Delivery Date

Customer management delivery date (Delivery Date) is the specific date on which the seller promises to deliver the goods to the buyer or carrier in a foreign trade contract, and it is a key clause negotiated and determined by both parties. Usage scenarios include: contract signing, letter of credit issuance, production scheduling, vessel chartering and space booking, and customs declaration. Precautions: 1) The delivery date should specify a clear date or time period (e.g., 'before June 30, 2025'), avoiding vague wording; 2) It must be distinguished from the letter of credit validity period and the shipment date (Shipment Date)—the delivery date is the time when the goods are delivered, while the shipment date is the time when the goods are loaded on board, and the two may differ; 3) If the term is FOB, the delivery date usually refers to the time when the goods are ready for shipment; if it is CIF, it refers to the time of loading on board. 4) Delayed delivery may lead to liquidated damages, customer claims, or even order cancellation. Compared with 'delivery time,' the delivery date emphasizes the final deadline agreed in the contract. Foreign trade practitioners should set it reasonably based on production cycles, logistics, and force majeure factors, and specify a grace period or exemption clauses in the contract.