EXPORT BUSINESS

SEMINAR FOR OPTIMUM

PROFITS
How to export over 33
Foodstuff from Ghana to
Europe, Asia and the rest of
the world.
By
FRESH DEW CONSULT c2015

EXPORT BUSINESS SEMINAR

FOR OPTIMUM PROFITS
INTRODUCTION

COMMODITIES YOU CAN EXPORT FROM

GHANA

Export business has grown over

the years to an extent you can
now do your business from
home with little capital.
Gone are the days when you
require huge sums of money to
become a successful exporter.
The advent of the internet has
made international much
easier.
This guide is meant to show
you how to successfully export
various agricultural
commodities from Ghana to the
rest of the world. You will learn
what it takes to be a successful
home based exporter.

Before I proceed with the various

exportable commodities, let me
give you a quick definition of
export.

WHAT IS EXPORT?
Export is the movement of
goods/commodities/products,
services, ideas from one country
to another country through the
means of road, rail, sea and air
for the purpose of making profits.
Export can be done in small-scale
or large scale. It requires your
ability to think positive, think big,
communicating effectively and
meeting the specifications of the
overseas buyers.

EXPORT BUSINESS SEMINAR

FOR OPTIMUM PROFITS
Are you serious about going
into export business?

SMALL-SCALE EXPORT

When you are thinking about to

export, you need to have product
knowledge, cost of product and what
your selling price should be. In
addition, you should also consider
the following:
Your experience in export business.
Financial resources at your disposal.
What is your added value to your
products.
What are the packaging methods.
Infrastructure facilities for
international trade.
What will be your margin or mark-up.
Your payment procedure.
Import duty/levy at destination.

As a small- scale exporter you can export a

maximum of 1 tonne .
Transportation is by air freight.
If you are dealing with agro-commodities of food
items, they are packaged in 100g, 200g, 250g,
500g and 1 kg packs.You can use low density
polyethene (ldpe) or High density polyethene(hdpe)
to package your products. Other packaging
materials include cartons, bottles, wooden boxes,
wooden crates, plastic crates, plastic drums,
aluminium, etc.
Transaction is completed within 30 days.
Payment is by western union, monigram,
domiciliary account.
Less laboratory analysis is required for the small
quantity of products you will love export.
Your business name is sufficient.
You do not require a container to export on small
scale.

EXPORT BUSINESS SEMINAR

FOR OPTIMUM PROFITS
LARGE SCALE EXPORT

1. As a large scale exporter, you can

start your export with a minimum of
one 20ft container.
2. Agro-commodities are packaged
in 50kg or 100kg jute or gunny
bags, crates or boxes.
3. Transaction is completed between
60 90 days.
4. Payment is a letter of credit(LC).
5. Large scale export of agrocommodities requires more
laboratory analysis .
6. You will need a limited liability
company.
7. A container needed.
8. Transportation is by sea freight.
9. Export Certificate is mandatory as
a large scale exporter.

OVER 33 COMMODITES
FOR EXPORT

GINGER
CHILLI PEPPER
PAWPAW
SHEA NUTS
RAW CASHEW
OX GALLSTONES
CASSAVA
COTTON SEED
DESSICATED COCONUT
COCONUT
PINEAPPLE
AVOCADO PEAR
OKRA
BLACK PEPPER
AUBERGINE
BITTER KOLA
KOLA NUT
PALM OIL
HONEY

EXPORT BUSINESS SEMINAR

FOR OPTIMUM PROFITS
COMMODITIES FOR EXPORT

HOW TO SOURCE FOR

COMMODOTIES

DRIED UGWU LEAVES.

CASSAVA FLOUR
YAM
SNAIL
PLANTAIN
PLANTAIN FLOUR
GROUNDNUT
HIBISCUS FLOUR
RAW KOKO
GROUND CHILLI PEPPER
SEMOLINA
POTATO
DRIED SHRIMPS
FRUIT JUICE
TOMATO PASTE
PALM SOUP BASE

CASSAVA CHIPS
MELON SEED(EGUSI)
OGBONO
CRAYFISH
GARLIC
LOCUST BEANS
SMOKED DRY FISH
GARRI

You must make contacts with

wholesalers and truck drivers in
Agbogboloshie.
Collect phone numbers of
suppliers.
For specialised commodities like
honey,do visit the markets in
regions where a lot bee keeping
activities are taking place.
Always,buy selected
ones(quality products) and do it
yourself instead of delegating
the assignment.
Present yourself as low income
person to attract favorable
price.

EXPORT BUSINESS SEMINAR

FOR OPTIMUM PROFITS
HOW TO MEET LABORATORY
ANALYSIS STANDARD OF BUYERS

HOW TO PACKAGE YOUR

PRODUCTS FOR EXPORT

Large scale importers are more

strict on specifications since
some of the commodities are
used for food processing. Always
abide by the specifications of
your client.
Collect samples of
commodities(1kg) and send to
the food and drugs authority for
them to carry out a food grade
test.
Ensure that your commodities
and packaging meet the CODEX
standard of FAO and WHO.
If you are exporting to U.K,ensure
that your specification the defra
standard(www.defra.gov.uk)

Always strive to meet the specifications

of your clients.
If possible, use eco-friendly packages.
Commodities can be packaged in paper
boxes/cartons,LDPE and HDPE
polyethene,plastic
containers,barrels,wooden and plastic
crates,bottles,jute bags,etc.
They are then transported via trucks,
airplanes or ships.
In a situation where you don,t know
how to get the correct package for your
commodities, you can visit the
association of Ghana industries(AGI),
for access to most of the packaging
industries in Ghana.
You can also import the packaging
materials duty-free if you have shown
valid evidence for the use of the
packaging. Ghana export Promotion
authority will support you.

EXPORT BUSINESS SEMINAR

FOR OPTIMUM PROFITS
HOW TO PRICE YOUR PRODUCTS
FOR SUCCESSFUL EXPORT

HOW TO AVOID BEING DEFRAUDED

BY OVERSEAS BUYERS

Always contact your suppliers for the

current price of commodities.
Add all your
transport,loading,handling,truck,packaging,
warehousing,container,wharfage,internal
revenue,weighing charges,etc as the
transaction demands. Get the total cost in
cedis and convert to dollars. Then, add a
minimum profit margin of 40%.
Make sure you have calculated all your
expenditure and convert the total cost
before adding your profit margin.
Quote prices for your commodities based
on on a time frame to give room for
inflation.
Ensure that you quote your price based on
the incoterms(INCOTERMS 2010) agreed by
the overseas buyer.
To get current international prices of
commodities, you can visit the Ghana
Export Promotion Authority offices in Accra.
You can also check www.indexmundi.com or
www.theregister.com.

Avoid clients that write long letters.

Avoid clients that refuse to give you their
full address apart from their email address.
Avoid clients that ask for large quantities
as FREE samples.e.g 1 tonne.
Avoid clients that OFFER to buy from you
at higher prices.
Avoid clients that decline the use of
INCOTERMS.
Avoid clients that offer payment against
performance bond. Instead,offer payment
against credit bond(letter of credit).
Avoid clients that offer you open collection.
Let your transaction be documented.
Do a status enquiry of your client from the
embassy of their country.
You can also if they have defrauded others
through www.ripoff.com or google them for
scam e.g. ABC UK ltd + scam + fraud.
If they are a fraudulent company, you will
find a lot of information about them.

HOW TO EARN GHc 4,000 FROM

EXPORT WITH AN INVESTMENT OF
GHc 500.
1. Get a product like garlic,ginger or bitter kola.
2. Source for a small scale importer from your B2B
online market place.
3. Offer the client the garlic at $10 per 200g pack.
4. If the buyer orders for 100 packs of garlic, that is a
good deal.
5. Get the garlic at GHc 3/pack.
6. Package in LDPE Nylon with a label showing your
brand name, weight of product, country of
origin,ingredients,address,phone number and any
other certification.
7. Send your commodity by airfreight.
8. Get paid by Western Union, Monigram, Bank wire
transfer or Escrow.

THE COMPLETE EXPORT

PROCESS

1. Go home and study your notes if you attended my seminar.

2. Make up your mind on commodities to export.
3. Take pictures of product samples.
4. Do market research on products.
5. Confirm local suppliers.
6. Start contacting overseas buyers.
7. Get a serious enquiry.
8. Negotiate price.
9. Confirm price.
10.Send commodity sample where necessary.
11.Contact shipping agent.
12.Contact your bank.
13.Importer is ready to open an LC and gives you his bank details.
14.Request your bank to ask for confirmed irrevocable LC and forward the details of the importers bank to your bank.
15.Importers bank opens a confirmed irrevocable LC which is endorsed by another bank in the importers country.
16.Conclude shipping arrangements.
17.Commence export.
18.Commodities arrive at importers country.
19.Importer requests for shipping document.
20.Exporter requests for payment against release of shipping document.
21.Give your bank a collection order to collect your money from the importers bank on your behalf. This a written letter, authorizing your bank to
collect your money from the importer on your behalf.
22.Your bank collects your money on your behalf.
23.You send the shipping documents to the importer.
24.Enjoy some of the money.
25.Start all over again.

HOW TO BECOME A
SUCCESSFUL EXPORTER

1.Register a business entity.

2.Register with Ghana Export Promotion Authority and obtain your export certificate.
3.Have an e-commerce website or join others.
4.Spend regular and quality time on the internet.
5.Write lots of export letters.
6.Stick to buyer,s specifications and international standards.
7.Abide by INCOTERMS 2010.
8.You need to have a positive mental attitude.
9.Prompt reply of enquiries from clients.
10.Follow current affairs.
11.Understand cultural customs and beliefs.
12.Understand export documentation.
13.Send samples where necessary.
14.Do your costing well.
15.Have good relationship with local suppliers.
16.Use acceptable packaging standards.
17.Brand your products.
18.Work with a more reliable agent.
19.Go the extra mile.
20.Remember the G-Factor(The God factor).

EXPORT DOCUMENTATION

Export business requires certain document to facilitate the easy movement of your goods from Ghana to the rest of
the world. These document include:
Proforma invoice.
Export invoice.
Ghanaian export proceeds forms.
Certificate of origin.
Form EUR 1 for export to EEC.
Phyto-sanitary/health certificate.
Generalised system of preference.
Certificate of quality and fumigation.
Weight note.
10.Packing list.
11. ICCO certificate of origin (related to cocoa trade).
12. Customs bill of entry (form 97).
13. Bill of lading.
14. Airway bill.
15. Port surveyors report.
16. Standard organization of Nigeria or Ghana standard board (if you are based in Ghana).
17. Certificate of insurance.
18. Certificate of analysis and quality.
19. Free certificate of sale.
20. Certificate of age (e.g. expiry dates of wines and spirits).
21. Letter of clearance from the national museum, solid minerals and precious minerals departments, forestry or
veterinary health services if you plan to export any product related to these departments.

GET YOUR EXPORT

CONTRACT BASED ON
INCOTERMS

A woman came to my seminar. She shared her experience of exporting a container of commodities but
lamented that she never got paid. The buyer was a scammer. I asked her on what incoterms did she do
the business. She was ignorant of what incoterms meant. I dont want you to make the same mistake the
woman made. That is why you must understand incoterms.
WHAT IS INCOTERMS?
INCOTERMS means international commercial terms. It is a set of rules put together by the International
chamber of commerce (ICC) to facilitate hitch-free trade among exporters and importers.
A complete list of important terms (including many new terms and abbreviations) and their definitions is
provided in Incoterms 2010. This booklet is issued by ICC Publishing Corporation, Inc., 156 Fifth Avenue,
Suite 820, New York, NY 10010; telephone 212-206-1150.
You can also google the internet to download a free copy of INCOTERMS 2010. Study it carefully because it
clearly defines the roles of both exporters and importers to enable have smooth business operations.
Prices are quoted based on INCOTERMS requested by the buyer.e.g Quote FOB price or Quote CIF price.
SOME INCOTERMS
CIF (cost, insurance, freight) to a named overseas port where the seller quotes a price for the goods
(including insurance), all transportation, and miscellaneous charges to the point of debarkation from the
vessel. (Used only for ocean shipments.)
CFR (cost and freight) to a named overseas port where the seller quotes a price for the goods that
includes the cost of transportation to the named point of debarkation. The the buyer covers the cost of
insurance. (Used only for ocean shipments.)
CPT (carriage paid to) and CIP (carriage and insurance paid to) a named place of destination. These
terms are used in place of CFR and CIF, respectively, for all modes of transportation, including inter-modal.
EXW (ex works) at a named point of origin (e.g., ex factory, ex mill, ex warehouse) where the price
quoted applies only at the point of origin. The seller agrees to place the goods at the buyer's disposal at
the specified place within the fixed time period. All other charges are put on the buyer's account.

MORE INCOTERMS

FAS (free alongside ship) at a named port of export where the seller quotes a price for the
goods that includes the charge for delivery of the goods alongside a vessel at the port. The seller
handles the cost of wharfage, while the buyer is accountable for the costs of loading, ocean
transportation, and insurance.
FCA (free carrier) at a named place. This term replaces the former "FOB named inland port" to
designate the seller's responsibility for handing over the goods to a named carrier at the named
shipping point. It may also be used for multimode transport, container stations, or any mode of
transport, including air.
FOB (free on board) at a named port of export where the seller quotes the buyer a price that
covers all costs up to and including the loading of goods aboard a vessel.
HOW TO HAVE ACCESS TO OVER 1,000,000 BUYERS
Several years ago, It was easy to have access to thousands of e-mail addresses of various
foreign buyers but the social menace called internet fraud, close the door to these opportunities .
Most companies now hide their e-mail addresses and reveal it to only serious buyers.
International trade is now being done through b2b websites. A b2b website literally means a
business to business website. It is also known as an e-commerce website. It is an online global
market place, where exporters and importers; buyers and sellers meet to transact business.
Listed in the next page are several b2b websites you can use to do your export business.

B2B WEBSITES FOR YOUR

BUSINESS CONTACTS &
TRANSACTIONS

www.alibaba.com
www.indiamart.com
www.tradekey.com
www.diytrade.com
www.ec21.net
www.gmdu.net
www.africanchop.com
www.akoma-trade.com
www.weiku.com
www.globalsuppliersonline.com
www.smartbizlead.com
www.mofa.gov.gh
www.gepaghana.org

RELEVANT BODIES THAT WILL

FACILITATE YOUR EXPORT
BUSINESS

GHANA EXPORT PROMOTION AUTHORITY

Republic House Annex,Tudu Road,Accra.
Tel: 0302683153,0302689889,0302228830
GHANA SHIPPERS AUTHORITY
5th Floor, Enterprise House, High Street
P. O. Box GP 1321, Accra
Tel: + 233 (0)302 666915-7/ 666463
Fax: + 233 (0) 302 668768
Website: www.shippers.org.gh
TEMA
5th Floor, GPHA Towers,
Main Habour Road
Tel: +233 (0) 302 953374 / 5 / 6 / 7
www.shippers.org.gh
ASSOCIATION OF GHANA INDUSTRIES
Directorate
Executive Director
Association of Ghana Industries
2nd Floor, Addison House
Trade Fair Centre, La-Accra
Tel: +233 (0)302 779023/4
Fax: +233 (0)302 773143;
(0)302 763383
Email: agi@agighana.org , website:
www.agighana.org

FOOD AND DRUGS AUTHORITY

Food and Drugs Authority
P. O. Box CT 2783
Cantonments - Accra
Tel: +233-0302-233200/235100/Fax: +233-0302225502
E-mail: fda@fdaghana.gov.gh
www.fdaghana.gov.gh
MINISTRY OF HEALTH
P.O.Box M 44
Ministries
Accra
Fax +233 302 665651
Telephone +233 302 665651
Email- info@moh.gov.gh
www.mohghana.gov
Federation of Association of Ghanaian
Exporters (FAGE)
T:0302 766176
T:0302 766257
Masara N'arziki Farmers Association
Near Gariba Lodge
Tamale
M:026 4640073
M:026 4640074