What is Sudan ACD?
The ACD (Advance Cargo Declaration) is Sudan's mandatory pre-loading customs requirement for every sea shipment discharging at Port Sudan. Announced by the Sudan Customs Authority and effective from 1 January 2026, the ACD applies to all cargo types — general cargo, machinery, spare parts and vehicles — regardless of country of origin. The ACD number must be obtained by the shipper, exporter or freight forwarder before the cargo is loaded, and then referenced on the final Bill of Lading. Shipments loaded without a valid ACD reference face amendment refusals from carriers, customs clearance delays and demurrage at Port Sudan.
Other names for the Sudan ACD
One instrument, several names. For Sudan the filing is the ACD — Advance Cargo Declaration. The same certificate is also referred to as ECTN (Electronic Cargo Tracking Note), cargo tracking note, and advance cargo declaration, and a request for one is a request for the other. If your importer or your carrier has asked for a name that is not on this page, send it to us with the Bill of Lading and we will confirm which filing they mean.
Which ports require the ACD
The requirement attaches to the port of discharge. For Sudan that is Port Sudan. Where cargo only transits Sudan on its way to a landlocked neighbour, the routing has to be documented — several destinations treat transit cargo differently, so tell us the final destination when you send the Bill of Lading rather than after the file is open.
When to apply: the ACD filing deadline
The cut-off is set by Sudan and is anchored either to the vessel leaving the load port or to it reaching Port Sudan. Filing when the booking is confirmed is safe under either anchor, and a draft Bill of Lading is enough to open the file. We confirm the exact cut-off for your route before anything is filed. Late validation costs more than filing on time everywhere it is allowed at all.
Who files the ACD
The shipper, the exporter, or the freight forwarder acting for them — the party at origin that holds the Bill of Lading and the commercial invoice. The consignee usually cannot fix a missing certificate from the destination side once the vessel has sailed. Where the sales terms put the cost on the buyer, that settles who pays; it does not move the obligation to file.
Official ACD Validation Procedure
According to the customs regulations of Sudan, every cargo shipment purchased from abroad and transported for commercial, business, diplomatic, or personal purposes requires a validated Loading Certificate:
- ▪The shipper, exporter or freight forwarder applies for the ACD number before the cargo is loaded at origin.
- ▪Prepare the freighted (rated) draft Bill of Lading and the Commercial Invoice for validation.
- ▪Our compliance desk cross-checks the shipper, consignee, cargo description and declared values, then issues the ACD number.
- ▪Provide the ACD reference to your carrier so it is annotated on the final Bill of Lading.
- ▪File early — because enforcement is at loading, a missing ACD can stop the cargo from being shipped, not just delay it at destination.
Validity and amendments
A validated ACD is issued against one shipment: one Bill of Lading, one vessel, one voyage, one consignee. It does not carry over to your next shipment and it carries no renewal date. If the shipment changes, the certificate has to change with it — and what can be amended after validation, and at what cost, is set by the destination authority. Corrections to the draft before filing cost nothing, which is why we send you the draft first.
What happens without a valid ACD
Cargo arriving without a validated ACD is generally not released. What follows depends on the destination: customs clearance delays, storage and demurrage accruing daily at Port Sudan, and regulatory fines until a valid certificate is presented. The demurrage is often the larger of the two numbers, and it is the one that grows while the paperwork is corrected.
What a Sudan ACD costs
Two lines, quoted separately. The first is the statutory charge the destination authority sets for registering the certificate — it belongs to the authority, not to us, and it varies by destination and shipment profile. The second is our service fee for preparing the file, checking it against the published requirements, filing it and handling any query. Neither is a percentage of your cargo value. Both are fixed and shown before anything is filed, so the invoice you approve is the invoice you pay.
Waiver Regulations & Q&A
What is the ACD certificate for Sudan?
The ACD (Advance Cargo Declaration) is a mandatory Sudan Customs requirement, effective 1 January 2026, that must be obtained before cargo is loaded for any shipment arriving at Port Sudan.
Which documents are needed to get an ACD number for Sudan?
The core documents are the freighted (rated) draft Bill of Lading and the Commercial Invoice. Our desk confirms any additional details required for your specific cargo.
When must the Sudan ACD be obtained?
Before the cargo is loaded at the port of origin. The ACD reference then has to appear on the final Bill of Lading.
Does the ACD apply to vehicles and used machinery?
Yes. The Sudan ACD applies to all cargo types shipped to Sudan, including passenger vehicles, general cargo, machinery and spare parts, from any origin.
What happens if I ship to Sudan without an ACD?
Carriers may refuse Bill of Lading amendments and Sudan Customs can hold the cargo, leading to clearance delays and demurrage charges at Port Sudan until a valid ACD is provided.