Egypt has made a Unique Consignment Reference (UCR) mandatory for all sea export bookings through its NAFEZA digital customs platform, with shipping lines warning they will not accept bookings submitted without a valid reference.
The requirement applies to exports from all Egyptian seaports. Exporters must obtain a 19-digit UCR through the NAFEZA platform before submitting a booking, while shipper details, including VAT or tax identification numbers, must match customs records.
Maersk said bookings submitted without a valid UCR would not be accepted. CMA CGM, which has integrated its booking system with the NAFEZA platform, said the UCR would be validated during the booking process and warned that invalid or dummy references could result in booking cancellations or delays. The carrier also said UCRs and shipper details could not be amended once a booking had been confirmed.
The UCR serves as the primary identifier for export shipments throughout the customs process, from the initial booking to the submission of the final bill of lading. Egyptian customs introduced the electronic export workflow to improve cargo traceability, streamline documentation and reduce customs clearance times.
The enhanced export system requires all container shipping agents operating at Egyptian seaports to integrate with NAFEZA for functions including UCR verification, booking confirmation, container tracking and manifest submission.
