What is a Consignee in Shipping?

A consignee is the person or company receiving a shipment in an international or domestic transaction. In shipping terms, the consignee is listed on the bill of lading and is typically the final recipient of the goods once they clear customs and all duties are paid.

This may be the end customer, a warehouse, or a distributor, depending on the supply chain setup.

Responsibilities

• Receiving the cargo upon arrival
• Paying import duties and taxes, if not prepaid
• Clearing the goods through customs (often through a broker)
• Verifying the shipment’s accuracy and condition

Example in Practice

A U.S. retailer imports electronics from a supplier in South Korea. The retailer is named as the consignee on the bill of lading and is responsible for accepting the goods once they clear customs at the Port of Los Angeles.

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