More or Less Clause

The more or less clause is a common provision in international sales contracts that allows the seller a certain degree of flexibility in the quantity delivered, i.e., to ship a specified percentage more or less than the contracted quantity. It is typically used for bulk cargo (such as grain, ore, petroleum, etc.), because such goods are difficult to measure precisely and are affected by transportation and loading/unloading conditions. When using a more or less clause, it is necessary to specify the percentage tolerance (e.g., ±5%), who has the option (usually the seller or buyer), and how the price for the excess or shortfall is calculated (generally at the contract price or the market price on the shipment date). Precautions include: the tolerance should not be too large, otherwise it may affect the nature of the contract; it should be consistent with the letter of credit terms to avoid document discrepancies; if no more or less clause is agreed, the CISG default allows a reasonable margin of error. Unlike other terms such as 'about', the more or less clause is more precise and legally binding, while 'about' is prone to disputes in interpretation.