The 13 Incoterms - FAQs about the basics

Why Incoterms?
Incoterms are international rules that are accepted by governments, legal authorities and practitioners
worldwide for the interpretation of the most commonly used terms in international trade. They either
reduce or remove altogether uncertainties arising from differing interpretations of such terms in different
countries.

What do they cover?

The scope of Incoterms is limited to matters relating to the rights and obligations of the parties to the
contract of sale with respect to the delivery of goods sold, but excluding "intangibles" like computer
software.

What are the 13 Incoterms?

Each Incoterm is referred to by a three-letter abbreviation. Here is a complete list, with the meanings
spelled out. Click on any of the 13 terms listed below and read a concise definition from the Preambles to
Incoterms 2000. Several of the Preambles, marked below with an *, include a footnote referring to the
Introduction. Click anywhere on those pages to view the relevant part of the Introduction.

EXW EX WORKS (named place)*

FCA FREE CARRIER (named place)

FAS FREE ALONGSIDE SHIP (named port of shipment)*

FOB FREE ON BOARD (named port of shipment)

CFR COST AND FREIGHT (named port of destination)

CIF COST, INSURANCE AND FREIGHT (named port of destination)*

CPT CARRIAGE PAID TO (named place of destination)

CIP CARRIAGE AND INSURANCE PAID TO (named place of destination)*

DAF DELIVERED AT FRONTIER (named place)*

DES DELIVERED EX SHIP (named port of destination)

DEQ DELIVERED EX QUAY (named port of destination)*

DDU DELIVERED DUTY UNPAID (named place of destination)*

DDP DELIVERED DUTY PAID (named place of destination)*

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What does it take to use Incoterms correctly?

ICC recommends that "Incoterms 2000" be referred to specifically whenever the terms are used, together
with a location. For example, the term "Delivered at Frontier (DAF)" should always be accompanied by a
reference to an exact place and the frontier to which delivery is to be made. To prevent
misunderstandings, variations of the three-letter Incoterms should be strictly avoided.
Here are three examples of correct use of Incoterms:
FCA Kuala Lumpur Incoterms 2000
FOB Liverpool Incoterms 2000
DDU Frankfurt Schmidt GmbH Warehouse 4 Incoterms 2000

Why do Incoterms need revising periodically?

The main reason is the need to adapt Incoterms to contemporary commercial practice. For instance, in
the 1990 version, the clauses dealing with the seller's obligation to provide proof of delivery allowed paper
documentation to be replaced by e-mail for t hat purpose for the first time.

Can you name some main innovations in Incoterms 2000?

They take account of international traders' growing reliance on intermodal transport. Increased use of
FCA (Free Carrier) prompted ICC to simplify delivery obligations under this term. A further advantage of
the new Incoterms is that they clearly allocate the loading and unloading requirements of both buyer and
seller.

Two other changes are worth mentioning:

Under FAS (FREE ALONGSIDE SHIP) the seller is required to clear the goods for export. This is a
reversal from previous Incoterms versions, which required the buyer to arrange for export clearance.

Under DEQ (DELIVERED EX QUAY) the buyer is required to clear the goods for import and to pay for all
formalities, duties, taxes and other charges upon import. This is a reversal from previous Incoterms
versions, which required the seller to arrange for import clearance.

I keep reading about "E"-terms and "C"-terms. What does that mean?
Incoterms 2000, like its immediate predecessor, groups the terms in four categories denoted by the first
letter in the three-letter abbreviation.

• Under the "E"-term (EXW), the seller only makes the goods available to the buyer at the seller's
own premises. It is the only one of that category.
• Under the "F"-terms (FCA, FAS and FOB), the seller is called upon to deliver the goods to a
carrier appointed by the buyer.
• Under the "C"-terms (CFR, CIF, CPT and CIP), the seller has to contract for carriage, but without
assuming the risk of loss or damage to the goods or additional costs due to events occurring after
shipment or dispatch.
• Under the "D"-terms (DAF, DES, DEQ, DDU and DDP), the seller has to bear all costs and risks
needed to bring the goods to the place of destination.

All terms list the Seller's and the Buyer's obligations. The respective obligations of both parties have been
grouped under up to 10 headings where each heading on the seller's side "mirrors" the equivalent
position of the buyer. Examples are: Delivery, Transfer of risks, Division of costs.

This layout helps the user to compare the parties' respective obligations under each Incoterm.