SHIPPING TERMS EXPLAINED

If you are new to shipping terms contracts you may be unaware of the different trading practices in their respective countries. A small misunderstanding with the shipping terms could lead to disputes over who was meant to pay for the overseas freight, insurance or other costs involved in the shipment of goods.

The shipping trade rules or International Commercial Terms ( Inco terms) are a series of defined commercial terms published by the International Chamber of Commerce(ICC).

They are widely used in the International trade processes.They are series of three-letter trade terms related to the common contractual sales practices. The Incoterms rules are intended primarily to clearly communicate the tasks, costs, and risks associated with the transportation and delivery of goods.

The rules are accepted by governments, legal authorities, and practitioners worldwide for the interpretation of most commonly used shipping terms in international trade. They are intended to reduce or remove altogether uncertainties arising from different interpretation of the rules in different countries. As such they are regularly incorporated into sales contracts worldwide.

First published in 1936, the Incoterms rules have been periodically updated, with the eighth version “Incoterms 2010” having been published on January 1, 2011.

These shipping terms are used to help eliminate the uncertainties in the different interpretations of such trade terms in language and different countries. To avoid confusion the International Chamber of Commerce published (1936) a set of international rules for standard trade terms known as Incoterms. Since 1936 regular amendments and updates (1953, 1967, 1976, 1980, 1990, 2000 and 2010) have been made to keep all practices and terms current.

The current version is Incoterms 2010 are listed below.

What is Incoterms in Government Regulations?

In some jurisdictions, the duty costs of the goods may be calculated against a specific Incoterm (for example in India, duty is calculated against the CIF value of the goods,and in South Africa the duty is calculated against the FOB value of the goods.

Because of this it is common for contracts for exports to these countries to use these Incoterms, even when they are not suitable for the chosen mode of transport. If this is the case then great care must be exercised to ensure that the points at which costs and risks pass are clarified with the customer. Rules for any mode of transport 

What are the most common shipping terms (delivery terms)?

EXW – Ex Works (named place of delivery)

The seller makes the goods available at their premises, or at another named place. This shipping term places the maximum obligation on the buyer and minimum obligations on the seller. The Ex Works term is often used when making an initial quotation for the sale of goods without any costs included.
EXW means that a buyer incurs the risks for bringing the goods to their final destination. Either the seller does not load the goods on collecting vehicles and does not clear them for export, or if the seller does load the goods, he does so at buyer’s risk and cost.

If the parties agree that the seller should be responsible for the loading of the goods on departure and to bear the risk and all costs of such loading, this must be made clear by adding explicit wording to this effect in the contract of sale.|

There is no obligation for the seller to make a contract of carriage, but there is also no obligation for the buyer to arrange one either – the buyer may sell the goods on to their own customer for collection from the original seller’s warehouse.

However, in common practice the buyer arranges the collection of the freight from the designated location, and is responsible for clearing the goods through Customs. The buyer is also responsible for completing all the export documentation, although the seller does have an obligation to obtain information and documents at the buyer’s request and cost.

These documentary requirements may result in two principal issues. Firstly, the stipulation for the buyer to complete the export declaration can be an issue in certain jurisdictions (not least the European Union) where the customs regulations require the declarant to be either an individual or corporation resident within the jurisdiction.

If the buyer is based outside of the customs jurisdiction they will be unable to clear the goods for export, meaning that the goods may be declared in the name of the seller, in breach of the EXW shipping term.

Secondly, most jurisdictions require companies to provide proof of export for tax purposes. In an EXW shipment, the buyer is under no obligation to provide such proof to the seller, or indeed to even export the goods. In a customs jurisdiction such as the European Union, this would leave the seller liable to a sales tax bill as if the goods were sold to a domestic customer.

It is therefore of utmost importance that these matters are discussed with the buyer before the contract is agreed. It may well be that another Incoterm, such as FCA seller’s premises, may be more suitable, since this puts the onus for declaring the goods for export onto the seller, which provides for more control over the export process.

FCA shipping terms – Free Carrier (named place of delivery)

The seller delivers the goods, cleared for export, at a named place (possibly including the seller’s own premises). The goods can be delivered to a carrier nominated by the buyer, or to another party nominated by the buyer.

In many respects this Incoterm has replaced FOB in modern usage, although the critical point at which the risk passes moves from loading aboard the vessel to the named place. It should also be noted that the chosen place of delivery affects the obligations of loading and unloading the goods at that place.

If delivery occurs at the seller’s premises, or at any other location that is under the seller’s control, the seller is responsible for loading the goods on to the buyer’s carrier. However, if delivery occurs at any other place, the seller is deemed to have delivered the goods once their transport has arrived at the named place; the buyer is responsible for both unloading the goods and loading them onto their own carrier.

CPT – Carriage Paid To (named place of destination)

CPT replaces the C&F (cost and freight) and CFR shipping terms for all shipping modes outside of non-containerized seafreight.The seller pays for the carriage of the goods up to the named place of destination. However, the goods are considered to be delivered when the goods have been handed over to the first or main carrier, so that the risk transfers to buyer upon handing goods over to that carrier at the place of shipment in the country of Export.

The seller is responsible for origin costs including export clearance and freight costs for carriage to the named place of destination (either the final destination such as the buyer’s facilities or a port of destination. This has to be agreed by seller and buyer, however).
If the buyer requires the seller to obtain insurance, the Incoterm CIP should be considered instead.

CIP – Carriage and Insurance Paid to (named place of destination)

This shipping terms is broadly similar to the above CPT term, with the exception that the seller is required to obtain insurance for the goods while in transit. CIP requires the seller to insure the goods for 110% of the contract value under at least the minimum cover of the Institute Cargo Clauses of the Institute of London Underwriters (which would be Institute Cargo Clauses (C)), or any similar set of clauses.

The policy should be in the same currency as the contract, and should allow the buyer, the seller, and anyone else with an insurable interest in the goods to be able to make a claim.
CIP can be used for all modes of transport, whereas the Incoterm CIF should only be used for non-containerized sea-freight.

DAT – Delivered At Terminal (named terminal at port or place of destination)

This Incoterm requires that the seller delivers the goods, unloaded, at the named terminal. The seller covers all the costs of transport (export fees, carriage, unloading from main carrier at destination port and destination port charges) and assumes all risk until arrival at the destination port or terminal.

The terminal can be a Port, Airport, or inland freight interchange, but must be a facility with the capability to receive the shipment. If the seller is not able to organise unloading, they should consider shipping under DAP terms instead.
All charges after unloading (for example, Import duty, taxes, customs and on-carriage) are to be borne by buyer. However, it is important to note that any delay or demurrage charges at the terminal will generally be for the seller’s account.

DAP shipping terms – Delivered At Place (named place of destination)

Incoterms 2010 defines DAP as ‘Delivered at Place’ – 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. Under DAP terms, the risk passes from seller to buyer from the point of destination mentioned in the contract of delivery.

Once goods are ready for shipment, the necessary packing is carried out by the seller at his own cost, so that the goods reach their final destination safely. All necessary legal formalities in the exporting country are completed by the seller at his own cost and risk to clear the goods for export.

After arrival of the goods in the country of destination, the customs clearance in the importing country needs to be completed by the buyer at his own cost and risk, including all customs duties and taxes. However, as with DAT terms any delay or demurrage charges are to be borne by the seller.

Under DAP terms, all carriage expenses with any terminal expenses are paid by seller up to the agreed destination point. The necessary unloading cost at final destination has to be borne by buyer under DAP terms.

DDP shipping – Delivered Duty Paid (named place of destination)

Seller is responsible for delivering the goods to the named place in the country of the buyer, and pays all costs in bringing the goods to the destination including import duties and taxes. The seller is not responsible for unloading. This term is often used in place of the non-Incoterm “Free In Store (FIS)”.

This shipping term places the maximum obligations on the seller and minimum obligations on the buyer. No risk or responsibility is transferred to the buyer until delivery of the goods at the named place of destination.

The most important consideration for DDP terms is that the seller is responsible for clearing the goods through customs in the buyer’s country, including both paying the duties and taxes, and obtaining the necessary authorizations and registrations from the authorities in that country.

Unless the rules and regulations in the buyer’s country are very well understood, DDP terms can be a very big risk both in terms of delays and in unforeseen extra costs, and should be used with caution.

Rules for sea and inland waterway transport

To determine if a location qualifies for these four rules, please refer to ‘United Nations Code for Trade and Transport Locations (UN/LOCODE).The four rules defined by Incoterms 2010 for international trade where transportation is entirely conducted by water are as per the below.

It is important to note that these terms are generally not suitable for shipments in shipping containers; the point at which risk and responsibility for the goods passes is when the goods are loaded on board the ship, and if the goods are sealed into a shipping container it is impossible to verify the condition of the goods at this point.

Also of note is that the point at which risk passes under these terms has shifted from previous editions of Incoterms, where the risk passed at the ship’s rail.

FAS – Free Alongside Ship (named port of shipment)

The seller delivers when the goods are placed alongside the buyer’s vessel at the named port of shipment. This means that the buyer has to bear all costs and risks of loss of or damage to the goods from that moment.

The FAS term requires the seller to clear the goods for export, which is a reversal from previous Incoterms versions that required the buyer to arrange for export clearance. However, if the parties wish the buyer to clear the goods for export, this should be made clear by adding explicit wording to this effect in the contract of sale. This term should be used only for non-containerized seafreight and inland waterway transport.

FOB shipping – Free on Board (named port of shipment)

The term incoterm”free on board (FOB)” refers to whether the supplier or the customer is responsibility for commodities that are damaged during delivery. When a goods are sold FOB shipping point the buyer takes all risk once the seller sends the product. The buyer covers the cost of shipping from the factory and is liable if the products are damaged in transit. The term “FOB destination” refers to the seller’s risk of loss until the items are delivered to the buyer.

Under FOB terms the seller bears all costs and risks up to the point the goods are loaded on board the vessel. The seller must also arrange for export clearance. The buyer pays cost of marine freight transportation, bill of lading fees, insurance, unloading and transportation cost from the arrival port to destination.

Since Incoterms 1980 introduced the FCA incoterm, FOB should only be used for non-containerized seafreight and inland waterway transport. However, FOB is still used for all modes of transport despite the contractual risks that this can introduce.

Guideline

• The term “free on board” (FOB) refers to who is responsible for items that are damaged or destroyed during shipping.
• When a product is sold “FOB origin,” the buyer assumes all risk after the seller ships the thing.
• The term “FOB destination” refers to the seller’s risk of loss until the items are delivered to the buyer.
• The buyer’s inventory cost is affected by the terms of FOB; adding liability for shipping items raises inventory costs and lowers net profitability.
• Individual countries’ legal definitions of FOB may differ.

CFR – Cost and Freight (named port of destination)

Cost and freight (CFR) is a legal term used in foreign trade contracts. In a contract specifying that a sale is cost and freight, the seller is required to arrange for the carriage of goods by sea to a port of destination and provide the buyer with the documents necessary to obtain them from the carrier. With a cost and freight sale, the seller is not responsible for procuring marine insurance against the risk of loss or damage to the cargo during transit. Cost and freight is a term used strictly for cargo transported by sea or inland waterways.

CFR is the terminology being used in global trade agreements. The seller is responsible to providing the transportation of goods to a destination port and provide the buyer with the documentation needed to receive clear them from the carrier in the contract stating that a sale is cost and freight. The seller is not obliged for acquiring insurance coverage against the risk of damage or loss to the shipment during shipment if a cost and freight transaction is made. The term “cost and freight” speaks exclusively to merchandise handled by ocean or territorial waters.

The seller pays for the carriage of the goods up to the named port of destination. Risk transfers to buyer when the goods have been loaded on board the ship in the country of Export. The Shipper is responsible for origin costs including export clearance and freight costs for carriage to named port. The shipper is not responsible for delivery to the final destination from the port (generally the buyer’s facilities), or for buying insurance.

If the buyer does require the seller to obtain insurance, the Incoterm CIF should be considered. CFR should only be used for non-containerized seafreight and inland waterway transport; for all other modes of transport it should be replaced with CPT.

Guidelines

• Cost and freight is a legal term used in international commerce contracts that states that the seller of the products must arrange for the shipment of the goods by sea to a port of destination and give the buyer with the relevant documentation to acquire the items from the carrier.
• If a buyer and seller agree to include cost and freight in their transaction, the seller is relieved of the responsibility of insuring the goods against loss or damage during transportation.
• Cost and freight are two often used International Commercial Phrases, which are a set of globally recognized terms that help to establish a standard for international trade contracts and are published and updated on a regular basis by the International Chamber of Commerce.

CIF Shipping – Cost, Insurance & Freight (named port of destination)

 CIF (cost, insurance, and freight) is an international shipping agreement that specifies the charges a seller must pay to cover the costs, insurance, and freight of a buyer’s purchase while it is in transit. Only products transported by waterway, sea, or ocean are subject to cost, insurance, and freight.

The items are shipped to the port designated by the customer in the sales contract. The seller is responsible for any loss or damage to the product until it is delivered to the buyer’s destination port. In addition, if the product necessitates additional customs duties, export documentation, inspections, or rerouting, the seller is responsible for these costs.

CIF is the shipping agreement that lists out the fee a supplier is supposed to pay to cover the costs, insurance for the shipment and freight while the shipment is in transit and CIF applies exclusively to merchandise handled by ocean or territorial waters

This term is broadly similar to the above CFR shipping term, with the exception that the seller is required to obtain insurance for the goods while in transit to the named port of destination.
CIF requires the seller to insure the goods for 110% of their value under at least the minimum cover of the Institute Cargo Clauses of the Institute of London Underwriters (which would be Institute Cargo Clauses (C)), or any similar set of clauses.

The policy should be in the same currency as the contract. CIF should only be used for non-containerized seafreight; for all other modes of transport it should be replaced with CIP.

To Know more kindly contact below:-

Alma Cargo Forwarding and Clearing L.L.C
Email:-Alsahal@emirates.net.ae / Info@almacargouae.com
Tel:-+971-50-6240236/+971-4-3790945
Web:-http://almacargodubai.com