Is it permissible to sell imported goods before they reach the the port?

The issue is summarized in two cases:

Case One: If the seller ships the goods, they remain his property and responsibility until the buyer receives them. The buyer is not permitted to sell them before actual possession, because taking possession of the bill of lading is not actual possession of the goods. This prohibition is mentioned in the Prophetic Sunnah and by the jurists.

Case Two: If the buyer appoints someone to receive the goods and ship them to him, the goods become his property and responsibility immediately upon leaving the seller's custody. The buyer has the right to sell them before their arrival, because the agent's possession is like the principal's possession. This falls under the category of selling an unseen item, which is permissible according to the majority of scholars, with the option for the buyer to annul the sale if the goods arrive not conforming to the description.

In summary, the buyer does not sell the shipped goods unless they are under his responsibility.