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Glossary

General Shipping References — Incoterms 2000

Incoterms 2000 are a set of internationally recognised trading terms, defined by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), which are used for the purchase an shipping of goods in the international market place. There are a total of 13 such terms which are summarised below.

  EXW FCA FAS FOB CFR CIF CPT CIP DAF DES DEQ DDU DDP
SERVICES
Packing Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller
Loading Charges Buyer Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller
Inland Freight Buyer Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller
Terminal Charges Buyer Buyer Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller
Insurance Buyer Buyer Buyer Buyer Buyer Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller
Loading On Vessel Buyer Buyer Buyer Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller
Freight Buyer Buyer Buyer Buyer Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller
Arrival Charges Buyer Buyer Buyer Buyer Buyer Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller
Duty & Taxes Buyer Buyer Buyer Buyer Buyer Buyer Buyer Buyer Buyer Buyer Seller Buyer Seller
Delivered To Destination Buyer Buyer Buyer Buyer Buyer Buyer Buyer Buyer Buyer Buyer Seller Seller Seller

Each 1NCOTERM refers to a type of agreement for the purchase and shipping of goods internationally. There are 13 different terms, each of which helps users deal with different situations involving the movement of goods. For example, the term FCA is often used with shipments involving Ro/Ro or container Jransport; DEA! assists with situations found in intermodal or courier service-based shipments

INCOTERMS also deal with documentation required for global trade, specifyin which parties are responsible for which documents. Determining the paperwork required to moye a shipment is an important job, since requirements vary so much between countries. Two items, however, are standard: the commercial invoice and the packing list.

INCOTERMS were created primarily for people inside the world of global trade. Outsiders frequently find them difficult to understand. Seemingly common words such as "responsibility" and "delivery" have different meanings in global trade than they do in other situations.

In global trade, "delivery" refers to the seller fulfilling the obligation of the terms of sale or to completing a contractual obligation. "Delivery" can occur while the merchandise is on a vessel on the high seas and the parties involved are thousands of miles from the goods. In the end, however, the terms wind up boiling down to a few basic specifics:

Costs: who is responsible for the expenses involved in a shipment at a given point in the shipment's journey? Control: who owns the goods at a given point in the journey? Liability: who is responsible for paying damage to goods at a given point in a shipment's transit?

It is essential for shippers to know the exact status of their shipments in terms of ownership and responsibility. It is also vital for sellers & buyers to arrange insurance on 'their goods while the goods are in their "legal" possession. Lack of insurance can result in wasted time, lawsuits, and broken relationships.

INCOTERMS are most frequently listed by category. Terms beginning with F refer to shipments where the seller does not pay for the primary cost of shipping. Terms beginning with C deal with shipments where the seller pays for shipping. E-terms occur when a seller's responsibilities are fulfilled when goods are ready to depart from their facilities. D terms cover shipments where the shipper/seller's responsibility ends when the goods arrive at some specific point. Because shipments are moving into a country, D terms usually involve the services of a customs broker and a freight forwarder. In addition, D terms also deal with the

responsibilities-one is dealing with the actual cost of merchandise "C" and the other "F" refers to the freight charges to a predetermined destination point. It is the shipper/seller's responsibility to get goods from their door to the port of destination. "Delivery" is accomplished at this time. It is the buyer's responsibility to cover insurance from the port of origin or port of shipment to buyer's door. Given that the shipper is responsible for transportation, the shipper also chooses the forwarder.

CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight)

This arrangement similar to CFR, but instead of the buyer insuring the goods for the maritime phase of the voyage, the shipper/seller will insure the merchandise. In this arrangement, the seller usually chooses the forwarder', "Delivery" as above, is accomplished at the port of destination.

CPT (Carriage Paid To)

In CPT transactions the shipper/seller has the same obligations found with CIF, with the addition that the seller has to buy cargo insurance, naming the buyer as the insured while the goods are in transit.

CIP (Carriage and Insurance Paid To)

This terms is primarily used for multimodal transport. Because it relies on the carrier's insurance, the shipper/seller is only required to purchase minimum coverage. When this particular agreement is in force, Freight Forwarders often act in effect, as carriers. The buyer's insurance is effective when the goods are turned, over to the Forwarder.

OAF (Delivered At Frontier)

Here the seller's responsibility is to hire a forwarder to take goods to a named frontier, which is usually a border crossing point, and clear them for export.

pier or docking charges found at virtually all ports and determining who is responsible for each charge Recently the ICC changed basic aspects of the definitions of a number of 1NCOTERIVIS, buyers and sellers should be aware of this. Terms that have changed have a star alongside them.

EX-Works

One of the simplest and most basic shipment arrangements places the minimum respo Isibility on the seller with greater responsibility on the buyer. In an EX- Work transaction, goods are basically made available for pickup at the shipp 1r/seller's factory or warehouse and "delivery" is accomplished when the merch ndise is released to the consignee's freight forwarder. The buyer is responsi te for making arrangements with their forwarder for insurance, exports clearance artd-bandling all other paperwork.

FOB (Free On Board)

One of the most commonly used-and misused-terms, FOB means that the shipper/seller uses his freight forwarder to move the merchandise to the port or designated point of origin. Though frequently used to describe inland movement of cargo, FOB specifically refers to ocean or inland waterway transportation of goods. "Delivery" is accomplished when the shipper/seller releases the goods to the buyer's forwarder. The buyer's responsibility for insurance and transportation begins at the same moment.

FCA (Free Carrier)

In this type of transaction, the seller is responsible for arranging transportation, but he is acting at the risk and the expense of the buyer. Where in FOB the freight forwarder or carrier is the choice of the buyer, in FCA the seller chooses and works with the freight forwarder or the carrier. "Delivery" is accomplished at a predetermined port or destination point and the buyer is responsible for Insurance.

FAS (Free Alongside Ship)*

In these transactions, the buyer bears all the transportation costs and the risk of loss of goods. FAS requires the shipper/seller to clear goods for export, which is a reversal from past practices. Companies selling on these terms will ordinarily use their freight forwarder to clear the goods for export. "Delivery" is accomplished when the goods are turned over to the Buyers Forwarder for insurance and transportation.

CFR (Cost and Freight)

This term formerly known as CNF (C&F) defines two distinct and separate

"Delivery" occurs at this time. The buyer's responsibility is to arrange with their forwarder for the pick up of the goods after they are cleared for export, carry them across the border, clear them for importation and effect delivery. In most cases, the buyer's forwarder handles the task of accepting the goods at the border across the foreign soil.

DES (Delivered Ex Ship)

In this type of transaction, it is the seller's responsibility to get the goods to the port of destination or to engage the forwarder to the move cargo to the port of destination uncleared. "Delivery" occurs at this time. Any destination charges that occur after the ship is docked are the buyer's responsibility.

DEQ (Delivered Ex Quay)"

In this arrangement, the buyer/consignee is responsible for duties and charges and the seller is responsible for delivering the goods to the quay, wharf or port 0. of destination. In a reversal of previous practice, the buyer must also arrange for customs clearance.

DDU (Delivered Duty Unpaid)

This arrangement is basically the same as with DDP, except for the fact that the buyer is responsible for the duty, fees and taxes.

DDP (Delivered Duty Paid)

DDP terms tend to be used in intermodal or courier-type shipments. Whereby, the shipper/seller is responsible for dealing with all the tasks involved in moving goods from the manufacturing plant to the buyer/consignee's door. It is the shipper/seller's responsibility to insure the goods and absorb all costs and risks including the payment of the duty and fees.