Export via ports and commercial exits
- Coordination with port before shipping the goods
- The exporter ensures that the goods are transported in the relevant ship to Ashdod Port or Haifa Port as requested, via a crossing nearest to the goods. An Israeli driver will take the goods from the exporter’s warehouse to the port (door to door system). Goods may also be taken to the crossing by a Palestinian truck and from there to the port by an Israeli truck.
- For security reasons, goods originating in the Palestinian territories must arrive at least 72 hours prior to the ship setting sail.
- Goods are sent through the in-country crossing nearest to the Palestinian goods warehouse. An Israeli driver takes the goods from the exporter’s warehouse to the port (door to door system). Goods may also be taken to the crossing by a Palestinian truck and from there to the port by an Israeli truck.
- Before the shipment enters an Israeli port, the customs agent sends a copy of the storage certificate which includes information about the shipment, exporter, ship and shipment destination.
- Upon shipment's arrival at the port
- When the full container enters the port, the port notifies the customs office, exporter, customs agent, ship agent and carrier of the container's entry into the port.
- When the shipment arrives the port, the goods are sent to “Overseas Bonded Area” for storage until a notice is received to load the goods on board.
- The customs office conducts a profiling procedure (various checks) and gives authorization to load the container on board. In addition to the customs authorization, port approval is also necessary to ensure all required payments have been made.
- If customs do not authorize loading the container on board, the customs agent must make an export request based on the objection of the customs authority which may be total or partial objection. In the event of total objection, and if the goods are usable, they must be returned to the exporter. If the goods are unusable, they must be disposed of at the exporter’s expense. In the event of partial objection, the exported goods are taken from the port and the goods which can be exported are separated from those which can't be exported. Then the clearance process continues to see if the goods which have been rejected or separated as unusable products should be treated as above.
- If the customs office delays the shipment and refuses to authorize loading the container on board, the customs agent should prepare an “export extract” (a document detailing the shipment) and refer to the customs office.
- The ship agent handles the shipping on the ship at an Israeli port to transfer the shipment abroad.
- Shipments onboard are shipped according to the port operation schedule (the port work schedule is available on the Port Authority website. For English, click on this link.
- When loading is completed, the port sends a notice of completion to customs, the exporter, the customs agent, the ship agent and the carrier company. The ship agent then issues a bill of lading and sends it to the customs agent, which includes a description of the container (which contains the shipment) and the shipping terms. The customs agent, in turn, sends the bill of lading to the importer in the country of destination. The purpose of the bill of lading is to regulate export payments payable to customs. The bill of lading includes the shipment's description, value and weight, country of destination, port of departure, port of arrival, exporter’s name and carrier company name.
- After the ship sails, the port company releases an "export declaration" document which includes the shipments onboard from that port.
- Based on the "export declaration" and the bill of lading, the customs agent receives an invoice from the port to pay the port fees.
Land export via Allenby Bridge
- Coordination before sending the goods:
- The Palestinian exporter should send all documents to the customs agent at least 24 hours before the date of entry of the goods.
- The customs agent should prepare the customs file and communicate with the Allenby Bridge management to get a permit for the entry of the goods.
- The customs agent must provide the customs with the shipment documents before the goods arrive at the crossing. Required documents: customs declaration for export, package list and the invoice.
- The Palestinian exporter or representative (customs agent/carrier company) must coordinate between Palestinian, Israeli and Jordanian drivers before transferring the goods.
- When the goods arrive to the crossing:
- The truck carrying the shipment arrives at the crossing and parks at the waiting point of the truck station. pallets are unloaded and maybe checked by Israeli customs (rarely happens). Customs check the documents enclosed with the goods.
- When customs complete the checking procedure, the Israeli customs allow the Jordanian truck to enter the Israeli side of the crossing. Then the ballets are uploaded to the Jordanian truck and finally the gate pass is signed. Now the truck can move to the Jordanian side of the crossing.
- If the goods are transit, i.e., transported to a country other than Jordan, they are sent to the free zone area or their final destination via the Port of Aqaba or Royal Jordanian Airport.
Air export through Ben Gurion Shipment and Handling Station
- The Palestinian exporter should send all documents to the customs agent at least 24 hours prior to the date of entry of the goods to ensure a booking on the plane.
- The truck carrying the goods arrives at the cargo terminal of the Ben Gurion Shipment and Handling Station.
- Goods from the Palestinian territories must arrive at the airport 24 hours before take-off.
- Receipts are processed at the airline company by the customs agent.
- With the arrival of the goods, the data are registered in the information system at a reception office and a queue number is assigned for unloading.
- The shipment is unloaded, and after that, a permit is placed at the middle of the export gate.
- A security check-in staff member receives the shipment and the relevant documents.
- The shipment is weighted and stored in the storage area in preparation for loading on the plane.