Consignee in Invoice To Order, what does it means?

The term ‘To order’ ,‘To the Order’ , ‘To the Order of’, ‘ To the order of Bank’ – These words are rarely used in Invoice also other than bill of lading, to hold the title of goods in exports and imports. 

Most commonly, invoice is consigned to the buyer whose name and address is mentioned. However, under Letter of credit instructions, such words are used to hold the title of goods to bank.

If the consignee XYZ who placed purchase order with overseas supplier wants to deliver the goods later to some other party either by re-selling or transferring goods, the consignee instructs overseas supplier to mention consignee column in Bill of lading and invoice as “To the order of XYZ’. In this case, once after arrival of goods at destination, if XYZ wants to transfer the goods to ABC, XYZ endorse Invoice and Bill of lading by signing back side of original bill of lading by mentioning “Please deliver cargo to ABC….” Or equivalent words. 

Although the term ‘To order’ ,‘To the Order’ , ‘To the Order of’, ‘ To the order of Bank’ are used in the consignee column in Bill of Lading commonly, such words are rarely used in Invoices.