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Parties, Roles & Instruments

Consignee

Also known as: Named Consignee

The consignee is the party named in the transport document to whom the carrier is to deliver the goods at destination — in effect the receiver of the shipment. Under a negotiable bill of lading the consignee may be designated 'to order,' allowing title to be transferred by endorsement, whereas a straight or non-negotiable document names a specific consignee who alone may take delivery. The consignee is often, but not always, the buyer or importer of record, and correctly identifying it matters for release of cargo, customs clearance, and the lawful transfer of ownership.

The JFS takeLicensed customs broker · Filer 82G

Where the goods are addressed — a shipping fact, not a customs role. Consignee and importer of record are frequently the same party and by no means always, and conflating them is how the wrong entity ends up on an entry.

Where it matters for compliance

  • The entry names the importer of record and the ultimate consignee separately.

Related terms

Bill of LadingA bill of lading is the foundational document of ocean freight, issued by a carrier to a shipper, that serves three distinct functions at once: a receipt confirming the carrier has taken the described goods into its custody, evidence of the contract of carriage setting out the terms of transport, and — when issued in negotiable form — a document of title whose holder controls delivery of the cargo.Notify PartyThe notify party is the entity named in a bill of lading whom the carrier or its agent must contact when the shipment arrives at destination, so that arrangements for customs clearance and delivery can begin promptly.Ultimate ConsigneeThe ultimate consignee is the party in the destination country that actually receives and uses the imported goods, as distinct from an intermediate consignee, broker, or forwarder who merely handles the shipment along the way.

Reviewed by a licensed customs broker. Definitions are general information, not legal or customs advice for a particular shipment. Duty rates, tariff programs and agency requirements change frequently.