Who books the truck? Your Incoterm decides.
EXW, FOB, CIF or DAP: the term in your contract sets who books and pays each leg between Durban and your door, and where the risk passes. Check yours, then send us your leg.
- 11Incoterms® 2020 rules, checked
- N3Full containers, both ways
- 24 hOur control room
One box, four terms.
- 01
Ex Works
The box waits at your door. The buyer books the truck, and the risk passes before it’s loaded.
- 02
Free Carrier
You load the buyer’s truck at your door; the risk passes once it’s loaded.
- 03
Free On Board
You book the truck to Durban, and the risk passes once the box is on board.
- 04
Delivered at Place
You carry it all the way, and the risk stays yours to the buyer’s named place.
Request a quote for your leg
Your shipment
Step 1 of 7- Direction
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- Incoterm
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- Cargo
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- SA end
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- How often
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- When
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- Incoterm check
- Optional
Import or export, side by side
The rule is the same whichever way the box goes; what changes is which side you’re on. Importing, you’re the buyer and the truck from Durban is often yours. Exporting, you’re the seller and the truck to Durban usually is.
Importing into South Africa
- E and F terms: all yoursThe sea leg and the truck from Durban
- C terms: paid to DurbanBut the risk was yours from loading
- D terms: to the named placeDurban or your door; DDP, cleared too
- 72 hours at DurbanFor delivery instructions after discharge
Exporting from South Africa
- EXW: the buyer collectsICC advises FCA instead
- FCA: loaded at your doorOr delivered to a named place
- FOB and C terms: to DurbanYou book the truck to the port
- D terms: all the wayThe risk stays yours to the buyer’s place
Customs follows the term
Export formalities sit with the seller except under EXW, import formalities with the buyer except under DDP. Until a box is cleared, it moves in bond: we’re a licensed remover of goods in bond, with a customs-licensed depot in Germiston.
Weighed before it sails
An export box needs its verified gross mass before it’s loaded. Our 22 m weighbridge issues VGM certificates, and we’re authorised for Method 1.
Either side can book us
We serve shipping lines, clearing and forwarding agents, importers and exporters, and run full containers on the N3 both ways. Whoever the term gives the South African leg to can book it with us.
Where we operate
Our head office and 24-hour control centre are at 69–71 Barlow Road, Jupiter, Germiston, beside our customs-licensed depot, with an office in Durban. Our full containers run the N3 between the two, imports and exports.
- Germiston depot69–71 Barlow Road, Jupiter, Germiston 011 873 4786
- Durban · Greyville81 Berea Road, Greyville, Durban 031 305 0438
Part of Shipping & General Transport
Shipping & General Transport is a privately owned South African logistics company built on trustworthiness, perseverance and reliability. Logistics Company is one of its specialist services: the South African legs of an import or export, for whichever side the term gives them to.
Visit shippingandgeneral.co.zaQuestions about Incoterms and the truck
Can’t find your answer? Our team is a phone call away.
Call 011 873 4786What are Incoterms?
Eleven three-letter trade terms published by the International Chamber of Commerce, such as FOB, CIF and DAP. Written into a contract of sale, a term sets where the seller delivers, where the risk passes to the buyer, who pays which part of the carriage, and who does the export and import formalities. They don’t cover payment, the price or who owns the goods.
Which edition applies?
Incoterms® 2020, in force since 1 January 2020. The ICC has only begun work on a revision for 2030; there is no newer edition. Write the edition in the contract with the rule and the place, for example “FCA Germiston, Incoterms® 2020”.
We import FOB. Who books the truck from Durban?
You do. Under FOB the risk passed to you once the goods were on board abroad, and you book the sea leg too. The truck from Durban to your door is yours to book and pay. We run full containers on the N3 between Durban and Johannesburg, with 50 line-haul trucks of our own and more than 200 subcontracted.
And under CIF?
The seller pays the sea freight to Durban and insures the goods for you, but only at minimum cover (Institute Cargo Clauses C). The risk is still yours from loading abroad, and the truck from Durban is yours to book.
Who clears the goods through customs?
The seller does the export formalities under every rule except EXW; the buyer does the import formalities under every rule except DDP. Your clearing agent handles them. Until a box is cleared it moves only in bond; we’re a licensed remover of goods in bond.
Why does ICC advise FCA rather than EXW for exports?
Under EXW you don’t even load the truck, and the buyer has to clear the goods for export, which a foreign buyer may not be able to do in South Africa. Under FCA you load the buyer’s truck at your premises, or deliver to a named place, and you do the export formalities.
FOB or FCA for a container?
ICC notes that FCA usually suits containers better, even by sea: a box is handed over at a terminal or depot, not loaded on board by the seller. Under FCA the risk passes at that handover; under FOB only once the box is on board.
DAP, DPU or DDP?
All three deliver at the named place, with the risk on the seller until then. Under DPU the seller also unloads; under DAP and DDP the buyer unloads, unless the seller’s carriage contract covers it. Only DDP makes the seller clear the goods for import and pay the duties.
Who sends the delivery instructions at Durban?
Whoever books the truck from the port. Delivery instructions are due within 72 hours of discharge; otherwise the terminal may move the box in bond to a depot, at your risk and cost. Our sister site counts the free days.
Who weighs an export container?
The shipper must declare its verified gross mass before it’s loaded. Our 22 m weighbridge at Germiston issues VGM certificates, and we’re authorised for Method 1. Our sister site plans the stack dates.
Can we book you if the seller pays the carriage?
Yes. We serve shipping lines, clearing and forwarding agents, importers and exporters, so whichever side books the South African leg, or its agent, can book us. Our part is the road and the depot; the sea leg, clearing and cargo insurance sit with whoever the term gives them to.
What does it cost?
We don’t publish prices. Answer the short questions in the quote form, add your Incoterm check if you like, and we’ll quote on your actual shipment.
Which leg is yours?
Seven short questions, plus your Incoterm check if you like. No prices online, just a quote on your actual shipment.
