UN/EDIFACT
UN/EDIFACT is the international EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) standard maintained by the UN Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT). It defines syntax and message structures for thousands of business-to-business and business-to-government transactions, with particular dominance in maritime shipping, customs, and freight forwarding worldwide.
UN/EDIFACT messages follow a hierarchical structure of segments (e.g., NAD = Name and Address), composite data elements, and simple data elements. Each message type has a 6-letter identifier (e.g., CUSCAR for customs cargo report, BAPLIE for bay plan, COPRAR for container pre-arrival, IFTMIN for transport instruction).
EDIFACT is the lingua franca of ocean freight. It predates JSON and modern APIs but remains universal because every port community system, shipping line, and customs authority speaks it.
EDIFACT is the lingua franca of ocean freight — every port community system, shipping line and customs authority speaks it. It predates JSON and modern APIs but remains universal, which is why any freight platform must speak EDIFACT to connect to the world's ports and customs regimes.
(ocean · customs)
(trucking · retail)
What is the difference between EDIFACT and ANSI X12?
They are two EDI syntaxes for the same idea. EDIFACT is the international standard (dominant in ocean freight and customs); X12 dominates North American domestic trade. Cross-border chains use both.
What is an EDIFACT segment?
A structured line of data within a message — for example NAD (Name and Address) — built from composite and simple data elements. Messages like CUSCAR or BAPLIE are made of many segments.