Container House Shipping Documents Checklist
Updated 2026-11-01 · JIUJIAN GLOBAL technical team
The core set is: commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin, insurance certificate, and the export declaration on the China side. Add product certificates, fumigation or ISPM 15 documents for timber packing, and any destination-specific certificate the importer's broker requests. Send drafts to the broker for review before the vessel sails.
The document set for a container house shipment is not complicated, but each item has a deadline and a place where it can go wrong.
The core set
| Document | Issued by | Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial invoice | Supplier | Before loading |
| Packing list | Supplier | Before loading; per module with weights |
| Bill of lading | Carrier or forwarder | After loading; original or telex release |
| Certificate of origin | CCPIT or authorised body | Before sailing |
| Insurance certificate | Insurer | When the Incoterm requires it |
| Export declaration | Supplier or forwarder | At export clearance in China |
| Product certificates | Supplier | On request by destination customs |
| ISPM 15 / fumigation | Treatment provider | If solid timber packing is used |
Invoice and packing list detail
The invoice should state the Incoterm, the unit description, quantity, unit price, total value, country of origin and the payment terms. The packing list should state, per container: module serial numbers, dimensions, gross and net weight, and the number of packages. These two documents are what customs reads first, and they must agree with the bill of lading.
Bill of lading pitfalls
- Consignee name must match the importer of record exactly.
- "Freight prepaid" or "collect" must match the Incoterm.
- Description should be generic enough to match the invoice without contradicting it.
- Request the draft B/L for approval before the vessel sails; corrections later cost money and time.
Insurance that actually covers the risk
Institute Cargo Clauses (A) is the usual cover for machinery and finished modules; (C) is too narrow for handling damage. Extend cover to the inland leg and note any exclusions for inadequate packing. Photograph the loading and keep the seal number, because a claim without loading evidence is difficult.
Destination-side extras
Some markets ask for a pre-shipment inspection certificate, a conformity certificate for electrical goods, or a fumigation certificate even when the packing is synthetic. Ask the importer's broker for the full list at order stage and add it to the shipping instructions.
Related: HS codes and duty, pre-shipment inspection, US import.
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