How many Incoterms 2020 rules are there and how are they split by mode?

There are eleven rules. Seven apply to any mode of transport, including multimodal: EXW, FCA, CPT, CIP, DAP, DPU, and DDP. The other four are for sea and inland-waterway transport only: FAS, FOB, CFR, and CIF, used when goods are delivered alongside or on board a vessel.

Why should I use FCA instead of FOB for containers?

FOB assumes goods are loaded over the ship's rail by the seller, but containers are usually handed to the carrier at a terminal days before loading. FCA passes risk at that hand-over point, matching reality. Using FOB for containers leaves a gap where neither party clearly bears risk at the terminal.

What is the difference between CIF and CIP?

Both have the seller pay carriage and insurance to the destination. CIF is sea-only and requires only minimum-cover marine insurance, with risk passing on board at origin. CIP works for any mode and requires broader all-risk cover, with risk passing when goods reach the first carrier.

Which Incoterm places the most obligation on the seller?

DDP, Delivered Duty Paid, puts the maximum obligation on the seller. The seller delivers the goods to the named destination cleared for import, paying all carriage, duties, and taxes. EXW, Ex Works, is the opposite extreme, with the buyer bearing almost everything from the seller's door.

What changed about DPU in Incoterms 2020?

DPU, Delivered at Place Unloaded, replaced the old DAT rule from Incoterms 2010. It is the only rule that requires the seller to unload the goods at the named destination. The change broadened it beyond terminals to any agreed place where unloading can take place.

Incoterms by Mode of Transport

Email me this result

Get this tool's output sent to your inbox, plus one useful tool a week. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

Choosing an Incoterm for your transport mode

Incoterms 2020 are eleven standard trade terms that define who pays for carriage, who bears the risk of loss, and who clears the goods through customs. A key practical rule is that some apply to any mode of transport while four are reserved for sea and inland-waterway shipments. This reference lets you filter the eleven rules by mode and read what each one means.

How it works

The split is simple once you know it:

Any mode (road, rail, air, sea, multimodal):
  EXW  FCA  CPT  CIP  DAP  DPU  DDP

Sea & inland waterway only:
  FAS  FOB  CFR  CIF

The four sea-only rules assume the goods are physically handed over at the quay or on board the vessel, which is why they use port-based delivery points. The seven any-mode rules use a named place and a carrier hand-over, so they fit containers, trucks, aircraft, and combined journeys. Each rule also shifts the balance of cost and risk: EXW is minimum seller obligation, DDP is maximum.

Tips and notes

The single most common mistake is using FOB or CIF for containerised cargo. Because a container is given to the carrier at a terminal long before it is loaded onto a ship, FCA, CPT, or CIP describe the real risk transfer far better. Reserve FAS, FOB, CFR, and CIF for bulk and breakbulk cargo that is genuinely delivered alongside or over the rail of a named vessel.