Sudan ACD Certificate

What Is the Sudan ACD?

The Advanced Cargo Declaration (ACD)—also referred to as the Electronic Cargo Tracking Note (ECTN)—is a mandatory cargo compliance document required for all maritime shipments entering Sudan. It was introduced by Sudan’s Sea Ports Corporation (SPC) under a regulatory directive issued in November 2025.

The ACD is a digital certificate that captures detailed shipping data, including vessel and voyage details, loading and discharge ports, exporter and importer profiles, cargo descriptions, weight, and declared freight value. Each Bill of Lading must have a unique ACD number registered before the ship sails.

Why Is the ACD Required?

Sudan’s Sea Ports Corporation enforces the ACD system to achieve two core goals:

1. Port Optimization: Advanced cargo declarations give Sudanese port controllers (primarily at Port Sudan) advance visibility of incoming ocean freight. This allows the port to allocate container cranes, arrange yard space, and manage labor resources efficiently before the ship docks.
2. Trade Integrity and Fraud Prevention: The ACD system logs the declared value and details of shipments at the port of loading, reducing the risk of customs tax evasion, incorrect cargo declarations, and fraudulent bills of lading at the destination.

Without a validated ACD number listed on your shipping documentation, your cargo cannot be cleared through Sudanese customs, resulting in costly holds and severe port bottlenecks.

Required Documents

To process your Sudan ACD, you must provide clear PDF copies of the following five documents:

• Bill of Lading — a rated draft copy is acceptable for the initial registration
• Commercial Invoice — must show accurate goods value and breakdown
• Freight Invoice — required if the freight charges are not shown on the commercial invoice
• Certificate of Origin — mandatory document issued by the competent chamber in the loading country
• Packing List — detailed weight, package count, and volume per line item

All five documents are compulsory. Submitting partial files will cause immediate validation rejection by Sudanese customs.

Processing Time and Lead Margin

Standard validation of the Sudan ACD takes approximately 2 to 3 business days after documents are submitted and payment is confirmed. ITR provides a draft certificate for exporter review within 1 hour of submission.

Because the ACD number must be generated and printed on the final Bill of Lading before the vessel departs, you should start your application at least one week prior to loading to accommodate document checks and authority processing.

Sudan ACD Timing Requirements

All cargo subject to the Sudan ACD requirement must have its ACD issued at least 24 hours before the vessel arrives.

The application has to be submitted early enough for the review and approval process to be completed before this deadline. Applications submitted after the cut-off cannot be accepted, and an ACD cannot be issued during the final 24 hours before vessel arrival.

Shipments that do not meet this requirement may be treated as non-compliant at the Sudanese port of arrival.

Fines and Non-Compliance Penalties

Sudan actively enforces the Advanced Cargo Declaration mandate. Shipments that arrive at Sudanese ports without a validated ACD number, or with a missing reference on the Bill of Lading, are subject to:

• Customs holds and cargo non-discharge at Port Sudan
• Heavy administrative penalties and fines calculated on the freight value
• Daily accumulation of expensive port storage and demurrage charges
• Seizure or rejection of the cargo in severe cases

If your vessel has already sailed or your cargo has arrived without validation, contact ITR’s operations desk immediately. While post-departure cases are highly complex in Sudan, our team can guide you through the mitigation process.

How the Sudan Filing Works, Step by Step

1. Send all five documents. Rated draft Bill of Lading, commercial invoice, freight invoice, certificate of origin and packing list. Partial files are rejected outright at validation, so a missing packing list costs you the whole submission.
2. Draft certificate for review, within 1 hour. ITR returns a draft for exporter review within an hour of submission. Check the consignee, cargo description and declared freight value against the B/L.
3. Authority validation, 2 to 3 business days. Standard validation by the Sea Ports Corporation takes two to three business days after documents are submitted and payment is confirmed.
4. ACD number onto the final B/L. The number must be generated and printed on the Bill of Lading before the vessel departs — which is why the application should start at least a week before loading.

Sudan ACD — Documents and What Each One Proves

Document	What the authority takes from it	Draft accepted
Bill of Lading	Vessel, voyage, ports, containers, consignee	Yes — a rated draft starts the registration
Commercial Invoice	Goods value and its breakdown	Must be final
Freight Invoice	Freight charges, where they are not on the commercial invoice	Must be final
Certificate of Origin	Origin, issued by the competent chamber in the loading country	Must be final
Packing List	Weight, package count and volume per line item	Must be final

Who Files the Sudan ACD, and What It Costs

The shipper, exporter or freight forwarder files at the port of loading, before the vessel sails. ITR files on your behalf from Dubai.

Cost has two parts: the authority’s tariff for the destination, which varies with the cargo profile, and our fixed service fee. One total, confirmed before we file.

The ACD is registered per Bill of Lading — each B/L entering Port Sudan needs its own unique ACD number, and one cannot be spread across several shipments.

Sudan Trade — Key Figures

Sudan has an import volume of approximately 8.2 billion USD annually, importing machinery, vehicles, food products, metal manufactures, and chemicals. Port Sudan is the primary maritime gate for the country, handling over 90% of the national sea trade and serving as a vital trade gateway for landlocked neighbors. Exporters from Europe, Asia, and the Gulf route shipments daily through these corridors, making compliance critical for logistics continuity.

What is the Sudan ACD?

The Sudan ACD (Advanced Cargo Declaration) is a mandatory digital cargo tracking note required for all shipments entering Sudan’s sea ports. Issued by the Sea Ports Corporation (SPC), it registers details like cargo description, value, and carrier details to facilitate customs clearance, secure port operations, and prevent fraud before the vessel departs the origin port.

Is the Sudan ACD certificate mandatory?

Yes, the Sudan ACD is strictly mandatory for all ocean freight destined for Sudan, including imports, transshipments, and transit cargo. The mandate covers all transport formats, including containerized cargo, bulk shipments, general cargo, heavy machinery, and RO-RO vehicles, with no exceptions.

What documents are required for a Sudan ACD?

Applying for a Sudan ACD requires clear copies of five documents: the rated Draft Bill of Lading, Commercial Invoice, Freight Invoice, Packing List, and the Certificate of Origin. These five documents must be consistent with each other and submitted together to prevent validation delays from Sudanese customs.

How long does it take to get a Sudan ACD?

Validating a Sudan ACD certificate typically takes 2 to 3 business days once the complete files are submitted to the Sea Ports Corporation. Exporters are advised to start the filing process at least one week before the vessel departs to ensure the ACD number is generated in time for Bill of Lading instructions.

What happens if the Sudan ACD is missing?

If a shipment arrives in Sudan without a valid ACD number on the Bill of Lading, it cannot clear customs. The cargo will face unloading holds, administrative fines, and daily demurrage and storage charges. In severe cases of non-compliance, Port Sudan customs may reject or seize the cargo.

Can I apply for a Sudan ACD online?

Yes, you can complete the entire Sudan ACD application online. Shippers can upload their shipping documents and invoices through ITR’s digital portal. Our compliance specialists will review the files, issue your draft invoice, and register and validate the certificate on acdsudan.com remotely on your behalf.

Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +971 56 470 4833