In international freight, the consignee is the person or entity to whom ownership of a shipment transfers upon arrival at its destination. The consignee is effectively the receiver of the shipment and is listed on the bill of lading, as they are responsible for picking up the cargo from the port or terminal.
While consignees are typically the owners of the goods, they can also be intermediaries within the supply chain. For instance, a freight forwarder may act as an intermediate consignee, tasked with collecting the shipment on behalf of the final recipient. Once the goods reach their end location, the individual or organization taking final possession is referred to as the ultimate consignee.
The consignee assumes financial responsibility for the receipt of the shipment and is a critical point of contact in the delivery and customs clearance process.