PSI (Pre-Shipment Inspection) Certificate

Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate (PSI Certificate) is a certification document issued by a third-party inspection agency designated or recognized by the government of the importing country, after inspecting the quality, quantity, packaging, and price of the goods in the exporting country before shipment. Its core purpose is to prevent fraud, ensure that imported goods comply with contract or regulatory requirements, and it is often used for customs valuation, tariff collection, and foreign exchange control in the importing country. Usage scenarios include: mandatory PSI requirements by the importing country (e.g., some African and Middle Eastern countries), or PSI agreed by both buyer and seller as the basis for delivery. Precautions: PSI certificates usually need to be completed before shipment; if the inspection fails, it may delay the shipping schedule; the certificate content must strictly match the letter of credit, invoice, and packing list, otherwise the bank may refuse payment. The difference from ordinary commodity inspection certificates (such as CIQ) is that PSI focuses more on official authorization by the importing country, price verification, and one-time pre-shipment inspection, while commodity inspection certificates may only target quality or quantity. In addition, PSI fees are usually borne by the importer, but this must be clearly stated in the contract.