The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) publishes the Incoterms rules, which are a set of international commercial terms defining the responsibilities of buyers and sellers in international trade transactions. FCA, or Free Carrier, is one of the Incoterms rules that specifies that the seller delivers the goods to a carrier or another person nominated by the buyer at a named place. The risk of loss or damage to the goods transfers from the seller to the buyer at that point. FCA is commonly used for all modes of transportation, including air, sea, road, and rail.
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Google Gemini AI
May 23
The FCA (Free Carrier) Incoterm
FCA is a widely used Incoterm that assigns specific responsibilities and risks to both the seller and buyer in international trade transactions. The FCA Incoterm is governed by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and is outlined in the Incoterms 2020 publication.
FCA Responsibilities and Risks:
Seller's Responsibilities:
- Deliver the goods to the carrier: The seller is responsible for delivering the goods to the buyer's designated carrier at a specified place and time. - Clear the goods for export: The seller is responsible for obtaining the necessary export clearances and documents. - Load the goods onto the carrier: The seller is responsible for loading the goods onto the carrier's vehicle.
Buyer's Responsibilities:
- Arrange and pay for carriage: The buyer is responsible for arranging and paying for the carriage of the goods from the delivery point to the final destination. - Clear the goods for import: The buyer is responsible for obtaining the necessary import clearances and documents. - Unload the goods from the carrier: The buyer is responsible for unloading the goods from the carrier's vehicle.
Risk Transfer Point:
Under FCA, the risk of loss or damage to the goods transfers from the seller to the buyer when the goods are handed over to the buyer's designated carrier.
Key Features of FCA:
- Suitable for any mode of transport: FCA can be used for shipments via road, rail, air, or sea. - Seller's risk limited: The seller's risk is limited to the point of delivery to the carrier. - Buyer responsible for freight costs: The buyer bears the cost of freight and insurance from the delivery point onward. - Incoterm widely accepted: FCA is a well-recognized Incoterm that is commonly used in international trade.
FCA is often used when:
- The buyer has a specific carrier preference. - The seller does not want to be responsible for arranging carriage. - The buyer is willing to assume the risk and responsibilities associated with arranging and paying for carriage.