Trade Finance Tool
Incoterms 2020 Comparator
Compare any two Incoterms side by side. See buyer vs. seller responsibilities, risk transfer point, and when to use each rule. All 11 ICC Incoterms 2020 rules.
First Term
vs
Second Term
FOB
Free On Board
Seller loads goods on board the vessel at named port. Risk transfers at loading. Designed for bulk/breakbulk cargo — for containers, FCA should be used as risk passes before ship loading.
Seller 33%Buyer 67%
Risk transfers: On board vessel at port of shipment
FCA
Free Carrier
Seller delivers goods to named carrier at named place. If at seller's premises, seller loads. If elsewhere, seller is not responsible for unloading. ICC recommended term for containerized cargo.
Seller 17%Buyer 83%
Risk transfers: Named place (carrier handover)
FOB — Free On Board
Use when
Bulk and breakbulk cargo; commodity trades
Avoid when
Containerized cargo — risk gap: goods may be at container terminal but not yet "on board"
ICC note: Most misused Incoterm — frequently applied to containers where FCA is correct
FCA — Free Carrier
Use when
Containerized cargo; air freight; all modes
Avoid when
Nothing — this is the ICC preferred multimodal term
ICC note: Preferred for containers over FOB
Based on ICC Incoterms 2020. Responsibility allocations shown are general rules — actual contracts may modify specific obligations. Always reference the full ICC Incoterms 2020 publication for legal purposes.