Incoterms® 2010 vs 2020
Compare the 2010 and 2020 editions of Incoterms® across all 11 rules, delivery and risk-transfer points, cargo insurance, transport documents, security responsibilities, and contract wording.
Incoterms® 2010 vs 2020: Edition at a Glance
Incoterms® 2020 is the current edition, effective since 1 January 2020. It replaced Incoterms® 2010, which took effect on 1 January 2011. Both editions have 11 rules. The main changes in 2020 include renaming DAT to DPU and updating insurance, transport documents, costs and security requirements.
Insurance note: Under the 2020 rules, CIP generally requires Institute Cargo Clauses (A) cover while CIF retains Clauses (C) as its default minimum. The buyer and seller may agree to a different level of cover.
Features Compared Between Incoterms® 2010 and 2020
| Feature | Incoterms® 2010 | Incoterms® 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| ICC publication | No. 715 (rules); No. 720E (Ramberg Guide) | No. 723E |
| In force from | 1 January 2011 | 1 January 2020 |
| Number of rules | 11 | 11 |
| Any-mode rules (7) | EXW, FCA, CPT, CIP, DAT, DAP, DDP | EXW, FCA, CPT, CIP, DAP, DPU, DDP |
| Sea/inland waterway rules (4) | FAS, FOB, CFR, CIF | FAS, FOB, CFR, CIF (unchanged) |
| Unloaded-at-destination rule | DAT — Delivered at Terminal | DPU — Delivered at Place Unloaded |
| Order of D-rules | DAT before DAP | DAP before DPU |
| CIP minimum insurance | Institute Cargo Clauses (C) | Institute Cargo Clauses (A) |
| CIF minimum insurance | Institute Cargo Clauses (C) | Institute Cargo Clauses (C) (unchanged) |
| FCA on-board bill of lading | No specific on-board bill of lading mechanism | Optional on-board bill of lading procedure in A6/B6 |
| Carriage by own means of transport | The rules generally assumed carriage by an independent carrier | Under FCA, the buyer may arrange carriage using its own means of transport; under DAP, DPU and DDP, the seller may do so |
| Security requirements | A2/B2 and A10/B10 | Security obligations addressed in A4 and A7; related costs listed in A9/B9 |
| Costs | Costs listed in several sections; A6/B6 did not contain the full list | All allocated costs collected in A9/B9 |
| User guidance | Guidance Notes | Explanatory Notes for Users |
| Article order | Delivery A4, risk A5 | Delivery A2, risk A3 |
| Presentation | Rule by rule | Rule-by-rule text plus a side-by-side comparison of the same section across rules |
Source: ICC Incoterms® 2020 Introduction, paragraphs 53–77; ICC Guide to Incoterms® 2010, Publication 720E.
Incoterms® 2010 vs 2020: All 11 Rules Compared
Most delivery and risk-transfer points remained the same in 2020. The main rule-name change was DAT becoming DPU. Both require the seller to unload the goods, but DPU allows delivery at a named place that is not necessarily a terminal. The table below shows what each rule means and what changed. For delivery, risk and transportation responsibilities under the current edition, see our 11 Incoterms 2020 rules.
Reading the table: Delivery and risk transfer identify the contractual handover point. They do not necessarily indicate how far the seller pays carriage.
Rule-by-Rule Comparison of All 11 Incoterms
| 2010 rule | 2020 rule | Mode | Delivery and risk transfer (both editions unless noted) | What changed in 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXW Ex Works | EXW Ex Works | Any | Goods placed at the buyer’s disposal at the named place, not loaded on the collecting vehicle | Security obligations addressed in A4/A7; costs consolidated in A9/B9; clearer notes for users |
| FCA Free Carrier | FCA Free Carrier | Any | At the seller’s premises: goods are loaded onto the collecting vehicle. At another agreed place: goods remain on the seller’s means of transport, ready for unloading by the buyer’s carrier | Optional on-board bill of lading procedure (A6/B6); buyer may arrange carriage using its own means of transport; security obligations in A4/A7 |
| CPT Carriage Paid To | CPT Carriage Paid To | Any | Goods handed over to the first carrier contracted by the seller | Security obligations addressed in A4/A7; costs consolidated in A9/B9 |
| CIP Carriage and Insurance Paid To | CIP Carriage and Insurance Paid To | Any | Goods handed over to the first carrier contracted by the seller | Minimum cover raised from Institute Cargo Clauses (C) to (A); still at least 110% of contract price; the buyer and seller may agree to less cover |
| DAT Delivered at Terminal | DPU Delivered at Place Unloaded | Any | 2010: seller unloads at the named terminal. 2020: seller unloads at the named destination, which need not be a terminal | Renamed; delivery no longer limited to a terminal; now listed after DAP; seller may arrange carriage using its own means of transport and must be able to unload at the named place |
| DAP Delivered at Place | DAP Delivered at Place | Any | Goods placed at the buyer’s disposal on the arriving means of transport, ready for unloading at the named place | DAP now appears before DPU; the seller may arrange carriage using its own means of transport; security obligations addressed in A4/A7 |
| DDP Delivered Duty Paid | DDP Delivered Duty Paid | Any | Goods placed at the buyer’s disposal on the arriving means of transport, ready for unloading and cleared for import | Seller may arrange carriage using its own means of transport; security obligations addressed in A4/A7 |
| FAS Free Alongside Ship | FAS Free Alongside Ship | Sea/inland waterway | Alongside the vessel at named port of shipment | Security obligations addressed in A4/A7; costs consolidated in A9/B9 |
| FOB Free On Board | FOB Free On Board | Sea/inland waterway | On board the vessel at named port of shipment | Security in A4/A7; costs grouped; still not recommended for containers handed to a carrier before loading (use FCA) |
| CFR Cost and Freight | CFR Cost and Freight | Sea/inland waterway | On board the vessel at port of shipment | Security obligations addressed in A4/A7; costs consolidated in A9/B9 |
| CIF Cost Insurance and Freight | CIF Cost Insurance and Freight | Sea/inland waterway | On board the vessel at port of shipment | Insurance unchanged: Institute Cargo Clauses (C) minimum, 110%; the buyer and seller may agree to more cover |
The Seven Changes ICC Identifies in Incoterms® 2020
The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) lists seven main changes in the 2020 edition. This table explains each change and shows where to find it in the ICC introduction.
Seven Changes: 2010 vs 2020 Comparison Table
| # | Change | Incoterms® 2010 | Incoterms® 2020 | Intro para. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| a | FCA and on-board bills of lading | No special on-board bill of lading procedure. The seller may have difficulty getting a bill of lading confirming that the goods were loaded on the ship | Parties may agree that the buyer instructs its carrier to issue an on-board B/L to the seller after loading; the seller then tenders it to the buyer, typically through banks. The seller takes on no obligation about the transport contract | 63–66 |
| b | Where costs are listed | Costs were listed in different sections. For example, FOB document costs appeared in A8 rather than A6 | A9/B9 lists every cost the rule allocates; costs also stay in their own articles (e.g. FOB A6/B6) | 67–69 |
| c | Insurance in CIF and CIP | Both: minimum Institute Cargo Clauses (C), at least 110% of contract price, in A3 | CIF stays at Clauses (C). CIP rises to Clauses (A) (broader cover, subject to policy exclusions). Either can be varied by agreement. Now in A5 | 70 |
| d | Own means of transport | The rules generally assumed carriage by an independent carrier | Under FCA, the buyer—and under DAP, DPU and DDP, the seller—may contract for carriage or arrange carriage using their own means of transport | 71–73 |
| e | DAT renamed DPU | DAT: delivery unloaded at a "terminal", defined as "any place, whether covered or not" | DPU: delivery unloaded at any named place. DAP now listed before DPU. Seller should confirm it can unload at that place | 74–75 |
| f | Security requirements | Security duties mainly addressed in A2/B2 and A10/B10 | Security duties spelled out in A4 and A7; related costs shown in A9/B9 | 76 |
| g | Explanatory Notes | Short guidance notes before each rule | More detailed notes explaining when to use each rule, when risk passes and who pays which costs; also helpful when resolving disputes | 77 |
The ICC also considered adding rules about Verified Gross Mass (VGM), the verified weight of a packed shipping container, but did not include them in Incoterms® 2020 (Introduction, paragraphs 59–61).
Incoterms® Article Numbers: 2010 vs 2020
Both editions organize seller and buyer obligations into ten paired articles (A1–A10 and B1–B10). In 2020, the order changed. Delivery and transfer of risk now appear near the beginning. Use this table to find where a topic from the 2010 edition appears in the 2020 edition.
Reading the crosswalk: The final column tells you where the corresponding 2010 obligation appears under the 2020 article numbering.
A/B Article Number Comparison Table
| No. | Incoterms® 2010 (seller / buyer) | Incoterms® 2020 (seller / buyer) | Where the 2010 topic sits in 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | General obligations | General obligations | A1/B1 |
| 2 | Licences, authorizations, security clearances and other formalities | Delivery / Taking delivery | A7/B7 (clearance); security also in A4 |
| 3 | Contracts of carriage and insurance | Transfer of risks | A4/B4 (carriage) and A5/B5 (insurance) |
| 4 | Delivery / Taking delivery | Carriage | A2/B2 |
| 5 | Transfer of risks | Insurance | A3/B3 |
| 6 | Allocation of costs | Delivery/transport document | A9/B9 |
| 7 | Notices to the buyer / Notices to the seller | Export/import clearance | A10/B10 |
| 8 | Delivery document / Proof of delivery | Checking/packaging/marking | A6/B6 |
| 9 | Checking, packaging and marking / Inspection of goods | Allocation of costs | A8/B8 |
| 10 | Assistance with information and related costs | Notices | A7/B7 and A9/B9 (security information and its costs) |
A refers to the seller’s obligations; B refers to the buyer’s obligations. Sources: ICC Incoterms® 2020 Introduction, paragraph 53, and ICC Guide to Incoterms® 2010.
What the Changes Mean for Sales Contracts
If you are comparing contracts or switching from the 2010 edition to 2020, check the following points:
- Specify the rule, named place and edition in the sales contract. For example: FCA Seller’s warehouse, 12 Dock Rd, Rotterdam, Incoterms® 2020.
- A contract specifying Incoterms® 2010 remains subject to that edition unless the buyer and seller agree to amend it.
- When changing from DAT (2010) to DPU (2020), confirm that the seller can unload the goods at the named place of destination.
- Under CIP (2020), the seller must normally buy broader insurance: Institute Cargo Clauses (A), rather than Clauses (C). Review the insurance premium; the buyer and seller may expressly agree to a different level of cover.
- Under CIF, the minimum insurance requirement is still Institute Cargo Clauses (C). If the buyer needs broader cover, both sides should agree to it.
- For an FCA shipment where a letter of credit requires an on-board bill of lading, the buyer and seller should agree in advance on the optional A6/B6 procedure.
- For containers handed to a carrier before they are loaded on the ship, the ICC recommends FCA rather than FOB. CPT or CIP may be more suitable than CFR or CIF when the shipment uses more than one mode of transport.
- If the parties change the allocation of costs, specify whether the change also affects the delivery point or transfer of risk.
Sources and Reference Notes
- International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Incoterms® 2020, Publication 723E (© 2019), Foreword and Introduction, paragraphs 53–78.
- Jan Ramberg, ICC Guide to Incoterms® 2010: Understanding and Practical Use, ICC Publication 720E (2011).
- HDI Global SE, Incoterms® 2010 summary chart (2016), a secondary source for delivery and risk summaries.
- DHL, “Incoterms 2025 and Brazil: what is known about the next revision” (edition/revision context cited in the supplied reference).
- Foley & Lardner, “Incoterms® 2020: The Terms They Are A-Changin’” (2020 effective-date context cited in the supplied reference).
This independent educational guide was prepared by Greenspark.Group LLC, publisher of Freight Class Calculator. It is not an official ICC publication and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the ICC. For the exact requirements, check the ICC rules for the edition named in your contract.