppliers. The trick is to have the contract, evidence and platform mechanics that resolve them quickly.

• Document the issue with photos, weights and timestamps within 72 hours of arrival.
• Open a claim through BRHUB Buyer Protection if the order was placed via Trade Assurance.
• Most claims resolve in 3–7 days when the contract terms and shipment evidence are clean.