Shipping Documents

Shipping Documents is a collective term in international trade for a set of documents that the exporter submits to the importer or bank after the goods have been shipped, in order to prove that the goods have been dispatched, clarify transaction details, and satisfy the requirements of the letter of credit or contract. Their core functions include: proving that the goods have been shipped as agreed, serving as a document of title or delivery document, and being used for import customs clearance and payment settlement. Common documents include commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, insurance policy, certificate of origin, inspection certificate, etc. Usage scenarios mainly involve letter of credit negotiation, documentary collection, telegraphic transfer settlement, and import customs declaration. Points to note: the documents must strictly comply with the terms of the letter of credit (documents consistent with the credit and documents consistent with each other), otherwise payment may be refused; the core documents differ under different modes of transport (e.g., ocean bill of lading, air waybill); the number of originals and copies must be in accordance with the contract requirements. Difference from other terms: Shipping Documents emphasizes the set of documents produced 'after shipment,' while 'settlement documents' focus on bank settlement purposes, and 'customs declaration documents' are specifically used for customs declaration; the three overlap but have different emphases.