Business Spanish · Import · Export · Logistics
Import, Export & Logistics Spanish: Vocabulary, Phrases and Examples
Learn practical Spanish for international trade and logistics: orders, suppliers, shipping, freight, customs, warehouses, documents, delivery dates, delays and professional follow-up.
International trade Spanish
Focus on the information that moves the shipment
Logistics communication is often short and specific. People need to know what was ordered, when the goods leave, which documents are available, where the shipment is and when it is expected to arrive.
The general Business Spanish vocabulary guide covers broader workplace language. Here the focus is on purchasing, shipping and international trade.
Confirm products, quantities, prices and availability.
Coordinate transport, documents and delivery dates.
Handle delays, missing documents and damaged goods clearly.
Logistics process
A simple import and export communication flow
Confirm the goods and quantities required.
Check availability, packing and documentation.
Arrange transport and departure.
Follow the shipment and solve problems.
Confirm arrival and receipt of the goods.
Core vocabulary
Essential import, export and logistics vocabulary in Spanish
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| el pedido | order |
| la orden de compra | purchase order |
| el proveedor | supplier |
| el cliente | customer / client |
| la mercancía | goods / merchandise |
| el envío | shipment |
| el transporte | transport |
| la carga | cargo / load |
| el flete | freight |
| el transportista | carrier / haulier |
| el almacén | warehouse |
| el stock / las existencias | stock / inventory |
| la aduana | customs |
| el despacho de aduanas | customs clearance |
| la factura | invoice |
| la documentación | documentation |
| el plazo de entrega | delivery lead time |
| la fecha de entrega | delivery date |
| el retraso | delay |
| la entrega | delivery |
Orders & suppliers
Spanish phrases for purchase orders and suppliers
¿Tienen este producto disponible?
Do you have this product available?
Necesitamos 500 unidades.
We need 500 units.
Adjuntamos nuestra orden de compra.
We have attached our purchase order.
¿Pueden confirmar la recepción del pedido?
Can you confirm receipt of the order?
¿Cuál es el plazo de entrega?
What is the delivery lead time?
¿El precio incluye el transporte?
Does the price include transport?
Pedido is a very common word for an order. In purchasing processes you may also encounter orden de compra for a formal purchase order. Terminology can vary between companies and countries.
Shipping & freight
Spanish phrases for shipping and transport
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| ¿Cuándo está previsto el envío? | When is the shipment scheduled? |
| La mercancía estará lista el viernes. | The goods will be ready on Friday. |
| El envío salió ayer de nuestro almacén. | The shipment left our warehouse yesterday. |
| ¿Qué empresa de transporte van a utilizar? | Which transport company are you going to use? |
| ¿Nos pueden enviar el número de seguimiento? | Can you send us the tracking number? |
| La carga llegará al puerto el lunes. | The cargo will arrive at the port on Monday. |
| ¿Cuál es la fecha estimada de llegada? | What is the estimated arrival date? |
| Necesitamos confirmar las condiciones de entrega. | We need to confirm the delivery terms. |
| ¿Quién organiza el transporte? | Who arranges the transport? |
Transport modes
Useful Spanish transport vocabulary
transporte por carretera
road transport
transporte marítimo
sea freight / maritime transport
transporte aéreo
air freight / air transport
transporte ferroviario
rail transport
el contenedor
container
el palé / pallet
pallet
Customs & documents
Spanish vocabulary for customs and shipping documents
International shipments often generate short exchanges about missing, incorrect or pending documents. Learn the names of the documents you use in your own workflow and practise asking whether they have been received.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| la factura comercial | commercial invoice |
| la lista de empaque | packing list |
| el certificado de origen | certificate of origin |
| el documento de transporte | transport document |
| la declaración aduanera | customs declaration |
| los documentos de exportación | export documents |
| el despacho aduanero | customs clearance |
| los derechos de aduana | customs duties |
¿Han recibido toda la documentación?
Have you received all the documentation?
Falta el certificado de origen.
The certificate of origin is missing.
La mercancía está pendiente del despacho de aduanas.
The goods are awaiting customs clearance.
Necesitamos una copia de la factura comercial.
We need a copy of the commercial invoice.
Hay que corregir los datos de la factura.
The information on the invoice needs to be corrected.
Le enviaremos los documentos esta tarde.
We will send you the documents this afternoon.
Warehousing & inventory
Spanish for warehouses, stock and dispatch
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| el almacén | warehouse |
| el inventario | inventory |
| las existencias | stock |
| en stock | in stock |
| agotado | out of stock / sold out |
| la recepción de mercancías | goods receipt |
| la preparación del pedido | order preparation |
| el embalaje | packaging |
| la expedición | dispatch / shipment |
Actualmente tenemos 300 unidades en stock.
We currently have 300 units in stock.
El resto estará disponible la próxima semana.
The remainder will be available next week.
El pedido ya está preparado.
The order is already prepared.
La mercancía se cargará mañana.
The goods will be loaded tomorrow.
Necesitamos confirmar el tipo de embalaje.
We need to confirm the type of packaging.
¿Pueden confirmar la recepción de la mercancía?
Can you confirm receipt of the goods?
Delays & problems
How to discuss shipping delays in Spanish
El envío lleva retraso.
The shipment is delayed.
¿Cuál es el motivo del retraso?
What is the reason for the delay?
¿Nos pueden confirmar la nueva fecha de entrega?
Can you confirm the new delivery date?
Necesitamos la mercancía antes del viernes.
We need the goods before Friday.
Faltan dos cajas.
Two boxes are missing.
Parte de la mercancía llegó dañada.
Part of the shipment arrived damaged.
State the problem, identify the affected order or shipment and ask for one specific action. This is clearer than sending a long message that mixes the problem, its history and several requests.
Useful email phrases
Spanish email phrases for logistics and shipping
| Purpose | Spanish |
|---|---|
| Send purchase order | Adjuntamos nuestra orden de compra número 4582. |
| Ask for confirmation | Agradeceríamos confirmación de la fecha prevista de entrega. |
| Request documents | ¿Podrían enviarnos la documentación de exportación? |
| Ask shipment status | ¿Nos pueden informar sobre el estado actual del envío? |
| Report delay | Según el seguimiento, el envío lleva dos días de retraso. |
| Request urgent update | Necesitamos una actualización antes de las 15:00. |
| Confirm delivery | Confirmamos la recepción de la mercancía. |
For complete professional email structures, see Business Spanish Emails .
Phone coordination
Useful Spanish phrases for logistics calls
Llamo en relación con el pedido 4582.
I'm calling regarding order 4582.
Quería comprobar el estado del envío.
I wanted to check the status of the shipment.
¿Sigue prevista la entrega para mañana?
Is delivery still scheduled for tomorrow?
¿Me puede dar el número de seguimiento?
Can you give me the tracking number?
¿Puede repetir el número de referencia?
Can you repeat the reference number?
¿Me lo puede confirmar por correo?
Can you confirm that by email?
For telephone language such as transferring calls, spelling names and confirming numbers, use Business Phone Calls & Video Calls in Spanish .
Complete example
Example logistics conversation in Spanish
A purchasing manager calls a supplier because an international shipment has not arrived on the expected date.
Supplier email example
Example import/export email in Spanish
The MundoDele view
Logistics Spanish works best when the message is specific
A shipment problem usually involves a small number of critical details: the order number, the goods involved, the expected date, the current status and the action required.
Build your Spanish around these recurring pieces of information. You do not need complicated sentences to ask: ¿Dónde está el envío?, ¿Cuándo llegará? or ¿Qué documento falta?
If price, payment or commercial conditions become part of the discussion, continue with Business Negotiations in Spanish .
Common mistakes
Common mistakes in logistics communication in Spanish
| Mistake | Better approach |
|---|---|
| Writing about “the shipment” without a reference | Include the order, invoice or shipment number immediately. |
| Using vague dates such as “soon” | Ask for or confirm a specific delivery date. |
| Reporting a problem without stating what is required | Ask clearly for a new date, document, replacement or confirmation. |
| Guessing an unfamiliar number on the phone | Repeat the number and ask the other person to confirm it. |
| Mixing purchasing, transport and payment questions in one long message | Structure the message around the actions that each person needs to take. |
| Using regional terminology without checking the company context | Learn the terminology used by the supplier, customer or logistics provider you work with. |
Business Spanish for logistics
Practise Spanish for your import and export workflow
MundoDele Business Spanish lessons can focus on the situations relevant to your work: supplier communication, purchasing, shipping, customs documents, logistics calls, delivery problems and international clients.
FAQ
FAQ: Import, Export & Logistics Spanish
How do you say shipping in Spanish?
Common terms include envío for a shipment or sending, transporte for transport and expedición in some logistics contexts. The best word depends on the process you are describing.
How do you say delivery date in Spanish?
Delivery date is fecha de entrega. You can ask ¿Cuál es la fecha prevista de entrega? for the expected delivery date.
How do you say customs in Spanish?
Customs is aduana. Customs clearance is commonly expressed as despacho de aduanas or despacho aduanero.
How do you ask about a delayed shipment in Spanish?
You can say El envío lleva retraso, ¿Cuál es el motivo del retraso? or ¿Nos pueden confirmar la nueva fecha de entrega?.
How do you say purchase order in Spanish?
Common expressions include orden de compra and pedido. The preferred terminology depends on the country and company.
How do you ask for shipping documents in Spanish?
You can say ¿Podrían enviarnos la documentación de exportación?, Necesitamos una copia de la factura comercial or ¿Han recibido toda la documentación?.
Can MundoDele teach Spanish for logistics and international trade?
Yes. MundoDele Business Spanish lessons can focus on import, export, logistics, purchasing, suppliers, shipping documentation and your own professional situations. Contact info@mundodele.com.
Language references
Language references
- Real Academia Española – Diccionario panhispánico de dudas
- Asociación de Academias de la Lengua Española – Diccionario de americanismos
- Instituto Cervantes – Plan Curricular
Guide updated: August 2026.
The MundoDele view
Learn the Spanish around your actual supply chain
A purchasing manager, freight forwarder, export manager and warehouse employee do not need exactly the same vocabulary. Start with the documents, products, transport steps and recurring problems that belong to your own job.
Then practise complete situations: placing an order, checking a shipment, calling a supplier, requesting documents or resolving a delayed delivery. That makes the vocabulary easier to remember and immediately usable at work.
Questions? info@mundodele.com