The packing list says what is in each package of a shipment. Customs use it for examination, the shipping line for the bill of lading, the buyer to check receipt, and the bank checks it against the LC. It carries no prices; it carries quantities, weights and marks.
What to include
- Header — exporter and consignee, invoice number and date (the packing list should reference the commercial invoice), buyer's order number
- Shipping details — port of loading and discharge, vessel or flight if known, container and seal numbers
- Marks and numbers — the shipping marks printed on the cartons, and carton numbers (e.g. 1–250)
- Package-wise contents — for each carton or range of cartons: product description, quantity, and unit
- Weights — net weight and gross weight per package and in total
- Dimensions and volume — carton size and total CBM, which the forwarder needs
- Type of packing — cartons, bags, drums, pallets, crates
- Signature and date
It must match the other documents
The same goods appear on the commercial invoice, the shipping bill, the bill of lading and the certificate of origin. Any difference in quantity, number of packages or weight causes trouble — a customs query, an amended bill of lading, or a discrepancy that lets the bank refuse an LC payment.
Common mistakes
- Total packages on the packing list differ from the bill of lading.
- Gross weight lower than net weight, or totals that don't add up.
- Description different from the invoice and LC.
- Missing container or seal numbers after stuffing.
- Product-specific details left out — slab sizes for stone, size and colour breakdown for garments, batch and expiry for food and pharma.
Detailed vs simple packing lists
A simple list shows totals per product. A detailed list shows every carton or range. Buyers of mixed shipments — garments in many sizes, spare parts, granite slabs — usually want the detailed version, and customs examination is faster with it.
How Eximly helps
In Eximly the packing list is built from the same export order as the commercial invoice, so descriptions and quantities match. You choose the columns your product needs — sizes, colours, slab measurements, batch numbers — save them as your format, and the totals, container and seal numbers flow onto the PDF. Try it free for 30 days.
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