Export documentation for China shipment

Exporting means sending goods from one country to another – and they pass through customs on the way. For customs to clear your goods, it's vital to have the right shipping documents for export, and to fill them in correctly.

What key shipping documents do I need for export?

Here’s a checklist of the most common export documents you need to include with your shipment when sending goods to another country:

1. Export declaration
2. Commercial invoice
3. Air waybill or BL
4. Packing list
5. Certificate of origin

The exact list of documents you need to provide depends on the goods you are shipping, the destination country and export controls. Sometimes you’ll need to include additional ones as well.

What do I need to bear in mind when preparing export documentation?

Ensure the information on each document is consistent. The details on your air waybill(BL), commercial invoice and all other documents should be the same. If it’s not consistent, customs will ask for more information and your customer might have problems receiving your shipment.