Online Export Course

Covers: The world according to categories of development (First World, Newly Industrialised Countries [NICs], emerging markets, developing countries, least developed countries); why countries trade with each other and what is traded by different categories of countries; the case for free trade; barriers to trade and why they exist; the impact of selected global bodies on world trade; the rise of regional trading blocs and trade agreements currently in existence.

Key Learning Outcomes
On completion of this module, you will be able to:

• Outline the reasons why countries trade with each other.
• Describe the general characteristics of a typical industrialised/developed/First World country, a less developed/developing/Third World country, an emerging market, and a newly industrialised country.
• Specify the types of goods traded by i) developed countries, ii) emerging markets and iii) least developed countries.
• Explain what is meant by i) competitiveness and ii) protectionism.
• Explain why and how tariffs and non-tariff barriers are used to control trade.
• Identify the respective contributions of specific international bodies to global trade practice.
• Define the term' trading bloc' and give reasons for the rise in regional trade blocs in recent years.
• Explain why bilateral and regional trade agreements are becoming increasingly popular in the world today.

Covers: The benefits and challenges associated with exporting; the differences between selling domestically and selling across borders; company pre-requisites for engaging in exports; assessing product exportability in terms of price, quality, functionality, health and safety, design and adaptability to foreign market requirements; reviewing packaging and/or labelling suitability for export markets.

Key Learning Outcomes
On completion of this module, you will be able to:

• Explain, with the use of practical examples, how companies can benefit from engaging in importing and exporting. 
• Describe the potential challenges that could be faced by companies engaging in exports.
• Differentiate between selling in the domestic market and selling in a foreign market.
• Outline the various requirements of a company looking to sell its products in other countries. 
• Assess what your company must do in order to become fully export-ready.
• Discuss what is meant by the 'exportability' of a product.
• Determine what you need to do to ensure the exportability of your particular product.

Covers: The challenges of the international marketing environment; the marketing process from an international perspective (analysing foreign market opportunities and threats, selecting target markets, selecting a foreign market entry strategy, developing an international marketing mix); applying the marketing process in different regions around the world; devising an export marketing plan.

Key Learning Outcomes
On completion of this module, you will be able to:

• Explain how the international environment influences the marketing process.
• Differentiate between the marketing environments of the different regions of the world.
• Outline the various considerations that would influence a company's choice of export market.
• Explain the circumstances in which a company would select each of the available market entry options.
• Discuss the various elements of the modern marketing mix.
• Identify areas of risk and opportunity pertaining to particular markets using the PEST (political, economic/social/technological) analysis technique.
• Assess the impact of the international environment on the operations of an organisation.
• Devise an export marketing plan for your organisation.

Covers: The parties involved in a typical export transaction; the documents required in a typical export transaction; the sequence of steps involved in a typical export transaction; payment flow.

Key Learning Outcomes
On completion of this module, you will be able to:

• Explain each phase of the international trade cycle, as well as the interrelationships between the physical movement of goods, the completion and submission of documents and the flow of funds.
• Differentiate between a service provider and a statutory body.
• List the entities involved in the export process.
• Explain the functions of, as well as the interrelationships amongst, the internal and external players to an international trade transaction.
• Identify the documents required at different stages of the export process.
• Outline in sequential order the steps constituting a typical export process in which the mode of transport used is sea freight and the method of payment used is a documentary letter of credit.

Covers: Road and rail services; ocean transport, i.e. types of cargo, vessels and ports involved in sea transactions, bulk and breakbulk cargo services, containerisation, and related services; calculating freight rates; and selecting an appropriate transport mode.
 

Key Learning Outcomes
On completion of this module, you will be able to:

• Differentiate between bulk, breakbulk and containerised cargo.
• Explain how breakbulk cargo is unitised in order to facilitate its movement over long distances. 
• Identify the differences between a surface transport container and an airfreight container.
• Discuss the services offered by road hauliers on the one hand and railway operators on the other.
• Explain the reasons for the popularity of road freight.
• Outline the different types of service offered by road hauliers.
• Give reasons for the decline in rail services in many countries.
• Provide examples of the different types of vessels used to transport cargo.
• Discuss the differences between liner vessels and tramps.
• Explain the differences between liner conferences and independent lines.
• Differentiate between the three different types of container services on offer.
• Explain how sea freight is calculated for bulk, breakbulk and LCL cargo.
• Explain the differences between an FCL service, an LCL service and a groupage service.
• Differentiate between a container terminal, a dry port, a container depot and a container yard.
• Explain what a dry port means.
• Discuss the differences between air and sea containers.
• Explain what the term 'multimodal' means.
• Identify the three types of air service available.
• Explain what a unit load device means.
• Differentiate between the three types of aircraft used to transport cargo.
• Discuss the advantages airfreight has over alternative modes of transport.
• Given specific circumstances, choose the most appropriate mode of transport for a particular consignment.

Covers: The origin and purpose of the delivery/trade terms; departure terms vs arrival terms; Incoterms for use solely for ocean and inland waterway transport; Incoterms for use with any mode of transport, including multimodal transport; examples of suitable terms for different types of consignment; factors affecting choice of Incoterm.

Key Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module, you will be able to:

• Explain the importance of Incoterms in setting up a sale contract.
• List the eleven Incoterms, their 3-letter code, and the costs, risks, and responsibilities for both the seller and the buyer associated with each term.
• List the terms that are only appropriate if the main transport leg is by sea.
• Differentiate between a departure term and an arrival term.
• Select the most appropriate Incoterm for a specific transaction.
• Discuss the factors influencing the choice of Incoterm for a specific consignment.

Covers: The assessment of financial risks associated with a specific export transaction (transactional risk, buyer risk, bank risk, country economic and political risk, exchange risk); choosing an appropriate payment method and suitable payment terms (Cash in Advance, Letters of Credit, Bank Collections, Open Account); covering the risk of non-payment (credit insurance; CFC accounts); quoting in foreign currencies and covering currency exchange risk; and covering the risk of cargo in transit.

Key Learning Outcomes
On completion of this module, you will be able to:

• Explain what is meant by transactional risk.
• Discuss the respective roles of banks and credit bureaux in establishing an individual's/company's financial standing.
• With the use of examples, differentiate between country economic risk and country political risk.
• Define the term' exchange rate'.
• With the use of examples, discuss the circumstances giving rise to exchange risk and how this risk can be mitigated.
• Discuss the parties to, and the function of, a bill of exchange/draft.
• Explain the difference between documentary collections and documentary credits.
• Explain how a clean collection or credit differs from a usance collection or credit.
• List the items that an exporter should check upon receipt of a documentary credit.
• Discuss the differences between credit insurance and cargo insurance.

Covers: The origins and purpose of product classification; the structure of the global Harmonised Commodity Description and Coding System (HS); the purpose of Section and Chapter notes in the HS; the General rules for the Interpretation of the HS; and classifying products correctly.

Key Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module, you will be able to:
 

• Discuss the origins and purpose of product classification.
• Explain the structure of the HS and the role of Section and Chapter notes.
• Identify the various types of Section and Chapter notes, outlining the differences between them.
• Differentiate between the different approaches to product classification in accordance with each of the six general Rules for the Interpretation of the HS.
• Correctly classify different products to six digits under the HS.

Covers: The role of Customs in an international trade transaction; registration as an exporter for customs purposes; customs control measures (tariff and non-tariff) and the basis for their application, i.e. type of goods' description, their origin and their value; customs clearance procedures for exports (documentary 5 requirements); customs clearance procedures for imports (documentary requirements); claiming duty drawbacks, refunds and rebates for imported components used in products intended for export or subsequently exported.

Key Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:

• Describe the role played by customs authorities in international trade transactions.
• Explain the importance of registering as an exporter for customs purposes and access information relevant to the particular procedures of your country's exporter registration process.
• Identify the various customs control measures that customs authorities are tasked with implementing.
• Identify the information customs authorities require to administer customs procedures and implement customs control measures effectively.
• Indicate the documentary requirements for successful customs clearance of both imports and exports.
• Identify the circumstances under which a rebate, drawback and refund apply to an exporter or importer.