From requirement to qualified introduction
Sarpah connects qualified buyers with suitable supply across international markets and coordinates the commercial, documentary and logistics workflow to the agreed destination. Sarpah is a commercial intermediary and international trade coordinator. Any mandate is a documented, transaction-specific appointment. The buyer and seller complete their own diligence and contract directly.
Stage 1: Define the requirement
An actionable brief should state:
- Commodity, grade, standard and acceptable tolerances
- Quantity per shipment and any programme volume
- Packaging or bulk form
- Declared preferred, acceptable or excluded origins
- Destination country and named port, terminal or delivery place
- Requested Incoterms® 2020 rule and named place
- Shipment window
- Inspection, certification and document requirements
- Declared intended end use and end user, where relevant, together with any legally required destination authorisations
- Proposed payment or security structure and relevant bank or banks, if known
If key inputs are missing, the first step is clarification. A general expression of interest becomes an actionable brief only when the material transaction inputs are defined.
Stage 2: Qualification and route review
We review the buyer's identity and authority, the commercial brief, destination requirements and the practical route to market. Potential upstream counterparties are considered against current capability, ownership, origin, logistics and transaction-specific compliance constraints.
Suitable origins are assessed against the buyer's specification, quantity, shipment window, destination and landed economics. The live offer identifies the proposed producer or seller, country of origin, load point, quantity and route.
Each proposed transaction is reviewed using the actual origin, counterparties, banks, vessel or carrier, route and destination.
The output may be:
- A request for more information
- One or more indicative origin and route options
- A conclusion that no responsible match is available at that time
Indicative information remains subject to seller confirmation, contract, availability, freight, inspection, regulatory review, banking acceptance and due diligence.
Stage 3: Direct counterparty engagement
Where there is a credible fit, Sarpah introduces buyer and seller for direct discussion. Before contract, each party should verify the other party's identity, authority, beneficial ownership, performance capability and professional advisers.
The buyer and seller agree the commercial terms, specification, quantity, price basis, shipment window, delivery rule, documents, inspection, insurance, governing law, dispute mechanism and remedies. Sarpah is not a party to the sale contract.
Stage 4: Payment and delivery structure
The parties select a payment structure with their banks:
- A documentary credit is subject to UCP 600 only if the credit expressly incorporates UCP 600.
- A demand guarantee is subject to URDG 758 only if the guarantee expressly incorporates URDG 758.
- A standby letter of credit may expressly incorporate ISP98 or, to the extent applicable, UCP 600. It remains distinct from a demand guarantee governed by expressly incorporated URDG 758.
Issuing, advising, confirming or guaranteeing banks decide whether they will participate. Sarpah can coordinate information and timing; issuance, confirmation and payment remain bank decisions.
The chosen Incoterms® 2020 rule must include the exact agreed named port, place or point. It allocates specified delivery obligations, costs and risk; it does not settle title, payment, sanctions or all customs and regulatory questions.
Stage 5: Execution coordination
Once a contract is effective, Sarpah can maintain an agreed action list covering such matters as:
- Seller and buyer document responsibilities
- Inspection nomination and document release
- Shipping milestones and notices
- Destination pre-arrival preparation
- Commercial queries and exception escalation
- Close-out information after delivery and settlement
The responsible principal or appointed professional remains accountable for each task. Sarpah does not certify documents, control the vessel, clear cargo or guarantee an outcome.
Destination-specific planning
Product, import, inspection, customs, tax and documentation requirements depend on the actual destination, importer, product, origin, declared end use and shipment date.
The trade and compliance overview separates global execution guidance from jurisdiction-specific Market Guides. Current instructions from the relevant authority and the buyer's appointed customs and legal advisers control the live shipment.
Confidentiality and compensation
An NCNDA, IMFPA or other intermediary agreement may be used where appropriate. These are private contracts, not laws or universal ICC rules. The parties negotiate who pays, when payment is earned, the territory, scope and protections; Sarpah does not impose a public fixed economic model.
Submit a requirement
Include the commodity, specification, quantity, declared origin preferences, destination, named delivery place, shipment window, intended end use and end user where relevant, inspection and document requirements, and proposed payment structure.