What is the waiver and why is it necessary to export to Africa

What is the waiver and why is it mandatory if you want to export to Africa?

If you've ever considered taking your goods to African countries, you'll surely come across a word that keeps popping up. Waiver.

At first, it may seem like more bureaucracy, something that's put in your way to give you a hard time. And honestly, it's partly true. But I'll explain it to you like we're having a coffee, without using technical jargon: the waiver is your entry pass to many African countries. Without it, your cargo won't get in. No exceptions.

We've seen many exporters, even companies with years of experience, get into trouble because they don't understand this. And trust me, it's not a problem you want to have when your container is already in the middle of the Atlantic. 

What is the waiver?

The waiver (also known as ECTN, CTN, BSC or BESC, depending on the country, but it doesn't matter what you call it, it's the same thing) is a cargo tracking certificate. The customs authorities of more than 25 African countries require it to allow you to bring goods into their ports.

Think of it as the ID of your shipment. It's a digital document that contains all the information about your operation:

• Who's selling (you, the exporter)

• Who's buying (your client in Africa)

• What you're sending (what product, how many units, how much it weighs)

• How much it's worth (value of the goods, in what currency)

• What ship it's on (name of the vessel, when it departs, when it arrives)

• From what port to what port

• How much the freight costs

• What Incoterm you're using

• The customs tariff of the product

And here's the important part: all this information is sent to the African customs authorities before the ship departs from your port. Not after. If you wait until the goods have departed, it's too late.

Why is it so necessary? What are African countries looking for?

African countries aren't asking for it out of whim. They have three very clear reasons:

First: they want to know what's coming into their country before it arrives. Many African ports have limited capacity and need to organize themselves. If they don't know what's coming, they can't prepare for its arrival.

Second: they want to fight against smuggling. With all the information before arrival, they can detect prohibited goods, false declarations, things that shouldn't be there. This protects their local economy and ensures that customs duties are paid.

Third: they want to protect local shipping companies. They monitor freight and transportation costs to ensure everything is transparent and no taxes are evaded.

In practice: without a waiver, your container will be stuck in the port. It can stay there for days, weeks. And the worst part isn't the delay, but the fines. You can be fined an amount calculated based on the Incoterm you used. In some cases, it's several times the value of the waiver. I've seen fines of $5,000, $10,000, even 300% of the document's value.

Who processes it and when?

The million-dollar question:

Who processes it? The company selling the goods. Normally, you do it through your maritime transport agent. The importer gives you the data, but the responsibility is yours.

When? Before the ship departs from the port of origin. This is non-negotiable. You can't do it afterwards. In practice, you should request it when you have confirmed the reservation on the ship and all the operation's data.

What do you need?

• Commercial invoice
• Packing list
• Bill of Lading
• Complete data of exporter and importer
• Ship and port information
• Customs tariff

How long does it take? Between 24 and 72 hours once you have all the documentation in order. That's why you shouldn't leave it until the last minute. It's recommended to do it as soon as possible to ensure it's processed quickly and safely. 

The reality: stories I've seen

I'm going to tell you with all sincerity: I've seen containers stopped for weeks because the waiver didn't arrive on time.

Real case nº 1: A Spanish company exported machinery to Angola. Everything was perfect, goods were ready, ship was reserved. But the waiver was requested two days after the ship departed from Valencia. When it arrived in Luanda, the container was blocked. Fine of over $5,000, plus daily storage at the port. In the end, they lost more than 15,000 euros. Between fines, delays, and the disappointment with the client.

Real case nº 2: A company that exported agricultural products to Nigeria didn't know they needed a waiver for that destination. The goods arrived in Lagos and couldn't be unloaded. The importer had to pay a fine of 300% of the waiver's value because they requested it after arrival. The goods were damaged due to the delay, and the client almost stopped buying.

Real case nº 3 (the good one): A company that exported textiles to Senegal processed the waiver with 5 days' notice. Everything went smoothly, the goods arrived, and were unloaded in 24 hours. The client was so satisfied that they doubled their order the following month. The difference was simple: preparation.

Which countries should you pay attention to?

More than 25 African countries require a waiver for all maritime shipments. The most important ones commercially:

West Africa: Nigeria, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Benin, Togo, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso

Central Africa: Cameroon, Angola, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Chad, Central African Republic

East Africa: Madagascar, Sudan, South Sudan, Burundi

The countries with the largest import volumes are Nigeria, Angola, Cameroon, and Senegal. If you're going to export to any of these, the waiver is essential.

How much does it cost?

It varies depending on the country, the value of the goods, and the type of transport. Generally, there's no fixed cost, as it's a variable cost. 

It's essential to know that it's not free, but its cost is minimal compared to the fines for not having it. Ask your agent for the exact cost for your destination.

To conclude

The waiver is not optional. It's mandatory for exporting to more than 25 African countries. If you're thinking of exporting to Africa, treat it as an essential part of your operation, not just another piece of paperwork.

Your peace of mind, your wallet, and your relationship with the client will thank you. It's better to invest a little time and money in the waiver from the start than to suffer fines, delays, and damage to your reputation.

Are you going to export to an African country soon? If you have doubts about the waiver, ask before closing the operation. It's better to avoid problems before they occur. In international trade, preparation is the difference between success and failure.