1.

Definition: Commercial invoice (CI) is a customs document provided by the person or

corporation that is exporting an item across international borders that
clearly describes the sold goods, and the amount due on the importer.
2. Roles of Commercial invoice in Export clearance:
- Payment Assurance: Although a commercial invoice isn’t a payment
instrument, it is a piece of legal evidence with which to demand payment..
Also, a seller could refer to an unpaid debt with the aid of a commercial
invoice, and this will invariably propel the customer to pay up their debts.
- Sales Evidence: Commercial invoice also serves as sales evidence. It helps
in preventing a customer from denying a transaction. Also, it is needful when
the need to prove your case in a law court arises. It clearly shows a buyer’s
acknowledgement of goods sold
- Base to identify custom valuation to calculate tariffs, duties and taxes
3. Content of a commercial invoice:
- (1) date, terms and number of Invoice
- (2) Information of Seller/Exporter
- (3) Information of Buyer/Importer
- (4) Information of Commodity: quantity, weight and/or volume, type of
packaging, complete description of goods. These can be more detailed in the
Packing Lists
- (5) unit price and total amount: both in number and word
- (6) Terms of Payment: T/T, L/C, D/A, D/P
- (7) Incoterms
- (8) Other information: Port of loading, Port of Delivery, Vessel/Voyage ,
Destination,…