CPT vs CIP: The Incoterms Everyone Confuses With CFR and CIF

Container terminal at dusk with a translucent protective dome of light over stacked shipping containers, symbolizing cargo insurance coverage

For the official rules, see the ICC Incoterms 2020 overview, and our related guide on cargo insurance basics. CPT vs CIP incoterms confusion trips up even experienced shippers, since both terms transfer risk at the same point in the journey but differ in one critical way: who pays for insurance. CPT and CIP get lumped … Read more

EXW vs FCA Incoterms: Why FCA Wins for Container Shipments

Worker's hands using a pallet jack to move a wooden crate at a factory loading dock at sunset

Getting EXW vs FCA incoterms right matters far more for container shipments than most exporters realize, since choosing the wrong one can leave the seller legally responsible for export customs clearance and loading risks they never intended to carry. EXW (“Ex Works”) looks like the simplest Incoterm on paper — the seller’s only job is … Read more

DDP vs DAP: Who’s Responsible for What in Cross-Border Delivery

A truck passing through a customs checkpoint gate at a port at dusk, symbolizing the border handoff point between DAP and DDP Incoterms

Getting DDP vs DAP right in a sales contract determines exactly who pays import duty and who bears customs risk at the border, and confusing the two can leave one party stuck with an unexpected bill they never budgeted for. DDP and DAP get confused constantly because they look almost identical on paper — both … Read more