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Incoterms® 2020

A quick reference for the point where responsibility, carriage cost and risk can shift between buyer and seller.

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Incoterms® 2020 reference

Incoterms are briefly described here, but the term used in a contract should always be studied in full so obligations and risks are understood.

CFR and CIF note. CFR and CIF are sea / inland waterway terms and are not suitable for containerised transport. CPT or CIP should usually be considered instead.
Visual explainer

Incoterms at a glance

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Incoterms 2020 infographic showing buyer and seller handoffs, risk, cost and common freight stages
Choosing an Incoterm

Make the handover clear before goods move

Incoterms 2020 set out where delivery takes place, when transport risk passes from seller to buyer, and which party normally arranges particular freight, insurance and customs tasks.

Use the infographic to compare the handover points, then write the chosen three-letter rule and a precise named place into the sales contract—for example, “FCA seller’s premises, Wakefield, Incoterms 2020”.

Choose the rule around the real movement rather than commercial habit. Map who will load at origin, book the main carriage, complete export and import formalities, pay duties and taxes, insure the cargo where required, and unload at destination. The named place can change the practical handover significantly, so both parties should record the exact location and the 2020 version. A freight forwarder can explain the transport implications; contractual or legal questions may still need specialist advice.

They do not cover everything

Incoterms do not decide ownership, payment terms, product quality or what happens after a breach of contract. Those points still belong in the wider agreement.

Mode matters

FAS, FOB, CFR and CIF are for sea or inland waterway transport. Rules such as EXW, FCA, CPT, CIP, DAP, DPU and DDP can be used across transport modes.

Check customs responsibility

Confirm who can legally act as exporter or importer, who holds the required registrations, and who will pay duties and import VAT before selecting a rule.

Reference source

For contract term checks

Not sure which term fits?

Ask Jenkar to sense-check the freight route and documents before you agree the movement.

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