Incoterms are international commercial terms published by the International Chamber of Commerce. They are meant to make foreign trade seamless with clearly defined roles for buyers and sellers in the global market. First developed in 1936, the terms more than 45 million companies in more than 100 countries.

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Cost, Insurance And Freight Responsibilities And Risk

However, with CIF the seller must also supply the minimum level of marine insurance against risk of damage or loss during carriage. All risk is assumed once the goods are on board the carriage vessel. When an issue occurs during the shipping process, the buyer is responsible for rectifying or coping with the losses, not the seller. CIF only applies to sea or waterway shipments, and no other forms of shipping. This shipment method is most commonly used when shipping full containers; however, it is possible to use this Incoterm on less than container loads as well.

This means they pay for the goods to be transported to the port and onto the vessel. As such, the seller has a limited set of responsibilities under the contract. CIF is commonly used for large deliveries, including oversized goods, that are shipped by sea.

When To Use Cif?

While the ship is en route, a fire breaks out in one of the cargo bays. The cargo is damaged due to the fire and the water during fire fighting efforts. Since a CIF agreement was in place, Best Buy can file an insurance claim to cover the cost https://accountingcoaching.online/ of the damaged goods. CIF is different from cost and freight provision whereby sellers are not required to insure goods in transit. The contract terms of CIF define when the liability of the seller ends and the liability of the buyer begins.

Under CIF, the risk transfer is at a different point than the cost transfer. The exact details of the contract will determine when the liability for the goods transfers from seller to buyer.

“Cost, Insurance and Freight” 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.

Differences Between Cif  And Fob

This cost includes unloading and transferring the cargo within the destination port. Although buyers and less experienced exporters may prefer an F-group term, C-group terms are preferable to more experienced exporters. These terms allow you to deal directly with the carrier; documentation, bills of lading, and all the information needed for letters of credit originate from a single place. Additionally, using C-group terms gives you more negotiation power, especially if you book a lot of freight. Incoterms 2020 rules are the latest revision of international terms of trade published by the International Chamber of Commerce . They are recognized as the authoritative text for determining how costs and risks are allocated to parties conducting international transactions. EXW is the sort of option a company might use if it has its own ground transportation in the country of origin or if it is collecting a series of shipments from a single region.

There are many other Incoterms that are similar to CIF with slight differences. The only difference between the two is that the seller does not have to arrange and pay for the insurance of the goods. A drawback for the buyer is that some countries do not allow CIF imports. In such a case, the buyer needs to get the insurance from an insurer within the destination/importing country. If the parties are dealing with containerized cargo, then the parties need to use the CIP agreement .

Revisions Of Cif Cost Insurance And Freight Under Incoterms 2020

Cost, Insurance, and Freight — one of several standard terms of sale for exports and imports. CIF indicates that the seller must obtain transit insurance on the goods, since the price paid by the buyer includes the cost of goods, insurance while they are in transit, and all freight charges. Popsicle World is shipping 10,000 popsicles from Houston to a specialty ice cream store in Tokyo.

• The seller can charge for insurance and should provide an insurance certificate.
• When a buyer imports under CIF Incoterms, they are not only paying customs duty and taxes on the product price, but also on the cost of freight and insurance.
• Incoterms 2020 rules outline whether the seller or the buyer is responsible for, and must assume the cost of, specific standard tasks that are part of the international transport of goods.
• CIF Incoterms will usually define the beneficiary as the seller, and if your shipment is damaged, you may only find out after the container is unloaded, and you have paid the final amount to your seller.
• In terms of cost, CIF puts more burden on the seller, but in terms of risk, the buyer bears more burden.

Plus, the seller does have to arrange insurance, but you might well need to discuss in detail exactly how much coverage is required. International transfer costs can really cut into the profit margins of a business. V) The buyer bears the risks during the voyage, but title in the goods only passes when the documents are taken up by the buyer. When the buyer has received the documents he must pay for the goods; he cannot demand receipt of the goods first. Or its equivalent has the same effect and imposes upon the sellerthe same obligations and risks as a C.I.F. term except the obligation as to insurance. CIF requires the seller to obtain clearance of the goods for export. For those new to importing, CIF can work, as it allows them to understand the importing process before needing to understand the export process.

The buyer may have to pay additional fees at the port, such as docking fees and customs clearance fees before the goods are cleared. Duty charges for exporting the goods from the seller’s port of destination are the responsibility of the seller. However, duty charges at the buyer’s port of destination are the responsibility of the buyer.

Cost, Insurance, And Freight Cif Vs Free On Board Fob: An Overview

They clearly state who is responsible for each part of the delivery process – whether the buyer or the seller handles the various stages. In the event of damaged cargo, you may face a difficult time getting money from your insurance claim. CIF Incoterms will usually define the beneficiary as the seller, and if your shipment is damaged, you may only find out after the container is unloaded, and you have paid the final amount to your seller. In that event, the seller completed the transaction and the insurance claim would go to the seller, not the buyer. Anytime a buyer is relying on a seller to manage any aspect of the shipping process, they run the risk of inflated prices. In certain countries, kickbacks and commissions are common, which can lead to inflated shipping costs.

• A seller with expertise in local customs that the buyer lacks would likely assume CIF responsibility to encourage the buyer to accept a deal.
• To the unfamiliar international buyer, this assumption is that the cargo will be delivered to their door when in reality, it is “free shipping to the destination port”.
• Incoterms are international commercial terms published by the International Chamber of Commerce.
• For example, a price for industrial machinery quoted “EXW Saginaw, Michigan, not export packed” would be meaningless to most prospective foreign buyers.
• Add cost, insurance and freight to one of your lists below, or create a new one.
• Furthermore, the seller must take out transport insurance at his own cost which at least corresponds to the minimum cover under Clauses of the Cargo Clauses of the Institute (LMA / IUA) or similar clauses.

Any damage will usually come to notice only once the buyer gets the goods and open them. It is possible that by that time, the buyer would have made the payment to the seller. Moreover, since the seller takes insurance under CIF, so any claim money goes to the seller first. In such a case, the buyer may have a hard time in collecting the claim money from a seller.

This rule too dates back to the early days of international shipping an is largely unchanged since then. Cost, Insurance and Freightmeans that the seller delivers when the goods pass the ship’s rail in the port of shipment. Happy Tunes Music Store in Atlanta purchases 150 new tubas from Lagos. The tubas require more people to move them than there are employees at the music store. Since CIF states buyers are responsible for merchandise once it arrives at their port, Happy Tunes must pay for extra unloading assistance.

While being transported across the ocean, the cooling systems malfunction and the popsicles melt. Because they agreed to a CIF, the ice cream store takes on any risk during transportation.

Because the seller is required to procure insurance, the cost of insurance and transportation is baked into the sale price. When a buyer imports under CIF Incoterms, they are not only paying customs duty and taxes on the product price, but also on the cost of freight and insurance. CIF, or Cost, Insurance, Freight, is an international trade term that describes a contract in which the seller is responsible to cover transport to the port of origin, main carriage, and minimum insurance. A Free on Board contract is much cheaper than a Cost, Insurance, and Freight agreement. That’s because buyers have more control over the shipping logistics, including insurance and transport costs. Buyers are able to sign with the shipper of their choice and take as much coverage as they see fit to insure their shipments.

What Is The Difference Between Cif And Fob?

Under CIF, the seller is required to obtain insurance only for minimum coverage. If the buyer wants more comprehensive insurance, they must ensure that the seller is contractually obliged to do so within their contract.

Carriage– The seller will be responsible for the carriage of the contracted goods from his place to the export port. Transfer of Risk- The seller will have to bear all the risks of the loss, theft, or damage of goods until and unless the buyer does not receive the same. General Obligations- The seller must abide by the rules of CIF and must necessarily provide a commercial invoice to the buyer of the goods. Cost, Insurance, and Freight option gets relatively more expensive for buyers than the Free Onboard Option. Whereas the latter, in a way, relieves the stress of the seller once the goods are loaded on board. LiabilitiesLiability is a financial obligation as a result of any past event which is a legal binding.

Summary: Cif Incoterms®

However, once the goods have reached the buyer’s port of destination, the buyer assumes responsibility for any fees or charges for unloading and delivering the shipment to the final destination. CIF is similar to carriage and insurance paid to , but CIF is used for only sea and waterway shipments, while CIP can be used for any mode of transport, such as by truck. Cost, insurance, and freight is an international shipping term that describes the seller’s responsibility for the cost of shipping, freight charges, and insuring the cargo being shipped via ocean or waterway. CIF means that the seller is responsible for the costs of transporting the cargo and obtaining insurance to protect the buyer from any damages to the goods during transport. However, the buyer assumes responsibility for the goods once the cargo has reached the buyer’s port. Cost, insurance, and freight is an international shipping agreement used when freight is shipped via sea or waterway. Under CIF, the seller is responsible for covering the costs, insurance, and freight of the buyer’s shipment while in transit.

Incoterms 2020 rules outline whether the seller or the buyer is responsible for, and must assume the cost of, specific standard tasks that are part of the international transport of goods. In addition, they identify when the risk or liability of the goods transfer from the seller to the buyer. C and F indicates that the buyer must obtain transit insurance on the newly purchased goods, since the price paid by the buyer includes the cost of goods and all freight charges but not insurance.