Sending cargo to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia?
14th July 2017
Bigger doesn’t mean better, it means less personal responsibility
When one of the world's leading logistics providers took on a cargo consignment destined for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, they failed to question the cargo manifest. Then, without the clients’ knowledge, routed it via Riyadh Dry Port with disastrous consequences. The cargo is now trapped in a bureaucratic system which means the cargo is effectively lost.
Catch 22 - your cargo is lost but you have to pay storage fees
For all exports to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia all products require a Certificate of Conformity, also referred to as a SASO CoC to enable them to be cleared through Saudi Customs. They are needed to ensure customs clearance of shipments and confirm that the products comply with the relevant Saudi technical regulations and national, regional or international standards. Those that do not are held by Saudi Customs and the Importer will be asked to take corrective action – however, there is no timescale for this and the client shipping’ is liable for the storage fees accrued.
At Spatial Global, you will have a single point of contact who will offer various services to help you through the process of compliance of the conformity assessment program.
Depending on the nature of your product, the verification may involve one or a combination of the following activities:
- Physical inspection prior to shipment
- Sampling, testing and analysis in accredited laboratories
- Audit of product manufacturing processes
- Documentary check and assessment of conformity with the requirements of the applicable technical regulations and standards, for example SASO, GSO, IEC
Complex import and export regulations are implemented by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabi and you need expert help to ensure your cargo doesn’t fall foul
An extensive list of ‘Prohibited & Restricted Commodities’ are not allowed to be imported into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under any circumstances and will be destroyed upon arrival at the Saudi border. However Controlled Goods covers a range of commodities that require specific authority to import into the Kingdom form various government ministries or require certificates of conformance from the shipper.
The following is an indication of the documents required for importing goods into Saudi Arabia.
- Certificate of Origin authenticated at a local Chamber of Commerce and translated into Arabic.
- Saudi Arabian Customs Invoice (in triplicate) - this is required by the majority of imports entering Saudi Arabia (except those of low pecuniary value).
- An authenticated invoice (in triplicate), clearly stating the country of origin, name of the carrier, brand and number of goods, and a clear description of the goods, including weight and value.
- A Bill of Lading
- Insurance documents if shipments are sent. Original documents must be accompanied by an Arabic translation.
- Saudi Arabian Standards Organisation (SASO) Certificate of Conformity, issued by an approved certification body in the UK
There are also different value splits and accompanying rules depending upon the point of clearance in Saudi Arabia for commercial cargo.
Spatial Global has extensive experience in managing conformity assessment programs and ensuring your cargo meets the standard set by the authorities for all products exported to Saudi Arabia. I’m sure by now you are beginning to appreciate the complexities, but there’s one other factor to consider – the value of the consignment and the destination port.
Cargo valued under US$100 (All of Saudi Arabia)
Non document shipments, under US$100 and not mentioned on the list of commodities need only a detailed invoice from the shipper to clear through customs formalities into Saudi Arabia.
Cargo valued between US$ 100 and US$ 2,500 (Destined for Riyadh and Jeddah only)
Non document shipments, between US$100 and US$ 2,500 as well as not being mentioned on the list of commodities need the following documentation;
- A detailed commercial invoice, with full accurate descriptions and preferably the HS Code for each item
- A copy of the consignees Company Registration document
Cargo valued over US$ 2,500 (Destined for Riyadh and Jeddah only)
Due to the sheer volume of imports processed in Dhahran there is a higher value limit than is allowed by customs authorities in Riyadh and Jeddah. Non document shipments, over US$ 2,500 and not mentioned on the list of commodities need the following documentation:
- A detailed commercial invoice, with full accurate descriptions and preferably the HS Code for each item
- A Certificate of Origin attested by a competent authority, generally the shipper’s local chamber of commerce, and needs to be created by the shipper prior to export.
- A copy of the consignees Company Registration document
- An authorisation letter from the consignee authorising your broker to clear the shipment through customs.
Cargo valued between US$ 100 and US$ 13,250 (Destined for Dhahran)
Non document shipments, between US$ 100 and US$ 13,250 as well as not being mentioned on the list of commodities need the following documentation:
- A detailed commercial invoice, with full accurate descriptions and preferably the HS Code for each item
- A copy of the consignees Company Registration document.
Cargo valued over US$ 13,250 (Dhahran)
Non document shipments, over US$ 13,250 and not mentioned on the list of commodities need the following documentation:
- A detailed commercial invoice, with full accurate descriptions and preferably the HS Code for each item
- A Certificate of Origin attested by a Chamber of Commerce at origin created by the shipper prior to export
- A copy of the consignees Company Registration document
- An authorisation letter from the consignee authorising your broker to clear the shipment through customs.