Knowledge Bank

A practical reference for foreign trade and logistics: the Incoterms 2020 delivery terms and the dimensions of standard ISO shipping containers.

Incoterms 2020 {#incoterms}

Incoterms (International Commercial Terms) are the standard trade terms published by the International Chamber of Commerce that define the responsibilities of buyers and sellers for the delivery of goods. The 11 terms of the Incoterms 2020 edition are listed below.

Code	Name	Description
EXW	Ex Works	The seller makes the goods available at their premises; all subsequent costs and risks pass to the buyer.
FCA	Free Carrier	The seller delivers the goods to the carrier nominated by the buyer at the named place; risk passes there.
FAS	Free Alongside Ship	The seller delivers the goods alongside the vessel at the port of shipment; risk passes to the buyer from that point.
FOB	Free On Board	The seller loads the goods on board the vessel; risk passes to the buyer once the goods are on board.
CFR	Cost and Freight	The seller pays the freight to the destination port, but risk passes to the buyer once the goods are on board.
CIF	Cost, Insurance and Freight	In addition to CFR, the seller arranges minimum marine insurance cover for the carriage.
CPT	Carriage Paid To	The seller pays carriage to the named destination; risk passes when the goods are handed to the first carrier.
CIP	Carriage and Insurance Paid To	In addition to CPT, the seller provides insurance for the carriage (all-risk cover under Incoterms 2020).
DAP	Delivered at Place	The seller delivers the goods, ready for unloading, on the means of transport at the named place of destination.
DPU	Delivered at Place Unloaded	The seller delivers the goods once unloaded from the means of transport at the named place — the only term requiring the seller to unload.
DDP	Delivered Duty Paid	The seller delivers the goods cleared for import, bearing all costs, risks and duties — the maximum obligation for the seller.

Container Specifications {#containers}

The external length and width of ISO-standard containers are fixed, while heights may vary. Below you can find the container dimensions to choose from according to your cargo type.

Type	Interior (mm)	Door (mm)	Max Gross (kg)	Tare (kg)	Payload (kg)	Volume (m³)
20’ DC (Standard)	5.897 × 2.348 × 2.390	2.336 × 2.280	30.480	2.240	28.240	33.0
40’ DC (Standard)	12.031 × 2.348 × 2.390	2.336 × 2.280	32.500	3.750	28.750	68.0
40’ High Cube	12.031 × 2.348 × 2.695	2.336 × 2.585	32.500	3.940	28.560	76.0
45’ High Cube Dry	13.555 × 2.348 × 2.695	2.336 × 2.585	32.500	4.880	27.620	86.0
20’ Reefer (Steel)	5.458 × 2.290 × 2.262	2.290 × 2.267	30.480	3.120	27.360	28.0
40’ HC Reefer (Steel)	11.587 × 2.290 × 2.539	2.290 × 2.572	34.000	4.700	29.300	67.0
40’ HC Reefer (Aluminium)	11.585 × 2.290 × 2.527	2.290 × 2.493	32.500	4.110	28.390	67.0
20’ Open Top	5.893 × 2.346 × 2.384	2.338 × 2.244	30.480	2.320	28.160	33.0
40’ Open Top	12.032 × 2.346 × 2.381	2.338 × 2.244	30.480	4.120	26.360	66.0
20’ Flat Rack	5.958 × 2.018 × 2.077	—	30.480	2.720	27.760	25.0
40’ Flat Rack	11.986 × 2.236 × 1.968	—	45.000	5.980	39.020	53.0