Commercial Invoice Details

Beyond the vital bill of lading, there is another important document used in international freight shipping. The commercial invoice is that document. While the document may seem like all of the others, it is unique. There are specific requirements for a commercial invoice. Certain items must be listed.

The purpose of a commercial invoice is to be documented proof of the shipment for Customs. It also includes information about duties and taxes that must be paid. In case a shipper still needs an invoice, their trusted freight forwarder can easily provide one. The commercial invoice is used in container shipping for many different nations. However, many countries list some different requirements for the details on the form. For example, if you are shipping to the United States, you must include on the commercial invoice the port of entry, all of your contact information, the commodity of the shipment, the quantity of containers, the monetary value of the cargo and where the freight is going to.

Currently, most commercial invoices are printed on paper. The future of the shipping industry might change that. The industry is moving towards having electronic commercial invoices. The benefits of this switch will save time and save money, which might help lower ocean freight shipping rates.

The point is that the commercial invoice is changing from print to digital. Despite the change, the commercial invoice is an important staple in ocean shipping. There are requirements of the commercial invoice that must always be fulfilled before sending cargo overseas.