Use the sale contract to make transport, risk and import responsibilities clear before shipping to Egypt. FOB and CIF are maritime rules; DAP and DDP can apply across transport modes. The chosen term does not replace Egyptian import requirements. Agree the named place, rule version and practical document handover with the supplier and importer.
What should the contract name precisely?
Write the chosen Incoterms® rule, the named port or place and the applicable edition. Make the handover point sufficiently clear for the teams arranging transport. Keep ownership, payment, acceptance and installation conditions explicit elsewhere in the contract; a three-letter term cannot answer every commercial question. Before booking, translate the agreed responsibilities into actual contacts, document tasks and payment arrangements.
What is the key FOB and CIF distinction?
Under FOB the buyer arranges the main sea transport; under CIF the seller arranges freight and insurance to the named destination port. Both place the usual risk transfer when the goods are on board at origin. CIF therefore does not mean the seller retains transit risk until arrival. ICC also explains that FCA can be a more suitable choice for container handovers; ask which rule fits the actual movement.
What changes between DAP and DDP?
DAP assigns import clearance to the buyer; DDP assigns it to the seller. Under both, delivery is at the named destination ready for unloading, with unloading generally the buyer’s responsibility. Before agreeing DDP to Egypt, check who can legally carry out the import arrangements and how duties, taxes and documents will be handled. A supplier’s promise to pay charges does not itself establish importer eligibility.
How should Egyptian shipment preparation be allocated?
Name the Egyptian importer, foreign supplier, carrier and customs coordinator and agree their practical tasks. The applicable ACI and CargoX document flow needs coordination before departure regardless of the commercial term. Ask who provides each document, who checks consistency and who acts when the shipment details change. The trade term is part of the sale arrangement; the operational file still needs named people and timely information.
What does “delivery” mean for your receiving site?
Specify the site and receiving point, appointment arrangements and unloading scope. A warehouse address alone may not describe gate restrictions or the equipment needed to unload. If positioning, installation or commissioning is required, agree that work separately. For container movements, clarify return coordination and the treatment of extra waiting or storage under the relevant contracts.
How does Al-Rouby support the handover?
We help connect freight coordination, document preparation, customs clearance and inland delivery to the scope you agree with the supplier. Send the delivery term and named location with your shipment information. The team can discuss practical responsibility gaps before the cargo moves. Contract interpretation should be checked against the agreed wording and the ICC rules; this guide is an operational overview rather than the full rule text.
A short responsibility comparison
Scroll horizontally to compare all columns.
| Term | Main transport arrangement | Import clearance | Usual risk-transfer point |
|---|---|---|---|
| FOB | Buyer | Buyer | On board at origin |
| CIF | Seller, plus required insurance | Buyer | On board at origin |
| DAP | Seller to named destination | Buyer | Destination, ready for unloading |
| DDP | Seller to named destination | Seller | Destination, ready for unloading |
Resolve the handover before booking
- Write the rule, named place and Incoterms® edition.
- Confirm who can fulfil the actual import arrangements.
- Assign supplier documents and shipment filing tasks.
- Clarify duties, taxes, unloading and separately agreed work.
- Match the contract, quote, booking and receiving instructions.
Frequently asked questions
Under the usual CIF allocation, import clearance remains the buyer’s responsibility. Read the agreed contract and quote scope.
The term allocates responsibility; it does not waive local requirements. Check the lawful import arrangement before committing to DDP.
They are maritime rules. Choose a rule suited to the actual transport and handover with reference to the ICC guidance.