This is the most important phase of the process. A deep, carefull assessment of the company should be performed before exporting. Is there market for the product in the foreign country? Is it necessary to adapt the product? What are the technical requirements for export?

Get to know about the competitors within the country and abroad, do research on the internet. Know about the culture, behavior, income, economy, population and climate of the chosen country. All these factors can provide important clues for the success of your business.

a) The correct classification of the goods is essential for exporting. That is why it is important to get the NCM.
b) Negotiate each detail before the transaction.
c) Make a price spreadsheet considering:
Internal price = total cost + profit + taxes
External price = internal price – taxes – internal expenses + external expenses
d) Be on time!
e) Choose the way of payment: the most usual nowadays are the letter of credit and the credit card.

Write down everything that was negotiated and put this information on the Pro Forma Invoice (it is a type of billing note for the exporter).

Send the Pro Forma Invoice to the importer for generating the Purchase Order.

In the country of destination, the importer presents the Letter of Credit to his bank.

The client`s bank send the Letter of Credit to the exporter in Brazil, which contacts the exporter and gives him a copy of that document.

The Commercial Invoice is an international document issued by the exporter. It is like a billing note in the foreign country.

The exporter make the arrangements for the goods, according to the Letter of Credit, and request the Registration of Export (RE) at the Siscomex.

This document is necessary for the customs clearance and for guiding the importer at the time of arrival of goods in the country of destination.

A Billing Note must be attached to the product since it leaves the exporter`s facilities until the customs clearance at the Brazilian authorities.

Make the arrangements for the pre-carriage to the port.

These are the procedures:
a) Register of the DDE - Declaration of Export Dispatch (using the data from the Registration of Export – RE)
b) Confirmation of the presence of the load
c) Reception of documents
d) Getting the parameters (green, orange, red channels)
e) Distribution (inspectors will analyze the orange and red channels)

The exporter must pay for the Freight and the Insurance, because according to the Incoterms – CIF contracted, the exporters are responsible for that.

Bill of Landing is the document issued by the carrier, which attests the receiving of the load, the transport conditions and the obligations in the delivery of goods to the importer.

• Orange channel – inspectors will check only the documents of the products.
  
• Red channel - besides the inspection of documents, there will be physical inspection of the products.
  
• The customs clearance will be registered in the Siscomex by the inspectors.

The registration is the final act for the export dispatch. It consists of confirmation of the shipment and registration of the carrier by the customs authorities.

After finishing the export operation, the exporter can receive, if requested, a document attesting the export operation issued by the Siscomex.

The exporter consolidates the documentation and send a copy to the importer:
a) Billing Note
b) Registration of Export
c) Pro Forma Invoice
d) Letter of Credit
e) Bill of Loading
f) Insurance contract
g) Receipt of Export

The close of exchange is an important phase in the export process. At this time, the export will sell to the bank the foreign currency, which is the income of the export operation. Closing the exchange means:

• Negotiate the revenues at a certain exchange rate with the bank.
  
• Deliver the documents attesting the export in a fixed date.

Obs.: The more adequate time for closing the exchange depends on the need of resources to manufacture the product, on the nominal interest rates, and on the expectations about changes in the exchange rates between the chosen closing date and the settlement date of the exchange contract.

After delivering the export documents, with no discrepancy with the terms and conditions of the Letter of Credit, the liquidation will occur until the following 10th day. This is a reasonable time for the bank to check the export documents and the terms of the Letter of Credit.

This procedure consists of delivering the foreign currency to the authorized bank, which, in turn, do the equivalent payment in national currency, at a rate fixed in the closing exchange date.