Should commercial invoice and packing list show the same issuance date?

Exporters create packing list and commercial invoice on the same day for a regular international trade transaction.

But in some occasions one of the documents may need to be created earlier than the other.

For example, certified invoices or legalized invoices may have to be created earlier than the packing list, as certification and legalization process takes quite a long time.

Especially if the selected payment method is letter of credit, exporters frequently ask a common question in regards to the dates of the packing lists and commercial invoices.

Should commercial invoice and packing list show the same issuance date under letter of credit rules?

What is the relationship between incoterms and prices on the commercial invoice?

Exporters and importers use Incoterms very often on their of the daily language, as a delivery term is one of the key elements of international trade transactions. 

Almost every sales contract or proforma invoice contains an incoterms clause such as FOB New York Port, Incoterms 2010, CIF Dammam Port, Saudi Arabia, Incoterms 2010 etc. 

Furthermore, incoterms and prices shown on the commercial invoices have strict relationship. 

Delivery places of the goods, the party who pays for the freight costs and insurance premium are the main incoterms related determinants of the prices.

Today I would like to explain the relationship between incoterms and prices on the commercial invoice
 

What does "as per beneficiary's proforma invoice" mean in a letter of credit?

Almost all letters of credit, at least the ones that I have encountered with, contain a phrase under field 45-A Description of Goods, giving express reference to a proforma invoice.

Some examples are:

• Commercial invoice must bear beneficiary's certification that goods shipped are in accordance with proforma invoice nr. 1910201100
• Commercial invoice must be bearing this clause: ''We certify that invoices are in all respects correct and true both with regard  to the price and description of goods referred to therein and as per proforma invoice no.011 dated 09/06/2014."
• Commercial invoice must state that as per beneficiary's proforma invoice ref no:AA130522 dd:04.07.2014.
• As per applicant's purchase order no. d14080 dtd 17.12.14.

But what does an express reference to a proforma invoice mean in a letter of credit? 

How to present a correct invoice in such a situation?

Is it possible to make couple of shipments under the same proforma invoice?

Proforma invoice used as a simplified form of a sales contract in today's international business transactions. 

Many companies do not waste their times to write down a detailed sales contract, but instead they send a single page proforma invoice to their buyers.

In some occasions, a proforma invoice may cover an order which will be shipped not in once but under several shipments. 

This action is defined as partial shipment.

Partial shipment should be allowed by the sales contract or a proforma invoice under normal conditions. 

It is worth mentioning that, letter of credit rules also allow partial shipments as well.

But in some special situations, importers may prohibit partial shipments. In such a case, partial shipment should not be allowed under the sales contract or the letter of credit conditions.

What are the differences between proforma invoice and commercial invoice?

Proforma invoice is a written proposal, issued by the exporter, which contains the terms and conditions of the foreign trade transaction. 

Proforma invoice is issued at the beginning of the transaction and it would not be accepted as a final document. 

It can be amended even after it is signed by both parties.

Commercial invoice also states the details of the transaction with one exception. 

Commercial invoice issued in order to complete the export and import operation in a foreign trade transaction, as a result its contents are final and are not subject to any further change or amendment.

PS: All corrections made on the face of the commercial invoice have to be authenticated by the issuer.

Today I would like to mention the differences between a proforma invoice and a commercial invoice.