Consignee

A consignee is the person or organization named in a carrier’s transport document, such as a bill of lading or air waybill, as the recipient of the goods at the destination. The consignee is the party entitled to take delivery and to control the shipment once it arrives.

The consignee may be the buyer, a warehouse operator, a freight forwarder acting on behalf of the buyer, or another designated recipient. The documents accompanying the shipment identify the consignee and, in some cases, a notification party who should be informed when the goods reach port or warehouse.

On delivery, the consignee typically presents required documents (for example, the bill of lading, commercial invoice, packing list, and any import licenses) and may be responsible for paying charges due to the carrier, broker, or customs. The consignee is usually responsible for inspecting the goods for damage, short shipments, or nonconformities and for arranging onward transport or storage if needed.

In some shipping arrangements, bills of lading may be issued “to the order of” or “to the order of named consignee,” which can affect the transfer of title to the goods by endorsement. A consignee’s status is distinct from the consignor, who is the sender or seller of the goods. Depending on the terms of sale and applicable law, import duties, taxes, and compliance requirements may fall to the consignee at the destination.