Incoterms are also referred to as Terms of Sale and are standardized trade definitions. Most commonly used in international contracts, thus reflected on the sales invoice. Ensure buyers and sellers understand each other's expectations and responsibilities. Were created by the ICC (International Chamber of Commerce, and are protected by ICC copyright.

On the side, you will find a chart of responsibilities, applicable to purchase and sale terms of the International Foreign Trade, announced by the International Chamber of Commerce in its actualised version of 2000.

In addition, a definition for each term is given below.

13 Terms
EXW – Ex Works (named place)
FCA – Free Carrier (named place)
FAS – Free Alongside Ship (named place)
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)


EXW Ex Works

The seller's obligation is fulfilled when the buyer has been notified, and the goods (suitably packed for export) are available to the buyer, at the named place within the time specified.
The buyer is responsible for all costs and risks, including the loading of the goods from the named/specified point.The buyer is responsible to arrange the entire contract of carriage of the goods.
The buyer is responsible for the export clearance of the goods.
The buyer is responsible for the import clearance of the goods.

FCA Free Carrier

Seller's obligation ends when they delivers the goods, cleared for export, to the carrier (any mode of transport) nominated by the buyer at the named place.
The buyer must contract at his own expense the carriage of the goods from the named place.
Buyer must clear the goods for import.

FAS Free Alongside Ship

Seller's obligation and risk to deliver the goods alongside the vessel at the named port of shipment.
Seller must clear the goods for export.
Term used for sea or inland waterway transport only.
Buyer is responsible for all costs and risks to transport the goods to the destination once cargo is delivered alongside the vessel.
Buyer must clear the goods for import at final destination.

FOB Free On Board

The seller's obligation is fulfilled when the buyer has been notified and the goods have passed over the ship's rail on board the vessel, at the named port.
The buyer is responsible for all costs and risks associated with the goods after they have passed over the ship's rail and loaded on board the ship, at the named port.
The buyer is responsible to arrange for the carriage of the goods from the named port of shipment.
The seller is required to arrange for the export clearance of the goods.
The buyer is responsible to arrange for the import clearance of the goods.

CFR Cost and Freight

The seller's obligation is fulfilled when the goods are delivered to a carrier, pass the ship's rail, and the contract of carriage is arranged, freight prepaid, to the named port.
The seller is responsible to arrange for the carriage of the goods.
The seller is responsible for the export clearance of the goods.
The buyer is responsible for the import clearance of the goods.

CIF Cost, Insurance and Freight

The seller's responsibility is fulfilled when the goods are delivered to a carrier, pass the ship's rail, the contract of carriage is arranged, freight prepaid, to the named port, and insurance is obtained on the cargo.
The seller is responsible to arrange for the carriage of the goods.
The seller is responsible for the export clearance of the goods.
The buyer is responsible for the import clearance of the goods.

CPT Carriage Paid To

The seller's responsibility is fulfilled when the goods are delivered to a carrier, the contract of carriage is arranged, freight prepaid, to the named place of destination.
The buyer is responsible for all risks associated with the goods after they have been delivered to the named place of destination, as well as the costs and risks related to the goods (receipt of the goods from the carrier) in the importing country, including insurance.
The seller is responsible to arrange for the carriage of the goods.
The seller is responsible for the export clearance of the goods.
The buyer is responsible for the import clearance of the goods.

CIP Carriage and Insurance Paid To

The seller's obligation is fulfilled when the goods are delivered to a carrier, and the contract of carriage is arranged, freight prepaid – the named place of destination, and insurance is obtained on the cargo.
The buyer is responsible for all costs and risks associated with the goods after receipt by the carrier – prior to loading on board the vessel or aircraft, as well as the costs and risks related to the goods (receipt of the goods from the carrier) upon arrival in the importing country.
The seller is responsible to arrange for the carriage of the goods.
The seller is responsible for the export clearance of the goods.
The buyer is responsible for the import clearance of the goods.

DAF Delivered At Frontier

The seller's obligation ends when they have delivered the goods to the disposal of the buyer on the arriving means of transport not unloaded, cleared for export, but not cleared for import and the named point and place at the frontier but before the customs border of the adjoining country.
The buyer is responsible for customs clearance, duties, taxes, and delivery to final destination at the country of import.

DES Delivered Ex Ship

The seller's obligation ends when they have delivered the goods to the disposal of the buyer on board the ship, cleared for export, but not cleared for import but delivered the named port of destination before discharging. The buyer is responsible for customs clearance at the country of import and all charges for discharging off the ship

DEQ Delivered Ex Quay

The seller's obligation ends when they have delivered the goods to the disposal of the buyer on board the ship, cleared for export, but not cleared for import but delivered the named port of destination after discharging goods off the vessel at the quay (wharf).
The buyer is responsible to clear the goods for import and pay for all formalities, duties, taxes, and other charges upon import.

DDU Delivered Duty Unpaid

The seller's obligation is fulfilled when the goods have been made available to the buyer at the named place of destination – uncleared for importation.
The buyer is responsible for all costs and risks associated with the goods upon importation at the named place of destination.
The seller is required to arrange for the entire carriage to the named place of destination.
The seller is required to arrange for the export clearance of the goods.
The buyer is responsible for the import clearance of the goods, including the payment of any applicable duties, taxes and fees.

DDP Delivered Duty Paid

The seller's obligation is fulfilled when the goods have been made available to the buyer at the named place of destination – cleared for importation.
The buyer is responsible to take delivery of the goods from the named place of destination.
The seller is required to arrange for the entire carriage to the named place of destination.
The seller is required to arrange for the export clearance of the goods.
The seller is required to arrange for the import clearance of the goods, including the payment of any applicable duties, taxes and fees.