How Chinese Companies Register on CargoX for Exports to Egypt

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CargoX, a Slovenia-based provider of blockchain solutions for the shipping and logistics sectors, has been authorized by Misr Technology Services (MTS) , which manages Egypt’s National Foreign Trade Single Window Platform (Nafeza), to act as the blockchain file transfer gateway for the Advance Cargo Information (ACI) system.

According to Egyptian Minister of Finance Decree No. 38 of 2021, Egyptian ports will adopt the “Advanced Cargo Information (ACI) declaration” regulations, which require pre-reporting of cargo details. For all imports, consignees must first submit cargo information through the local system to obtain an ACI Number, which they then provide to the shipper. The ACI Number must be included on the bill of lading and manifest.

The regulation will enter trial operation on April 1, 2021, and will be enforced starting October 1, 2021 (both dates apply to arrival times). This will impact all Egyptian importers, suppliers, customs clearance companies, and shipping and air transport firms involved in Egypt’s import/export processes.

Note: From October 1, 2021, if the ACID number is not provided, goods will be returned to the port of origin and fined. Exporters to Egypt must familiarize themselves with these procedures to avoid penalties.

Part 1​​​​​​​​ – ACI Process

To comply with Egypt’s Advance Cargo Information (ACI) system, importers and exporters must follow these steps:

1. Registration on Nafeza: Egyptian importers must create an account on the Nafeza platform, Egypt’s National Single Window for Trade.
2. Obtain an Electronic Signature: After registering, importers need to acquire an electronic signature (e-Token) from authorized providers to securely access Nafeza.
3. Enter Cargo Data: Prior to shipping, importers are required to input the main details of the goods into the ACI system through Nafeza. Egyptian customs authorities will then assess the potential risks within 48 hours and, upon acceptance, issue a unique Advance Cargo Information Declaration (ACID) number.
4. Submit Shipping Details: Carriers must provide a list of goods to be shipped to Egypt on the Nafeza portal at least 24 hours before departure. This data is automatically verified, and the carrier receives a confirmation message.
5. Prepare and Transmit Documents: Exporters should prepare necessary documents, such as invoices and bills of lading, and send them via the CargoX transmission platform.
6. Approval and Pre-Clearance: Importers can review and approve the transmitted data and documents, and may request pre-clearance to expedite the process upon the goods’ arrival.
7. Electronic Cargo Declaration: Shipping agents are obligated to submit the cargo declaration electronically to customs through the Nafeza platform no later than 48 hours after the vessel’s arrival.

Adhering to these steps ensures compliance with Egypt’s ACI regulations, facilitating a smoother import process.

Part 2 – Registration Notice for Egyptian Importers

Egyptian importers must complete their registration on the Nafeza website. Most professional importers in Egypt are already familiar with the new regulations. For customers who are still unclear about the process, you can refer them to the official page for guidance: https://www.nafeza.gov.eg/.

Part 3​​​​​​​ – Chinese suppliers register on CargoX

Chinese exporters must register on the CargoX website (https://cargox.digital) and work with their customers to upload the required documentation. All documents must include the ACID number provided by the Egyptian importer. Below is the detailed registration and verification process.

Account Registration

We need to register for CargoX on the website https://cargox.digital. The registration process is simple—just follow the website’s instructions to fill out and upload the required documents, and you can complete the registration in about 3 minutes. However, there are three important points to note:

1. Only one CargoX account needs to be registered, as CargoX allows only one verified company account per business. Any additional company accounts registered afterward will not be approved.
2. To ensure successful verification later on (including bank and third-party verifications), make sure that the company name, address, and other details entered during registration match the “Customs Registration Information Form” or the “Foreign Trade Operator Registration Form.”
3. During registration, make sure to save the blockchain file and the password for the private key, as these will be needed for file transmission later on.

Bank Verification

The prerequisite for bank verification is that the company registered with CargoX must have a corporate account capable of making payments in USD. Then, go to the CargoX dashboard and click to purchase Units. It is recommended to purchase $200 at once, as processing one shipment typically costs around $150, plus $15 for third-party verification, and transfer fees will bring the total to about $180. Keeping an extra $20 will be useful in case you need to resubmit any documents later. After the transfer, it will take approximately three business days for the payment to be processed, so please be patient during this time.

Third-Party Certification

CargoX third-party verification is conducted by the CargoX system to ensure that the company information you registered on CargoX matches the official data in China. The verification includes details such as the company’s name in both Chinese and English, address, business registration number, company email, website, and more. This process costs $15 and does not require any involvement from the Chinese supplier. The entire verification is handled by CargoX staff who check your registration details against the official records. If the information matches, the third-party verification will be approved. If not, it will be marked as a verification failure. Additionally, since 2023, China has abolished the Foreign Trade Operator Registration reform.

CargoX third-party verification is instant. Once you’re certain your company details are correct, you can proceed with the verification. If your CargoX verification fails, a red notification will appear in your CargoX dashboard, and you will receive an email from CargoX informing you of the failure. New companies registered after 2023 or companies that have changed their name or address may not pass the CargoX third-party verification on the first attempt. So, what should you do if the CargoX third-party verification fails?

The company information registered on CargoX does not match the official records.

You can compare the company information you registered on CargoX with your company’s “Foreign Trade Operator Registration Form” or “Customs Registration Information Form.” If the registration details do not match, you will need to correct them and resubmit for verification.

The company was registered after January 1, 2023

If your company was registered after January 1, 2023, this may also lead to a failed CargoX third-party verification. Companies registered after this date have not completed the Foreign Trade Operator registration, making it impossible for CargoX to directly match the company information.

When the third-party verification fails, you will receive an email from CargoX indicating the failure. The email may suggest that you need to provide a translated and notarized business license; however, this is not necessary. You only need to prepare the “Customs Registration Information Form” and follow the email instructions to send an email titled “Company verification for [your company’s name],” attaching the “Customs Registration Information Form” to support@cargox.io. CargoX will quickly complete the third-party verification.

Multiple accounts have been registered on CargoX using the same company name.

If multiple accounts have been registered under the same company name on CargoX, this can also cause a verification failure. CargoX allows only one account per company, even if that account has never been verified. In such cases, you can check with your colleagues to see if anyone has registered a CargoX account under the same company name and request CargoX customer service to merge or delete the accounts before resubmitting for third-party verification.

Official documents for reference

Common Questions and Guide for the Advance Cargo Information (ACI) Pre-Registration System (Chinese Version)
http://images.mofcom.gov.cn/eg/202108/20210820023441629.pdf

Common Questions and Guide for the Advance Cargo Information (ACI) Pre-Registration System (Arabic Version)
http://images.mofcom.gov.cn/eg/202108/20210820023220767.pdf

Common Questions and Guide for the Advance Cargo Information (ACI) Pre-Registration System (English Version)
http://images.mofcom.gov.cn/eg/202108/20210820023342849.pdf

As for the specific steps after registration, CargoX has provided an official tutorial video, which explains everything quite clearly.
Make sure to watch this video before proceeding!
URL: https://cargox.io/videos/egyptian-aci-filing-cargox-platform/