Partial Shipment
Sending one order in two or more separate shipments, a practice that must be allowed by the sales contract and, if used, the letter of credit.
TL;DR: A partial shipment splits one order into several separate shipments. It can help with large or phased projects, but the contract and any letter of credit must clearly say whether it is allowed.
Partial shipments are common when production finishes in stages, when a project site needs goods in phases, or when part of an order is urgent. For example, a buyer might send a small first batch by Air Freight to start installation and ship the rest by Sea Freight.
Under an L/C governed by UCP 600, partial shipments are allowed unless the credit says otherwise. Many credits state “partial shipments allowed” or “partial shipments prohibited”, and the bank will check documents against this wording. If partial shipments are prohibited and the seller ships in two lots, the documents may be rejected as discrepant. UCP 600 also has specific rules for shipments by instalment within set periods, and for when multiple shipments on the same vessel and voyage count as one shipment.
Partial shipments usually add cost. Each shipment needs its own documents, customs clearance, and delivery, and small lots may move as LCL rather than FCL. Payment terms should also match, for example by stating how the balance is paid for each lot.
For custom mosaic murals, split shipments by complete wall sections or layout areas rather than random cartons. This keeps sheet numbering clear and lets installers work on finished areas while the rest is in transit.