Trade
Which export payment term should I use?
LC, TT, DP, DA compared. Risk for exporter vs buyer, bank charges, FEMA repatriation rules, and when to use each term.
By Aaryan Kakani · · 4 min read
What are the four main payment terms?
Every export transaction uses one of these payment mechanisms. They sit on a risk spectrum. What's safe for the exporter is risky for the buyer, and vice versa.
| Term | How it works | Exporter risk | Buyer risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advance TT | Buyer pays before shipment | Lowest | Highest |
| Letter of Credit (LC) | Bank guarantees payment on compliant docs | Low | Low. Medium |
| Documents against Payment (DP) | Buyer pays to get shipping docs | Medium | Low |
| Documents against Acceptance (DA) | Buyer signs draft, pays later | High | Lowest |
How does advance payment / TT work?
TT (Telegraphic Transfer) is a bank wire transfer. In advance TT, the buyer sends payment before you ship the goods. This is the simplest and safest term for exporters.
How advance TT flows
- Buyer and seller agree on price, quantity, and delivery terms
- Buyer initiates wire transfer (SWIFT) to seller's bank account
- Seller's AD bank credits the account and reports to EDPMS
- Seller ships the goods and provides shipping documents to buyer
- Shipping bill is matched with the advance receipt in EDPMS
Advance TT facts
Bank charges
Rs 300. 500 per inward remittance (receiving side)
Speed
1. 3 business days for SWIFT transfer
Common variants
100% advance, 30% advance + 70% before shipment, partial advance + LC for balance
Best for
New buyers, small orders, custom/made-to-order products
How does a Letter of Credit work?
An LC is a commitment from the buyer's bank to pay the exporter, provided the exporter presents documents exactly matching the LC terms. It's governed by UCP 600 (Uniform Customs and Practice).
LC flow. Step by step
- Buyer applies to their bank (issuing bank) for an LC in the exporter's favour
- Issuing bank sends LC to the exporter's bank (advising/confirming bank) via SWIFT
- Exporter reviews LC terms. Checks for discrepancies, ensures they can comply
- Exporter ships goods and prepares documents exactly per LC requirements
- Exporter presents documents to their bank (negotiating bank)
- Bank checks documents for compliance (no discrepancies allowed)
- If compliant, bank forwards documents to issuing bank and receives payment
- Issuing bank debits buyer's account and releases documents to buyer for customs clearance
LC types that matter
Irrevocable LC (standard)
Cannot be amended or cancelled without the exporter's consent. All LCs under UCP 600 are irrevocable by default.
Confirmed LC
A second bank (usually exporter's bank) adds its guarantee. Even if the issuing bank fails, the confirming bank pays. Best for high-risk buyer countries.
Sight LC vs Usance LC
Sight LC: payment on document presentation. Usance LC: payment after a specified period (30, 60, 90 days). Buyer gets credit period but bank still guarantees payment.
Typical LC costs
LC opening (buyer side)
0.125%. 0.5% of LC value per quarter
Advising fee (exporter side)
Rs 2,000. 5,000 per LC
Confirmation fee
0.1%. 1% per quarter (if confirmed)
Negotiation / document handling
0.1%. 0.15% of bill value
Discrepancy charges
$50. 75 per set of discrepant documents
What is the difference between DP and DA?
Both DP and DA are "documentary collection" methods. The exporter's bank sends shipping documents to the buyer's bank with instructions. The key difference is when the buyer gets the documents.
Documents against Payment (DP)
- • Also called "Cash against Documents" or "Sight Draft"
- • Buyer must pay before getting documents
- • Without documents, buyer cannot clear goods from customs
- • Relatively safe. Buyer has incentive to pay to get their goods
- • Risk: buyer refuses to pay → goods stuck at destination port (demurrage)
Documents against Acceptance (DA)
- • Also called "Usance Draft" or "Time Draft"
- • Buyer signs (accepts) a draft promising to pay on a future date
- • Documents released immediately on acceptance
- • Buyer gets goods and credit period (30/60/90 days)
- • Risk: buyer has goods but may default on payment date
Documentary collection costs
Collection charges (exporter bank)
0.1%. 0.2% of bill value (min Rs 500. 1,000)
Collection charges (buyer bank)
0.1%. 0.15% (borne by buyer usually)
Postage / courier
Rs 1,500. 3,000 per set
Which payment term should I choose?
Decision matrix
New buyer, unknown creditworthiness
→ Advance TT (100% or partial) or confirmed LC
Large order, buyer in stable country
→ Irrevocable LC at sight. Bank-backed, both parties protected
Buyer in high-risk country
→ Confirmed irrevocable LC. Your bank adds its guarantee
Repeat buyer with good payment history
→ DP (sight draft) or TT within 30 days of shipment
Long-standing buyer demanding credit period
→ DA or usance LC (buyer gets 60-90 days, you get bank guarantee with usance LC)
E-commerce / marketplace exports
→ Payment through marketplace aggregator (Amazon, etc.). Treated as advance for FEMA purposes
What are the FEMA rules on payment terms?
FEMA payment repatriation rules
Repatriation deadline:
Export proceeds must be realised within 9 months from the date of export (date of shipping bill). This applies regardless of payment term.
Advance payment:
If you receive advance, ship within 1 year. AD bank reports advance to EDPMS for matching.
Usance period:
Credit period (DA / usance LC) cannot exceed the 9-month repatriation window from date of shipment.
Currency:
Payment must be in freely convertible foreign exchange, or in INR through Vostro accounts where RBI has permitted.
Write-off:
If buyer defaults, AD bank can approve write-off up to 10% of export value. Beyond 10%, RBI permission required.
Sources & citations
- RBI Master Direction. Export of Goods and Services (FED Master Direction No. 16/2015-16). UCP 600. Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits (ICC Publication No. 600).
- FEMA (Current Account Transactions) Rules, 2000..
Update history
- First published.