What sort of information should not be mentioned on a packing list?

So far on my website, I have written following articles about the packing lists: "How to create an export packing list?" and "Should the container number be mentioned on the packing list?"

I suppose I will be keep writing in different aspects of the packing list, as it is a very important export and import document.

Today I would like to explain you what kind of information should not be covered under the packing list and why.

What sort of information should not be mentioned on a packing list?

Packing list is not a financial document. 

It is used by logistics personnel, who should have no connection with the financial information about the goods.

Additionally, sometimes packing list may be delivered to the final customer as is, without checked by the importer, who is the intermediary company between the exporter and the final buyer. 

How to create an export packing list?

A packing list is a trade document that identifies details about the contents of a package.

A packing list is especially helpful in international trade transactions for confirming the number of items during the transportation stages.

Packing list is a shipping document, which is widely used in export and import transactions.

Combined with the commercial invoice, certificate of origin and transport documents, packing list is one of the core documents that needs to be created in an international trade operation.

What are risks of making air shipments when using documents against payment method?

Documents Against Payment (D/P) is a payment method used in international trade transactions.

This payment method has couple of alternative names such as documentary collections, cash against documents, CAD and documents against acceptance.

There are various advantages of using this payment method in export and import operations.

Some of the advantages of documentary collection payment method can be mentioned as follows:

• Documentary collection payment method is easy. 
• Documentary collection is relatively a cheap payment option comparing to letters of credit. 
• Documentary collection is a fast international payment type comparing to letters of credit.

Despite all of these advantages stated above, documentary collection payment has couple of disadvantages, which have to be burdened by the exporters.

What is the difference between a bill of lading which is signed as carrier and as agent of the carrier?

A bill of lading could be signed by one of the entities stated below:

• the carrier or 
• an agent of the carrier or 
• the master or 
• an agent of the master or 
• a freight forwarder.

The party that has signed the bill of lading must indicate its signing capacity.

For example, if the carrier has signed the bill of lading, then it must be indicated on the bill of lading (B/L) that it has been signed by the carrier.

Likewise if the master has signed the bill of lading, then it must be indicated on the bill of lading that it has been signed by the master.

Shipped on board and clean on board bill of lading

I would like to explain the difference between shipped on board bill of lading and clean on board bill of lading on this page. 

The reason I would like to write about this topic is that some issuing banks demand "shipped on board" bills of lading, whereas others demand "clean on board" bills of lading under "letters of credit" payments.

Exporters are getting confused, when carriers issue a "shipped on board" bill of lading where the letter of credit requires a "clean on board" bill of lading or vice versa.