Advanced B/L

Advanced B/L refers to an on-board bill of lading issued in advance by the carrier at the shipper's request when the goods have not yet been loaded on board or have not been fully loaded. It is typically used when the shipment period stipulated in the letter of credit is about to expire, but the goods cannot be loaded on board in time for some reason. The usage scenario is mostly when the shipper urgently needs to settle foreign exchange, but the goods have not actually been loaded on board. Precautions: An advanced B/L constitutes fraud and carries extremely high risks, and may lead to legal consequences such as refusal of payment under the letter of credit, the carrier bearing liability for cargo damage, and claims by the importer. Unlike an anti-dated B/L, an anti-dated B/L means the goods have already been loaded on board but the issue date is earlier than the actual loading date, whereas an advanced B/L means an on-board bill of lading is issued before the goods are loaded on board. The difference from a received-for-shipment B/L is that a received-for-shipment B/L only indicates that the goods have been received and are awaiting shipment, and does not prove that they have been loaded on board. Foreign trade practitioners should try to avoid using advanced B/Ls. In special circumstances, they should fully communicate with the carrier and the importer and assess the legal risks.