FOB Data

FOB is an initialism which pertains to the shipping of goods. Depending on specific usage, it may stand for Free On Board or Freight On Board . FOB specifies which party (buyer or seller) pays for which shipment and loading costs, and/or where responsibility for the goods is transferred. The last distinction is important for determining liability for goods lost or damaged in transit from the seller to the buyer. Precise meaning and usage of "FOB" can vary significantly. International shipments typically use "FOB" as defined by the Incoterm standards, where it always stands for "Free On Board". Domestic shipments within the US or Canada often use a different meaning, specific to North America, which is inconsistent with the Incoterm standards.
   
North American FOB usage corresponds to Incoterms approximately as follows:  
   
North America Incoterm
FOB shipping point or FOB shipping point, freight collect FCA shipping point
FOB shipping point, freight prepaid CPT destination
FOB destination or FOB destination, freight prepaid DAP destination
FOB destination, freight collect No Incoterm equivalent
North America Standards
FOB Destination, Freight Prepaid and Allowed Buyer - Title passes to buyer when goods arrive at buyer's location
Seller - pays freight charges
Seller - bears freight charges
Seller - owns goods in transit
Seller - files claims, if any
FOB Destination, Freight Prepaid and Absorbed Buyer - Title passes to buyer when goods arrive at buyer's location
Seller - pays freight charges
Seller - bears freight charges
Seller - owns goods in transit
Seller - files claims, if any
FOB Destination, Freight Prepaid and Added Buyer - Title passes to buyer when goods arrive at buyer's location
Seller - pays freight and adds to the buyer's invoice
Buyer - bears freight charges
Seller - owns goods in transit
Seller - files claims, if any
F.O.B. Destination, freight prepaid and charged back Seller - Pays freight charges and adds to invoice
Buyer - Bears freight charges
Seller - Owns goods in transit
Seller - files claims (if any)
FOB Destination, Freight Collect Buyer - Title passes to buyer when goods arrive at buyer's location
Buyer - pays freight charges when goods are received
Buyer - bears freight charges
Seller - owns goods in transit
Seller - files claims, if any
FOB Destination - Freight Collect and Allowed Buyer - Title passes to buyer when goods arrive at buyer's location
Buyer - pays freight when goods are received
Buyer - collects freight charges from supplier by deducting amount from invoice
Seller - bears freight charges
Seller - owns goods in transit
Seller - files claims, if any
F.O.B. Origin, freight prepaid Seller - Pays freight charges
Seller - Bears freight charges
Buyer - Owns goods in transit
Buyer - Files claims (if any)
F.O.B. Origin, freight collect Buyer - Pays freight charges
Buyer - Bears freight charges
Buyer - Owns goods in transit
Buyer - Files claims (if any)
F.O.B. Origin, freight prepaid and charged back Seller - Pays freight charges and adds to invoice
Buyer - Bears freight charges
Buyer - Owns goods in transit
Buyer - files claims (if any)
   
Any mode of transport  
The 7 rules defined by Incoterms 2010 for any mode(s) of transportation are:  
EXW – Ex Works (named place of delivery)  
The seller makes the goods available at its premises. The buyer is responsible for unloading. This term places the maximum obligation on the buyer and minimum obligations on the seller. The Ex Works term is often used when making an initial quotation for the sale of goods without any costs included. EXW means that a seller has the goods ready for collection at his premises (works, factory, warehouse, plant) on the date agreed upon. The buyer pays all transportation costs and also bears the risks for bringing the goods to their final destination. The seller doesn't load the goods on collecting vehicles and doesn't clear them for export. If the seller does load the good, he does so at buyer's risk and cost. If parties wish seller to be responsible for the loading of the goods on departure and to bear the risk and all costs of such loading, this must be made clear by adding explicit wording to this effect in the contract of sale.
FCA – Free Carrier (named place of delivery)  
The seller hands over the goods, cleared for export, into the disposal of the first carrier (named by the buyer) at the named place. The seller pays for carriage to the named point of delivery, and risk passes when the goods are handed over to the first carrier.
CPT – Carriage Paid To (named place of destination)  
The seller pays for carriage. Risk transfers to buyer upon handing goods over to the first carrier.
CIP – Carriage and Insurance Paid to (named place of destination)  
The containerized transport/multimodal equivalent of CIF. Seller pays for carriage and insurance to the named destination point, but risk passes when the goods are handed over to the first carrier.
DAT – Delivered at Terminal (named terminal at port or place of destination)  
Seller pays for carriage to the terminal, except for costs related to import clearance, and assumes all risks up to the point that the goods are unloaded at the terminal.
DAP – Delivered at Place (named place of destination)  
Seller pays for carriage to the named place, except for costs related to import clearance, and assumes all risks prior to the point that the goods are ready for unloading by the buyer.
DDP – Delivered Duty Paid (named place of destination)  
Seller is responsible for delivering the goods to the named place in the country of the buyer, and pays all costs in bringing the goods to the destination including import duties and taxes. The buyer is responsible for unloading. This term is often used in place of the non-Incoterm "Free In Store (FIS)". This term places the maximum obligations on the seller and minimum obligations on the buyer.
   
Sea and inland waterway transport  
The four rules defined by Incoterms 2010 for international trade where transportation is entirely conducted by water are:  
FAS – Free Alongside Ship (named port of shipment)  
The seller must place the goods alongside the ship at the named port. The seller must clear the goods for export. Suitable only for maritime transport but NOT for multimodal sea transport in containers (see Incoterms 2010, ICC publication 715). This term is typically used for heavy-lift or bulk cargo.
FOB – Free on Board (named port of shipment)  
The seller must load the goods on board the vessel nominated by the buyer. Cost and risk are divided when the goods are actually on board of the vessel (this rule is new!). The seller must clear the goods for export. The term is applicable for maritime and inland waterway transport only but NOT for multimodal sea transport in containers (see Incoterms 2010 , ICC publication 715). The buyer must instruct the seller the details of the vessel and the port where the goods are to be loaded, and there is no reference to, or provision for, the use of a carrier or forwarder. This term has been greatly misused over the last three decades ever since Incoterms 1980 explained that FCA should be used for container shipments.
CFR – Cost and Freight (named port of destination)  
Seller must pay the costs and freight to bring the goods to the port of destination. However, risk is transferred to the buyer once the goods are loaded on the vessel. Insurance for the goods is NOT included. This term is formerly known as CNF (C&F). Maritime transport only.
CIF – Cost, Insurance and Freight (named port of destination)  
Exactly the same as CFR except that the seller must in addition procure and pay for the insurance. Maritime transport only.
Incoterm 2010 Export-Customs declaration Carriage to port of export Unloading of truck in port of export Loading charges in port of export Carriage (Sea Freight/Air Freight) to port of import Unloading charges in port of import Loading on truck in port of import Carriage to place of destination Insurance Import customs clearance Import taxes
EXW Buyer Buyer Buyer Buyer Buyer Buyer Buyer Buyer   Buyer Buyer
FCA Seller Seller Buyer Buyer Buyer Buyer Buyer Buyer   Buyer Buyer
FAS Seller Seller Seller Buyer Buyer Buyer Buyer Buyer   Buyer Buyer
FOB Seller Seller Seller Seller Buyer Buyer Buyer Buyer   Buyer Buyer
CFR Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Buyer Buyer   Buyer Buyer
CIF Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Buyer Buyer Seller Buyer Buyer
CPT Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller   Buyer Buyer
CIP Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Buyer Buyer
DAT Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Buyer Buyer
DAP Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller   Buyer Buyer
DDP Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller Seller   Seller Seller