3PL (Third-Party Logistics)
Supply Chain & WarehousingOutsourcing elements of distribution and fulfilment to a provider like Imperial or Super Group. A 3PL typically manages warehousing, transport,…
Read definition →# (0–9)
4PL (Fourth-Party Logistics)
Supply Chain & WarehousingA logistics partner that manages your entire supply chain on your behalf, including coordinating and supervising the 3PLs, transporters and…
Read definition →70707070 (Customs Code)
Customs & SARSThe "generic" customs code used by private individuals for low-value imports; heavily regulated and limited by a R150,000 annual threshold.…
Read definition →A
ABC Analysis
Supply Chain & WarehousingAn inventory classification technique that ranks items by their value or importance, with A items being the most significant and…
Read definition →Abnormal Lead Escort
Road, Rail & InlandSpecialised private security or traffic officers required for transporting loads exceeding standard width (2.6 m) or height (4.3 m) in…
Read definition →Abnormal Load
Road, Rail & InlandCargo that exceeds standard legal dimensions/weight (e.g., wind turbine blades), requiring special permits and escorts. In South Africa, abnormal load…
Read definition →Abnormal Load Permit
Road, Rail & InlandAn authorisation required to move a load that exceeds the legal limits on mass or dimensions on public roads. In…
Read definition →Ad Valorem Duty
Customs & SARSA customs duty calculated as a percentage of the customs value of the imported goods. Most ordinary customs duties in…
Read definition →Advance Payment
ProcurementA trade arrangement in which the buyer pays the seller in full or in part before the goods are shipped.…
Read definition →AEO (Authorised Economic Operator)
Customs & SARSA SARS accreditation for traders with proven compliance records and secure supply chains, aligned with the World Customs Organization SAFE…
Read definition →AfCFTA Tariff Phase-Down
Regional TradeThe gradual, scheduled reduction of customs duties on goods traded between members of the African Continental Free Trade Area over…
Read definition →AGOA (African Growth and Opportunity Act)
Regional TradeA United States trade preference programme that allows qualifying goods from eligible sub-Saharan African countries, including South Africa, to enter…
Read definition →Air Waybill (AWB)
DocumentationThe transport document for air freight, issued by the airline or its agent, serving as the contract of carriage and…
Read definition →Anti-Dumping Duty
Customs & SARSAn additional customs duty imposed to counter the injury caused to local industry by imports sold at less than their…
Read definition →ATA Carnet
DocumentationAn international customs document that allows the temporary, duty-free and VAT-free import of goods such as commercial samples, professional equipment…
Read definition →Axle Load
Road, Rail & InlandThe total weight transmitted to the road surface through the wheels of a single axle, regulated to protect road infrastructure.…
Read definition →B
B-BBEE (Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment)
Customs & SARSA legislative framework that influences procurement scores; high-level compliance is often required for logistics tenders. Companies are rated on a…
Read definition →Backhaul
Road, Rail & InlandThe return leg of a transport trip, ideally loaded with cargo to avoid running empty after the outbound delivery. Securing…
Read definition →BAF (Bunker Adjustment Factor)
Port & MaritimeA surcharge added to ocean freight to recover fluctuations in the cost of vessel fuel, known as bunkers. Shipping lines…
Read definition →Bank Guarantee
ProcurementAn irrevocable undertaking by a bank to pay a beneficiary a specified sum if the bank's customer fails to meet…
Read definition →Beitbridge Queue
Road, Rail & InlandSpecifically refers to the chronic congestion at the South Africa/Zimbabwe border crossing, often used as a benchmark for regional logistics…
Read definition →Berth
Port & MaritimeA designated location at a quay or jetty where a vessel ties up to load or discharge cargo. Berth availability…
Read definition →Bill of Entry
Customs & SARSThe formal customs declaration lodged with SARS to clear goods for import, export or removal, in South Africa rendered through…
Read definition →Bill of Lading (BoL)
DocumentationThe legal contract between the shipper and the carrier, and a title document to the goods. The BoL confirms receipt…
Read definition →Blank Sailing
Port & MaritimeA scheduled vessel call or entire voyage that the shipping line cancels, usually to manage capacity when demand drops or…
Read definition →Bonded Logistics
Supply Chain & WarehousingWarehousing and distribution services performed under customs control, where imported goods are stored without immediate payment of duty and VAT…
Read definition →Bonded Warehouse (SOS/OS)
Supply Chain & WarehousingA licensed facility where goods can be stored without paying duties/VAT until they are cleared for local consumption. Operators require…
Read definition →Break Bulk
Supply Chain & WarehousingGoods that must be loaded individually rather than in containers (e.g., bags of sugar or timber). Break bulk cargo is…
Read definition →Bullwhip Effect
Supply Chain & WarehousingThe tendency of small changes in consumer demand to become wildly amplified as orders travel up the supply chain, because…
Read definition →Bunker Fuel
Port & MaritimeThe fuel used to power ships' engines, the price of which is a major component of voyage cost and the…
Read definition →C
CAF (Currency Adjustment Factor)
Port & MaritimeA surcharge applied to ocean freight to compensate the shipping line for exchange-rate fluctuations between the currency of the tariff…
Read definition →Carbon Footprint
Supply Chain & WarehousingThe total greenhouse-gas emissions caused by a product, shipment, company or activity, expressed in tonnes of CO2-equivalent. In logistics it…
Read definition →Carbon Tax (South Africa)
Customs & SARSA SARS-administered tax on greenhouse-gas emissions introduced by the Carbon Tax Act of 2019. Large emitters pay per tonne of…
Read definition →Cargo Dues
Port & MaritimeA charge levied by the Transnet National Ports Authority on cargo passing through South African ports, payable by the cargo…
Read definition →Cargo Manifest
DocumentationA document listing all the cargo carried on a vessel, aircraft or vehicle, compiled from the individual bills of lading…
Read definition →CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism)
Regional TradeThe European Union's carbon tariff on imported goods, designed to stop companies dodging EU climate rules by manufacturing in countries…
Read definition →CBM (Cubic Metre)
Supply Chain & WarehousingThe standard unit of volume used to measure cargo for freight pricing and container planning, equal to one metre by…
Read definition →Certificate of Conformity
DocumentationA document attesting that a product meets the applicable standards and regulatory requirements. For regulated goods entering South Africa, conformity…
Read definition →Certificate of Origin
Regional TradeA document certifying the country in which goods were produced or manufactured, used to determine duty treatment and comply with…
Read definition →CFR (Cost and Freight)
DocumentationAn Incoterms 2020 rule for sea transport where the seller pays the cost and freight to bring the goods to…
Read definition →CFS (Container Freight Station)
Port & MaritimeA licensed facility, in or near a port, where LCL cargo from multiple shippers is consolidated into containers for export,…
Read definition →Chargeable Weight
Supply Chain & WarehousingThe weight used to price a shipment, taken as the greater of the actual gross weight and the volumetric (dimensional)…
Read definition →CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight)
DocumentationAn Incoterms 2020 rule for sea transport where the seller pays cost, freight and minimum-cover marine insurance to the named…
Read definition →CIP (Carriage and Insurance Paid To)
DocumentationAn Incoterms 2020 rule for any mode of transport where the seller pays carriage and insurance to the named destination,…
Read definition →City Deep
Road, Rail & InlandAfrica's largest "dry port" and inland container terminal located in Johannesburg. City Deep is connected to the Durban Container Terminal…
Read definition →Cold Chain
Supply Chain & WarehousingA temperature-controlled supply chain in which perishable goods — fruit, meat, fish, pharmaceuticals, wine — are kept within a specified…
Read definition →COMESA (Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa)
Regional TradeA regional economic community of eastern and southern African states promoting trade liberalisation and a free trade area among its…
Read definition →Commercial Invoice
DocumentationThe primary document used by SARS to determine the value of goods for duty purposes. It must accurately reflect the…
Read definition →Common Customs Area (CCA)
Regional TradeThe collective territory of the SACU member states (SA, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Eswatini) where goods move largely duty-free. Within the…
Read definition →Consignee
DocumentationThe party named on a transport document as the receiver of the goods — usually the buyer or their nominated…
Read definition →Consignment Stock
Supply Chain & WarehousingInventory placed at a customer's or distributor's site that remains owned by the supplier until it is sold or used,…
Read definition →Container Slot Booking System (CSBS)
Port & MaritimeThe specific digital interface hauliers must use to book entry times into TPT (Transnet Port Terminals) to manage truck queues.…
Read definition →Container Tracking
Port & MaritimeFollowing a shipping container's journey in near real time using the carrier's tracking events, vessel AIS positions and port system…
Read definition →Countervailing Duty
Customs & SARSAn additional customs duty imposed to offset a subsidy granted by a foreign government on exported goods that injures the…
Read definition →CPT (Carriage Paid To)
DocumentationAn Incoterms 2020 rule for any mode of transport where the seller pays for carriage to the named destination but…
Read definition →Cross-Border Haulage
Road, Rail & InlandTransporting goods via road from SA to neighbouring countries like Zimbabwe (Beitbridge) or Botswana. Cross-border haulers require special permits, country-specific…
Read definition →Cross-Border Road Transport Permit
Road, Rail & InlandAn authorisation required to operate a goods or passenger vehicle across South Africa's borders, issued by the Cross-Border Road Transport…
Read definition →Cross-Docking
Supply Chain & WarehousingUnloading goods from an incoming semi-trailer and loading them directly into outbound trucks with little to no storage time. Cross-docking…
Read definition →CSD (Central Supplier Database)
ProcurementThe mandatory National Treasury database where any company wishing to provide logistics or goods to the state must be registered.…
Read definition →Customs Broker
Customs & SARSA licensed clearing agent who lodges customs declarations with SARS and arranges the release of goods on behalf of importers…
Read definition →Customs Controlled Area (Special Economic Zone)
Customs & SARSA demarcated area within a Special Economic Zone where goods enjoy customs and tax relief, such as deferred or relieved…
Read definition →Customs Duty
Customs & SARSThe tax charged by SARS on imported goods, set out in the Customs Tariff against each HS code. Most rates…
Read definition →Customs Valuation (Transaction Value Method)
Customs & SARSThe primary method for determining the customs value of imported goods, based on the price actually paid or payable for…
Read definition →Customs VAT (Import VAT)
Customs & SARSThe value-added tax levied by SARS on imported goods, calculated on the customs value plus a 10 percent uplift plus…
Read definition →Cycle Stock
Supply Chain & WarehousingThe portion of inventory that is depleted and replenished through normal ordering cycles, as distinct from safety stock held as…
Read definition →D
DA 185
Customs & SARSThe primary application form for registering as an importer or exporter with SARS. Completion of this form (now largely processed…
Read definition →Dangerous Goods Declaration
DocumentationA document in which the shipper declares the nature, classification, packaging and handling requirements of hazardous cargo in line with…
Read definition →DAP (Delivered At Place)
DocumentationAn Incoterms 2020 rule where the seller delivers when the goods are placed at the buyer's disposal at the named…
Read definition →DCT Pier 2
Port & MaritimeSpecifically refers to the largest container-handling facility in Durban, often a focal point for national logistics congestion reports. Pier 2…
Read definition →DDP (Delivered Duty Paid)
DocumentationAn Incoterms 2020 rule placing maximum obligation on the seller, who delivers the goods cleared for import at the named…
Read definition →De Minimis (Low-Value Imports)
Customs & SARSA threshold below which imported goods receive simplified or concessionary customs treatment because full processing isn't worth the admin. South…
Read definition →Deferment Account
Customs & SARSA SARS-approved facility that allows a registered importer or clearing agent to defer payment of customs duty and import VAT…
Read definition →Demand Planning
Supply Chain & WarehousingForecasting what customers will buy, in what quantities and when, so that purchasing and inventory decisions are based on expected…
Read definition →Demurrage
Port & MaritimeCharges applied by shipping lines when containers are not picked up from the port within the "free time" period. Free…
Read definition →Designated Sectors
ProcurementSpecific industries (like "Bus bodies" or "Steel") where the government mandates a certain percentage of "Local Content" in the supply…
Read definition →Detention
Port & MaritimeFees charged for the late return of an empty container to the shipping line's depot. Detention applies once a container…
Read definition →Detention (Container)
Port & MaritimeA charge levied by a shipping line when an importer keeps the line's container outside the terminal beyond the agreed…
Read definition →Documentary Collection
ProcurementA trade payment method where the exporter's bank forwards shipping documents to the importer's bank, which releases them to the…
Read definition →DPU (Delivered at Place Unloaded)
DocumentationAn Incoterms 2020 rule, renamed from the former DAT, where the seller delivers when the goods are unloaded from the…
Read definition →Draft (Vessel)
Port & MaritimeThe vertical distance between the waterline and the lowest point of a vessel's hull, indicating how deep the ship sits…
Read definition →Drawback
Customs & SARSA refund of customs duty already paid on imported goods that are subsequently exported, either unchanged or after incorporation into…
Read definition →Durban 100km Zone
Port & MaritimeA logistics pricing and operational radius around the port of Durban that dictates specific local cartage rates. Moves within this…
Read definition →Durban Container Terminal (DCT)
Port & MaritimeThe busiest container terminal in Africa and the primary hub for South African trade. DCT handles the majority of South…
Read definition →Dwell Time
Supply Chain & WarehousingThe length of time cargo sits at a terminal, depot or facility between arrival and onward movement. At ports, long…
Read definition →E
E-Toll
Road, Rail & InlandAn electronic, open-road tolling system that charges vehicles for using designated tolled freeways without stopping, originally implemented on Gauteng freeways…
Read definition →East African Community (EAC)
Regional TradeA regional bloc of East African states operating a customs union and common market to deepen economic integration. South Africa…
Read definition →EDI (Electronic Data Interchange)
DocumentationThe computer-to-computer exchange of standard business documents — orders, invoices, shipping notices, customs declarations — in agreed electronic formats, replacing…
Read definition →EOQ (Economic Order Quantity)
Supply Chain & WarehousingThe order size that minimises the combined cost of ordering and holding inventory over a period. It balances larger orders,…
Read definition →ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning)
Supply Chain & WarehousingThe core business software that runs a company's transactions in one integrated database — purchasing, inventory, sales orders, finance and…
Read definition →ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival)
Port & MaritimeThe forecast date and time at which a vessel is expected to arrive at a port. It is used by…
Read definition →ETD (Estimated Time of Departure)
Port & MaritimeThe forecast date and time at which a vessel is expected to depart from a port. Exporters use the ETD…
Read definition →EUR.1 Movement Certificate
Customs & SARSA movement certificate proving the originating status of goods so they qualify for preferential duty rates under trade agreements such…
Read definition →EXW (Ex Works)
DocumentationAn Incoterms 2020 rule where the seller makes the goods available at their own premises and the buyer bears all…
Read definition →F
FAS (Free Alongside Ship)
DocumentationAn Incoterms 2020 rule for sea and inland waterway transport where the seller delivers when the goods are placed alongside…
Read definition →FCA (Free Carrier)
DocumentationAn Incoterms 2020 rule under which the seller delivers the goods, cleared for export, to a carrier or place nominated…
Read definition →FCL (Full Container Load)
Port & MaritimeA sea freight service in which a single shipper's cargo fills an entire container, which is sealed at origin and…
Read definition →Feeder Vessel
Port & MaritimeA smaller ship that carries containers between a major hub port and smaller regional ports, connecting them to the main…
Read definition →Fill Rate
Supply Chain & WarehousingThe proportion of customer demand met from available stock without backorder or delay, usually expressed as a percentage. It is…
Read definition →FMCG (Fast-Moving Consumer Goods)
Supply Chain & WarehousingProducts sold quickly at relatively low cost (e.g., groceries), a major sector in SA retail logistics. The FMCG sector drives…
Read definition →FOB (Free On Board)
DocumentationAn Incoterms 2020 rule for sea and inland waterway transport where the seller delivers the goods on board the vessel…
Read definition →Forex Hedging
ProcurementThe use of financial instruments such as forward exchange contracts, currency options or swaps to reduce exposure to adverse exchange-rate…
Read definition →Form F178
Regional TradeA historical foreign exchange control document (now largely electronic) required by the South African Reserve Bank for export proceeds. Exporters…
Read definition →Forward Exchange Contract (FEC)
ProcurementA contract with a bank to buy or sell foreign currency at a fixed rate on a future date, used…
Read definition →Free Time
Port & MaritimeThe period during which a container may remain at the port terminal or in the importer's possession without incurring demurrage…
Read definition →Freight Forwarder
Supply Chain & WarehousingAn intermediary that organises the international movement of goods on behalf of shippers, arranging carriage, documentation, customs clearance and insurance.…
Read definition →FTL (Full Truckload)
Road, Rail & InlandA road freight service in which a single consignment fills an entire vehicle, which then travels directly from origin to…
Read definition →Fumigation Certificate
DocumentationA document certifying that cargo or its packaging, such as wooden pallets and crates, has been treated to eliminate pests…
Read definition →G
Gantries
Road, Rail & InlandOverhead structures on highways, often associated with e-tolling or traffic monitoring in Gauteng. In the logistics context, gantries supporting the…
Read definition →Gantry Crane
Port & MaritimeA large rail-mounted crane at a container terminal used to lift containers between vessels and the quay, also called a…
Read definition →Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP)
Road, Rail & InlandThe technical name for the network of tolled highways in Johannesburg/Pretoria, crucial for calculating "urban" logistics costs. The GFIP's e-toll…
Read definition →GIT (Goods-in-Transit) Cover
Road, Rail & InlandInsurance that protects the value of cargo against loss or damage while it is being transported by road. Carriers and…
Read definition →GRI (General Rate Increase)
Port & MaritimeA blanket increase that shipping lines announce on base freight rates for a trade lane, typically effective from the first…
Read definition →GSP (Generalised System of Preferences)
Regional TradeA scheme under which developed countries grant reduced or zero tariffs on selected imports from developing countries to support their…
Read definition →H
Harmonised System (HS Code)
Customs & SARSThe internationally standardised system of names and numbers for classifying traded products, maintained by the World Customs Organization. The first…
Read definition →House Bill of Lading (HBL)
DocumentationA bill of lading issued by a freight forwarder or consolidator to its customer, covering that customer's cargo within a…
Read definition →I
Import Permit
Customs & SARSOfficial permission required before certain controlled goods may be imported into South Africa, issued mainly by ITAC under the International…
Read definition →Incoterms 2020
DocumentationA set of standardised international trade terms published by the International Chamber of Commerce that define the division of costs,…
Read definition →Inspection Certificate
DocumentationA document issued by an independent inspection body confirming that goods meet the agreed quantity, quality or specification before shipment.…
Read definition →Insurance Certificate
DocumentationA document evidencing that marine cargo insurance is in place for a specific shipment, stating the insured value, coverage and…
Read definition →Interlink / Super-Link
Road, Rail & InlandLocal jargon for a truck-tractor pulling two trailers connected by a fifth wheel (B-double), the standard for long-haul SA transport.…
Read definition →Inventory Turnover
Supply Chain & WarehousingHow many times a business sells and replaces its stock in a year, calculated as cost of goods sold divided…
Read definition →ITAC (International Trade Administration Commission)
Customs & SARSThe body that manages import/export permits and trade remedies (like anti-dumping duties) in SA. ITAC investigates dumping, subsidisation and a…
Read definition →J
Just-in-Time (JIT)
Supply Chain & WarehousingAn inventory strategy in which materials and components arrive exactly when needed for production or sale, minimising stock holding. It…
Read definition →L
Landed Cost
Supply Chain & WarehousingThe total price of a product once it has arrived at the buyer's door (Price + Freight + Duty +…
Read definition →Last-Mile Delivery
Road, Rail & InlandThe final leg of the distribution chain that moves goods from a local depot or hub to the end customer's…
Read definition →Laycan
Port & MaritimeThe window of dates within which a chartered vessel must arrive and be ready to load, comprising the layday (earliest)…
Read definition →Laytime
Port & MaritimeThe period agreed in a charter party during which the charterer may load or discharge cargo without paying extra. If…
Read definition →LCL (Less-than-Container-Load)
Port & MaritimeA sea freight service in which cargo from several shippers is consolidated into one container because no single shipper has…
Read definition →Lead Time Variability
Supply Chain & WarehousingThe degree to which the time between placing an order and receiving the goods fluctuates from one order to the…
Read definition →Letter of Credit (LC)
ProcurementA written undertaking by a bank, issued on behalf of a buyer, to pay the seller a stated amount provided…
Read definition →LOA (Letter of Authority)
Customs & SARSA critical document issued by the NRCS (National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications) allowing the sale of specific technical or electrical…
Read definition →Logistics
Supply Chain & WarehousingThe practical execution side of the supply chain: physically moving, storing and handling goods, plus the paperwork and tracking that…
Read definition →LTL (Less-Than-Truckload)
Road, Rail & InlandA road freight service in which several shippers' smaller consignments share space on the same vehicle, with each paying for…
Read definition →M
Master Bill of Lading (MBL)
DocumentationThe bill of lading issued by the shipping line to the freight forwarder or consolidator for a consolidated shipment, covering…
Read definition →Mother Vessel
Port & MaritimeA large deep-sea container ship that operates the main long-haul trade routes and at hub ports exchanges cargo with smaller…
Read definition →MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet)
DocumentationA document, also known as a safety data sheet, that sets out the properties, hazards, handling and emergency measures for…
Read definition →N
Natcor (Natal Corridor)
Road, Rail & InlandThe specialised terminology for the high-volume road and rail freight artery connecting the port of Durban to the Gauteng industrial…
Read definition →Nearshoring
Supply Chain & WarehousingMoving sourcing or production closer to your home market — for example a European brand shifting manufacture from Asia to…
Read definition →Ngqura (Coega)
Port & MaritimeSouth Africa's newest deep-water port; the terms "Ngqura" and "Coega" are often used interchangeably to refer to the transshipment hub…
Read definition →Notify Party
DocumentationThe contact named on a bill of lading whom the shipping line must inform when the cargo arrives — typically…
Read definition →NVOCC (Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier)
Port & MaritimeA company that sells ocean freight and issues its own bills of lading like a shipping line, but owns no…
Read definition →O
Open Account
ProcurementA trade payment arrangement where goods are shipped and delivered before payment is due, typically 30 to 90 days after…
Read definition →OTIF (On Time, In Full)
Supply Chain & WarehousingThe most widely used delivery-performance measure: the percentage of orders delivered on the promised date AND with the complete quantity…
Read definition →Out of Gauge (OOG)
Port & MaritimeCargo that exceeds the internal dimensions of a standard container — too tall, too wide or too long — and…
Read definition →P
Packing Declaration
DocumentationA document declaring the type of packing materials used in a shipment, particularly whether wood packaging has been treated in…
Read definition →Packing List
DocumentationA detailed breakdown of the contents, weight, and dimensions of a shipment. The packing list is used by customs inspectors,…
Read definition →PBS (Performance-Based Standards) Vehicle
Road, Rail & InlandA heavy vehicle designed and approved against measured safety and productivity performance criteria rather than only prescriptive dimension and mass…
Read definition →Phytosanitary Certificate
DocumentationAn official certificate issued by the plant-health authority of the exporting country confirming that plants or plant products are free…
Read definition →Point & Car Terminal (MPT)
Port & MaritimeA multi-purpose terminal in Durban harbour specifically tailored for RORO (Roll-on/Roll-off) vehicle logistics. New vehicles imported into South Africa (predominantly…
Read definition →Port Congestion Surcharge
Port & MaritimeA surcharge added by shipping lines to recover the extra costs of vessels waiting to berth at congested ports. It…
Read definition →Preference Points (80/20 or 90/10)
ProcurementThe unique South African procurement scoring system where 80 or 90 points are for price and 20 or 10 points…
Read definition →Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA)
Regional TradeA pact between two or more countries that grants reduced or zero tariffs on agreed goods traded between them, departing…
Read definition →Pro Forma Invoice
DocumentationA preliminary invoice issued by a seller before shipment, setting out the goods, prices and terms so the buyer can…
Read definition →Procurement
ProcurementThe end-to-end process of sourcing and buying the goods and services a business needs — finding and vetting suppliers, negotiating…
Read definition →Provisional Payment (Customs)
Customs & SARSA deposit lodged with SARS to secure potential duties, VAT, penalties or other amounts pending the final determination of a…
Read definition →Q
Quota Allocation
Regional TradeSpecific to the SACU-EFTA or EU-SADC EPA agreements, where only a certain volume of products (like wine or beef) can…
Read definition →R
Rebate of Duty
Customs & SARSA full or partial relief from customs duty granted under a specific rebate item in Schedule 3, 4 or 6…
Read definition →Reefer Container
Port & MaritimeA refrigerated shipping container with an integral cooling unit used to transport temperature-sensitive cargo such as fruit, meat and pharmaceuticals.…
Read definition →Reorder Point
Supply Chain & WarehousingThe inventory level at which a new purchase order should be placed to replenish stock before it runs out. It…
Read definition →Reverse Logistics
Supply Chain & WarehousingThe flow of goods travelling backwards through the supply chain: customer returns, warranty repairs, recalls, reusable packaging and end-of-life recycling.…
Read definition →RLA (Registration, Licensing and Accreditation)
Customs & SARSThe newest SARS digital system that replaces manual customs registration (replacing the old paper-based DA185 processes). The RLA system manages…
Read definition →RoRo (Roll-on Roll-off)
Port & MaritimeA vessel type and shipping method where wheeled cargo — cars, trucks, buses, trailers and machinery on low-beds — is…
Read definition →Rule 59A
Customs & SARSA specific SARS Customs rule regarding the registration and licensing of persons for the purposes of the Customs and Excise…
Read definition →Rules of Origin
Regional TradeThe criteria used to determine the economic nationality of goods so they can qualify for preferential duty under a trade…
Read definition →S
SACU (Southern African Customs Union)
Regional TradeThe customs union comprising South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Eswatini, which share a common external tariff and pool customs…
Read definition →SAD 500 (Customs Declaration)
DocumentationThe Single Administrative Document used to declare goods to SARS for import, export or transit in South Africa. It captures…
Read definition →SADC Certificate of Origin
Customs & SARSA document allowing for reduced or zero customs duties for goods traded between Southern African Development Community members. Goods must…
Read definition →SADC EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA)
Regional TradeA trade agreement between the European Union and the SADC EPA group, which includes South Africa, providing preferential market access…
Read definition →SADC FTA (Free Trade Area)
Regional TradeThe free trade area established among participating members of the Southern African Development Community, under which most goods trade duty-free…
Read definition →Safety Stock
Supply Chain & WarehousingExtra inventory held to guard against stockouts caused by demand spikes or supply delays. It acts as a buffer that…
Read definition →Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP)
Supply Chain & WarehousingA monthly management process that brings sales, operations, finance and supply chain leaders together to agree one plan: what the…
Read definition →SANS (South African National Standards)
Customs & SARSOften used in supply chains to define the quality/safety compliance required for imported technical goods. SANS standards are developed by…
Read definition →SARS (South African Revenue Service)
Customs & SARSThe nation's tax and customs authority responsible for collecting duties and VAT on imports/exports. SARS administers the Customs and Excise…
Read definition →Scope 1, 2 and 3 Emissions
Supply Chain & WarehousingThe standard way of classifying a company's greenhouse-gas emissions under the GHG Protocol. Scope 1 is what you burn yourself…
Read definition →Shipper (Consignor)
DocumentationThe party who sends the goods and is named as such on the transport document — typically the exporter or…
Read definition →SKU (Stock-Keeping Unit)
Supply Chain & WarehousingA unique identifier assigned to each distinct product or variant for inventory tracking, distinguishing items by attributes such as size,…
Read definition →Slot Booking System
Port & MaritimeA digital system used at SA ports to manage truck arrivals and reduce congestion. Hauliers must book a time slot…
Read definition →Specific Duty
Customs & SARSA customs duty charged as a fixed amount per unit of quantity, weight or volume rather than as a percentage…
Read definition →State Warehouse
Customs & SARSA facility managed by SARS Customs where seized, unclaimed, or abandoned goods are stored. If goods are not cleared within…
Read definition →Stevedore
Port & MaritimeA firm or worker responsible for loading and unloading cargo from vessels at a port. Stevedores operate cranes, secure cargo…
Read definition →Supply Chain
Supply Chain & WarehousingThe full network of organisations, people, activities and information that moves a product from raw material to the end customer…
Read definition →Supply Chain Management (SCM)
Supply Chain & WarehousingThe discipline of planning and coordinating the entire flow of goods, information and money across a supply chain — procurement,…
Read definition →Supply Chain Visibility
Supply Chain & WarehousingThe ability to see where your goods, orders and shipments actually are at any moment, across all the parties handling…
Read definition →SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication)
ProcurementA secure global messaging network that banks use to exchange standardised financial instructions, including international payments and letters of credit.…
Read definition →T
Tariff Determination
Customs & SARSA formal ruling by SARS confirming the correct tariff classification, and therefore the duty rate, applicable to a specific product.…
Read definition →Tariff Heading
Customs & SARSThe numerical code from the Harmonised System used to classify a product in the Customs and Excise Tariff, determining the…
Read definition →Telegraphic Transfer (TT)
ProcurementAn electronic bank-to-bank transfer of funds, commonly used to settle international trade invoices via the SWIFT network. It is fast…
Read definition →Temporary Import Permit
Customs & SARSAn authorisation allowing goods to be imported into South Africa for a limited period without the permanent payment of duty,…
Read definition →TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit)
Port & MaritimeThe standard unit for measuring container capacity, based on a twenty-foot container, so a forty-foot container counts as two TEU.…
Read definition →THC (Terminal Handling Charge)
Port & MaritimeA fee charged by a port terminal for handling a container between the vessel and the terminal stack, covering crane…
Read definition →The Corridor
Road, Rail & InlandUsually refers to the "Natcor" (Natal Corridor), the vital rail and road link between Durban and Johannesburg. This corridor is…
Read definition →The Iron Ore Export Line
Port & MaritimeThe 861 km heavy-haul rail link between Sishen (Northern Cape) and Saldanha Bay, operated with some of the longest trains…
Read definition →Transhipment
Port & MaritimeThe transfer of cargo from one vessel to another at an intermediate port en route to its final destination, often…
Read definition →Transnet Freight Rail (TFR)
Road, Rail & InlandThe state-owned entity responsible for the rail network; vital for bulk commodities like coal and iron ore. TFR operates over…
Read definition →Transnet Port Terminals (TPT)
Port & MaritimeThe state-owned operator managing SA's major ports (Durban, Cape Town, Ngqura, etc.). TPT handles container, car, bulk, break-bulk, and multi-purpose…
Read definition →Tri-axle
Road, Rail & InlandA trailer with three axles, commonly used for heavy containerised loads to comply with South African bridge formula weight limits.…
Read definition →Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA)
Regional TradeAn initiative to combine the SADC, COMESA and EAC regional blocs into a single free trade area spanning much of…
Read definition →Tug
Port & MaritimeSmall, powerful boats used at ports like Port Elizabeth to help large vessels maneuver. Tugs assist container ships, bulk carriers,…
Read definition →V
VAPS (Value Added Port Services)
Customs & SARSLocal specialized services like container cleaning, fumigation, or weighing (VGM) performed within the port precinct. These are typically offered by…
Read definition →Vessel Sharing Agreement (VSA)
Port & MaritimeAn arrangement in which two or more shipping lines share space on each other's vessels on a given trade lane…
Read definition →VGM (Verified Gross Mass)
Port & MaritimeThe total verified weight of a packed container, including cargo and tare, which the shipper must declare before it can…
Read definition →VOC (Verification of Conformity)
Customs & SARSEnsuring imported goods meet South African National Standards (SANS). A VOC certificate is issued by an accredited body before shipment,…
Read definition →Voluntary Disclosure Programme (VDP)
Customs & SARSA SARS facility allowing a taxpayer to disclose a previous customs or tax default, such as underpaid duty or VAT,…
Read definition →W
Waybill
DocumentationA document issued by a carrier giving details and instructions relating to the shipment of a consignment of goods. A…
Read definition →Wharfage
Port & MaritimeA charge levied by a port authority for the use of the quay and infrastructure as cargo passes over the…
Read definition →WMS (Warehouse Management System)
Supply Chain & WarehousingSoftware that runs the inside of a warehouse: receiving, putaway, stock locations, picking, packing and dispatch, usually via barcode or…
Read definition →WTO Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN)
Regional TradeA core WTO principle requiring a member to extend any tariff or trade advantage granted to one trading partner equally…
Read definition →Z
ZAR (South African Rand)
Customs & SARSThe local currency; its volatility is a major factor in South African landed cost calculations. Customs duty and VAT are…
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