Which Incoterms rules are only for sea freight?

FAS, FOB, CFR and CIF are for sea and inland waterway transport only. EXW, FCA, CPT, CIP, DAP, DPU and DDP can be used for any mode of transport, including air, road, rail and multimodal.

Which Incoterms require the seller to buy insurance?

Only CIF and CIP. Under CIF the seller must buy minimum cover; under CIP the seller must buy broader (ICC A-level) cover. Under every other rule the rule itself does not require insurance, although either party may insure its own risk.

Which Incoterm puts the most responsibility on the seller, and which the least?

DDP puts the most on the seller — including import clearance and duties at the destination. EXW puts the least: the seller only makes the goods available at its own premises.

Is this chart legally binding?

No. It is a working summary for planning. The binding obligations are in the official ICC Incoterms® 2020 rules and in your sales contract, which should always name the rule, the named place and the version (Incoterms® 2020).

Incoterms 2020 Chart: Who Pays What

This one-page Incoterms® 2020 cheat sheet shows, for every rule, who pays for each part of the journey — packaging, export and import clearance, transport, insurance and duties — and where the risk passes from seller to buyer. Print it, save it as a PDF, or download the ready-made version.

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Incoterm	Packaging	Export Clearance	Origin Inland Transport	Main Carriage (Freight)	Insurance	Import Clearance	Destination Inland Transport	Duties & Taxes
EXWEx Works	Seller	Buyer	Buyer	Buyer	—	Buyer	Buyer	Buyer
FCAFree Carrier	Seller	Seller	Seller	Buyer	—	Buyer	Buyer	Buyer
CPTCarriage Paid To	Seller	Seller	Seller	Seller	—	Buyer	Buyer	Buyer
CIPCarriage and Insurance Paid To	Seller	Seller	Seller	Seller	Seller	Buyer	Buyer	Buyer
DAPDelivered At Place	Seller	Seller	Seller	Seller	—	Buyer	Seller	Buyer
DPUDelivered at Place Unloaded	Seller	Seller	Seller	Seller	—	Buyer	Seller	Buyer
DDPDelivered Duty Paid	Seller	Seller	Seller	Seller	—	Seller	Seller	Seller
FASFree Alongside Ship	Seller	Seller	Seller	Buyer	—	Buyer	Buyer	Buyer
FOBFree On Board	Seller	Seller	Seller	Buyer	—	Buyer	Buyer	Buyer
CFRCost and Freight	Seller	Seller	Seller	Seller	—	Buyer	Buyer	Buyer
CIFCost, Insurance and Freight	Seller	Seller	Seller	Seller	Seller	Buyer	Buyer	Buyer

How to read the chart

Each row is one Incoterms® rule. A badge shows which party — Seller or Buyer — bears that cost or task under the rule; a dash means the rule does not require it. Rules marked “Any mode” work for every type of transport, while FAS, FOB, CFR and CIF are for sea and inland waterway freight only.

Where does the risk transfer?

Rule	Transport	Risk passes to the buyer
EXW	Any mode	The moment the goods are placed at the buyer's disposal at the seller's premises (before loading).
FCA	Any mode	When the goods are delivered to the buyer's nominated carrier at the named place.
CPT	Any mode	When the goods are handed to the first carrier — before arrival, even though the seller pays freight.
CIP	Any mode	When the goods are handed to the first carrier.
DAP	Any mode	When the goods are placed at the buyer's disposal, ready for unloading, at the named destination.
DPU	Any mode	When the goods, once unloaded, are placed at the buyer's disposal at the named place.
DDP	Any mode	When the goods are placed at the buyer's disposal, ready for unloading, at the named destination.
FAS	Sea / inland waterway only	When the goods are placed alongside the vessel at the port of shipment.
FOB	Sea / inland waterway only	When the goods are placed on board the vessel at the port of shipment.
CFR	Sea / inland waterway only	When the goods are placed on board the vessel at the port of shipment — even though freight is paid to destination.
CIF	Sea / inland waterway only	When the goods are placed on board the vessel at the port of shipment.

Summary for planning purposes only — not legal advice. Incoterms® is a registered trademark of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC); always check the official ICC rules and your contract for binding obligations.

Seller and buyer duties, rule by rule

EXW – Ex Works

Any Transport Mode

Seller's Responsibility: Makes the goods available at their own premises/named place; loading, transport, and export formalities are not the seller's obligation.
Buyer's Responsibility: Handles all transport (including loading), export and import customs formalities, insurance, and costs.
Risk Transfer Point: The moment the goods are placed at the buyer's disposal at the seller's premises (before loading).

PackagingSeller

Export ClearanceBuyer

Origin Inland TransportBuyer

Main Carriage (Freight)Buyer

Insurance—

Import ClearanceBuyer

Destination Inland TransportBuyer

Duties & TaxesBuyer

FCA – Free Carrier

Any Transport Mode

Seller's Responsibility: Export-clears the goods and delivers them to the carrier nominated by the buyer at the named place.
Buyer's Responsibility: Arranges the carrier; responsible for all transport, import clearance, and costs after delivery.
Risk Transfer Point: When the goods are delivered to the buyer's nominated carrier at the named place.

PackagingSeller

Export ClearanceSeller

Origin Inland TransportSeller

Main Carriage (Freight)Buyer

Insurance—

Import ClearanceBuyer

Destination Inland TransportBuyer

Duties & TaxesBuyer

CPT – Carriage Paid To

Any Transport Mode

Seller's Responsibility: Export-clears the goods and pays freight to the named destination.
Buyer's Responsibility: Handles insurance (optional), import clearance, and costs beyond the destination point.
Risk Transfer Point: When the goods are handed to the first carrier — before arrival, even though the seller pays freight.

PackagingSeller

Export ClearanceSeller

Origin Inland TransportSeller

Main Carriage (Freight)Seller

Insurance—

Import ClearanceBuyer

Destination Inland TransportBuyer

Duties & TaxesBuyer

CIP – Carriage and Insurance Paid To

Any Transport Mode

Seller's Responsibility: Like CPT, plus the seller must also arrange broad (ICC A-level) cargo insurance.
Buyer's Responsibility: Handles import clearance and costs beyond the destination point.
Risk Transfer Point: When the goods are handed to the first carrier.

PackagingSeller

Export ClearanceSeller

Origin Inland TransportSeller

Main Carriage (Freight)Seller

InsuranceSeller

Import ClearanceBuyer

Destination Inland TransportBuyer

Duties & TaxesBuyer

DAP – Delivered At Place

Any Transport Mode

Seller's Responsibility: Delivers the goods, ready for unloading, at the named destination; bears all costs and risk except import clearance and duties.
Buyer's Responsibility: Handles import clearance, duties/taxes, and unloading at destination.
Risk Transfer Point: When the goods are placed at the buyer's disposal, ready for unloading, at the named destination.

PackagingSeller

Export ClearanceSeller

Origin Inland TransportSeller

Main Carriage (Freight)Seller

Insurance—

Import ClearanceBuyer

Destination Inland TransportSeller

Duties & TaxesBuyer

DPU – Delivered at Place Unloaded

Any Transport Mode

Seller's Responsibility: The only Incoterms rule where the seller must unload the goods at the named place before handing them over.
Buyer's Responsibility: Handles import clearance, duties/taxes, and everything after unloading.
Risk Transfer Point: When the goods, once unloaded, are placed at the buyer's disposal at the named place.

PackagingSeller

Export ClearanceSeller

Origin Inland TransportSeller

Main Carriage (Freight)Seller

Insurance—

Import ClearanceBuyer

Destination Inland TransportSeller

Duties & TaxesBuyer

DDP – Delivered Duty Paid

Any Transport Mode

Seller's Responsibility: Maximum seller obligation: delivers the goods at destination, bearing all costs and risk including import clearance and duties.
Buyer's Responsibility: Usually limited to unloading only (unless otherwise agreed).
Risk Transfer Point: When the goods are placed at the buyer's disposal, ready for unloading, at the named destination.

PackagingSeller

Export ClearanceSeller

Origin Inland TransportSeller

Main Carriage (Freight)Seller

Insurance—

Import ClearanceSeller

Destination Inland TransportSeller

Duties & TaxesSeller

FAS – Free Alongside Ship

Sea/Inland Waterway Only

Seller's Responsibility: Export-clears the goods and delivers them alongside the vessel (quay/barge) at the named port of shipment.
Buyer's Responsibility: Responsible for loading onto the vessel and everything afterward: transport, insurance, and import formalities.
Risk Transfer Point: When the goods are placed alongside the vessel at the port of shipment.

PackagingSeller

Export ClearanceSeller

Origin Inland TransportSeller

Main Carriage (Freight)Buyer

Insurance—

Import ClearanceBuyer

Destination Inland TransportBuyer

Duties & TaxesBuyer

FOB – Free On Board

Sea/Inland Waterway Only

Seller's Responsibility: Export-clears the goods and delivers them on board the vessel at the named port of shipment.
Buyer's Responsibility: Arranges and pays for ocean freight, insurance, and all transport/import formalities after loading.
Risk Transfer Point: When the goods are placed on board the vessel at the port of shipment.

PackagingSeller

Export ClearanceSeller

Origin Inland TransportSeller

Main Carriage (Freight)Buyer

Insurance—

Import ClearanceBuyer

Destination Inland TransportBuyer

Duties & TaxesBuyer

CFR – Cost and Freight

Sea/Inland Waterway Only

Seller's Responsibility: Export-clears and loads the goods on board, and pays freight to the named port of destination — but does not insure the cargo.
Buyer's Responsibility: Handles insurance (optional), transport after the destination port, and import formalities.
Risk Transfer Point: When the goods are placed on board the vessel at the port of shipment — even though freight is paid to destination.

PackagingSeller

Export ClearanceSeller

Origin Inland TransportSeller

Main Carriage (Freight)Seller

Insurance—

Import ClearanceBuyer

Destination Inland TransportBuyer

Duties & TaxesBuyer

CIF – Cost, Insurance and Freight

Sea/Inland Waterway Only

Seller's Responsibility: Like CFR, plus the seller must also arrange minimum-cover (ICC C-level) marine cargo insurance.
Buyer's Responsibility: Handles transport after the destination port and import formalities.
Risk Transfer Point: When the goods are placed on board the vessel at the port of shipment.

PackagingSeller

Export ClearanceSeller

Origin Inland TransportSeller

Main Carriage (Freight)Seller

InsuranceSeller

Import ClearanceBuyer

Destination Inland TransportBuyer

Duties & TaxesBuyer

Incoterms chart — common questions

It lays out all 11 Incoterms® 2020 rules side by side and shows, for each one, which party (seller or buyer) is responsible for packaging, export clearance, inland and main transport, insurance, import clearance and duties — plus the point where risk passes to the buyer.