Partial Shipments Under a Letter of Credit: Rules and Examples
How UCP 600 Article 31 treats partial shipments and drawings under a Letter of Credit.
Reviewed by LCCheck team (owner-approved) · 2026-10-12
Short answer
Partial drawings or shipments are allowed under UCP 600 Article 31(a) unless the credit prohibits them (MT700 field 43P). Shipments on the same means of conveyance and journey, with the same destination, are not partial shipments even if the transport documents show different dates or ports of loading (Art. 31(b)).
| Default | Allowed (Art. 31(a)) |
|---|---|
| MT700 | Field 43P |
| Same vessel/journey | Not partial (Art. 31(b)) |
| Instalments | Art. 32 — missed instalment ends availability |
What to check
- 43P: ALLOWED, NOT ALLOWED or CONDITIONAL.
- Instalment schedule in 44C or 47A (Art. 32).
- Total drawings within 32B and tolerance.
Common mistakes
- Shipping in two lots when 43P says NOT ALLOWED.
- Missing a scheduled instalment — later ones are no longer available.
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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