Dispatch Date

Customer Management Dispatch Date refers to the date on which the seller actually delivers the goods to the carrier or logistics provider and completes the dispatch operation, rather than the date the goods arrive at the buyer or the date of loading onto the vessel. In foreign trade, it is commonly used in the delivery schedule negotiated with the customer after order confirmation, and it is a key milestone for the seller's internal production, stock preparation, and booking. Usage scenarios include: stipulating the dispatch date in contracts or proforma invoices, follow-up expediting, and calculation of the latest shipment date for letter of credit presentation. Note: Dispatch Date may differ from Shipment Date—the former emphasizes the goods leaving the seller's warehouse or factory, while the latter emphasizes the goods being loaded onto the ship/aircraft; under terms such as FOB and CIF, the dispatch date usually affects the shipment date, but if the buyer designates a freight forwarder, the cargo receipt date of the forwarder must be confirmed. Difference from Delivery Date: Dispatch Date is the date of the dispatch action, while Delivery Date is the date the buyer receives the goods, and the two differ by the transit time. Therefore, foreign trade practitioners should clarify contract wording to avoid breach of contract caused by confusion between 'dispatch' and 'shipment'.