CIM consignment note (rail)

International rail consignment note under COTIF-CIM; in the CIS area complemented by SMGS or the combined CIM/SMGS note.

The document is typically sent alongside the commercial invoice, packing list and, where relevant, origin / preference documents. For cross-border traffic, customs and security authorities require prior electronic data transmission (e.g. ICS2).

Common required fields are shipper, consignee, goods description, value, Incoterm, HS code and country of origin. In document-based payment (L/C), formal discrepancies are the most frequent reason for refusal.

Issuer: Railway / shipper. Most documents are produced electronically in practice (EDI, eAWB, eB/L pilots such as BIMCO and DCSA). For high-value shipments the original still matters, particularly in banking-channel transactions.