The Consignee is the party named on the bill of lading to whom the carrier is instructed to deliver the cargo. The consignee is the legal recipient of the shipment — the party who can take possession of the cargo upon presentation of the original bill of lading (for a negotiable B/L) or upon identification (for a straight, non-negotiable B/L).
The consignee on the bill of lading is not always the same as the ultimate consignee for customs purposes:
- Bill of lading consignee — Whoever the carrier is instructed to deliver to. Often the customs broker, NVOCC agent, or "to order" of a bank in a documentary collection or letter of credit transaction.
- Ultimate consignee — The actual party in the U.S. who will take physical possession and use the goods.
On U.S. import filings, both consignees are typically reported:
- The bill of lading consignee appears on the ISF, entry, and other transport documents
- The ultimate consignee appears on the entry summary (CBP Form 7501)
A misnamed consignee can prevent the cargo from being released — particularly for ocean shipments under "to order" or "consigned to bank" bills of lading, where the consignee designation controls who can present the bill to take delivery.