A Guide to FOB, CFR and CPT Terms When Buying Steel Products
Anariss trading team
4 min read
What are Incoterms?
Incoterms are a set of rules published by the International Chamber of Commerce that define who bears freight, insurance, customs formalities and risk at each stage of an international sale. The term chosen shapes the final price and how much control the buyer has over shipping.
FOB: free on board
Under FOB, the seller brings the goods to the port of shipment, clears them for export and loads them onto the vessel nominated by the buyer. Risk passes to the buyer once the goods are on board, and the buyer pays sea freight and insurance. It suits buyers who have their own shipping arrangements.
CFR and CPT: carriage paid to destination
Under CFR, the seller loads the goods and also pays sea freight to the port of destination, but risk still passes to the buyer at the port of shipment. CPT follows similar logic but applies to any mode of transport, including road and rail, with risk passing when the goods are handed to the first carrier. For Central Asian markets, where road and rail freight are common, CPT is a widely used option.
Mill test certificates and quality control
A mill test certificate (MTC) reports the chemical composition and mechanical properties of each heat or production batch and shows the product's compliance with standards such as DIN or ASTM. Anariss sources steel products directly from reputable mills with MTCs and manages customs, loading and clearance at the exit border.
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See the technical specifications and supply terms for each product and send your request to the Anariss team.
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