Consignee

In international freight, the consignee is the person to whom ownership of a shipment transfers upon arrival at its destination. The consignee can be considered as the shipment receiver, and their name will be listed on a shipment’s bill of lading, as they are responsible for picking up shipments from ports. 

While consignees are generally the owners of a shipment, they can also be supply chain professionals, as local businesses may step in as consignees for foreign importers. For example, a freight forwarder would be considered an intermediate consignee because they are responsible for collecting a shipment. Once it reaches its final destination, however, the owner of the shipment is called the ultimate consignee. 

Consignees assume financial responsibility for the receipt of a shipment.