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Introduction |
| The Guide to Importing into South Africa is
provided as a free service to South African companies and to the community
which trades with them by MBendi Information
Services and Whitehouse and
Associates. Extensive information is provided on each step of the import
process together with contact details for service providers. |
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Trade
News |
| Trade News keeps you abreast of international
trade opportunities and developments. You can search the Trade News database by
country, industry and topic to find the news items relevant to your company. If
you are interested in receiving Trade News items on a regular basis by E-mail,
then please contact us.
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Researching your
Market |
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Identifying markets with which to trade
involves both desk and in-market research. |
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Identifying
the Trade Opportunity |
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The most difficult step in the international
trade sequence is the identification of the correct trading partner. There are
a number of resources available that can assist in the identification of
suitable partners. |
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Understanding the
terms |
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Before getting involved in a foreign market,
you need to familiarise yourself with the phrases and terms commonly used in
international trade. |
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South
Africa's relationship with the International Community |
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An understanding of South Africa's
relationships with other countries and the international community in general
will assist in negotiations. |
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Preparing the
Quotation |
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Once a suitable trading partner has been
identified, a written quotation can be sent to the importer. |
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Drawing up a
Contract of Sale |
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Once the buyer has confirmed acceptance of the
order, seller and buyer have a contract of sale subject to the issue of the
agreed letter of credit or other payment mechanism. |
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Organising Payment
and complying with exchange control |
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Selecting the correct payment term and
complying with South African exchange control regulations are essential
components in ensuring payment. |
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Applying for an
Import permit |
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The importer need to ensure that he or she
complies with South African import regulations. |
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Requesting
Quotes/Estimates for Trade Services |
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The Trade Service Quote system allows
exporters to complete one set of forms to request quotes/estimates for
transport, finance and insurance |
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Organising
Transport |
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Depending on the circumstances of the deal,
the importer or exporter needs to decide on the best mode of transport and to
book space with a chosen carrier. |
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Organising Cargo
Insurance |
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Depending on the agreed terms of delivery, the
importer or exporter will take out cargo insurance against the risk of damage
during transit |
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Import
documentation |
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The efficiency of the transaction will depend
on the correct documentation being submitted at the correct time to the correct
authorities. |
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Customs
Tariffs |
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The imported product will be subject to the
payment of import duties and, in some cases, excise tariffs. |
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Succeeding in the
South African market |
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South Africa is a unique market with both
third and first world characteristics. A good understanding of the trading
environment is essential for success in this market. |
