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Incoterms®
Clarify your responsibilities: International Commercial Terms
A series of internationally - recognised terms that are used to
clarify the duties and the responsibilities of both seller and buyer
Clarify your responsibilities: International Commercial Terms (Incoterms®).
With international trade, it is not uncommon for goods to be transported over thousands of miles, and across many different countries before they reach their final destination. The question of who (importer or exporter) takes responsibility for these goods - and where that responsibility is passed on - is a very serious one. To reduce your risk, you must ensure that this question has been resolved before you carry out any international transaction.
For these reasons the International Chamber of Commerce issues its Incoterms®, or International Commercial Terms. As the name suggests, this is a series of internationally-recognised terms that are used to clarify the duties and the responsibilities of both seller and buyer in regards to the goods being transported. There are currently 11 Incoterms®, reduced from 13.
Each Incoterms® is a three-letter abbreviation (see table below). Incoterms® should be used in any international sales contract as they make clear:
- Whether the exporter or importer is responsible for organising and paying for delivery;
- Where delivery actually takes place;
- At which point the risks associated with the delivery pass from the exporter to the importer
- For example, if you are selling 100 boxes of apples to your buyer in Italy and your agreed contract stipulates the Incoterms® FOB Regulation, this means:
- You (as the exporter) are responsible for arranging and paying for the transportation of the goods from the point of manufacture to the port;
- You (the exporter) are responsible for the welfare of the goods to that point, including buying any insurances as needed;
- From the moment the goods are loaded onto the ship, the above responsibilities for payment of transport and insurance become the buyer's (the importer).
For a detailed description of Incoterms® please see our Introduction to Incoterms® 2010. (pdf 373kb)
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Legal disclaimer
Incoterms® are a registered trademark of the International Chamber of Commerce. The descriptions of the Incoterms® regulations are not definitive, but are our interpretation. If you are using Incoterms® in your transactions, you should purchase the latest edition of the Incoterms® regulations: More details can be found at http://www.iccwbo.org/incoterms
For more information you can call your Relationship Manager, drop into your local Ulster Bank Business Centre / Branch, or contact our Global Trade Finance team.
| EXW | Ex Works - Importer is responsible for all costs, risks and arrangements from the buyer's premises. |
| FCA | Free Carrier - Exporter holds responsibility for all costs, risks and arrangements to the port/other named destination. |
| CPT | Carriage Paid To - While the exporter passes responsibility for risks at the first port, he must cover transport arrangement/costs to the destination port. |
| CIP | Carriage & Insurance Paid - Same as CPT, but the exporter also pays for insurance to cover risks up to the second port. |
| DAT | Delivered At Terminal - Exporter holds responsibility for all costs, risks and arrangements until the goods reach a named terminal at the destination port. |
| DAP | Delivered At Place - Exporter holds responsibility for all costs, risk and arrangements until the good are ready for unloading at a named port. |
| DDP | Delivered Duty Paid - Exporter holds responsibility for all costs, risks and arrangements until the goods reach a place agreed with the importer. |
| FAS | Free Alongside Ship - The exporter is responsible for all costs, arrangements and risks until the goods are alongside the ship. |
| FOB | Free On Board - The exporter is responsible for all costs, arrangements and risks until the goods are loaded onto the ship. |
| CFR | Cost & Freight - While the exporter passes responsibility for risks when the goods are alongside the ship, he must cover transport arrangements/costs to the destination port. |
| CIF | Cost, Insurance & Freight - Same as CFR, but the exporter also pays insurance costs. |
For more information you can call your Relationship Manager, drop into your local Ulster Bank Business Centre / Branch, or contact our Global Trade Finance team.
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