INCOTERMS

INCOTERMS is an international standard of commercial terms which are developed, maintained, and promoted by the Commission on Commercial Law and Practice of the International Chamber of Commerce (CLP-ICC).

These are the updated International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) INCOTERMS:

FAS (Free Alongside Ship)

The seller delivers the goods at the agreed cargo port and dock; that is, next to the buyer’s ship. The INCOTERM FAS is typically applied to bulk or high-volume cargo because it is deposited in specialized port terminals located at the dock.

The seller is responsible for the customs-office export cost and its management (in versions prior to INCOTERMS 2000, the buyer organized the customs clearance for export). The INCOTERM FAS is only used for transport by boat, whether by sea or river.

EXW (Ex Works)

The seller makes the goods available to the buyer at the seller’s facilities, i.e., their factory, warehouse, works, depot etc. From that moment, all the expenses of moving the goods to the desired location are paid by the buyer.
The INCOTERM EXW can be used for any type of transport or a combination of transport means (known as multimodal transport).

FOB (Free On Board)

The seller delivers the goods onto the buyer’s ship. The seller contracts the transport through an agent or a consignee, but the cost of transport is borne by the buyer.
INCOTERMS FOB is one of the commercial terms most commonly used in international trade. It should be used for general merchandise cargo (drums, coils, containers, etc.) and not for bulk transportation.
The INCOTERM FOB is used exclusively for transport by boat, whether by sea or river.

FCA (Free Carrier)

The seller agrees to transport the goods from a given place in the country of origin, e.g., an agent’s premises or a railway station (a point which is usually determined by the storage spaces available to the carrier). The carrier is responsible for the costs until the merchandise is delivered to the agreed point. Among others, this includes the customs costs in the country of origin.

The INCOTERM FCA can be used with any type of transport: air, rail, road, and container/multimodal. However, this INCOTERM is little used.

CFR (Cost and Freight)

The seller is responsible for all the costs, including the main transport, until the goods reach the port of destination. However, the risk is transferred to the buyer when the merchandise is loaded onto their ship, in the country of origin. This INCOTERM should be used for general cargo which is not transported in containers; it is not appropriate for bulk cargos.

The INCOTERM CFR is only used for transport by boat, whether by sea or river.

CIP (Carriage and Insurance Paid To)

The seller is responsible for all the costs, including the main transport and insurance, until the goods reach the agreed point in the country of destination. The risk is transferred to the buyer when the goods are passed over to the carrier within the country of origin. Although the insurance is contracted by the seller, the beneficiary of the insurance is the buyer.
INCOTERMS CIP can be used for any style of transport or a combination of transport means (multimodal transport).

DDP (Delivery Duty Paid)

The seller pays all the expenses until the merchandise is delivered to the agreed point in the country of destination. The buyer is not involved in any administrative formalities. The import customs charges are assumed by the seller.

 

 

CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight)

The seller is responsible for all the costs, including the main transport and insurance, until the goods reach the port of destination. Although the insurance is contracted by the seller, the beneficiary of the insurance is the buyer.

However, as in the previous INCOTERM — CFR, the risk is transferred to the buyer when the merchandise is loaded onto their ship, in the country of origin. The INCOTERM CIF is one of the most used in international trade because the price conditions set out by using the CIF specify and include the customs value of the products being imported. This INCOTERM should be used for general cargo which is not being transported in containers.
The INCOTERM CIF can be used for any transport type, but is especially used for transport by boat, whether by sea or river.

DAP (Delivery At Place)

The INCOTERM DAP is used for all types of transport. It is one of the two new 2010 INCOTERMS with DAT. It replaces INCOTERMS DAF, DDU, and DES.
The seller is responsible for all the costs, including the main transport and insurance (which is not mandatory) but not the costs associated with the import, until the merchandise is made available to the buyer in a vehicle ready for unloading. The vender also assumes the risks up until that point.

 DAT (Delivered At Terminal)

The INCOTERM DAT is used for all types of transport. It is one of the two new 2010 INCOTERMS with DAP and replaces the INCOTERM DEQ.

The seller is responsible for all costs, including the main transport and insurance (which is not mandatory), until the merchandise is delivered to the predefined terminal. The vender also assumes the risks up until that point.

The INCOTERM DEQ is especially used for international bulk trade because the delivery point coincides with the bulk terminals at ports. In versions prior to INCOTERMS 2000 (still using the INCOTERM DEQ), the seller was responsible for paying the customs import charge, but in the current version it is now the buyer’s responsibility.

CPT (Carriage Paid To)

The seller is responsible for all the costs, including the main transport, until the goods reach the agreed point in the country of destination. However, the risk is transferred to the buyer when the goods are passed over to the carrier within the country of origin.
The INCOTERM CPT can be used with any mode of transport, including multimodal transport (a combination of different types of transport used to reach a destination).