What Are The Changes From Incoterms 2010 To 2020

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What are the changes from Incoterms 2010 to 2020?

In the last version of Incoterms 2010, there were 11 Incoterm rules. They were divided into two
classes:

1. Rules For Any Mode Of Transport

EXW (EX WORKS)

FCA (FREE CARRIER)

CPT (CARRIAGE PAID TO)

CIP (CARRIAGE AND INSURANCE PAID TO)

DAT (DELIVERED AT TERMINAL)

DAP (DELIVERED AT PLACE)

DDP (DELIVERED DUTY PAID)

2. Rules For Sea And Inland Waterway Transport

FAS (FREE ALONGSIDE SHIP)

FOB (FREE ON BOARD)

CFR (COST AND FREIGHT)

CIF (COST INSURANCE AND FREIGHT)

In the new revision Incoterms 2020, the number of terms still stays at 11, but the name of the
rule DAT has been changed to DPU (Delivered at Place Unloaded).
1. Rules For Any Mode Of Transport

EXW (EX-WORKS)
FCA (FREE CARRIER)
CPT (CARRIAGE PAID TO)
CIP (CARRIAGE AND INSURANCE PAID TO)
DAP (DELIVERED AT PLACE)
DPU (DELIVERED AT PLACE UNLOADED)
DDP (DELIVERED DUTY PAID)

2. Rules For Sea And Inland Waterway Transport


FAS (FREE ALONGSIDE SHIP)
FOB (FREE ONBOARD)
CFR (COST AND FREIGHT)
CIF (COST INSURANCE AND FREIGHT)

The other main differences between the 8th revision (2010 rules) and the 9th revision (2020
rules) are that.

 In the FCA rule, the buyer can instruct the carrier to issue a shipped-on board bill after
loading the goods so that the seller can forward that bill of lading usually under a
documentary credit, to the buyer.
 All costs have been categorized such that all the prices are listed in one place, making it
easier to identify.
 The level of insurance cover has been moved from Clause C to Clause A for both CIF
and CIP terms
 Seller and buyer can arrange their own means of transport instead of arranging a 3rd
party service provider when using FCA, DAP, DPU, and DDP
 All transport-related security arrangements must be made for the transport to the
destination.
 Explanatory notes have been included for all rules
The Incoterms® 2020 rules have considered the attention to security in the movement of goods,
the need for flexibility in insurance coverage depending on the nature of goods and transport, and
the call by banks for an onboard bill of lading in certain financed sales under the FCA rule.

In this version, the rules have been presented in a simpler and clearer way, and also the articles
have reordered to better reflect the logic of a sale transaction including a ‘horizontal’
presentation, grouping all like articles together and allowing users to clearly see the differences.

EXW – Ex Works

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Definition of Incoterm EXW

“Ex Works” means that the seller delivers when it places the goods at the disposal of the buyer at
the seller’s premises or at another named place (i.e., works, factory, warehouse, etc.). The seller
does not need to load the goods on any collecting vehicle, nor does it need to clear the goods for
export, where such clearance is applicable.

This rule may be used irrespective of the mode of transport selected and may also be used where
more than one mode of transport is employed. EXW is mostly suitable for domestic trade.

Explanation of the term

In simple terms, if you are the buyer and you are buying the goods from the seller on EXW
terms, you will need to send your truck to the seller’s premises and collect the cargo from there
and take care of all the other shipping requirements to get it to your destination.

Officially the shipper is NOT obliged to do anything other than provide you access to the cargo.

Of course, based on your relationship with the seller, there may be an unofficial option wherein
the shipper may assist with the loading of the goods onto your vehicle, etc.
There is also an official option wherein you can include the words “LOADED” to the term EXW
so that the seller may extend his service to assist with the loading operations.

However, if there is any damage to the cargo during that loading process, that risk and cost may
still be yours as the buyer. It is vital, therefore, that this point is clarified with the shipper
beforehand at the time of the signing of the sales contract.

In the case of EXW, it is safe to say that the seller has minimal obligations, risks & costs
whereas the buyer has all the risks and obligations.

Pro Advice

As the EXW term places all the responsibility on you as the buyer and there is no obligation on
the part of the seller to do anything other than provide the cargo. It may be prudent for you as the
buyer to have a reliable freight forwarder at the origin port to take care of your best interests.

FCA – Free Carrier

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Definition of the term

“Free Carrier” means that the seller delivers the goods to the carrier or another person nominated
by the buyer at the seller’s premises or another named place.

This rule may be used irrespective of the mode of transport selected and may also be used where
more than one mode of transport is employed.

Explanation of Incoterms FCA

In an FCA transaction, the seller could be involved in the actual movement of the cargo up to a
certain point.
This point could be the warehouse of the carrier, the warehouse of the buyer’s agent, the port or a
terminal in the port or any other location agreed between the buyer and seller.

In an FCA transaction, the seller must take care of

 All pre-export documentation relating to the shipment such as port, customs, transport
documentation till the point of delivery
 Export customs clearance where required
 Loading formalities if the delivery point is agreed to be the seller’s
warehouse/premises

The buyer, on the other hand, must take care of

 The transportation of the goods from the point of delivery by the seller till cargo
reaches the destination
 This could include the ocean leg as well which includes negotiating the rates with the
shipping lines
 The risk of such movement from the point of delivery by the seller till the final point of
rest
 The clearance of the goods at destination and any movement/risk till the final point of
rest

In the case of FCA the seller’s obligations, risks and costs are till the agreed point of delivery,
and the buyer’s obligations, risks and costs start from that agreed point of delivery.

FCA terms could end at

 Seller’s premises
 Buyer’s agent at the port of load
 Carrier’s depot or terminal at the port of load
 Loaded on board the ship at the port of load

Pro Advice

The point of delivery needs to be expressly discussed and agreed upon between the buyer and the
seller as the risk passes from the seller to the buyer at that point.

All the above-mentioned delivery points are at the origin and out of the control of the buyer and
therefore the buyer must take due precautions when buying on FCA.
CPT – Carriage Paid To

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Definition of the term

“Carriage Paid To” means that the seller delivers the goods to the carrier or another person
nominated by the seller at an agreed place (if any such place is agreed between parties) and that
the seller must contract for and pay the costs of carriage necessary to bring the goods to the
named place of destination.

This rule may be used irrespective of the mode of transport selected and may also be used where
more than one mode of transport is employed.

Explanation of the term

In a CPT transaction, the seller is obliged to deliver the goods to the agreed destination.

This agreed destination in CPT term could be any place expressly agreed between the buyer and
seller and will most commonly be an overseas destination.

As part of fulfilling this obligation, the seller must

 Do the export clearance formalities


 Pay for the transportation from his door to the named and agreed destination and enter
into the relevant contract of carriage with the various carriers
 Take care of any and all export permits, quotas, special documentation, etc relating to the
cargo

It is crucial for the buyer and seller to understand that in a CPT transaction, the “risk” passes
from seller to buyer once the seller delivers the cargo to the first carrier, whereas the costs up to
the named destination will still be for the seller.

Because the CPT term may be used for all modes of transport, the movement could involve a
road, rail, and sea movement (in that order). This means there are 3 carriers involved here.
In CPT, once the seller hands over the goods to the road carrier for further movement, the “risk”
transfers from the seller to the buyer, but the cost of the movement till the point of destination
still remains with the seller.

In a CPT transaction, the buyer takes care of

 Any transport movement from the agreed place of destination


 The risk from the time the seller hands over the cargo to the 1st carrier as mentioned
above
 The full cargo insurance portion from origin to destination
 Any and all import permits, quotas, special documentation, etc relating to the cargo
 Import customs clearance and all related formalities

In CPT, since the contract of carriage is arranged by the seller at his expense, it is normal for the
seller to use his service contract and also prepay the cost of the freight up to the destination.

CPT terms could generally end at

 A seaport in the destination country


 An inland container depot in the destination country
 A door location in the destination country

Pro Advice

As with all Incoterms®, it is important that the point of delivery is expressly discussed and
agreed upon between the buyer and the seller.

When using the CPT term this point becomes all the more important as the risk and cost transfers
at different points and if this is not understood, it could cause penalties and additional costs to the
buyer or seller.

The seller must ensure that the buyer has paid for the goods either before delivering the goods
physically or before issuing the bill of lading and other release documents to the buyer.

Irrespective of whether the risk has passed from seller to buyer or not, the buyer needs to ensure
that the goods are fully and properly insured as that totally the buyer’s obligation under CPT.
CIP – Carriage and Insurance Paid To
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Definition of the term

“Carriage and Insurance Paid to” means that the seller delivers the goods to the carrier or another
person nominated by the seller at an agreed place (if any such place is agreed between the
parties) and that the seller must contract for and pay the costs of carriage necessary to bring the
goods to the named place of destination.

This rule may be used irrespective of the mode of transport selected and may also be used where
more than one mode of transport is employed.

Explanation of the term

In a CIP transaction, as the name suggests, apart from the delivery of goods to the named
destination, the seller is also obliged to arrange for insurance to cover the buyer’s risk of loss of
or damage to the goods during carriage.

This agreed destination in CIP term could be any place expressly agreed between the buyer and
seller and will most commonly be an overseas destination.

As part of fulfilling this obligation, the seller must

 Do the export clearance formalities


 Pay for the transportation from his door to the named and agreed destination and enter
into the relevant contract of carriage with the various carriers
 Arrange and pay for the insurance to cover the buyer’s risk
 Take care of any and all export permits, quotas, special documentation, etc relating to the
cargo

It is crucial for the buyer and seller to understand that in a CIP transaction, the “risk” passes from
seller to buyer once the seller delivers the cargo to the first carrier, whereas the costs up to the
named destination will still be for the seller.

Because the CIP term may be used for all modes of transport, the movement could involve a
road, rail, and sea movement (in that order). This means there are 3 carriers involved here.
In CIP, once the seller hands over the goods to the road carrier for further movement, the “risk”
transfers from the seller to the buyer, but the cost of the movement till the point of destination
still remains with the seller.

In a CIP transaction, the buyer takes care of

 Any transport movement from the agreed place of destination


 The risk from the time the seller hands over the cargo to the 1st carrier as mentioned
above
 Any additional insurance coverage over and above the minimum insurance coverage that
the seller covers
 Any and all import permits, quotas, special documentation, etc relating to the cargo
 Import customs clearance and all related formalities

In CIP since the contract of carriage is arranged by the seller at his expense, it is normal for the
seller to use his service contract and also prepay the cost of the freight up to the destination.

CIP terms could generally end at

 A seaport in the destination country


 An inland container depot in the destination country
 A door location in the destination country

Pro Advice

As with all Incoterms®, it is important that the point of delivery is expressly discussed and
agreed upon between the buyer and the seller.

When using CIP term this point becomes all the more important as the risk and cost transfers at
different points and if this is not understood, it could cause penalties and additional costs to the
buyer or seller.

In CIP terms, while the buyer might enjoy the benefits of the insurance cover secured by the
seller, the buyer must also be aware that in CIP terms, the seller is only obliged to take the
minimum insurance coverage to cover the buyer’s risks.

As an indication, Institute Cargo Clauses cover is available in categories A, B, and C of which


category C is the minimum cover and this is what the seller may go for.
If you as the buyer feel that this coverage is limited, then you must negotiate/discuss this with the
seller to extend the cover to Categories B and A at an extra cost.

The seller must ensure that the buyer has paid for the goods either before delivering the goods
physically or before issuing the bill of lading and other release documents to the buyer.

Irrespective of whether the risk has passed from seller to buyer or not, the buyer needs to ensure
that the goods are fully and properly insured as that totally the buyer’s obligation under CIP.

DAP – Delivered At Place


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Definition of Incoterms DAP

“Delivered at Place” means that the seller delivers when the goods are placed at the disposal of
the buyer on the arriving means of transport ready for unloading at the named place of
destination. The seller bears all risks involved in bringing the goods to the named place.

This rule may be used irrespective of the mode of transport selected and may also be used where
more than one mode of transport is employed.

Explanation of the term

In DAP terms, the seller is obliged to deliver the cargo to a mutually agreed destination further
than the terminal.

This agreed terminal could be the buyer’s own premises or any place as mutually agreed.

As part of fulfilling this obligation, the seller must

 Do the export clearance formalities


 Pay for transportation from his door to the agreed destination
 Enter into relevant contracts of carriage with the various carriers up to the name
destination including any on-carriages applicable
 Take care of any and all export permits, quotas, special documentation, etc. relating to the
cargo
 All risk up to the agreed point of delivery
 Must ensure that the goods actually arrive at the destination.
 In a DAP transaction, the buyer takes care of
 Any transport movement from the agreed place of destination
 Any risk after the cargo has been delivered at the agreed destination
 Any insurance past the point of delivery
 Any and all import permits, quotas, special documentation, etc. relating to the cargo at
the destination
 Import customs clearance and all related formalities

DAP terms could generally end at

 Buyer’s premises or warehouse


 Their agent’s premises or warehouse
 Their customer’s premises or warehouse
 Or other inland delivery points agreed

Pro Advice

The seller needs to be aware that under DAP terms, the seller is responsible for making sure that
the goods are delivered to the agreed place.

So, apart from ensuring that the goods are loaded from the origin, the seller also has to take care
to ensure that there are no transhipment or on-carriage issues and the cargo reaches the agreed
destination.

If you are the seller, you may still be responsible for any damage if the goods were not delivered
in conformity with the DAP term contract.

Therefore, it is imperative that you ensure that the packaging of the goods is proper and good
enough to withstand the movement until the agreed place.

Although the seller’s obligation ends with the delivery of the goods at the named place, in some
cases the seller may be required to assist the buyer in obtaining the documents that may be
required for the clearance of the imported goods. However, only the assistance will be that of the
seller whereas the costs and risk for such assistance will be that of the buyer.
Buyers and sellers in trade blocs such as the EU (European Union) or SADC (Southern African
Development Community) may find the DAP term useful as it allows for the movement of the
cargo across borders without any extra customs clearance etc.

A very crucial point to be noted in DAP is that while the seller is obliged to deliver to an inland
point, this can be done only if the buyer has completed the customs formalities failing which the
seller or their representative will not be able to fulfill the delivery.

Any additional costs or risks in such a case will be for the buyer.

Similarly, if there is any pre-shipment inspection required by the buyer or destination, port, and
customs authorities the charges for same will be for the buyer’s account unless such inspection is
required mandatory by the load port authorities.

As with all Incoterms®, it is important that the point of delivery is expressly discussed and
agreed upon between the buyer and the seller.

DPU – Delivered to Place Unloaded


Definition of the term

“Delivered at Place Unloaded” means that the seller delivers the goods while transferring the risk
to the buyer when the goods are unloaded from the arriving means of transport at the disposal of
the buyer at the named place of destination or any other agreed point within that place.

The seller bears all risks involved up to the named place of destination including the risk of
moving the goods and unloading them.

Under DPU, both the delivery and arrival at destination are the same and is the only rule which
requires the seller to unload goods at the destination.

The seller should ensure that they have an agent or other arrangements in position to make sure
that the unloading at the named place takes place smoothly.
This rule may be used irrespective of the mode of transport selected and may also be used where
more than one mode of transport is employed.

Explanation of the term

DPU may be considered as a natural extension of DAP terms, as under DAP, the seller is
required to only deliver ready for unloading whereas in DPU the seller delivers when the goods
are placed at the disposal of the buyer on the arriving means of transport including the unloading
at the named place of destination.

As part of fulfilling this obligation, the seller must

 Do the export clearance formalities


 Pay for the transportation from his door to the named terminal
 Enter into relevant contracts of carriage with the various carriers up to the named
terminal
 Take care of any and all export permits, quotas, special documentation, etc. relating to the
cargo
 All risk up to the agreed point of delivery
 Must ensure that the goods arrive at the destination.
 In a DPU transaction, the buyer takes care of
 Any transport movement from the agreed place of destination
 Any risk after the cargo has been unloaded at the agreed destination
 Any insurance past the point of delivery
 Any and all import permits, quotas, special documentation, etc relating to the cargo at the
destination
 Import customs clearance and all related formalities

DPU terms could generally end at

 A seaport or a specific terminal within the port in the destination country


 A nominated custom bonded inland container depot or terminal in the destination
country
 A warehouse of the buyer or their nominated agent

Pro Advice

The seller needs to be aware that under DPU terms, the seller is responsible for making sure that
the goods are unloaded at the agreed place.
So, apart from ensuring that the goods are loaded from the origin, the seller also has to take care
to make sure that there are no transhipment issues and the cargo reaches the agreed destination.

If you are a seller trading under DPU terms, you need to take some precautions to protect
yourself from any unforeseen or reasonably unforeseeable circumstances that may prevent you
from delivering as per the DPU terms.

In this context, CISG (Contracts for the International Sale of Goods) or other corresponding
provisions in the relevant national Sale of Goods Acts may provide the seller with some relief.

Another crucial point to be remembered whether you are a seller or buyer is that under DPU,
neither the buyer nor the seller is obliged to insure the goods and this insurance requirement is
not specifically covered in the Incoterms® rules.

This crucial issue must be discussed and agreed upon as part of the sales contract and terms of
sale.

As with all Incoterms®, it is important that the point of delivery is expressly discussed and
agreed upon between the buyer and the seller.

DDP – Delivered Duty Paid


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Definition of the term

“Delivered Duty Paid” means that the seller delivers the goods when the goods are placed at the
disposal of the buyer, cleared for import on the arriving means of transport ready for unloading
at the named place of destination.

The seller bears all the costs and risks involved in bringing the goods to the place of destination
and has an obligation to clear the goods not only for export but also for import, to pay any duty
for both export and import and to carry out all customs formalities.
This rule may be used irrespective of the mode of transport selected and may also be used where
more than one mode of transport is employed.

Explanation of the term

DDP may be considered as a term at the other end of the trade spectrum in terms of obligations
as compared to EXW where the buyer has the maximum obligation.

In DDP, the seller has the maximum obligation as it involves the delivery of the goods to the
buyer at the agreed destination.

So, if you are the buyer buying on a DDP basis, you can take a seat and relax while the seller
will

 Do the export clearance formalities


 Pay for the transportation from his door to the agreed destination
 Enter into relevant contracts of carriage with the various carriers up to the agreed
destination including any on-carriages applicable
 Take care of any and all export permits, quotas, special documentation, etc. relating to the
cargo
 Cover all risk up to the agreed point of delivery
 Ensure that the goods actually arrive at the destination
 Take care of customs clearance formalities at the destination port(s), pay the duty, VAT,
and other local charges applicable
 In a DDP transaction, the buyer only needs to take care of
 Any further transport movement from the agreed place of destination
 Any risk after the cargo has been delivered at the agreed destination
 Any insurance past the point of delivery

DDP terms could generally end at

 Buyer’s premises or warehouse


 Their agent’s premises or warehouse
 Their customer’s premises or warehouse
 Or other inland delivery points agreed

Under DDP terms neither the buyer nor the seller is obliged to insure the goods and this
insurance requirement is not specifically covered in the Incoterms® rules. This crucial issue
must be discussed and agreed upon as part of the sales contract and terms of sale.
Pro Advice

Although the buyer can take a back seat and let the seller do everything in a DDP trade, there are
a few items that the buyer needs to be aware of.

Buyers must be aware that when using a DDP term, they could end up paying more cost to the
seller because the seller’s cost includes the customs clearance costs, etc.

Because the seller is not based in the country of destination, chances are that their local costs at
destination may be higher than what the buyer can secure locally.

The buyer must also verify that the seller is capable of securing the import clearance directly or
indirectly as otherwise there could be delays in the transaction.

Even if there is a slight doubt in this aspect, the buyer will be wiser to choose a DAP term.

The seller, in turn, needs to be confident that they will be able to handle the import clearance at
the destination at the best cost for them as well.

Because the seller may lack local knowledge at the destination, their agent at the destination
could take them for a ride in terms of local costs which will naturally increase the seller’s price
to the buyer which in the end may make them uncompetitive.

If you are a seller trading under DDP terms, you need to take some precautions to protect
yourself from any unforeseen or reasonably unforeseeable circumstances that may prevent you
from delivering as per the DDP terms.

In this context, CISG (Contracts for the International Sale of Goods) or other corresponding
provisions in the relevant national Sale of Goods Acts may provide the seller with some relief.

If you are selling on DDP terms, it is also advisable to check if there are any tax advantages that
can be claimed back by “residents” of the destination country.

If there are any such tax benefits for example on Service Tax paid on inland haulage by
residents, then the DDP term may still be applied but with some mutually agreed proviso like
“DDP Service Tax unpaid”.
This clause makes it clear that all obligations except Service Tax will be that of the seller and the
buyer will take care of Service Tax and claim any tax advantages.

Although the seller’s obligation ends with the delivery of the goods at the named place, cleared,
in some cases, the seller may require the assistance of the buyer in securing some documents
required for the local customs clearance.

However, only the assistance will be that of the buyer whereas the costs and risk for such
assistance will be that of the seller.

Similarly, if there is any pre-shipment inspection required by the buyer or destination, port, and
customs authorities the charges for same will be for the seller’s account unless otherwise
specifically agreed between the buyer and seller.

As with all Incoterms®, it is important that the point of delivery is expressly discussed and
agreed upon between the buyer and the seller.

FAS – Free Alongside Ship


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Definition of the term

“Free Alongside Ship” means that the seller delivers when the goods are placed alongside the
vessel (e.g., on a quay or a barge) nominated by the buyer at the named port of shipment. The
risk of loss of or damage to the goods passes when the goods are alongside the ship, and the
buyer bears all costs from that moment onwards.

This rule is to be used only for sea or inland waterway transport.

Explanation of the term

Under FAS terms, the seller is required to handle all activities till the cargo is delivered
alongside the ship.
This indicates that the FAS term is more suitable for non-containerized cargo because, in a
containerized shipment, the containers cannot be delivered alongside the ship but rather at a
container terminal.

Due to this, for containerized shipments FCA (Free Carrier) may be more suitable.

In a FAS term shipment, the shipper should:

 Handle the export clearance formalities for shipment


 Pay for the transportation from his door to the agreed port, terminal, quay or ship
 Enter into relevant contracts of carriage with the various carriers including any pre-
carriages applicable up to the agreed port, terminal, quay or ship
 Take care of any and all export permits, quotas, special documentation, etc. relating to the
cargo
 Cover all risk up to the agreed point of delivery
 Seller may also be requested to assist the buyer to secure a transport document indicating
the delivery, at the buyer’s risk and expense.

In a FAS transaction, the buyer needs to take over all obligations from that point of delivery
including

 Organize suitable contract of carriage with the most suitable carrier


 The loading of the goods on the ship
 All cargo handling charges at origin
 Arranging agents at the origin where it is required to handle loading requirements

As with all Incoterms® (with the exception of CIP & CIF terms) neither the buyer nor the seller
is obliged to insure the goods and this insurance requirement is not specifically covered in the
Incoterms® rules. This crucial issue must be discussed and agreed upon as part of the sales
contract and terms of sale.

Pro Advice

If you are a buyer buying on the FAS term, it is recommended that you have a very good
understanding of the required handling methods and processes at the origin. If not, have a strong
agent who knows the requirements at the port of loading especially relating to the “alongside”
bit, as it may not be as straightforward as it sounds.
As the terms are FAS, you as the buyer also need to ensure that you enter into the correct
contract of carriage with the shipping line considering where the risk and cost of the seller ends
and where yours begins. There could be certain gray areas in the transaction which mean you as
the buyer may end up paying twice for the activity.

If you are the seller, you need to ensure that you deliver the cargo alongside the ship in time for
the cargo to be loaded on board. Ships have various discharge/loading schedules in line with the
ship’s stability calculations, and it is important for you as a shipper to understand this and ensure
that the cargo is delivered in time.

The seller’s obligation is to ensure that the goods are delivered alongside the ship ready to be
loaded.

If you are the seller, in your own interest you have to ensure that proof of such delivery is
secured. This proof of delivery could be in the form of a shipping order or the transporter’s
delivery note signed by the port, terminal, or ship’s agent when delivery is made.

FOB - Free On Board


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Definition of Incoterms FOB

“Free on Board” means that the seller delivers the goods on board the vessel nominated by the
buyer at the named port of shipment or procures the goods already so delivered.

The risk of loss of or damage to the goods passes when the goods are on board the vessel, and
the buyer bears all costs from that moment onwards.

This rule is to be used only for sea or inland waterway transport.

Explanation of the term

In FOB, the seller has an obligation to deliver the goods on board the ship.
Since in FOB, goods have to be delivered on board, it may not be appropriate for goods that are
handed over to the carrier before they are loaded onboard, like containerized shipments.

For containerized shipments, FCA (Free Carrier) may be more suitable.

FOB, however, is still used by most people to refer to cargo for which freight is collected at the
destination and where the buyer fixes the contract of carriage.

In a FOB term shipment, the seller should:

 Handle the export clearance formalities for shipment


 Pay for the transportation from his door till the goods are loaded onboard a ship
 Enter into relevant contracts of carriage with the various carriers, including any pre-
carriages applicable up to the agreed point
 Take care of any and all export permits, quotas, special documentation, etc. relating to
the cargo.
 Cover all risk up to the agreed point of delivery

FOB term has some extensions such as “Stowed”, “Stowed and Trimmed”, etc. which are
designed to ensure that the seller completes the activity of loading.

These are used when trading in cargoes such as grain or minerals, which may cause stowage
issues if left untrimmed or cargoes such as pipes and logs, which may also cause stowage issues
if left unstowed.

In a FOB transaction, the buyer needs to take over all obligations from that point of delivery,
including

 Nominating the correct type of ship for the loading of the cargo
 Organize suitable contract of carriage with the most suitable carrier

As with all Incoterms® (with the exception of CIP & CIF terms), neither the buyer nor the seller
is obliged to insure the goods, and this insurance requirement is not specifically covered in the
Incoterms® rules. This crucial issue must be discussed and agreed upon as part of the sales
contract and terms of sale.

Pro Advice
The seller’s obligation to place the goods on board the ship in due time is the essence of the FOB
term especially since FOB is used a lot in bulk shipments.

It must be remembered that in the past the act of the cargo passing the ship’s rail denoted the
transfer of risks in FOB.

Since using the ship’s rail as a point for the division of functions, costs and risks between the
buyer and seller were not considered appropriate, this was changed to placing the goods on
board.

If you are a seller selling on a FOB basis and accept some extensions like “FOB stowed” or
“FOB stowed and trimmed”, it is recommended that you know the exact requirements linked to
these words. You would be considered to have failed to fulfil your delivery obligation if the
loading, stowing, and trimming has not been completed.

In FOB terms since the seller has loaded the cargo onboard the ship, it effectively means that the
seller has handed over the goods to the carrier as well. This also means that the carrier is able to
give the seller a transport document like a bill of lading which functions as the evidence of the
contract of carriage and also as the receipt of goods.

In some cases, the seller may just receive a mate’s receipt as a receipt of goods pending the
transport document until the vessel sails. In this case, the seller may be requested by the buyer to
assist in securing the transport document at the buyer’s risk and expense.

If you are the seller, you need to ensure that you deliver the cargo in time for the cargo to be
loaded onboard. Ships have various discharge/loading schedules in line with the ship’s stability
calculations, and it is important for you as the seller to understand this and ensure that the cargo
is delivered in time.

If you are the buyer in a FOB term, it is of utmost importance that you nominate the right type of
ship and ensure that the ship arrives in time for the seller to arrange the delivery and loading of
the cargo.

If the ship is not available in time for the cargo to be loaded, that risk will pass onto you as the
buyer unless you notify the seller in advance of any potential delays.
As with all Incoterms®, it is important that the point of delivery is expressly discussed and
agreed upon between the buyer and the seller.

CFR – Cost and Freight


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Definition of the term

“Cost and Freight” means that the seller delivers the goods on board the vessel or procures the
goods already so delivered. The risk of loss or damage to the goods passes when the goods are
on board the vessel.

The seller must contract for and pay the costs and freight necessary to bring the goods to the
named port of destination.

This rule is to be used only for sea or inland waterway transport.

Explanation of the term

In a CFR transaction, the seller is obliged to arrange for the movement of the cargo to the named
destination, and since CFR may be used only for waterway transport, this destination must be a
destination accessible through waterways.

As part of fulfilling this obligation, the seller must

 Do the export clearance formalities


 Pay for the transportation from his door to the named and agreed destination and enter
into a relevant contract of carriage with the various carriers
 Take care of any and all export permits, quotas, special documentation, etc. relating to the
cargo
 Pay for the loading and unloading costs of the cargo on/from the ship

It is crucial for the buyer and seller to understand that in a CFR transaction, the “risk” passes
from seller to buyer once the seller delivers the cargo onboard the performing vessel, whereas the
costs up to the named destination will still be for the seller.

In a CFR transaction, the buyer takes care of

 Any transport movement past the agreed place of destination including on-carriage etc
 The risk from the time the seller delivers the cargo on board to the ship
 Any and all import permits, quotas, special documentation, etc. relating to the cargo
 Import customs clearance and all related formalities

In CFR since the contract of carriage is arranged by the seller at his expense, it is normal for the
seller to use his service contract and also prepay the cost of the freight up to the destination.

CFR terms could generally end at a seaport in the destination country or a feeder port in the same
or another country.

In CFR terms, the seller is obliged to provide the buyer with the required transport document –
such as a bill of lading as proof of delivery and termination of his risk. The bill of lading so
issued must cover the contracted goods and must be dated within the agreed period of shipment.

Based on mutual agreement, this bill of lading might also be issued as a negotiable document in
case the buyer wants to sell the cargo further while in transit.

Pro Advice

For the seller and the buyer, it is of utmost importance to note that when using CFR terms, the
seller’s obligation in terms of risk ends once the cargo has been delivered onboard the ship and
not when it reaches the named destination.

For example, if the cargo is moving from Los Angeles to Antwerpen and the term is CFR
Antwerpen, the seller’s risk ceases when the container has been loaded onboard the ship in Los
Angeles. All risks from then till Antwerpen is for the buyer while the cost is that of the seller.

But, for example, if due to weather or other circumstances the container has to be transhipped
somewhere along the way the cost and risk would be that of the buyer’s.
As CFR terms are used for both containerized and non-containerized cargoes the seller needs to
ensure that the proper and suitable carrier is used for the carriage, as both cargo types use
different vessels, and the costs are different for both.

There is a clear difference between a liner trade and a tramp trade, and it is important that the
seller understand this.

If the buyer requires the seller to deliver the containerized to an inland point then a CPT would
be more suitable than CFR as CFR is only for transport by waterways and does not include other
modes of transport.

If the cargo is bulk or breakbulk cargo, the seller needs to understand the free time allowed for
the loading and unloading of the cargo failing which demurrage may be applicable.

Therefore, the seller and buyer must agree on the loading time and who must bear the demurrage
if applicable.

CIF – Cost, Insurance, and Freight


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Definition of the term

“Cost, Insurance and Freight” means that the seller delivers the goods on board the vessel or
procures the goods already so delivered.

The risk of loss or damage to the goods passes when the goods are on board the vessel. The seller
must contract for and pay the costs and freight necessary to bring the goods to the named port of
destination.

This rule is to be used only for sea or inland waterway transport.

Explanation of the term


In a CIF transaction, the seller is obliged to arrange for the movement of the cargo to the named
destination, and since CIF may be used only for waterway transport, this destination must be a
destination accessible through waterways.

As part of fulfilling this obligation, the seller must

 Do the export clearance formalities


 Pay for the transportation from his door to the named and agreed destination and enter
into the relevant contract of carriage with the various carriers.
 Obtain and pay for cargo insurance
 Take care of any and all export permits, quotas, special documentation, etc. relating to the
cargo.
 Pay for the loading and unloading costs of the cargo on/from the ship.

The insurance cover secured by the seller should be equal to the commercial value of the product
as agreed in the contract of sale + 10%, which is to cover the average profit that the buyer may
make.

It is crucial for the buyer and seller to understand that in a CIF transaction, the “risk” passes from
seller to buyer once the seller delivers the cargo onboard the performing vessel, whereas the
costs up to the named destination will still be for the seller.

In a CIF transaction, the buyer takes care of

 Any transport movement past the agreed place of destination, including on-carriage etc
 The risk from the time the seller delivers the cargo onboard the ship
 Any and all import permits, quotas, special documentation, etc. relating to the cargo
 Import customs clearance and all related formalities

In CIF, since the seller arranges the contract of carriage at his expense, it is normal for the seller
to use his service contract and prepay the freight cost up to the destination.

CIF terms could generally end at a seaport in the destination country or a feeder port in the same
or another country.
In CIF terms, the seller must provide the buyer with the required transport document – such as a
bill of lading as proof of delivery and termination of his risk. The bill of lading so issued must
cover the contracted goods and must be dated within the agreed period of shipment.

Based on mutual agreement, this bill of lading might also be issued as a negotiable document if
the buyer wants to sell the cargo further while in transit.

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