GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 26, 2026
Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC)
Freight forwarders, warehouse operators, and trading companies use the SSCC (Serial Shipping Container Code) to assign a globally unique identity to pallets, cartons, and other logistics units.
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Source: https://www.gs1.org/standards/id-keys/sscc
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Definition & Explanation
Freight forwarders, warehouse operators, and trading companies use the SSCC (Serial Shipping Container Code) to assign a globally unique identity to pallets, cartons, and other logistics units. The 18-digit code is built on the GS1 standard and applied as a barcode or RFID label, scanned automatically at every handover point along the supply chain. In cross-border transport, the SSCC underpins electronic data interchange between shipper, carrier, and consignee, reducing mix-ups at transshipment hubs and customs warehouses. It should not be confused with the GTIN, which identifies the product itself: the SSCC identifies the specific logistics unit carrying that product, meaning the same GTIN may appear across thousands of distinct SSCC-labelled units.
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