The set that normally travels with the goods
- Commercial invoice — what was sold, to whom, on what terms, in what currency
- Packing list — rolls, weights and dimensions, so the container can be checked without opening it
- Bill of lading or air waybill — the carrier’s document, and for sea freight the one that controls release of the cargo
- Certificate of origin — where the goods were made, which decides duty treatment in many markets
These four are the backbone of almost any shipment. Everything beyond them exists because a particular country, product or payment method asks for it.
What gets added, and why
| Added when | Document | Asked for by |
|---|---|---|
| Your market gives preference to Indian origin | Preferential certificate of origin under the relevant agreement | Your customs authority |
| You are paying by letter of credit | Exactly the documents the credit lists, worded exactly as it says | Your bank |
| Your specification names a test | Test or inspection report for that property | You or your project engineer |
| The buyer appoints an inspector | Third-party inspection certificate | You |
| Your country requires it for the product | Conformity or registration document | Your customs authority |
| The cargo is insured by the seller | Insurance certificate | The term you bought on |
Your customs broker is the only reliable source for what your own country adds. We cannot tell you what your port will ask for, and a supplier who claims to know every market’s rules is guessing.
Settle the paperwork before production, not after
Most document problems are cheap to fix at the enquiry stage and expensive at the port. A letter of credit that calls the material something the invoice does not say, a certificate naming a test nobody agreed to run, a description that does not match the classification you declared — each one is a small wording decision made weeks earlier.
So send the document list with the order, not with the shipping instructions. If a test report is wanted, it has to be agreed before the goods are made, because some tests are destructive and all of them take time.
Classification is yours to confirm
Felt and nonwovens fall under chapter 56 of the Harmonized System, and the exact code depends on the construction — our HS code guide covers how that works. The code on your import entry is declared by you, through your broker, and it drives the duty you pay.
We describe the material accurately on the invoice. We do not determine your import classification, and we do not advise on duty rates in your country.
Packing, and what the packing list has to match
Material ships as rolls. The standard roll is 50 m, with other lengths made to order, in widths of 5.0–5.2 m, which is what decides how a container is filled — see roll weight and coverage for working out quantity and loading.
The packing list must match what is physically in the container: roll count, net and gross weight, and dimensions. A mismatch between the list and the cargo is one of the commonest causes of a hold at the destination, and it is entirely avoidable.
What we do, and what we do not
Export packing and the documentation your destination and customs broker ask for are agreed with each order. Tell us early which documents your market requires, so they can be discussed before you commit.
We are not a customs broker and we do not give customs, duty or tax advice for your country. Where a document has to come from an authority, a chamber or an independent inspector, it comes from them — we supply the material and the paperwork that is ours to issue.
What to send with your enquiry
- Destination country and port, and your customs broker’s requirements if you have them
- Payment method — and if it is a letter of credit, the document clauses it will carry
- Any certificate of origin type your market needs for preference
- Any test or inspection report your specification requires, named before production
- The specification itself: application, fibre, GSM, width, roll length, quantity
Send it through the enquiry form. The quote checklist covers the material side, and EXW, FOB or CIF covers the term, which decides who holds which part of this list.
Questions
Which documents come with a shipment from India?
Commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading or air waybill, and a certificate of origin are the usual set. Anything beyond that is added because your country, your bank or your specification asks for it, and it is agreed with each order.
Do you provide a certificate of origin?
A certificate of origin is issued by an authorised body rather than by a supplier. Tell us at the enquiry stage which type your market needs, including any preferential certificate, so it can be arranged with the order.
Can you tell me the duty I will pay?
No. Duty depends on the classification declared on your import entry and your country’s tariff, both of which are for you and your customs broker. We describe the material accurately on the invoice; the classification at import is yours to confirm.
We pay by letter of credit. What do you need?
The document clauses the credit will carry, before the order is produced. A credit that describes the material differently from the invoice is the commonest reason documents are rejected, and it is a wording problem that is simple to fix early and costly to fix late.
Can you supply a test report?
Tell us which test and whose standard before production, since some tests are destructive and all take time. Where an independent report is required, it comes from the testing body, not from us.
