Paperwork or shipping documents process plays a vital part in logistics.

It’s the stuff you need to get them right so to successfully deliver your goods. Any seemingly minor error can cause problems or delays that may severely disrupt the whole supply chain.

With that in mind, here are the 5 shipment documents importers should be familiar with when import from China.

In this article, I gonna show you :

• What shipping documents are required ?
• How do they work and differ from one another ( Function ) ?
• Whether they are necessary or optional ?
• Who offer this documents
• Matters needing attention
• Related expense
• Templates to download

Let’s get started.

1.Bill of Lading

If there are only one shipping document you need to know, then it would be bill of Lading.

Known as B/L ( Sea Shipping ) or AWB ( Air shipping ), it is the most important document in shipping since it is a proof of ownership, and a contract of carriage between the cargo owner and the carrier.

A BOL will include detailed shipment information :

• Shipper
• Consignee
• Notify Party
• Vessel Voyage ( Flight No. )
• POL & POD
• Cargo Description

2.Packing List

Known as P/L, the packing list helps every party ( freight forwarder, importer, final consignee, customs office, and carrier ) in the supply chain know your goods well.

Meanwhile, this shipment document can often serves as the recipient to verify that the items identified on the bill of lading are in fact delivered to the consignee.

The packing list identifies every item information regarding the cargo includes :

• The items name
• net and gross weight
• Quantities
• dimensions ( volume )
• HS Code
• Image

3.Commercial Invoice

Known as C/I, it’s a proof a sale that any of your international transaction and shipping from China must come with.

As one of the most important shipping document, the commercial invoice is a legal document that lists the goods being sold and their sale price.

It provides information for customs clearance purposes, including :

• Value of each item
• Total amount
• Invoice number
• Bank and Payment Information

With that, this shipping document serves for Customs to determine the true value of goods when assessing customs taxes and duties.

4.Certificate of Origin

Known as C/O, it’s an important international trade document to identify in what country the goods originated.

The certificate of origin China is issued by the China Council for the promotion of international trade (CCPIT or chamber of Commerce) or by the Customs Bureau.

As another important shipping document, it can be served as :

1.Basis for deciding on tariff treatment
2.The required documents for import Customs clearance
3.Important basis for trade statistics
4.Evidence of goods’ inner quality or settlement of exchange.

Typical information include exporter, consignee, importer, goods description and cargo value.

5.Insurance Certificate

Shipping safety must be included in a successfully delivery.

An insurance certificate certifies that the exporter has purchased an insurance policy for the shipment of goods.

Getting “All Risks” freight insurance covered is the most important strategy to provides with indemnity & compensation protection for loss or damage to your cargo.

That’s all 5 most common used international shipping documents when you import from China.

Besides that, you will meet other paperwork like export license, shipment contract, MSDS, fumigation certificate, ISF filing, POA, etc among different shipping routes and cargo types.

And you will find that many of those documents contain the same information : shipper, consignee, cargo description, etc.

But each document plays a different role since their function is different.

Bottom line ?

Make sure that the information written on each document is accurate.

And it’s important keep consistent across all the documents.

If you plan to ship from China, now or in the future, please contact me, and I will provide you with a solution subsequently.