Unit 9 Letter of Credit

信用证

9.1 Introduction9.1 Introduction （简介）（简介）

目的：掌握如何申请开立信用证、或对信用证进行修改、延期及相关的回复。

信用证（ Letter of Credit ）是国际贸易中最常用的支付方式，不仅适用于个别交易，也适用于系列交易。信用证的开证程序始于进口方。进口方通知开证行（ Issuing Bank ）开立以出口方为受益人（ Beneficiary ）的信用证。信用证包含进出口双方达成交易的详细内容。信用证开出后，由开证行将信用证寄给出口方所在地的通知行（ Notifying Bank ）。接到信用证后，银行和出口方会对信用证进行审核。根据审核无误的信用证，出口方就可备货装运。装运后，出口方就可以缮制符合信用证要求的单据，再据此向议付行（ Negotiation Bank ）交单议付，取得货款。

9.2 Writing Skills9.2 Writing Skills （写作技巧）（写作技巧）

催证信函的写作步骤及常见表达方式：

写作步骤 表达方式

（ 1 ）提醒买方我方货已备妥待运或交货期已临近，但尚未收到相关信用证

In regard to 25 000 yards of cotton prints under the Sales Confirmation No.789, we would like to draw your attention to the fact that the date of delivery is approaching, but up to now we have not received your relative letter of credit. （我们提醒你方注意， 789号售货确认书项下 25 000 码印花布的交货期已临近，但我方至今尚未收到相关信用证。）

（ 2 ）向对方说明需及时开立信用证的原因（或重要性）

We wish to remind you that it was agreed when placing the order, that you would establish the required L/C upon receipt of our Confirmation. （我方提醒你方注意，订货时双方约定，一接到我方确认书，你方就开立信用证。）

（ 3 ）请对方尽快开证

As the goods have been ready for shipment for quite some time, it behooves you to take immediate action, particularly since we cannot think of any valid reason for further delaying the opening of the credit. （货已备妥多日，你方应立即开证，我们不知道贵方有何合理理由迟迟不开证。）

改证或信用证展期信函的写作步骤及常见表达方式：写作步骤 表达方式

（ 1 ）告诉对方已收到信用证

We wish to acknowledge receipt of the L/C No.3450 for the amount of USD5 000 covering your Order No.987. （你方 987 号订单项下金额 5 000 美元的 3450 号信用证已收到。）

（ 2 ）指出信用证与合同不符而需修改的地（说明需要展期的原因）

We find that the following two points do not conform to the contract. （我方认为条款中有下列两点与合同不符。） In connection with shipment, we are very sorry to advise that the goods cannot be ready before the end of May, because of delay of our manufactures. （关于装运问题，我方深表歉意，由于厂商的延误，该货无法在 5月底妥。）

（ 3 ）希望对方给予合作

Your prompt attention to the matter will be much appreciated. （请尽快办理，不胜感激。）

We are confident that you will give us cooperation by extending the shipment date to June 10, and the negotiation validity to June 25, 2005 respectively. （相信你方会予以合作，将装运期和议付期分别延期到 2005 年 6月 10 日和 6 月 25 日。

9.3 Specimen Letters9.3 Specimen Letters （样函）（样函）Letter 1Dear Sirs, Please open a credit of GBP30 000 with your

correspondents in London in favor of the Universal Clothing Co, London, to be available to the Company until July 31 against a shipment of waterproof clothing by S.S. Cathay leaving London for Tokyo on July 24.

When the consignment is shipped the Company is to draw on your correspondents at 60 d/s. The documents to accompany the draft are the bill of lading, commercial and consular invoices and insurance policy. Kindly ask your correspondents to see that the insurance policy gives full cover before they accept the draft.

Yours faithfully,

Letter 2Dear Sirs,

Re: Order No.7766

We enclose an order for 2 000 (two thousand) waterproof raincoats and have made arrangements with the Bank of Japan, Tokyo, to open a credit in your favor. The credit is valid until July 31 and will be confirmed to you by the Bank’s London office, Gresham Street, EC2P 2EB. Please draw on them at 60 d/s. It is understood that the goods will be shipped by S.S. Cathay, sailing from London on July 24.

Carton containing the goods should be marked S.M. The amount of our credit has been fixed to provide adequate cover for your invoice, which should provide for all charges, including insurance to Tokyo.

Please notify us when the goods are shipped.

Yours faithfully,

Letter 3 ： A reply to Letter 2Dear Sirs, Your order No.7766 of July 1 has now been completed

and taken on board the S.S. Cathay which, we are informed, will be sailing tomorrow.

Shipping documents, including original invoice, have been passed to the London Branch of the Bank of Japan, upon whom we have drawn at 60 d/s for the net amount due, namely GBP2 651.44. From the copy invoice enclosed you will notice that we have allowed a special quantity discount of 2.5% and, provided you give us a liberal share of your business, we shall be happy to allow a similar discount on future large orders.

We trust the consignment will reach you safely and prove satisfactory.

Yours faithfully,

Letter 4

Dear Sirs,

With reference to the goods under our Sales Confirmation No.5354, we wish to draw your attention to the fact that the date of delivery is approaching, but we have not yet received the covering L/C to date. Please do your utmost to expedite the L/C, so that we may execute the order smoothly. In order to avoid subsequent amendment, please see to it that the L/C stipulations are in exact accordance with the terms in the Confirmation.

Hope to hear favorably from you soon.

Yours truly,

Letter 5 ： Seller asking buyer to extend L/CDear Sirs,

Re: Letter of Credit No. AG8432

We have received your Letter of Credit No.AG8432 for the amount of USD2 960 to cover your Order No. 806 for 20 metric tons of mineral fertilizer.

The said credit calls for shipment on or before the 31st of December. As the earliest steamer sailing for your port is the S.S. Peace scheduled to leave Shanghai on or about the 3rd of January, it is, therefore, impossible for us to effect shipment at the time you named.

This being the case, we have to ask you to be so kind as to extend the date of shipment to the 15th of January, under cable advice to us. We understand that cable amendment is costly, but this is a matter over which we can exercise no control.

Yours faithfully,

Letter 6 ： Buyer’s refusal of extending L/C （ A reply to Letter 5 ）

Dear Sirs, We received your letter of 15th October requesting us

to extend our L/C owing to the fact that you are unable to make shipment within the stipulated time, we shall not be able to fulfill our contract with our clients. Besides, such delay will certainly cause us a lot of unnecessary inconveniences and expenses.

We would, therefore, ask you to try your utmost to effect shipment according to the original schedule. In the event of your failing to do so, we will have to ask you to compensate us for any loss arising therefrom.

We are awaiting your immediate reply. Yours

faithfully,

Letter 7 ： Requesting amendment to L/C

Dear Sirs,

Re: Letter of Credit No.789

We thank you for your L/C No.789 covering your Order No.0089 for 10 metric tons of Zinc Oxide.

You failed to mention in the L/C that the quality of the material is to be based on the certificate of quality issued by China Commodity Inspection Bureau, as you agreed when placing the order.

On the contrary, you inserted in the L/C two clauses to the effect that inspection of the material will be made at the port of destination and that you have the right to lodge claims against us within 10 days after arrival of the shipment.

We are sorry to say that we cannot agree to such terms, and believe that their being contrary to our agreement has perhaps escaped your attention. Your prompt amendment to the L/C and deletion of the two clauses is urgently requested.

Yours faithfully,

Letter 8 ： On amount in L/C and time of shipment

Dear Sirs,

Re: L/C No.12345 Issued by Barclay’s Bank

We hereby acknowledge with thanks receipt of the captioned L/C for the amount of USD2 500 covering your Order No.215 for rapeseeds.

It appears that the amount of your L/C is insufficient, as the correct total CIF value of your order comes to USD2 650 instead of USD2 500 with a difference of USD150.

Furthermore, when we booked your order, we made it clear that delivery should be made within one month after receipt of your L/C. Now you are allowing us only half a month. As you may be well aware, it is impossible for us to get the shipment ready in such a short period of time.

In view of the above, you are requested to increase the amount of your L/C by USD150, making a total of USD2 650, and also to extend the time of shipment to 31st October. Your prompt attention to this matter will be appreciated.

Yours faithfully,

9.4 Focal Words9.4 Focal Words （焦点词汇）（焦点词汇）accountn. 账目，账户，理由We shall credit the difference, totaling GBP5 000 to your

account.Our bank does not keep an RMB account with the Bank of

China, Head Office, Beijing.We wish to give you a brief account of some flexible

measures we adopted.

vi. & vt. 报账，认为These expenses of different kinds should be separately

accounted for.All of them account these lines are profitable fields of

investment.

for one’s account 由…代理，为……代购（销）We hereby open an irrevocable L / C No.123 in favor of …,

for account of ….

on account 作为部分账款，以赊账方式，作为部门偿还He owed USD100 and sent me USD50 on account.

on account of 由于……We both understand our slippers are very popular in your

market on account of their superior quality and competitive price.

on one’s own account 自己承担风险They do not feel able to make purchase on their own

account.

amountn. 数量，金额We have been doing an increasing amount of business with

the firm mentioned in your letter in the recent years.

We would like to give you a sample order to an amount of about USD3 000.

vi. 合计，共计The total value of the machines amounts to USD2 000 000.

Your reply amounts to a refusal of our request.

covervi. & vt. 包括，涉及，偿付，弥补，投保Carriage is not covered by quotation.The compensation will cover the whole loss. Please open a letter of credit to cover the order.Insurance is to be covered of by the buyer.

n. 封袋，保险Under separate cover, we are sending you the counter

samples as requested.We have decided to arrange the necessary insurance

cover.

coverage n. 保险范围，投保总额，保证金He has fire and theft coverage on his store. Regarding

insurance, the coverage is for 110% of the invoice value up to the port of destination.

issuevi. & vt. 发行，开立，出版，收益We have arranged with our bankers to issue an L/C in your

favor.

to issue securities （ banknotes, cheques, stamps ）发行证券（钞票、支票、邮票）

The magazine is issued once every week.

Little money issued from the stocks.

n. 发行，出版，期刊，问题，收益Stockholders usually have the right to buy additional stock

from a new issue before it is made available to general public.

issuer n. （证券等）发行人，（信用证）开证银行，签发人，发布人

issuing 发行的，开证的，发货的

valuen. 价值，价款，价格These articles are really of good value. They imported goods to the value of USD50 000. Insurance is to be covered by the sellers for 110% of the

invoice value.

vi. & vt. 估价，评价Intangible assets are very hard to value properly. We value your enquiry very much.

valuer n. 估价人，评价人

value on 向……开出汇票You may value on us for the invoice amount at 60 days’

sight.

9.5 Useful Sentences9.5 Useful Sentences （实用语句）（实用语句）

1. We have opened an L/C in your favor against contract No.GF805 available by documentary draft at sixty days’ sight.

2. According to the stipulation of S/C No.2035, you should establish the covering L/C before April 20.

3. We have made arrangement with Bank of Japan, Tokyo, to open a credit in your favor. The credit is valid until May 31, and will be confirmed by the Bank’s London Office.

4. You must expedite the covering L/C, otherwise we shall be unable to effect shipment before the end of this month.

5. The 100 pieces motors are scheduled to be loaded onto S.S. Flying Cloud on April 12. Please extend your L/C to the end of April.

6. With regard to L/C No.705, we have already instructed the opening bank to extend the dates of shipment and validity to May 15 and May 30 respectively.