Learning more about Incoterms®2010

Cost Insurance and Freight or CIF (named port of destination) Incoterms®2010 is the final of the eleven Incoterms (it is always plural) for the class “Rules for Sea and Inland Waterway Transport”. According to the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), in “the second class of Incoterms®2010 rules, the point of delivery and the place to which the goods are carried to the buyer are both ports, hence the label ‘sea and inland waterway’ rules”. The other Incoterms®2010 that belong to the second class of Incoterms®2010 are Free Alongside Ship (FAS), Free on Board (FOB), and Cost and Freight (CFR). According to the ICC, CIF, at a named port of destination, means that “the seller delivers the goods on board the vessel or procures the goods already so delivered. The risk of loss of or damage to the goods passes when the goods are on board the vessel. The seller must contract for and pay the costs and freight necessary to bring the goods to the named port of destination”. According to the ICC’s “Guidance Note”, in instances where Cost and Freight (CFR), CIF, Carriage and Insurance Paid to (CIP), or Carriage Paid to (CPT) are used ,the seller fulfils his obligation when he hands over the goods to the carrier, as specified in the contract of sale, and not when the goods have reached the place of destination. The Rule has two critical points since the risk passes and the costs are transferred at different places. The ICC advises that contracting parties should precisely identify the point at the agreed port of destination, the reason being that the costs to that point are for the seller’s account. The ICC further advises the seller to procure his contracts of carriage to match this choice precisely. The word, “procure” refers to multiple sales down the chain ie, string sales. The ICC “Guidance Note” reminds us that CIF may not be appropriate where goods are handed over to the carrier before they are on board the vessel. In addition, CIF requires the seller of the goods to clear them for exports, where applicable. This issue concludes the eleven Incoterms®2010.