How to Plan Against the Latest Shipment Date in a Letter of Credit
How exporters plan production, booking and documents around the latest shipment date in field 44C.
Reviewed by LCCheck team (owner-approved) · 2026-10-12
Short answer
The latest shipment date in field 44C is a hard limit: shipment after it is a discrepancy that corrections cannot fix. Plan backwards from it — production, inspection, booking, cut-off and on-board — and request an extension early if any step is at risk. Remember the shipment date also starts the presentation period.
| Field | 44C Latest Date of Shipment |
|---|---|
| Not extended by | Bank holidays (Art. 29(c)) |
| Also starts | Presentation period (field 48 / 21 days) |
Plan backwards
- Vessel cut-off and on-board date.
- Booking confirmation.
- Inspection and certificates.
- Production completion.
- Buffer for delays.
If at risk
- Ask the buyer for a 44C amendment before shipment.
- Ask for expiry to move too, so presentation still fits.
Sources
- ICC — UCP 600 (Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits)
- Swift — MT700 Issue of a Documentary Credit (category 7 standards)
General guidance, not legal advice. Your bank examines documents independently.
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