CFR vs CIF
Where CFR and CIF differ in who pays, where risk passes and who insures — two Incoterms® 2020 rules compared from the same data as the cost matrix.
Key differences
- Seller must insure — CFR: no; CIF: yes.
- Insurance — CFR: depends; CIF: seller.
Side by side
| Item | CFR | CIF |
|---|---|---|
| Transport mode | Sea and inland waterway only | Sea and inland waterway only |
| Risk passes | On board the ship at the port of shipment | On board the ship at the port of shipment |
| Packaging | Seller | Seller |
| Loading at origin | Seller | Seller |
| Export clearance | Seller | Seller |
| Pre-carriage | Seller | Seller |
| Main carriage | Seller | Seller |
| Insurance (differs) | Depends | Seller |
| Unloading at destination | Depends | Depends |
| Import clearance | Buyer | Buyer |
| Import duties | Buyer | Buyer |
| On-carriage | Buyer | Buyer |
1 of 10 cost items differ (rows in bold).
Which one fits your shipment?
Open the rule pages for the full cost table and notes: CFR and CIF. Or answer five questions in the rule chooser, which explains why each rule fits or does not.
Sources
Checked on .
- Export Development Canada — edc.ca
- Netherlands Chamber of Commerce (KVK) — kvk.nl
- UK Department for Business and Trade (business.gov.uk) — business.gov.uk
- US International Trade Administration — trade.gov
- Maersk (chart by Pilot Freight Services) — delivers.maersk.comsecondary
- International Chamber of Commerce — iccwbo.org