What is CIF? Cost, Insurance & Freight Shipping (2024)

FAQs

What is CIF? Cost, Insurance & Freight Shipping? ›

Cost, insurance, and freight (CIF) is an international shipping agreement used when freight is shipped via sea or waterway. Under CIF, the seller is responsible for covering the costs, insurance, and freight of the buyer's shipment while in transit.

CIF stands for Cost, Insurance, and Freight. These are the fees a seller pays to cover the costs, insurance, and freight of a dealer's order when it's enroute. This sums up the CIF definition.

The term “carriage and insurance paid to (CIP)” signifies that the seller will pay freight and insurance when sending goods to a buyer's representative at a mutually agreeable location. The seller must insure the goods being sent for 110% of their contract value.

The c.i.f. price (i.e. cost, insurance and freight price) is the price of a good delivered at the frontier of the importing country, including any insurance and freight charges incurred to that point, or the price of a service delivered to a resident, before the payment of any import duties or other taxes on imports or ...

To calculate CIF accurately, one must grasp three fundamental components: the cost of the goods, the expenses associated with insuring the goods, and the freight or shipping charges. The CIF value is calculated by the formula CIF = C+I+F.

Under CIF, the seller is responsible for covering the costs, insurance, and freight of the buyer's shipment while in transit. The buyer is responsible for any costs once the freight has reached the buyer's destination port.

Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) is an Incoterm rule that is identical to the CFR Incoterm rule except in one aspect: insurance. Even though the risk transfers to the seller upon loading the goods on board the vessel, in CIF, the seller is obliged to take out insurance cover for the buyer's risk.

CIP (Carriage And Insurance Paid To) means that the seller is responsible for delivery, delivery costs, and insurance costs of the goods until they are transferred to the first carrier tasked with transporting the goods. Once this delivery takes place, the buyer takes on all responsibility.

So, what is the main difference between CIF and CIP? The main difference between CIF and CIP is where the insurance and logistical responsibility for freight shifts. For CIF, it is the moment the freight reaches the dock of import. For CIP, it transitions more gradually to when delivery at buyer destination occurs.

In Carriage and Insurance Paid To (CIP), the seller assumes all risk until the goods are delivered to the first carrier at the place of shipment—not the place of destination. Once the goods are delivered to the first carrier, the buyer is responsible for all risks.

What is the CIF cost price? ›

Cost, Insurance, and Freight, or CIF, is a commonly used term in international trade that refers to the cost of transporting goods from a seller to a buyer.

While CIF is usually more expensive, it is beneficial for buyers as it places the bulk of the responsibilities on the seller. FOB, on the other hand, gives buyers more control and potential cost savings as it allows them to manage the shipping and insurance themselves.

Compared to FOB, CIF comes at a higher cost for buyers: sellers invoice buyers to cover costs of shipping and insurance. As mentioned, sellers can add additional fees for the service to make a larger profit. Therefor using CIF provided by the seller ends up costing more for the buyer.

Freight Insurance Cost

On average, freight insurance premiums cost around 0.3% to 0.5% of the commercial invoice value of the goods. But costs can vary based on factors like: Type and value of goods being shipped. Mode of transport (air, sea, road, rail)

The cargo insurance premium on a single shipment is typically calculated as the insured value times the policy rate. And what is insured value? The simplest method to calculate insured value is to add the commercial invoice value of the goods to the cost of freight and add ten percent to cover additional expense.

The seller is required to purchase minimum insurance coverage complying with the Institute Cargo Clauses (C) in the buyer's name in the case of damage or loss. Note: The use of the CIF Incoterm rule is restricted to goods transported by sea or inland waterway.

Cost allocation

CIF requires the seller to cover the total cost of the goods, freight and insurance. Whereas FOB only requires the seller to cover the cost of loading the goods onto the vessel; the buyer then pays to transport and insure the goods (as well as any other charges incurred once the goods are on board).

CFR is almost identical to the Cost, Insurance, and Freight (CIF) Incoterm. However, the difference is that insurance is mandatory under CIF and must be provided by the seller. On the other hand, insurance is optional for the CFR Incoterm. Additionally, the seller arranges all export customs clearance at his own risk.