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The trade of fertilizer between country to country can often be complicated and time consuming. SGS has a global network of over 53,000 employees globally. With SGS, you will get local service that connects you seamlessly to the SGS global network. With our knowledge of the fertilizer industry, we are constantly alert to the circumstances that could affect your needs. Through our global network of independent transportation services, we reduce risk and enhance value for the traders, distributors and consumers of fertilizers worldwide, including governments. Our transportation experts minimize your commercial and contractual risks by ensuring that the fertilizer quality actually shipped is the fertilizer quality that arrives. The transportation of fertilizer through any means of transportation introduces commercial risks to all parties involved. The quality and quantity of the cargo must be accurately determined to know the grade of cargo being transported. This requires specialized services and expertise. SGS specialists provide you with the assurance that the quantity and safety requirements are met and that the goods are handled correctly and safely. SGS has created a very in-depth SGS Governments and Institutions Services (GIS) customs and conformity assessment programs for which pre-shipment inspection and certification is necessary. SGS Governments and Institutions Services allow you to know exactly which documentation is needed for the transportation of your items.
Our team of qualified fertilizer experts can offer government’s services including but not limited to:
Weight and Quantity Verification SGS provides bankable weight and quantity verification services at ports and major inland trans-shipment points worldwide. Whether you are trader, distributor, blender, or integrated fertilizer producer, SGS is ready to independently verify your shipment to ensure compliance with contractual documents. The bankable inspection certificate or report issued by SGS upon completion is your assurance of our inspection services. SGS inspectors use great caution during the inspection process. We understand that many factors can influence the weight determination of both bulk and bagged fertilizers. Throughout the inspection process, SGS monitors the performance of the weighing system and checks it with both items of known weights and recent calibration data. Detailed field records are kept of the data used to determine the final declared weight. We also supply a certificate of weight to you after a complete and successful weighing process is completed. Our goal is to reduce your financial risk by providing you with quantity verification services that you can depend on. Through local knowledge and past experience, we can advise you of the most effective weighing system. Our comprehensive inspection services incorporate most methods of weight determination for nitrogen, phosphate and potassium-based fertilizers. Additionally, our global network allows us to maintain comprehensive material-tracking abilities. We can provide you with loss compilation audits aimed at understanding and minimizing your fertilizer loses during transport. If you have fertilizer stockpiles to manage and protect, SGS offers trusted stock monitoring and collateral management agreements to provide assurances of both quality and quantity during storage. When it really matters, trust the market leader, SGS, with your fertilizer cargos.
Tally verification services by SGS provide assurance that the number or quantity of goods to be shipped or received is the same as those described in shipping documents such as the bill of lading, letter of credit, mate’s receipt, or other documents. You are always offered the opportunity to order a tally or count of the fertilizer bags at the time of loading/unloading. This informs all parties involved in the sale that the quantity specification and features of goods being transferred is the same as the number purchased and described on the purchase order’s product description. We can also check packing, marking and labeling. We monitor product marking and packing details to confirm that the fertilizer will be shipped in suitable packaging for the transit. Our inspectors will check manufacture dates, batch numbers, expiry dates (when these details are available), shipping marks, and packing lists, supplier certificates and labels. Reduce your financial risk and trust SGS with all your cargo tally requirements. We provide comprehensive and trusted services throughout the fertilizer value chain anywhere in the world.
Draft surveys are used to determine the weight of cargo loaded onto, or discharged from, a vessel. Our global network of highly qualified draft surveyors work to a defined draft survey protocol, resulting in accurate draft weights for you at load and discharge points. Dependable and consistent draft weights allow you to monitor and control shrinkage while limiting the financial risks associated with bulk cargo transactions. In principle, draft surveys require only a measurement of the water displaced by the vessel before and after the cargo is transferred, along with a measurement of the water’s density. Water displacement is measured through draft marks on the ship and converted to a volume using draft tables. The weight of displaced water is calculated by multiplying its volume (displacement) by its density. The difference between the weights of water displaced before and after the cargo transfer will equal the weight of the fertilizer within measurement accuracy limits. In practice, draft surveys are complicated procedures that require a highly qualified draft surveyor. Overall accuracy will depend on the surveyor’s skill in dealing with:
SGS use only SGS trained draft surveyors. These personnel follow the approved SGS Standard Operational Procedures for the determination of weight by draft survey. This will provide you with trusted draft weights at ports worldwide. Our experienced professionals feed the raw data into a spreadsheet, which then calculates the weight loaded or discharged. This result is reviewed before release to you and the raw data is retained should it be required. Depend on SGS for your draft survey requirements and let our skilled professionals minimize your fertilizer transaction risks.
Stockpile Inventory Measurement SGS offers trusted stockpile measurement services for fertilizer and raw material worldwide. We use state-of-the-art technology, to provide you with independent, accurate knowledge of how much fertilizer and raw materials are contained in your stockpile(s). Our professional staff has years of industry experience, and they will work closely with you to ensure a complete and accurate measurement of your fertilizer and raw material is obtained. Stockpile measurement is a technique to measure the volume and weight of fertilizer and raw material stockpiles. It is a scientific/instrumental method, using the equipment called Total Station to determine the volume of the stockpile quantity. Any shape of stockpile can be measured as long as the whole surface is visible. The measurements (data from site) are automatically stored in the data logger (data collector) of the Total Station instrument. These data will be downloaded to PC to calculate the volume and generating contour map by using Civil cad software. Bulk density is determined by actual field test average results of individual stockpile. The weight of the inventory is derived by volume multiply the tested density of the commodity. Time to complete measurement for each pile will vary in accordance the shape and profile. Generating the quantity from the software is very fast with the density available. Normally, we generate the provisional report of each day surveyed on the next day. Thus you can expect to have the quantity daily.
SGS offers a wide range of marine services to the fertilizer industry including damage surveys, investigations, claims management, loss control, underwriting inspections and safety-related consulting for the following types of risks:
With decades of experience, our marine services are known to be industry leading. Our team approach effectively puts the resources of our entire organization at your disposal. With SGS, you will get local service that connects you seamlessly to the SGS global network.
Hold and hatch inspection is part of a larger service that SGS provides to assure you that the shipped fertilizers will be received in the same condition as when it was loaded. Buyers or sellers can order an SGS visual inspection of the hold prior to loading. This gives both parties the confidence that the cargo will not be contaminated by material already in the hold, or altered in any way by vessel deficiencies. Our inspectors will immediately report any abnormalities to the appropriate authority. Digital photographic documentation is also provided. Certificates of inspection are provided upon completion of the job. In this way, you know your risk is minimized. Hold SGS inspectors verify that the hold is ready to receive the intended cargo. Our inspections provide assurance that hold is clean and free of rust and paint chips that could contaminate or discolour your cargo. We will also verify that the hold is free of previous cargo remnants prior to fertilizer loading. This includes material that may be hidden behind inaccessible areas, hold structures or adhering to walls, such as packaging or plastic sheeting from operations. Any combustible material in the hold such as wooden partitions or dunnage may need to be removed since Class 5.1 oxidizing agent fertilizers may react with organic substances and ignite during shipment. SGS reviews the ship’s log to evaluate if these remnants could put your fertilizer cargo at risk. Special attention is paid to previous cargos containing materials that may react with or damage your fertilizer. Seed or grain contamination can have serious consequences due to quarantine requirements of certain countries. We also check for moisture or signs of previous water infiltration. Whether it is through bilges at the bottom of the hold or the hatch-covers on top, water can be a serious contaminant for bulk or some bagged fertilizer cargos. The presence of water in the hold may be justification for rejection. Hatch Statistics indicate that improper ship’s hatch-cover seals and securing arrangements account for a very high proportion of cargo defects. A ship’s hatch inspection must provide evidence that the condition of the hatch covers does not present a threat to the fertilizer. Hatch covers are checked at departure and on arrival for water tightness and activated to verify proper operation. Our inspectors will be looking for obvious damage, holes and leak points that may hamper proper operation. The hatch covers should provide watertight protection and ensure that no water will penetrate in even the worst sea conditions. SGS inspectors use several water tightness tests including the Chalk, Hose and Ultrasonic Leak Detection (ULD) methods to determine the condition of the hatch covers. Although none of these tests can simulate sea-going conditions, when done in conjunction with a detailed SGS visual inspection, they provide your best defense against water infiltration via defective hatch cover systems.
The objective of a visual inspection for fertilizers is to provide additional reassurance that the fertilizer being shipped is the same as that described on the order form. The condition of the fertilizer is frequently a decisive parameter in determining its conformity to specification. Buyers and/or vendors are offered the opportunity to have a visual cargo inspection after close of the sale to get confidence that the cargo presented for inspection is the same or substantially similar to that was purchased. SGS performs visual inspections at the time of loading or unloading and determines if the characteristics of cargo units chosen at random (chosen accordingly to the sampling plan appropriate for the bagged or bulk cargo) match those which were declared on the purchase order’s product description, product specification and features. Checks may also be made on packing, marking and labeling. Product marking and packing details can be checked to confirm that the goods are suitably packaged for the transit. The inspector will check manufacture dates, batch numbers, expiry dates (when these details are available), shipping marks, packing lists, supplier certificates and labels. Product characteristics or quality parameters that cannot be visually verified will be confirmed when the vendor supplies documentary evidence. Unless otherwise stated, at no time will such documentary evidence imply SGS approval of documents. The object of this service is to establish that the cargo is loaded into carriers in sound condition and are properly stowed for safe transport. The inspector typically will:
E-reporting and e-certificates We know that having the right documentation and certificates is vital for any transportation to proceed. If there is a delay in generating or receiving these reports, it can be expensive. SGS has a unique e-Certificate platform which can dramatically improve how quickly we can issue documents. Digitalized certificates can be sent via email avoiding the costs and delay associated with hard copies and courier transportation.
Our online services provide you with your SGS reports and certificates quickly and securely through the SGS onSITE website. The SGS onSITE is a website designed for the storage of all reports and certificates. You can quickly upload your certificate from anywhere in the world rather than waiting for shipment of the certificate. The SGS onsite website contains:
Guarantee business solutions (GBS) are designed to help manage shipping risks by transferring all or part of them to SGS. SGS’ GBS are available at a lower premium then through direct insurance purchases. Knowing the entire cost of your shipping risks in advance enables you to manage these expenses systematically. SGS is a global partner in the fertilizer industry. We have a worldwide network of inspectors and accredited laboratories to support you. Inspecting fertilizer cargos at loading and discharge, our professional staff ensures quality and quantity across the fertilizer supply chain. Our guarantee business solutions are broken down into four comprehensive services:
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