CFR Vs CIF: What Are The Differences Between These Shipping Terms?
CFR vs CIF: What is the difference between the terms? – You will find both terms standard in shipping and transport, and both are part of international trade rules. CFR is a trade term that means the seller will transport goods by sea to the destination port. On the other hand, CIF means that the seller pays to cover the cost of shipping and insurance to ensure there is no potential damage or loss for the buyer.
In this article, you will learn about two popular terms in shipping: CIF and CFR. First, we will get a general overview of both the terms. Then, we will discuss the function of the seller in both cases. Finally, we will examine the differences between the two terms. Hence, to learn more about the two terms, read on to the end of the article.
CFR Vs CIF: An Overview Of The Terms
One of the interesting things about both terms is that they are known as incoterms.
According to Indeed.com,
“Incoterms are common trade rules developed by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). They define the responsibilities of sellers and buyers while participating in international trade. CIF is an Incoterm specifically meant for shipping across oceans or international waters. There are other internationally recognized Incoterm that buyers and sellers can use when delivering products.”
Furthermore, both are part of the larger group of international trade rules. The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) devised the rules. The first version of the rules came out in 1936. both terms consist of guidelines for traders.
Basically, CFR and CIF are similar terms. However, in CIF, the seller will also need to pay for the marine insurance to offer protection against loss, destruction, and damage to the order.
What Is Cost And Freight (CFR)?
As per Investopedia’s definition,
“Cost and freight (CFR) is a legal term used in foreign trade contracts. In a contract specifying that a sale is cost and freight, the seller is required to arrange for the carriage of goods by sea to a port of destination and provide the buyer with the documents necessary to obtain them from the carrier.”
This term strictly finds its use in cases of cargo transport through sea or inland waterways. However, in this case, the seller does not have the responsibility of procuring marine insurance, as is the case with CIF. The insurance is to provide protection against the risk of loss or damage to the product during transit.
What Is Cost, Insurance, And Freight (CIF)?
On the other hand, CIF (cost, insurance, and freight) gives responsibilities to both buyers and sellers. This is also the case in the case of deliveries through transport through seas or inland waterways. The term gives information about who will merchandise the shipment and when.
If you follow the rules of a CIF agreement, you will be able to divide your shipping costs. Apart from that, you will also have a basic understanding of when you have responsibility for the shipment in the shipping process.
With the CIF agreement, you are transferring both your costs and your risks, but at different times. Here, as a seller, you are transferring the cost when the financial responsibility of the product shifts from the seller to the buyer. Generally, the cost transfer occurs when the product reaches the destination port. Here, you will have to take responsibility for any merchandise cost before that.
The risk transfer happens when the responsibility for the lost or damaged item shifts from the seller to the buyer. In this agreement, this risk transfer happens after the goods are loaded onto the ship. Hence, while the goods are traveling, the seller is responsible for handling shipping costs. However, the buyer will be responsible for the damages to the merchandise or in case of loss.
CFR Vs CIF: What Are The Differences?
According to Investopedia,
“Each term refers to an agreement governing the responsibilities of shipping that fall respectively to buyers and sellers in an international trade transaction. This system of agreements aids in an orderly process of international trade by making contract models available that are easy to identify and understand in all languages.”
However, there are some primary differences between the two agreements. The major difference lies in one additional responsibility for the seller (shipper). In the case of CIF, the seller must also provide a minimum amount of marine insurance on the shipped goods.
Here, the buyer and seller agree on the insurance amount beforehand. Apart from that, the seller of the product takes up the responsibility for additional costs related to the transportation of the product. In addition to that, the seller also pays for paperworks, custom inspections, rerouting, etc., that might occur during the transport of the product. However, the buyer here has to take responsibility for any damage to goods or even loss during transit.
CFR Vs CIF: Understanding The Difference With Example
You can understand the difference between CFR and CIF easily with the help of this example.
Let’s say Seller X sells a particular good from Spain to Buyer Y in the United States. Here, Seller X pays for the shipping from Spain to the US. Also, the seller is responsible for the shipment until the goods are loaded on the shipping vessel. After the loading of the vessel, Buyer Y takes over the responsibility for the goods. This agreement is the same for both CFR and CIF.
However, under CIF, there are additional responsibilities for Seller X. Here, Seller X needs to buy insurance for the transfer of goods. With the insurance, the seller will need to cover the loss or damage to the goods at the time of shipment. Eventually, after the goods reach the destination port, the seller does not have any responsibility.
Wrapping Up
CFR vs CIF – Hope you have found an understanding of both the terms and the differences between them. You can see from the article that both are quite similar agreements. However, in the case of CIF, the seller bears an additional responsibility.
Do you have more information to add? Consider sharing them with us in the comments section below.
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FOB vs CIF: What Are The Differences?
FOB vs CIF: What are the differences between the two? – There are many differences between CIF and FOB. However, there is one principal difference. In FOB, the seller gives up responsibility for the goods once they are loaded onto the ship. However, in a CIF agreement, the seller has the responsibility for the goods until they reach the destination port. After that, the buyer assumes responsibility. FOB vs CIF: A General Overview Of Shipping Agreements According to Investopedia, “Cost, insurance, and freight (CIF) and free on board (FOB) are international shipping agreements used in the transportation of goods between buyers and sellers. They are among the most common of the 11 international commerce terms (Incoterms), which were established by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in 1936.” Although the definitions of FOB and CIF differ with countries, both contracts contain details on origin and destination information. These data help in determining the beginning and end of liabilities. Apart from that, these pieces of information also outline the responsibilities of both buyers and sellers based on scenarios. What Is Free On Board (FOB)? Under the free-on-board (FOB) agreement, the supplier of the product does not take responsibility for the goods after they go into the shipping vessel. Hence, the supplier pays only for the transport of the good to the port and onto the vessel. As a result, the seller of the product has limited responsibilities for the goods under the contract. After the goods go into the ship, the buyer of the product takes on the responsibility of the goods. The buyer takes full responsibility once the voyage starts. This includes transport, insurance, and other added fees. The buyer also pays for the unloading of the goods. What Is Cost, Insurance, And Freight (CIF)? Sellers use this technique mostly during large deliveries, especially for oversized goods that they ship by sea. The seller of the good takes responsibility for the good until it is delivered to the buyer’s port. The buyer assumes full responsibility for the goods as soon as it reaches the destination port. Hence, if there are extra costs after the good reaches the destination port, the buyer will need to take responsibility for the same. After the payment, the transport service transfers the documentation for the goods over to the buyer. FOB vs CIF: Major Pros And Cons According to an article on Alibaba.com, “With a CIF agreement, the seller is liable for the goods during transit, and with a FOB, the buyer is liable for the goods during transit. […] Generally, FOB is considered a more cost-effective approach. This is because buyers can make more cost-effective decisions about the shipment, such as buying the minimum insurance policy or going with a lower-cost freight company since they are in control.” The following are the major pros and cons of FOB and CIF that you must know: Pros And Cons Of Free On Board (FOB) Here are the major pros of FOB that you will benefit from: The buyer of the product has more control over the delivery process. It is possible for the buyer to make various cost-effective decisions in some cases. The seller does not have to take responsibility for added costs. Here are the major cons of FOB that you need to be aware of: Since the buyer has more responsibilities, the individual will need to deal with added costs if necessary. If the goods are damaged during transit, the seller is not responsible for that. This might send the buyer into an absurd situation. Pros And Cons Of Cost, Insurance, And Freight (CIF) Here are the major pros of CIF that you will benefit from: The seller has more control over the goods delivered to the customer. Also, the buyer of the product has little to no responsibility when it comes to the delivery of the product. The buyer gets a more seamless experience with the CIF process. As a result, the delivery process is less stressful for the buyer. As the buyer is getting more convenient with this process, it gives the seller a certain advantage over its competitors. Here are the major cons of CIF that you need to be aware of: The seller has to take full responsibility for the damage to goods in transit. Buyers of the product have little to no control over the cost of the delivery process. There can be additional costs for sellers. This raises the costs of the goods at the time of delivery. FOB vs CIF: Which Is The Best One To Buy? During international shipping, most companies opt for either Free on Board (FOB) or Cost, Insurance, and Freight (CIF) agreements. According to Investopedia, “Inexperienced buyers typically prefer CIF, which places much of the shipping responsibility on the seller, including shipping costs, insurance, and freight to the destination port, while giving the buyer greater convenience. However, because the seller takes on more risk and responsibility, CIF often comes with a higher cost.” Basically, in CIF, the seller of the product takes care of almost everything up to the final delivery at the destination port of the buyer. On the other hand, the ones that have enough experience in international shipping tend to prefer FOB. This is because they have more control over the goods in this case. When the goods leave the ship, the responsibility for the goods goes to the buyers. The seller considers the goods as delivered once they clear the goods for export and load them onto the shipping vessel. Apart from that, the FOB also offers flexibility over logistical details. These are to learn the needs of the buyer and to lower the costs since the seller cannot negotiate directly with shipping companies. On a side note, the scale and expertise of the company also determine the choice between FOB and CIF. Wrapping Up FOB vs CIF: Hope this article was helpful enough to provide accurate information. You can see from the article that, in general, sellers choose FOB more than CIF. However, if it is a big item and you want to have more control as a seller, choose CIF. Consider sharing your ideas and opinions with us in the comments section below. Explore More Finance By Clicking Below!! Periodic Inventory System: What Is It, How It Works, Applications, And More What Is Free Alongside Ship? Essential Things To Know About It Cost Insurance Freight? 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Consignment is a business model which has become popular in recent years. In a consignment, there are two parties: the consignor and the consignee. Here, the consignee sells goods on behalf of the consignor. This way, they offer a unique approach to retail with the help of which there are huge benefits for individuals and businesses. In this article, you will learn about the consignment business model along with an example of such a business. Apart from that, you will also have a brief idea of how this business model works in general. Finally, you will also learn some of the major pros and cons of a consignment business so that you have a better idea of what to expect. Hence, to learn more, read on through to the end of the article. What Is Consignment? According to Investopedia, “Consignment is an arrangement in which goods are left in the possession of an authorized third party to sell. Goods sold in this way are said to be "consigned" to a third party for sale. Items sold on consignment are typically sold by consignment shops, which receive a percentage of the revenue from the sale (sometimes a very large percentage) in the form of commission.” You can make a particular consignment deal on a variety of products. The products might include artwork, accessories, clothing, books, etc. On the other hand, some types of retail sales also fall under consignment. In this case, producers or manufacturers have to rely on retail stores to sell their products to the target customers. Nevertheless, in general cases, thrift stores and secondhand stores practice consignment more often. However, big retailers and supermarkets do not come under the consignment business model. This is because such retailers and markets purchase goods and products through wholesale and sell those items at the markup price. In a consignment, the party that sells the goods receives a portion of the profits, either as a commission or a flat fee. The consignor, on the other hand, focuses more on the marketing aspects of the business. What Is The Example Of A Consignment Business? In a consignment model, the consignor of the goods provides goods to a consignee. The latter is responsible for handling storage, inventory management, as well as other functions related to the sales of the products. Furthermore, in return for those functions, the consignee receives a percentage of the sales or a fee at a flat rate. According to an article on Shopify.com, “Consignment shops accept various products, with item demand and quality influencing how desirable an item is to consignees. Product supply and seasonality also play a role, as many consignment stores have limited storage capacity and prefer items that can sell quickly. A store specializing in a niche with fluctuating consumer demand may only accept certain items at specific times.” One of the major examples of a consignment business is auction houses. Other examples include companies dealing with the transfer of goods and import companies. Thrift shops and secondhand stores also fall under the consignment business model. However, in recent times, many retail businesses are also using this business model in addition to their traditional business model. A popular example of this kind of business is Zara. Apart from its retail stores and online stores, it also has a consignment business through which it sells vintage or secondhand items. How Does A Consignment Work? An article on Indeed.com states – “Consignment sales are popular in the retail industry, especially for niche products. Many consignment stores also sell second-hand goods on behalf of individuals. For example, a consignment store might sell previously owned prom dresses by offering to pay a 20% revenue fee to anyone who wants to sell a dress through their store.” In a consignment arrangement, the consignor asks the consignee about their ability to sell within a certain time. Then, both parties agree on how much the consignor can pay to the consignee on the sale of each unit. In this case, most agreements end up with 40/60, 60/40, or 50/50 splits of profit. After the agreement of keeping profits, the consignor offers a deadline within which the consignee needs to return the unsold goods. Once the consignee returns unsold goods within this date, they will not have to pay for those goods. Hence, the consignor delivers the agreed-upon goods to the consignee. The consignee pays the consignor after the sale of the goods and after updating the inventory and balance sheet. What Are The Pros And Cons Of Consignment? 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Instead of having a single, rigid structure, microservices architecture splits applications into multiple, independent components and decomposes the program into its essential parts - each part is known as a service. Each job is handled by these components as a standalone service and each is self-contained; this implies that if one service fails, it won't affect the other services. In simpler terms, the application is created as a collection of services, where each service has its own logic, database, and capacity to perform specialized tasks. Composable eCommerce is the transition from a monolithic system to a composable one. It’s a gradual move from a single system to a composite one. In this way, the organization reduces costs and increases agility by using a headless front end (FEaaS) to support all of the best-of-breed integrations such as the commerce platform (backend), payment channels, content management, and any other 3rd party tools it needs. 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