The Shipper is the party named on the bill of lading as the consignor of the goods — the party delivering the cargo to the carrier for transportation. In most international transactions, the shipper is the seller (the exporter), though the specific party depends on the Incoterms rule in the sales contract.
Shipper responsibilities vary by Incoterm:
- Under EXW — The shipper's role ends at its own premises; the buyer arranges export clearance and transport
- Under FCA, FOB, FAS — The shipper handles export clearance and delivery to the named point
- Under CFR, CIF, CPT, CIP — The shipper handles export clearance and arranges main carriage to the named destination
- Under DAP, DPU, DDP — The shipper handles everything up to delivery at the named destination point
On the bill of lading, the shipper is listed in the "Shipper / Exporter" box at the top. Errors in shipper information can delay export clearance, cause sanctions screening flags, and create problems for the consignee at the destination port.
For U.S. export filings, the shipper is generally the same as the "U.S. Principal Party in Interest" (USPPI) — the party in the United States that receives the primary benefit of the export transaction.