FOREIGN TRADE GUIDE #3 — SINCE 1983

Required Documents for Sea Freight Export: Bill of Lading (B/L), BESC/ECTN & Customs Docs

Name: ATC Africa Trade Center
Address: Karşıyaka – İzmir – Türkiye, İzmir, 35580, TR
Telephone: +90 232 700 15 32
Price range: $$$

All mandatory shipping, customs, and regulatory documents required for smooth FCL/LCL container exports and port clearance across Africa and worldwide.

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Mandatory Sea Freight Export Documents Checklist

Ocean Bill of Lading (B/L): Title document issued by the shipping line confirming receipt of goods on board (Original 3/3 or Telex Release).
BESC / ECTN / CNCA / BIETC / FERI Certificate: Mandatory Electronic Cargo Tracking Note required by 24+ African countries prior to vessel arrival.
Commercial Invoice & Detailed Packing List: Specifying HS codes, Incoterms, net/gross weights, carton counts, and CBM volume.
Certificate of Origin (C/O) & EUR.1 / A.TR: Chamber of Commerce certified proof of Turkish manufacturing origin.
Phytosanitary, Health, Fumigation (ISPM-15) & CoC Certificates: Required for food, agricultural goods, wooden pallets, and regulated industrial items.

Partner with A.T.C. Africa Trade Center (Since 1983)

With 3 branches in Turkey, 5 main hubs in Africa (Ghana, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Ivory Coast, DR Congo), 4 offices in Europe, and 89 distributorships across 25 countries, we provide direct export, raw material import, investment consulting, and supporting container logistics.

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Knowledge & Insights

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently asked questions and expert answers regarding African trade, ocean freight, BESC certification, and port clearance procedures.

Which African countries does A.T.C. Africa Trade Center serve for export and freight?

Since 1983, ATC has provided turnkey foreign trade consulting, container shipping (FCL/LCL), express air freight, and commercial agency across 24 West, Central, and Southern African nations, notably Senegal, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Angola, and The Gambia.

What is the mandatory BESC / ECTN / CTN certificate for African shipments and how is it issued?

BESC (Bordereau Électronique de Suivi des Cargaisons) or ECTN (Electronic Cargo Tracking Note) is a mandatory customs tracking certificate required by African port authorities prior to vessel departure. Cargo cannot clear customs without it. ATC processes and validates all tracking certificates within 24 hours.

What is the average container transit time from Turkey to Africa by sea?

From main Turkish ports (Izmir, Istanbul, Mersin), container transit to West African ports (Dakar, Tema, Abidjan) takes an average of 18 to 26 days. Transit to Central and Southern African ports (Douala, Pointe-Noire, Luanda) ranges between 25 and 35 days.

What payment terms and financial security measures are recommended for African trade?

The most secure payment methods are Confirmed Irrevocable Letters of Credit (Confirmed L/C) and advance wire transfer (Advance T/T). With 43+ years of local presence, ATC verifies buyer credibility and bank solvency to eliminate non-payment risks.

Are partial container (LCL) or air freight options available for samples and smaller volumes?

Yes. For shipments that do not fill a full container, we provide secure LCL consolidation billed per cubic meter (CBM). For urgent samples and high-priority goods, our Istanbul-based Express Air Cargo delivers door-to-airport within 2 to 4 business days.

African Export, Import & Investment Leader Since 1983

Take a Secure and Fast Step into African Markets

Contact our foreign trade desk directly for export product pricing (coidet.com), African raw material imports, container freight rates, and mandatory BESC/ECTN waivers.

WA 1: +90 533 777 70 77 WA 2: +90 232 700 15 32 Get Product & Freight Quote Catalog: www.coidet.com Tel: +90 232 700 15 32

✉️ atc@atc.org.tr | 📠 Fax: +90 232 700 29 75 | 🌐 www.coidet.com