به طور خلاصه :

اعتبار اسنادی تعهدی از بانک است که  به خریدار و فروشنده داده می شود.

انواع اعتبار اسنادی

۱- اعتبار اسنادی وارداتی يا صادراتی:
به اعتباری که خريدار برای واردات به کشور خود گشايش مي کند اعتبار وارداتی و اين اعتبار از لحاظ فروشنده کالا که در کشور ديگر قرار دارد اعتبار صادراتی ميباشد.

۲- اعتبارات اسنادی قابل برگشت: Revocable L/C
در اين نوع اعتبار ، خريدار و يا بانک گشايش کننده اعتبار ميتواند بدون اطلاع ذينفع ، هرگونه تغيير يا اصلاحی در شرايط اعتبار بوجود آورد(بدون اجازه فروشنده)
واضح است از اين نوع اعتبار استفاده چندانی نميشود زيرا فروشنده اطمينان لازم را نسبت به پايدار ماندن اعتبار و انجام تعهدات خريدار ندارد.
با کمال تعجب اگر خريدار ايرانی بخواهد اعتبار قابل برگشت گشايش نمايد سيستم بانکی از وی مجوز خاص بانک مرکزی را مطالبه مينمايد در حاليکه اعتبار غير قابل برگشت احتياجی به مجوز ندارد.

۳- اعتبار اسنادی غير قابل برگشت:Irrevocable L/C
در اعتبار اسنادی غير قابل برگشت هرگونه تغيير شرايط اعتبار از جانب خريدار يا بانک گشايش کننده اعتبار موکول به موافقت و رضايت فروشنده بوده. فروشندگان معمولا از اين گونه اعتبار استقبال بيشتری ميکنند.
براساس آخرین مقررات اتاق بازرگانی بین الملل در صورت عدم تصريح و سکوت در اعتبار اسنادی مبنی بر قابل برگشت يا غير قابل برگشت بودن آن ، اعتبار غير قابل برگشت خواهد بود.

۴- اعتبار اسنادی تاييد شده: Confirmed L/C
اعتباری است که خريدار ملزم ميشود تا اعتبار صادره از سوی بانک خود را به تاييد هر بانک معتبر ديگر کخ مورد نظر فروشنده است، برساند .اين نوع اعتبار اسنادی حاکی از اطمينان نداشتن به حيثيت اعتباری بانک صادر کننده و يا وضعيت متزلزل سياسي يا اقتصادی کشور خريدار است.
هم اکنون بسياری از فروشندگان خارجی تقاضای اعتبارات تاييد شده از خريداران ايرانی ميکنند که اين مسئله به دو دليل ميباشد اولا وضعيت سياسی و اقتصادی متزلزل ثانيا در سالهای پس از جنگ ايران و عراق بدليل کمبود ارز در سيستم بانکی کشور ، بانک مرکزی خريداران را به به گشايش اعتبارات يوزانس (نسيه) ترغيب کرد در حاليکه بانک مرکزی در زمان سررسيد اعتبارات توانايی پرداخت مبلغ اعتبار را نداشت که باعث تاخيرهای بلند مدت در پرداخت مبلغ اعتبارات به فروشندگان شد که باعث بی اعتمادی فروشندگان به بانکهای ايرانی شد.

۵- اعتبار اسنادی تاييد نشده :Unconfirmed L/C
اين نوع اعتبار در شرايط متعارف و بدون نياز به تاييد بانک ديگری گشايش می يابد. اگر در شرايط اعتبار کلمه Confirmedذکر نشود آن اعتبار تاييد نشده تلقی ميشود

۶- اعتبار اسنادی قابل انتقال:Tranferable L/C
به اعتباری گفته ميشود که طبق آن، ذينفع اصلی حق دارد همه يا بخشی از اعتبار گشايش شده را به شخص يا اشخاص انتقال دهد. در واقع اين نوع اعتبار يک امتياز برای فروشنده محسوب ميشود

۷- اعتبار اسنادی غير قابل انتقال: Untransferable L/C
به اعتباری گفته ميشود که ذينفع حق واگذاری کل يا بخشی از آن را به ديگری ندارد. در تجارت بين الملل عرف بر غير قابل انتقال بودن اعتبار است و همچنين در ايران برای گشايش اعتبار قابل انتقال نياز به مجوز بانک مرکزی ميباشد.

۸- اعتبار اسنادی نسيه يا مدت دار(يوزانس): Usance L/C
اعتباری است که وجه اعتبار بلافاصله پس ز اايه اسناد از سوی ذينفع ، پرداخت نميشود بلکه پرداخت وجه آن، بعد از مدت تعيين شده صورت ميگيرد.در واقع فروشنده به خريدار مهلت ميدهد که بهای کالا را پس از دريافت و فروش آن بپردازد. معامله يوزانس معمولا در کشورهايی انجام ميگيرد که کمبود ارز دارند.

۹- اعتبار اسنادی ديداری: At Sight L/C
اعتباری است که طبق آن بانک ابلاغ کننده پس از رويت اسناد حمل ارايه شده از طرف ذينفع (فروشنده)، در صورت رعايت تمامی شريط اعتبار از سوی وی ، بلافاصله وجه آن را پرداخت ميکند.

۱۰- اعتبار اسنادی پشت به پشت(اتکايی): Back to Back L/C
اين نوع اعتبار اسنادی متشکل از دو اعتبار جدا از هم است. اعتبار اول به نفع ذينفع گشايش مي يابد که خود به هر دليلی قادر به تهيه و ارسال کالا نيست. به همين جهت با اتکا بر اعتباری که به نفع وی گشايش يافته است اعتبار ديگری برای فروشنده دوم (ذينفع دوم) که ميتواند کالا را تهيه و ارسال کند ، از طرف ذينفع اول گشايش مي يابد.

۱۱- اعتبار اسنادی ماده قرمز: Red Clause L/C
در اين نوع اعتبار فروشنده ميتواند قبل از ارسال کالا، وجوهی را بصورت پيش پرداخت از بانک ابلاغ کننده يا تاييد کننده دريافت کند.
علت اين نام گذاری آن است که اولين بار که اين اعتبار گشايش يافت بانک بازکننده اعتبار برای جلب توجه بانک ابلاغ کننده شرايط اعتبار را که به مقداری از وجه اعتبار را به عنوان پيش پرداخت به ذينفع پرداخت ميکند را با جوهر قرمز نوشت که از آن به بعد به اعتبار ماده قرمز معروف شد.

12-اعتبار اسنادی گردان: Revolving L/C

اعتباری است که پس از هر بار استفاده ذينفع از اعتبار، همان مبلغ اسناد تا سطح اعتبار اوليه افزايش می يابد در واقع بدون احتياج به افتتاح يا اصلاح اعتبار جديد ، اعتبار موجود خود به خود تجديد ميشود.

فایل پاور پوینت  اینجانب را از اینجا دانلود کنید.

General Information about the Letter of Credit Terms

The documentary credit - letter of credit, documentary letter of credit, or commercial letter of credit - is an arrangement whereby the applicant (the importer) requests and instructs the issuing bank (the importer's bank) or the issuing bank acting on its own behalf,

• pays the beneficiary (the exporter) or accepts and pays the draft (bill of exchange) drawn by the beneficiary, or
• authorizes the advising bank or the nominated bank to pay the beneficiary or to accept and pay the draft drawn by the beneficiary, or
• authorizes the advising bank or the nominated bank to negotiate,

against stipulated document(s), provided that the terms and conditions of the documentary credit are fully complied with.

For purpose of maintaining uniformity in the text, the words "letter of credit", "credit" and "L/C" are used on this website to refer to the documentary credit.

Irrevocable versus Revocable Letters of Credit

Aletter of credit (L/C) can be irrevocable or revocable. The L/C usually indicates whether it is an irrevocable or revocable letter of credit. In the absence of such indication, the L/C is deemed to be irrevocable.

Irrevocable Letter of Credit               
An irrevocable letter of credit cannot be amended or canceled without the consent of the issuing bank, the confirming bank, if any, and the beneficiary. The payment is guaranteed by the bank if the credit terms and conditions are fully met by the beneficiary. The words "irrevocable documentary credit" or "irrevocable credit" may be indicated in the L/C.

In some cases, an irrevocable L/C received by the beneficiary may become invalid without the amendment or cancellation of such L/C, for example, when the trade between importing and exporting countries is suspended such as in a trade sanction, or when the issuing bank has ceased operation.

Irrevocable and Without Recourse Letter of Credit        
The irrevocable letter of credit received from an advising bank may be indicated as "irrevocable and without recourse documentary credit". The words "without recourse" mean that the advising bank will not be able to recover the money paid to the beneficiary in case the issuing bank does not pay the advising bank.

Revocable Letter of Credit
A revocable letter of credit can be amended or canceled by the issuing bank at any time without the consent of the beneficiary, often at the request and on the instructions of the applicant. There is no security of payment in a revocable letter of credit (L/C). The words "this credit is subject to cancellation without notice", "revocable documentary credit" or "revocable credit" usually are indicated in the L/C.

The revocable L/C was not uncommon in the 1970's and earlier when dealing with less developed countries. It is rarely seen these days in international trade.

Confirmed Irrevocable versus Unconfirmed Irrevocable Letters of Credit

Confirmed Irrevocable Letter of Credit

An irrevocable letter of credit (L/C) opened by an issuing bank whose authenticity has been confirmed by the advising bank and where the advising bank has added its confirmation to the credit is known as confirmed irrevocable letter of credit. The words "we confirm the credit and hereby undertake ..." or "we add our confirmation to this credit and hereby undertake ..." normally are included in the L/C.

An exporter whose method of payment is a confirmed irrevocable L/C is assured of payment even if the importer or the issuing bank defaults. The confirmed irrevocable L/C is particularly important from buyers in a country which is economically or politically unstable.

In a confirmed letter of credit, the exporter or the importer pays an extra charge called the confirmation fee, which may vary from bank to bank within a country. The fee usually is added to the exporter's account. The exporter may indicate in the sales contract that the confirmation fee and other charges outside the seller's country are on the buyer's account.

Unconfirmed Irrevocable Letter of Credit        
An irrevocable letter of credit (L/C) opened by an issuing bank in which the advising bank does not add its confirmation to the credit is known as an unconfirmed irrevocable letter of credit. The promise to pay comes from the issuing bank only, unlike in a confirmed irrevocable L/C where both the issuing bank and the advising bank promise to pay the beneficiary.

Restricted Negotiable versus Freely Negotiable Letters of Credit

Restricted Negotiable Letter of Credit             
In a restricted negotiable letter of credit, the authorization from the issuing bank to pay the beneficiary is restricted to a specific nominated bank.

Freely Negotiable Letter of Credit   
In a freely negotiable letter of credit, the authorization from the issuing bank to pay the beneficiary is not restricted to a specific bank, any bank can be a nominated bank as long as the bank is willing to pay, to accept draft(s), to incur a deferred payment undertaking, or to negotiate the L/C. The words "this credit is not restricted to any bank for negotiation" or "this credit may be negotiated at any bank", or similar words, may be indicated on the L/C.

Revolving Letter of Credit

When a letter of credit (L/C) is specifically designated "revolving letter of credit", the amount involved when utilized is reinstated, that is, the amount becomes available again without issuing another L/C and usually under the same terms and conditions.

The revolving L/C may be used in shipments of a wide range of goods to a buyer within a period of time (several months to one year usually).

Letter of Credit Particulars

Latest Negotiation Date     
The latest negotiation date is the last day of the period of time allowed by the letter of credit (L/C) for the presentation of documents and/or draft(s) to the bank. The latest negotiation date is not necessarily the L/C expiry date.

In case the L/C does not stipulate the latest negotiation, it is within 21 days after the date of issuance of the transport documents, but on or before the L/C expiry date.

Expiry Date and Place         
The expiry date and place is the last day of validity of the credit and the place allowed by the letter of credit (L/C) for the presentation of documents and/or draft(s) for payment, acceptance or negotiation.

In case the validity of an L/C is stated in a period of time, for example "this credit is valid for three months" or "this credit is available for two months" or "this credit is good for one month", but does not specify the date from which the time is to run, its validity starts from the issuance date of L/C by the issuing bank. The bank normally discourages stating the L/C validity in a period of time.

In case the expiry date and/or the latest negotiation date falls on a day on which the bank is closed for reasons not including the acts of God, strikes, riots, civil commotions, lockouts, insurrections, wars or any other causes beyond the bank's control, the expiry date and/or the latest negotiation date is extended to the succeeding first day on which the bank is opened. Such extension, however, does not extend the latest date of shipment.

Draft(s) Drawn On              
The draft(s) drawn on answers the question "Which bank or who is the drawee (the payer) of the draft?" The draft is most often drawn on the confirming bank or the issuing bank. In some cases, the draft is drawn on the applicant.

Draft(s) Drawn At
The draft(s) drawn at answers the question "The draft is drawn at what terms?" It can be a sight draft (i.e., payment on demand or on presentation) or a term draft (i.e., payment at a fixed or determinable future time).

Draft(s) Drawn Under         
The draft(s) drawn under answers the question "The draft is drawn under which credit and the credit is of which bank?"

Latest Shipment  
The latest shipment - latest date of shipment or last date for shipment - is the last day of the period of time allowed by the letter of credit (L/C) for shipment, dispatch or taking in charge.

Port or Point of Origin and Port or Point of Destination               
The port or point of origin is the port or place of loading, dispatch or taking in charge. The port or point of destination is the port or place of discharge or delivery. Some of the expressions that may appear in the letter of credit (L/C) indicating the origin and the destination are:

• "shipment from ... to ..."
• "dispatch from ... to ..."
• "carriage from ... to ..."
• "delivery from ... to ..." 
• "forward from ... to ..."
• "taken in charge at ... for transportation to ..."

In practice, the letter of credit (L/C) often indicates an incorrect port or point of origin in the triangle trade. For example in the triangle trade presentation, the flow chart shows that the third party ships the goods directly to the buyer. It is incorrect if the buyer stipulates in the L/C "shipment from Osaka to New York" or "shipment from Shenzhen to New York". Shenzhen is located inland. Export goods from Shenzhen usually are dispatched from Hong Kong. In such case, the correct stipulation would be "shipment from Hong Kong to New York". To avoid mistake and save the time and cost of a letter of credit amendment, it is important to indicate in the Sales Confirmation (Pro Forma Invoice) the correct port or point of origin and port or point of destination.

Other L/C Particulars

 ·Confirmed
(please see Confirmed Irrevocable versus Unconfirmed Irrevocable Letters of Credit)

 ·Irrevocable
(please see Irrevocable versus Revocable Letters of Credit)

 ·Transferable
(please see Transferable versus Non-transferable Letters of Credit)

 ·Paying, Accepting or Negotiating Bank

The nominated bank which:

• makes payment to the sight draft(s) drawn by the beneficiary is known as paying bank,
• accepts the term draft(s) drawn by the beneficiary is known as accepting bank,
• negotiates the draft(s) and/or documents presented by the beneficiary or bona fide holder is known as negotiating bank.

When the bank negotiates the draft(s) and/or documents, that is, the negotiation, it gives value to such draft(s) and/or documents, not just examination of the documents.

  ·Partial Shipment

The partial shipment - part shipment - is allowed, unless otherwise stipulated in the L/C.

When shipments are made on different dates and/or different ports or points of origin, but the transport documents indicate the same destination and bear the same means of conveyance for the same journey, they are not regarded as covering partial shipments.

When shipments are made by post or by courier, if the post receipts or the courier's receipts bear the same date and place of dispatch and have been authenticated by any stamp, signature, mark, or label, they are not regarded as partial shipment.

  Partial Shipment·

The prefix "trans-" means over or to the other side of. Transhipment or transshipment (written with two letter 's') - transit shipment - means a shipment destined to a port or an interior point (location or depot) is best reached by connecting shipment(s) from other port(s) and/or point(s). It is the unloading and reloading of cargo from one means of conveyance to another, in the same or different modes of transportation, during the course of carriage from the place of shipment to the place of destination stipulated in the letter of credit (L/C).

Unless otherwise stipulated in the L/C, transhipment is allowed provided that the entire carriage is covered by one and the same transport document.

Some exporters refuse to accept transhipment because of a belief that it costs more and is slower than a direct shipment. Some importers have the same belief. Contrary to this belief, by using transhipment the cost to certain destinations can be lower and it can be faster than a direct shipment. For instance, the frequency of sailing to a certain destination in a direct shipment is once every two weeks, but by transhipment to the same destination the frequency of sailing can be once or twice weekly. The point in such an instance is that the greater the supply the lower the cost and the earlier the shipment the earlier the importer may receive the goods. In other words, transhipment may save cost and time.

Most ocean freight are containerized in modern shipping. Hence, intermediate reloading of cargo is eliminated in the transhipment, which reduces the cost and time.

The transhipment charge usually is included in the through freight rates, but the shipper must verify with the carrier to ensure that no additional transhipment charge will be collected from the consignee.

Multilateral agreements make the transhipment possible. With worldwide trades and new trading partners on the rise, new routes for transhipment will emerge. For example, trades between Far East and CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States of former Eastern Bloc), the shipment traditionally passes through the Black Sea, but the transit time is shorter by transhipment via the Middle East country (e.g. Iran).

Shipments from Asia and Europe to Central and South America, and vice versa, often require transhipment at ports in North America.

 ·Freight Prepaid or Freight Collect

Freight Prepaid    
Freight prepaid means the freight has been paid or prepaid by the shipper. The trade terms CFR (C&F), CIF, DAF, CPT, CIP, DDU, DDP, DES, and DEQ require a prepayment of the cost of main carriage.

In a prepaid delivery, the letter of credit (L/C) normally requires that the words "Freight Prepaid" be marked on the bill of lading (B/L), clearly indicating payment or prepayment of freight at port (or point) of origin. The mark may appear by stamp or be indicated by other means. The words "freight to be prepaid" or "freight prepayable" or similar wording that may appear on the B/L do not prove that the freight has been paid.

In a prepaid delivery by a courier, the transport document (i.e., the courier's receipt) issued by a courier or expedited delivery service must show that the courier charges have been paid or prepaid by the shipper.

Freight Collect    
Freight collect means that the freight still has to be paid by the consignee. The trade terms FOB, FAS, EXW, and FCA require a collection of the cost of the main carriage.

In a collect delivery, the letter of credit (L/C) normally requires that the words "Freight Collect" be marked on the bill of lading, clearly indicating freight payable at destination. The mark may appear by stamp or be indicated by other means.

A collection charge usually is included in the freight rate or is collected separately. Hence, the freight charged on a collect basis is normally higher than on a prepaid basis.