Incoterms 2020 — Complete Reference for Egyptian Exports
Incoterms 2020 reference for international commodity trade with Egypt. Full breakdown of all 11 Incoterms: EXW, FCA, CPT, CIP, DAP, DPU, DDP, FAS, FOB, CFR, CIF — when each is appropriate, who pays, who bears risk.
Incoterms (International Commercial Terms) are an ICC-published 11-term framework that defines responsibilities between seller and buyer in international trade. Every Sales Contract and Letter of Credit must reference a specific Incoterm + named place.
Egypt Globe Group quotes on all 11 Incoterms 2020. Default unless otherwise specified: CIF for sea freight, DAP for road freight.
The 11 Incoterms 2020
Group 1: Any mode of transport (7 terms)
#### EXW — Ex Works
#### FCA — Free Carrier
#### CPT — Carriage Paid To
#### CIP — Carriage and Insurance Paid To
- Like CPT but seller arranges insurance to named destination
- 2020 update: minimum insurance now Institute Cargo Clauses (A) — full all-risks (previously Clause C minimum)
- Use when: containerised or multi-modal with insurance burden on seller
#### DAP — Delivered At Place
#### DPU — Delivered at Place Unloaded
- Like DAP but seller also unloads at destination
- Use when: heavy bagged cargo where seller arranges crane / forklift at destination terminal
#### DDP — Delivered Duty Paid
Group 2: Sea + inland waterway only (4 terms)
#### FAS — Free Alongside Ship
#### FOB — Free On Board
#### CFR — Cost and Freight (sometimes CNF)
- Like FOB but seller pays main freight to named port of destination
- Buyer pays: insurance (recommended), import clearance, on-carriage
- Use when: buyer wants delivered-to-destination pricing but arranges own marine insurance
#### CIF — Cost, Insurance and Freight
- Like CFR but seller pays both freight AND insurance to named port of destination
- 2020 update: minimum insurance Institute Cargo Clauses (C) (basic risks only — different from CIP which is now Clauses A)
- Most common term for trade through L/C: banks usually insist on CIF since insurance + freight are both in seller's control
Quick decision table
| Buyer wants | Recommended Incoterm | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest possible price, handles own logistics | EXW or FOB | Lowest seller responsibility |
| Standard L/C-compliant pricing | CIF | Bank-friendly, complete picture |
| Delivered to destination port, no surprises | CFR or CIF | Seller controls freight |
| Containerised, multi-modal | FCA or CIP | Modern container-era equivalents |
| Road delivery to GCC / North Africa | DAP | Trucked, unloaded by buyer |
| Zero hassle, everything done | DDP | Seller handles all customs + duty |
| Massive bulk vessel (50k+ MT) | FOB | Buyer arranges vessel charter |
Common pitfalls
Don't conflate Incoterm with payment terms
Incoterms govern delivery + risk + cost split. Payment terms (T/T advance, sight L/C, usance L/C, D/P, D/A) are separate and negotiated independently.
Insurance under CIF is minimal
CIF includes only Institute Cargo Clauses (C) minimum — basic FPA cover (fire, sinking, collision, jettison, general average). Doesn't cover theft, leakage, contamination. Most B2B buyers require CIF + Institute Cargo Clauses (A) uplift (all-risks) — quote separately or use CIP instead.
"FOB" with no port = ambiguous
Always specify: FOB Damietta, FOB Alexandria, FOB Ain Sokhna, etc. The named port matters — handling costs and inland transport vary significantly.
DDP to certain countries is impractical
DDP requires the seller to be the importer of record. For most countries this means having a local entity, tax registration, EORI number, etc. Not always feasible. Confirm before quoting DDP.
How Egypt Globe Group quotes
Default quote = FOB Damietta + freight indication + CIF total. We let you pick whichever Incoterm matches your procurement workflow.
Single-source consolidation: if you're combining multiple commodities into one vessel/container, we quote everything against the same Incoterm to simplify your L/C.
Request a quote on your preferred Incoterm →
View HS code reference →
Quality at the Core — the verification behind the reference
The figures on this page are reference data; the cargo itself is verified lot by lot. Egypt Globe Group was incorporated in 2014 with a dedicated internal Quality Assurance division, and every consignment passes five verification gates between the source and the buyer's arrival laboratory. Specification is guaranteed at the port of loading and binding under the sales contract.
| Gate | Control | Evidence issued | Who · frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Extraction / source | Source sampling on every production lot | Source laboratory · per lot |
| 2 | Processing | Washing, screening, drying, grading or milling verified against the contract specification | Plant QC · per batch |
| 3 | Port laboratory | Full analysis against the contract specification; Certificate of Analysis or Mill Test Certificate issued before the Bill of Lading | EGG port QC lab · per shipment |
| 4 | Independent inspection | Pre-shipment sampling, witness testing, draft survey or tally; sealed retained samples held 90 days | TÜV Austria / SGS / Intertek / BV · per vessel |
| 5 | Destination acceptance | CoA cross-referenced with the buyer's arrival laboratory; retained samples arbitrate any variance | Buyer laboratory · on discharge |
- Quality & compliance — the QA charter, inspection partners and destination conformity programmes
- Inspection & QC · Trade documentation · Loading ports
- Request a quote — priced FOB / CIF / CFR offer, sample Certificate of Analysis and inspection protocol within 24 hours
Ready for a quote?
FOB / CIF / CFR pricing from 7 Egyptian ports — turnaround within 24 hours.
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Frequently asked questions
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Other questions? Email our export desk — we respond within 24 hours.