# Partial shipment

*Last updated: 2026-06-22*

> Freight forwarders and shippers turn to partial shipment when an ordered quantity is dispatched in several time-staggered consignments rather than as a single delivery.

Freight forwarders and shippers turn to partial shipment when an ordered quantity is dispatched in several time-staggered consignments rather than as a single delivery. Typical drivers include production capacity constraints, variable manufacturing schedules, or the consignee's need to limit storage costs at destination. Each consignment travels under its own transport document; in cross-border trade, a separate customs declaration is required for every partial dispatch. In documentary credit transactions caution is essential: many letters of credit prohibit partial shipments unless an explicit permission clause is included. The defining distinction from an unplanned delayed delivery is that the split in total quantity is intentional and agreed upon from the outset.

**Source:** [https://wirtschaftslexikon.gabler.de/definition/abschnittsversand-51540](https://wirtschaftslexikon.gabler.de/definition/abschnittsversand-51540)

## Quick Facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Term | Partial shipment |
| Language | EN |
| Word count | 108 |
| Last updated | 2026-06-22 |
| Source | https://wirtschaftslexikon.gabler.de/definition/abschnittsversand-51540 |

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* [Gimhae International Airport](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/gimhae-international-airport-pus)

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