Resources • Reference
Export & Shipping Abbreviations
International common export and shipping abbreviations used in forwarding, documentation, carrier communication and trade paperwork — migrated from the Amigo Logistics reference library.
International common export and shipping abbreviations used in forwarding, documentation, carrier communication and trade paperwork.
Overview
Quick lookup for trade and logistics terms
Abbreviations appear throughout bills of lading, air waybills, customs paperwork, insurance documents and carrier instructions. This reference helps teams decode common terms quickly.
Use the search box below to filter by abbreviation or definition. For shipment-specific guidance, contact our documentation and compliance team.
- 557 abbreviations in the reference list
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Reference table
Common export and shipping abbreviations
Search by abbreviation or keyword. Some entries are marked obsolete in the original reference where applicable.
557 entries shown
| Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|
| AAA | Association of Average Adjusters |
| AAD | Administrative Accompanying Document |
| AAr | Against all risks (Obsolete) |
| A/r | All risks (Obsolete) |
| A/B | Aktiebolaget(registered company -Sweden) |
| ABI | Association of British Insurers |
| ABCC | Association of British Chambers of Commerce |
| A-BCC | Arab-British Chamber of Commerce |
| A/C | Account |
| ACP | African Caribbean andPacificStates |
| ADB | Asian Development Bank |
| ADR | The European agreement on the International carriage of dangerous goods by road |
| Ad. | Val Advalorem(according to value) |
| ADP | Automatic data processing |
| A/E | Abbreviated Entry |
| AF | Advance freight (i.e. prior to shipment) |
| AG | Aktiengesellschaft(public company Germany) |
| AN | Advice note |
| ANF | Arrival notification form |
| AP | Additional premium |
| A/S | "Account Sales, After sight, alongside |
| ATA | Admissiontemporaire temporary admission |
| ATP | "AccordeTransportsPerissable, (European Agreement on the International Carriage of Perishable Foodstuffs) |
| ATR | Admissiontemporaireroulette temporary admission on wheels |
| AV | Advalorem. Average |
| AWB | Air Waybill |
| BACAT | Barge aboard catamaran |
| BACS | Banker's Automated Clearing System |
| BAF | Bunker adjustment factor |
| BCN | Bankers Cover Note |
| Bd | Bond |
| B/D | Banker's Draft |
| B/E | Bill of Exchange |
| BEA | British Exporters Association |
| BEF | Belgian Franc |
| BIFA | British International Freight Association |
| Bkg | Breakage |
| Bkge | Brokerage |
| B/L | Bill of Lading |
| BOTB | British Overseas Trade Board |
| B/P | Bills payable |
| BR | British Railways |
| BR} | |
| B/rec} | Bills receivable |
| B/S | Bill of Sale |
| BSC | British Shippers Council |
| BSI | British Standards Institution |
| BSS | British Standard Specification |
| BST | British Summer time |
| BTN | Brussels Tariff Number (obsolete) |
| BV | BureauVeritas |
| CA | Compensatory Agreement |
| CAA | Civil Aviation Authority |
| CAAC | Customs and Allied Affairs Committee |
| CAB | Civil Aeronautics Board (USA) |
| CACM | Central American Common Market |
| CAD | Cash against documents/Commercial Agents Directive/Canadian Dollar |
| CAF | Currency adjustment factor |
| CAN | Customs Assigned Number |
| CAP | Common Agricultural Policy |
| CARICOM | CaribbeanCommunity |
| CBD | Cash before delivery |
| CBI | Confederation of British Industry |
| cbm | Cubicmetre |
| CC | "Continuation clause, Civil Commotions |
| cc | "Current cost, cubic capacity, customs clearance, cubiccentimetre, carbon copy |
| CCC | Customs Co-operation Council |
| CCCN | Customs Co-operation Council Nomenclature (formerly (BTN) Brussels Tariff Nomenclature) |
| CC/O | Certificate of consignment/origin |
| CCLN | Consignment note control label number |
| CCT | Common Customs Tariff (within the EU) |
| C/D | Commercial Dock or consular declaration |
| CD | Customs declaration |
| C & D | Collected and delivered |
| CDV | Current domestic value |
| C & E | Customs & Excise |
| Cert | Certificate |
| cf(cu. ft.) | Cubic feet |
| C & F | Cost & freight |
| CFR | Cost and freight |
| CFS | Container freight station |
| CFTC | Commodity Futures Trading Commission (USA) |
| CgePd | Carriage paid |
| CH | Custom House |
| Ch of C | Chamber of commerce |
| Ch Fwd | Charges forward |
| Ch Pd | Charges Paid |
| CHAPS | Clearing House Automated Payment System |
| CHIEF | Customs handling of import/export freight |
| CHIPS | Clearing House Inter-bank Payments System (USA) |
| C & I | Cost and Insurance |
| C/I | Consular Invoice/Certificate of Insurance |
| CIE | "Customs input entry,CorasIompairEirraen(Irish Railways) |
| CIF | "Cost, Insurance and Freight |
| CIF & C | "Cost, Insurance, Freight & Commission |
| CIF & E | "Cost, Insurance, Freight & Exchange |
| CIF & I | "Cost, Insurance, Freight & Interest |
| CIFC & I | "Cost, Insurance, Freight, Commission & Interest |
| CIM | ConventionInterationalMarchandisesCheminsdeFer(International rail carriage receipt) |
| CIP | Carriage/Freight and Insurance paid to (named point) |
| CIPA | ChartedInstituteofPatentAgents |
| CITHA | Confederation of International Trading Houses Associations |
| CKD | Completely knocked down |
| CLECAT | European Liaison Committee of Common Market Forwarders |
| CMR | Convention MerchandisesRoutiers(Conditions for the International carriage of goods by road) |
| C/N | "Consignment note, cover note, case of need, combined nomenclature |
| C/nee | Consignee |
| CO or C/O | "Certificate of origin, cash order |
| COCOM | Co-ordinatingCommittee on Export Controls (NATO) |
| COD | "Cash on delivery, customers own delivery |
| Cof | Cost of funds |
| COFACE | CompagnieFrancausepourl'AssuranceduCommerceExterieur(French equivalent of ECGD) |
| Com/I | Commercial invoice |
| COMECON | Council for Mutual Economic Aid |
| COMET | Committee ofMiddle EastTrade |
| COMEX | Commodity Exchange (New York) |
| COT | Customer's own transport |
| COU | Clip-on unit |
| COMITEXTIL | Co-ordination committee for the textile industry in the EC |
| CP | "Commonwealth Preference, commercial paper |
| C/P | Charter party |
| Cpa | Claims payable abroad |
| CPC | Customs Procedure Code |
| Cpd | Chartererpays dues |
| CPF | Clean Report of Findings |
| CPT | Carriage paid to |
| CR | "Current rate, Carriers risk, Compound risk |
| CRF | Clean Report of Findings |
| CRN | Customs registered number |
| C/S | Currency surcharge |
| CSC | Container Safety Convention |
| CT | "Countertrade, Community Transport |
| CTO | Combined Transport Operator |
| CTL(O) | Constructive total loss (only) |
| Ctge | Cartage |
| C/V | Certificate of value |
| C/VO | Certificate of Value and Origin |
| CWE | Cleared without examination |
| cwo | Cash with order |
| Cy | Currency |
| D/A | "Documents against acceptance, days after acceptance |
| DAF | Delivered at Frontier |
| DB | DeustcheBundesbahn(German Railways) |
| Dbk | Drawback |
| D/C | "Deviation clause, documentary collection |
| dd | Delivered |
| D/D | days after date (of tenor of bill of exchange) |
| DDA | Duty Deferment account |
| DDP | Delivered duty paid |
| DDU | Delivered duty unpaid |
| DEM | Deutschmark |
| DEPS | Departmental Entry Processing System |
| DEQ | Delivered ex quay |
| DES | Delivered ex ship |
| DESO | DefenceExport ServicesOrganisation |
| DGN | Dangerous Goods Note |
| DF | Dead freight (shipper orchartererpays for space booked but not occupied) |
| Dft | Draft |
| DKR | DanishKroner |
| D/O | Delivery order |
| D/P | "Documents against payment, direct port |
| D/R | Deposit receipt |
| D/S | Days after sight |
| DSB | DanskeStaatsbahn(Danish Railways) |
| DTI | Direct trader input/Department of Trade and Industry |
| D/W | "Dock Warrant, deadweight |
| dwc | Deadweight capacity |
| dyor | dely Delivery |
| EAPE | Exchange as per Endorsement |
| EAR | Export after repair |
| EC | European Community |
| ECA | Economic Co-operation Administration |
| ECE | Economic Commission forEurope |
| ECGD | Export Credits Guarantee Department |
| ECI | Export Consignment Identifier |
| ECOFIN | Economic and Financial Affairs Council (EC) |
| ECPD | Export Cargo Packing Declaration |
| ECS | Echantillonscommerciaux commercial samples |
| ECSC | European Coal & Steel Community |
| ECSI | Export Cargo Shipping Instruction |
| ECU | European currency unit |
| EDCS | Electronic Data Capture Service |
| EDI | Electronic Data Interchange |
| EDIA | Electronic Data Interchange Association |
| EEA | European Economic Area |
| EFTA | European Free Trade Association |
| EHA | Equipment Handover Agreement |
| EHC | Export Health Certificate |
| EIB | European Investment Bank |
| EIC | European Information Centre |
| EIMT | Express International Money Transfer |
| EIS | Export Intelligence Service BOTB) |
| EMS | Express money service |
| e&oe | Errors &ommissionsexcepted |
| eohp | Except as otherwise herein provided |
| EPS | Entry processing station |
| EPU | "Entry processing unit, European payments unit |
| ESC | "European Shippers Council, Portuguese Escudo |
| ESCAP | Economic and Social Commission forAsia& the Pacific |
| ESL | Sales Listing |
| EC | Eastern Standard Time USA) |
| ETA | Estimated time of arrival |
| ETD | Estimated time of departure |
| ETS | Estimated time of sailing |
| EURATOM | European Atomic Energy Community |
| Ex | "Examined, Exchanged, Executed, Excluding, out of |
| EXBO | Export Buying Offices Association |
| Exd | Examined |
| EXW | Ex works |
| faa | Free of all average |
| fac | Forwarding agents commission |
| fak | Freight all kinds |
| FAS | Free alongside ship |
| FBL | Forwarders Bill of Lading |
| FCA | Free carrier |
| FCL | Full container load |
| FC & S | free of capture and seizure |
| Fco | Franco |
| FCR | Forwarder's Certificate of Receipt |
| FCT | Forwarders Certificate of Transport |
| fd | "Free discharge, free docks, free dispatch or free delivery |
| F & D | Freight and demurrage |
| ffa | Free from alongside or free foreign agency |
| ffi | for further instructions |
| FGA | Free of General Average |
| FIATA | International Federation of Freight Forwarders Association |
| faa | Free of all average |
| fac | Forwarding agents commission |
| fak | Freight all kinds |
| FAS | Free alongside ship |
| FBL | Forwarders Bill of Lading |
| FCA | Free carrier |
| FCL | Full container load |
| FC & S | free of capture and seizure |
| Fco | Franco |
| FCR | Forwarder's Certificate of Receipt |
| FCT | Forwarders Certificate of Transport |
| fd | "Free discharge, free docks, free dispatch or free delivery |
| F & D | Freight and demurrage |
| ffa | Free from alongside or free foreign agency |
| ffi | for further instructions |
| FGA | Free of General Average |
| FIATA | International Federation of Freight Forwarders Association |
| FIO | Free in and out -chartererpays for cost of loading and discharging cargo |
| FIO & stowed | Free in and out -chartererpays for cost of loading and discharging cargo plus stowing |
| FIO & trimmed | Free in and out -chartererpays for cost of loading and discharging cargo plus trimming |
| FIT | Federation of International Traders |
| fiw | Free in wagon |
| F/L | Freight liner |
| FLIC | Forwarders local import control |
| FMB | Federal Maritime Board (USA) |
| FMC | Federal Maritime Commission (USA) |
| Fo | "For orders, free out terms |
| FOB | Free on board |
| foc | Free of charge |
| fod | Free of damage |
| forex | foreign exchange |
| FP | Floating (open) marine policy/fully paid |
| FPA | Free of particular average (obsolete) |
| FP -C | Flash pointcelsius |
| FR | Freight release |
| FRA | Forward Rate Agreement |
| Franco | Free -e.g. Franco London-all charges paid to arrivalLondon |
| fr& cc | Free of riots and civil commotions |
| FRF | French Franc |
| frt | Freight |
| FS | Italian Railways |
| frof | Fire risk on freight |
| FTA | Freight Transport Association or Free Trade Agreements |
| FTL | Full Trailer Load |
| Fwd | Forward |
| G/A | "General Average, GeneralAuthorisation |
| GAC | General Average Certificate |
| G/A | con General Average contribution |
| GATT | General Agreement of Tariffs & Trade |
| GBP | Pound sterling |
| GCBS | General Council of British Shipping |
| GCC | Gulf Cooperation Council |
| GmbH | Registered Company (Germany) |
| GMT | Greenwich Mean Time |
| gnp | Gross national product |
| GRT | Gross registered tonnage |
| Grwt | Gross weight |
| gsm | Good sound merchantable |
| GSP | Generalisedsystem of preferences |
| GUV | General Utility Van (rail) |
| GV | GrandVitesse(express train) |
| HAWB | HouseAirwaybill |
| HBL | House Bill of Lading |
| H/c | Held covered |
| HCS | HarmonisedCommodity Section |
| HFL | DutchFlorin |
| h/h | Half-height (container) |
| HL | Heavy lift |
| HMC | Her Majesty's Customs |
| HMC&E | Her Majesty's Customs and Excise |
| HMSO | HerMajestysStationery Office |
| HVR | Hague-VisbyRules |
| IATA | International Air Transport Association |
| IB | In Bond or invoice book |
| IBAP | Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce |
| (x) IBOR | InterbankOffered Rate |
| IBRD | International Bank for Reconstruction and Development |
| ICAO | International Civil AviationOrganisation |
| ICB | International Container Bureau |
| ICC | "International Chamber of Commerce, Institute Cargo Clauses |
| IC & C | Invoice cost and charges |
| ICCH | International Commodities Clearing House |
| ICD | Inland clearance Depot |
| ICHCA | International Cargo Handling Co-ordination Association |
| Icc | Institute Cargo clauses |
| ICS | International Chamber of Shipping or Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers |
| ID | Import Duty |
| IDA | International Development Authority |
| IDR | Import Duty Relief |
| IFC | International Finance Corporation |
| IFF | InstituteofFreightForwarders |
| I/L | ImportLicence |
| ILO | InternationalLabourOrganisation |
| ILU | InstituteofLondonUnderwriters |
| IMB | International Maritime Council |
| IMCO | International Maritime ConsultativeOrganisation |
| IMDG | International Maritime Dangerous Goods code |
| IMF | International Monetary Fund |
| IMO | International MaritimeOrganisation |
| IMT | International Money Transfer |
| INR | Indian Rupee |
| INSA | InternationalShipowners' Association |
| INTRASTAT | Intra EC Statistics |
| IOE | InstituteofExport |
| ipa | Including particular average |
| IPR | Inward Processing Relief |
| IRD | Inland rail depot |
| IRN | Import Release Note |
| IRU | UnionInternationaledes TransportsRoutiers |
| ISC | Institute Strike Clauses |
| ISF | International Shipping Federation |
| ISO | International StandardsOrganisation |
| ITI | Customs Convention on the International transit of goods |
| ITMA | InstituteofTradeMark Agents |
| IUPIP | InternationalUnionfor the Protection of Intellectual Property |
| IWC | Institute War Clauses |
| J & WO | Jettison & washing overboard |
| JLCD | JointLiasonCommittee on Documents |
| LJPY | JapeneseYen |
| LAFTA | Latin American Free Trade Association |
| LASH | Lighter aboard ship |
| L/C | Letter of Credit |
| LCL | Less than full container load |
| LAB | Lloyds Average Bond |
| L/A | "Lloyds Agent, letter of authority |
| ldg | Loading |
| Ldg&Dly | Landing and delivery |
| Lds | Loads |
| LDC | Less-developed country |
| LEC | Local export control |
| LI | Letter of Indemnity |
| LIBID | LondonInterbankBid Rate |
| LIBOR | LondonInterbankOffered Rate |
| LIC | Local import control |
| LIFFE | LondonInternational Financial Futures Exchange |
| LIMEAN | LondonInterbankMean Rate |
| LIT | Italian Lira |
| Lkg & bkg | Leakage & breakage |
| Lkge | Leakage |
| L/L | Long length |
| LO/LO | Lift on/lift off |
| LOR | Lender's Offered Rate |
| LR | Lloyds Register |
| ls | Lumpsum(freight) |
| LT-EUR1 | Long-term movement certificate(EC) |
| LVI | Local Veterinary Inspector |
| LVP | Low Value Procedure |
| MAT | "Marine, aviation and transport (insurance) |
| MAWB | Master Air Waybill |
| MDHB | MerseyDocks andHarbourBoard |
| MFN | MostFavouredNation |
| mgr | Merry-go-round (rail); manager |
| Min | Minimum |
| Min wt | Minimum weight |
| MIP | Marine Insurance Policy |
| MR | Mate's receipt |
| mst or msmt | Measurement |
| MT | "Mail Transfer, metrictonne; empty (to describe container) |
| M3 | Cubicmetre |
| MV or mv | Motor vessel |
| n/a | "no account (banking), not applicable |
| N/A | No advice |
| NCM | NederlandscheCredietverzekeringMaatschappij |
| NCV | No commercial value |
| ND | No discount |
| NDPS | National Data Processing Service |
| ne | Not exceeding |
| Nei | Not elsewhere included |
| Nes | Not elsewhere specified |
| NIR | Northern IrelandRailways |
| NMB | National Maritime Board |
| NOK | NorwegianKroner |
| nop | Not otherwise provided |
| NPC | National Ports Council |
| nr | No risk until confirmed or net register |
| nrad | No risk after discharge |
| NRT | Nettregistered tonnage |
| ns | NerdlandseSpoorwegen(Dutch Railways) |
| nspf | Not specially provided for |
| N/t | Net terms |
| NVOCC | Non vessel owning common carrier |
| NYPLR | New YorkPrime Lending Rate |
| o/a | On account of |
| OBO's | Oil/Bulk/Ore carriers |
| O/C | "Open cover, open charter |
| o/c | Overcharge |
| OCN | Out-of-charge note |
| OCTs | The Overseas countries and territories of member states associated with the EEC under part 4 of the Treaty of Rome |
| o/d | On demand or overdrawn |
| OECD | Organisationfor Economic Co-operation & Development |
| OEEC | Organisationfor European Economic Co-operation |
| OFT | Office of Fair Trading |
| OGL | Open GeneralLicence |
| OJEC | Official Journal of the European Communities |
| on | Official number |
| O/o | Order of |
| oog | Out of gauge |
| OP | Open or floating cargo insurance policy |
| OPEC | Organisationof Petroleum Exporting Countries |
| OPR | Outward Processing Relief |
| O/R | Owner's risk |
| P/A | "Private account, particular average, power of attorney |
| PBA | PortofBristolAuthority |
| P/C | "Price current, per cent |
| Pd | Paid or passed |
| PD | Port dues |
| PE | Period entry |
| PEP | Projects and Export Policy Division (BOTB) |
| pkge | Package |
| P&I | Protection and Indemnity |
| PKD | Partially knocked down |
| P/L | Partial loss |
| PLA | PortofLondonAuthority |
| pm | Premium |
| PMS | Permanent Manual System |
| P/N | Promissory note |
| POA | Place of acceptance |
| PO | "Post Office, purchase order, payment order |
| POD | Paid on delivery/Proof of delivery |
| Ppd | Prepaid |
| PR | Parcel receipt |
| PSD | Pre-shipment document |
| PSI | Pre-shipment Inspection |
| PT | Preferential Treatment |
| PTL | Partial total loss |
| PUCC | Port Users Consultative Committee |
| PV | PetiteVitesse(slow goods train) |
| Qn | Quotation |
| Qty | Quantity |
| RAFT | Revolving Acceptance Facility by Tender |
| RAPR | Refer to acceptor please re-present |
| R & CC | Riots and Civil Commotions |
| CC & S | "Riots, Civil Commotions & Strikes |
| RDPR | Refer to drawer please represent |
| REDS | Registered Excise Shippers and Dealers |
| Reefer | Refrigerated box or vessel |
| RENFE | Spanish Railways |
| RES | Retail Export Scheme |
| RHA | Road Haulage Association |
| RN | Removal Note |
| R/O | Routing Order |
| Ro/Ro | Roll-on/Roll-off |
| RP | P "Return premium, reply paid, return of post |
| ROD | "Rusting,oxidisation, denting (discolouration) |
| RTK | Revenuetonnekilometres |
| RTP | Restrictive trade practices |
| S/a | "Safe arrival or subject to approval,SocieteAnonyme(limited company France) |
| SAD | Single Administrative Document |
| sae | Stamped addressed envelope |
| Sar | Limited company (Italy) |
| sanr | Subject to approval no risk |
| SB | "Short Bill, payable on demand or sight |
| SCP | Simplified Clearance Procedure |
| SD | "Sight Draft, Short Delivery |
| SDBL | Sight Draft with attached Bill of Lading |
| SDR | Special Drawing Rights |
| SEA | Single European Act |
| SEK | SwedishKroner |
| SEM | Single European Market |
| SFR | Swiss Franc |
| S & H/exct | Sundays and Holidays excepted in lay days |
| IECA | "General Treaty of Economic Integration, Central American States |
| SITC | Standard International Trade Classification |
| SITPRO | Simplification of International Trade Procedures Board |
| SGS | SocieteGeneralede Surveillance |
| SNCB | SocieteNationaledeCheminsdeFerBelgique(Belgian Railways) |
| SNCF | SocieteNationaledeCheminsdeFer(French Railways) |
| SSN | Standard Shipping Note |
| SO | Seller's option |
| SOB | Shipped on board |
| SOEC | Statistical Office European Community |
| spr | Sunprotectinrequired |
| RCC | "Strikes, riots & civil commotions |
| SS | Steamship |
| SSD | Supplementary Statistical Declaration |
| stc | Said to contain |
| SWIFT | Society for WorldwideInterbankFinancial Telecommunications |
| SWL | Safe Working load |
| TDC | Total distribution costs |
| TDW | Tons deadweight |
| TEU | Twenty-foot equivalent unit |
| THE | Technical Help for Exporters (department of the BOTB) |
| TIEx | International Express Rail Parcels consignment note |
| TIR | TransportInternationaleRoutiers |
| T/L | Total Loss |
| TLA | Tanker Loading Authority |
| TLO | Total loss only |
| TMR | Trade Marks Registry |
| TMO | Telegraphic money order |
| P & ND | "Theft, Pilferage and non-delivery |
| TQ | TaleQuale(according to sample) |
| TSR | Transit shed register or Trans Siberian Railway |
| TT | Telegraphic transfer |
| TTC | Tariff trade code |
| TUCC | Transport Users Consultative Committee |
| TURN | Trader unique reference number |
| U/A | "Underwriting account, unit of account |
| UCE | Unforeseen circumstances excepted |
| UCP | Uniform Customs and Practice (of Documentary Credits) |
| U/D | Under deck |
| UDEAC | Central African Customs and EconomicUnion |
| UDEAO | UnionDouanceetEconomiqued'AfriqueOccidentale |
| ULCC | Ultra large crude carrier |
| ULD | Unit load device |
| UN | United Nations |
| UNCTAD | The United Nations Conference on Trade & Development |
| UNCITRAL | The United Nations Commission on International Trade Law |
| UPU | Universal PostalUnion |
| URC | Uniform Rules for Collections |
| URCG | Uniform Rules Contract Guarantees |
| USD | United StatesDollar |
| U/w | Underwriter |
| VAT | Value Added Tax |
| VLCC | Very large crude carrier |
| WA | With average (obsolete) |
| WB | "Waybill, warehouse book |
| w/d | "Warranted, withdrawn |
| wg | Weight guaranteed |
| Wgt | Weight |
| WIPO | World Intellectual PropertyOrganisation |
| W & M | War & Marine |
| W/M | Weight and/or measurement |
| WP | Without prejudice |
| WPA | With particular average obsolete) |
| WR | Warehouse receipt |
| wro | War risks only |
| Wt | Weight |
| WTE | Wartime extension clause |
| WW | Warehouse warrant |
| YAR | York-Antwerp rules |
| ZAR | South AfricanRand |
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