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EDIFACT message guide · Transport

IFCSUM Forwarding and consolidation summary

The UN/EDIFACT message forwarders, carriers and agents use to exchange information about consolidated cargo and its consignments.

Sent by
Forwarder or consolidator
Received by
Destination agent, carrier or deconsolidator
Standard
UN/EDIFACT · Batch message
X12 equivalent
No direct equivalent

What is the EDIFACT IFCSUM message?

IFCSUM is the UN/EDIFACT forwarding and consolidation summary message. The directory defines it for consolidation purposes, sent from a party arranging forwarding and transport services to the party for which the consolidated cargo is destined. It lets forwarders, carriers and agents exchange information about consolidated cargo so they can handle it.

A consolidation combines consignments from several shippers into one shipment or container. IFCSUM lists the master shipment and each house consignment, so the destination agent can deconsolidate, clear customs and deliver each one.

How the EDIFACT IFCSUM message worksDiagram of the UN/EDIFACT IFCSUM Forwarding and consolidation summary message. Forwarder or consolidator sends it to destination agent, carrier or deconsolidator. It usually starts the exchange. It is usually followed by COSTOR. Inside the UNB and UNH envelopes, the directory D.21A requires, in the start of message: BGM (Beginning of message). 8 conditional segment groups are listed by their trigger segment.How the EDIFACT IFCSUM message worksForwarding and consolidation summary: who sends it, where it fits and what the directory marks mandatory1 WHERE IT FITSUSUALLY FOLLOWSStarts the exchangeIFCSUMSENDERForwarder orconsolidatorRECEIVERDestination agent,carrier ordeconsolidatorCONTRL syntax report back, if agreedUSUALLY FOLLOWED BYCOSTORContainerstuffing/stripping order2 WHAT DIRECTORY D.21A REQUIRESInterchange: sender and recipient IDsUNB … UNZMessage IFCSUMUNH … UNTSTART OF MESSAGEBGMBeginning of messageBODY AND SEGMENT GROUPS+ 8 conditional groups, starting with:RFFGORNADTCCICDTDTEQDCNIBlue box: mandatory segment group. Conditional groups are listed by the trigger segment that starts them; a group is sent only when its data applies.Conditional segments outside groups are not drawn.Structure: mandatory segments and groups in the UN/EDIFACT directory D.21A listing for IFCSUM. Your trading partner's implementation guide adds itsown requirements.
How the EDIFACT IFCSUM message worksDiagram of the UN/EDIFACT IFCSUM Forwarding and consolidation summary message. Forwarder or consolidator sends it to destination agent, carrier or deconsolidator. It usually starts the exchange. It is usually followed by COSTOR. Inside the UNB and UNH envelopes, the directory D.21A requires, in the start of message: BGM (Beginning of message). 8 conditional segment groups are listed by their trigger segment.How the EDIFACT IFCSUMmessage worksForwarding and consolidation summary: whosends it, where it fits and what the directorymarks mandatory1 WHERE IT FITSUSUALLY FOLLOWSStarts the exchangeIFCSUMSENDERForwarder orconsolidatorRECEIVERDestinationagent, carrier ordeconsolidatorCONTRL syntax report back, if agreedUSUALLY FOLLOWED BYCOSTORContainer stuffing/stripping order2 WHAT DIRECTORY D.21A REQUIRESInterchange: sender and recipient IDs(UNB … UNZ)Message IFCSUM (UNH … UNT)START OF MESSAGEBGMBeginning of messageBODY AND SEGMENT GROUPS+ 8 conditional groups, starting with:RFFGORNADTCCICDTDTEQDCNIBlue box: mandatory segment group. Conditionalgroups are listed by the trigger segment thatstarts them; a group is sent only when its dataapplies. Conditional segments outside groups arenot drawn.Structure: mandatory segments and groups in theUN/EDIFACT directory D.21A listing for IFCSUM.Your trading partner's implementation guide adds itsown requirements.

How to read this diagram: the top row shows who sends IFCSUM, to whom, and which messages usually come before and after it. The lower part shows what the directory D.21A itself requires: the envelopes around IFCSUM and the segments and segment groups it marks mandatory. Conditional groups are listed by their trigger segment rather than drawn in full. This is the directory's minimum, not a trading partner's requirement: a message implementation guide, such as an industry subset or a partner’s own guide, usually makes some conditional groups mandatory, restricts the codes and may use an older directory.

Expand diagram Download SVG

When it is used

  • Sending a consolidation manifest to a destination agent
  • Listing house consignments within a master shipment
  • Reporting consolidated cargo to carriers

Where it fits in the message flow

This message IFCSUM Forwarding and consolidation summary
Usually followed by COSTOR Container stuffing/stripping order

Structure

Mandatory segments in IFCSUM (directory D.21A)

In UN/EDIFACT directory D.21A, the IFCSUM message has 279 segment positions arranged in 80 segment groups. These are the segments and segment groups marked mandatory at message level, in order; a mandatory group is shown with the segment that starts it. Segments inside conditional groups are needed only when the group is used. This is the directory’s requirement, not your trading partner’s: each partner’s message implementation guide names the directory it uses, often an older one such as D.96A or D.01B where the structure can differ, makes some conditional segments mandatory and restricts the codes.

  • UNH
  • BGM
  • UNT

Practical example

IFCSUM in practice

A forwarder in Hong Kong consolidates 18 shipments from different suppliers into one container to Felixstowe. It sends its UK agent an IFCSUM with the container, the master bill of lading and each house bill, with shippers, consignees, goods, packages and weights. The agent plans devanning and customs clearance for each house bill before the container arrives.

Implementation

Implementation considerations for IFCSUM

  • Link each house consignment to the master shipment and container.
  • Send the summary before the cargo arrives.
  • Keep package counts and weights consistent with the house bills.
  • Follow the agent's subset; IFCSUM implementations vary.

How ECOM helps

Automate IFCSUM with ECOM

Industry

Trucking and Transportation

Load tenders, responses, status and freight invoices for carriers, brokers and shippers, integrated with the TMS.

Industry

3PL and Warehousing

Warehouse orders, shipping advice, receipts and inventory reporting between brands, 3PLs, carriers and retailers.

Solution

Logistics Automation

Automate tenders, status updates, freight invoices and warehouse orders with logistics partners.

Compare X12 and EDIFACT, or see answers to general questions in the EDI FAQ.

Related messages

Related transport messages

All 36 transport messages

Need help with IFCSUM?

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