Useful Tools
Guide to Incoterms
International Commercial Terms ('Incoterms') are internationally recognised standard trade terms used in sales contracts. They're used to make sure the buyer and the seller know:
- Who is responsible for the cost of transporting the goods, including insurance, taxes and duties.
- Where the goods should be picked up from and transported to.
- Who is responsible for the goods at each step during transportation.
The current set of Incoterms is 'Incoterms 2010'. A copy of the full terms is available from the International Chamber of Commerce.
The seller makes the goods available to be collected at their premises and the buyer is responsible for all other risks, transportation costs, taxes and duties from that point onwards. This term is commonly used when quoting a price.
The seller gives the goods, cleared for export, to the buyer's carrier at a specified place. The buyer is then responsible for getting transported to the specified place of final delivery. This term is commonly used for containers travelling by more than one mode of transport.
The seller pays to transport the goods to the specified destination. Responsibility for the goods transfers to the buyer when the seller passes them to the first carrier.
The seller pays for insurance as well as transport to the specified destination . Responsibility for the goods transfers to the buyer when the seller passes them to the first carrier.
CIP ('Carriage and Insurance Paid') is commonly used for goods being transported by container by more than one mode of transport. If transporting only by sea, CIF is often used.
The seller pays for transport to a specified terminal at the agreed destination. The buyer is responsible for the cost of importing the goods. The buyer takes responsibility once the goods are unloaded at the terminal.
The seller pays for transport to the specified destination, but the buyer pays the costs of importing the goods. The seller takes responsibility for the goods until they're ready to be unloaded by the buyer.
The seller is responsible for delivering the goods to the named destination in the buyer's country, including all costs involved.
The seller puts the goods alongside the ship at the specified port they're going to be shipped from. The seller must get the goods ready for export, but the buyer is responsible for the cost and risk involved in loading them.
This term is commonly used for heavy-lift or bulk cargo (e.g. generators, boats), but not for goods transported in containers by more than one mode of transport (FCA is usually used for this).
The seller must get the goods ready for export and load them onto the specified ship. The buyer and seller share the costs and risks when the goods are on board. This term is not used for goods transported in containers by more than one mode of transport (FCA is usually used for this).
The seller must pay the costs of bringing the goods to the specified port. The buyer is responsible for risks when the goods are loaded onto the ship.
The seller must pay the costs of bringing the goods to the specified port. They also pay for insurance. The buyer is responsible for risks when the goods are loaded onto the ship.
Guide to Container Specifications
Standard Container
- | Standard 20" | Standard 40" |
---|---|---|
Length | 19'4" / 5.900m | 39'5" / 12.036m |
Width | 7'8" / 2.350m | 7'8" / 2.350m |
Height | 7'10" / 2.393m | 7'10" / 2.392m |
Door Width | 7'8" / 2.342m | 7'8" / 2.340m |
Door Height | 7'6" / 2.280m | 7'6" / 2.280m |
Capacity | 1.172 ft3 / 32.2 m3 | 2.390 ft3 / 67.7 m3 |
Tare Weight | 4,916 Lbs / 2,230 Kgs | 8,160 Lbs / 3,700 Kgs |
Maxi Cargo | 47,900 Lbs / 21,770 Kgs | 59,040 Lbs / 26,780 Kgs |
Upgraded Container
- | Upgraded 20" | High Cube 40" |
---|---|---|
Length | 19'4" / 5.900 m | 39'5" / 12.036 m |
Width | 7'7" / 2.311 m | 7'8" / 2.350 m |
Height | 7'10" / 2.390 m | 8'10" / 2.697 m |
Door Width | 7'6" / 2.286 m | 7'8" / 2.338 m |
Door Height | 7'6" / 2.280 m | 8'5" / 2.585 m |
Capacity | 1.150 ft3 / 32.63 m3 | 2.694 ft3 / 76.3 m3 |
Tare Weight | 5,060 Lbs / 2,300 Kgs | 8,750 Lbs / 3,970 Kgs |
Maxi Cargo | 61,996 Lbs / 28,180 Kgs | 58,450 Lbs / 26,510 Kgs |
Reefers Container
- | Reefer 20" | Reefer 40" | Reefer 40" High Cube |
---|---|---|---|
Length | 17'8" / 5.425 m | 37'8" / 11.493 m | 37'11" / 11.557 m |
Width | 7'5" / 2.275 m | 7'5" / 2.270 m | 7'6" / 2.294 m |
Height | 7'5" / 2.260 m | 7'2" / 2.197 m | 8'2" / 2.500 m |
Door Width | 7'5" / 2.258 m | 7'5" / 2.282 m | 7'6" / 2.294 m |
Door Height | 7'3" / 2.216 m | 7'0" / 2.155 m | 8'0" / 2.440 m |
Capacity | 1.000 ft3 / 28.3 m3 | 2.040 ft3 / 57.8 m3 | 2.344 ft3 / 66.6 m3 |
Tare Weight | 7,040 Lbs / 3,200 Kgs | 10,780 Lbs / 4,900 Kgs | 9,900 Lbs / 4,500 Kgs |
Maxi Cargo | 45,760 Lbs / 20,800 Kgs | 56,276 Lbs / 25,580 Kgs | 57,561 Lbs / 25,980 Kgs |
Open Top
- | Open Top 20" | Open Top 40" |
---|---|---|
Length | 19'4" / 5.894 m | 39'5" / 12.028 m |
Width | 7'7" / 2.311 m | 7'8" / 2.350 m |
Height | 7'8" / 2.354 m | 7'8" / 2.345 m |
Door Width | 7'6" / 2.286 m | 7'8" / 2.341 m |
Door Height | 7'2" / 2.184 m | 7'5" / 2.274 m |
Capacity | 1,136 ft3 / 32,23 m3 | 2,350 ft3 / 65,5 m3 |
Tare Weight | 5,280 Lbs / 2,400 Kgs | 8,490 Lbs / 3,850 Kgs |
Maxi Cargo | 47,620 Lbs / 21,600 Kgs | 58,710 Lbs / 26,630 Kgs |
Flat Rack
- | Flat Rack 20" | Flat Rack 40" |
---|---|---|
Length | 18'5" / 5.61 m | 39'7" / 12.06 m |
Width | 7'3" / 2.228 m | 7'3" / 2.228 m |
Height | 7'4" / 2.233 m | 7'4" / 2.233 m |
Tare Weight | 5,280 Lbs / 2,530 Kgs | 12,081 Lbs / 5,479 Kgs |
Maxi Cargo | 61,117 Lbs / 27,722 Kgs | 85,800 Lbs / 38,918 Kgs |