CIP

Carriage and Insurance Paid (CIP) is a common trade term in international trade, which is defined in the Incoterms (International Commercial Terms). CIP regulates the responsibility and cost allocation between buyer and seller for the transportation of goods. Under CIP, the seller bears the costs and risks of transporting and insuring the goods to the named place of destination.

Meaning and application

CIP is one of the eleven official Incoterms published by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). This term is often used in international trade to define clear responsibilities and cost sharing between trading partners. CIP is suitable for both multimodal transportation and road transport.

Obligations of the seller

Under CIP, the seller has several key obligations:

  1. Transportation costs: the seller is responsible for the costs of transporting the goods to the named place of destination. This includes all necessary means of transportation and intermediate storage.
  2. Insurance: The seller must take out a minimum insurance policy covering the value of the goods plus 10% (110%) to protect the buyer against the risk of loss or damage during transportation.
  3. Export formalities: The seller is responsible for export customs clearance and all associated costs.

Obligations of the buyer

The buyer has the following responsibilities under CIP:

  1. Assumption of risk: the risk of loss or damage to the goods passes to the buyer as soon as the goods are handed over to the first carrier.
  2. Import clearance: The buyer is responsible for import customs clearance, including all related costs and formalities.
  3. Costs from destination: All costs incurred after the arrival of the goods at the named place of destination are borne by the buyer.

Advantages of CIP

The use of CIP offers several advantages:

  1. Cost clarity: buyers know in advance which costs are covered by the seller, making budgeting easier.
  2. Risk minimization: The seller’s insurance obligation means that the goods are covered during transport, which reduces the risk for the buyer.
  3. Simplified logistics: The seller takes care of the transportation to the destination, which reduces the logistical effort for the buyer.

Applications of CIP

CIP is used in various industries and situations, including

  • Mechanical engineering: ensuring the transportation and insurance of expensive machinery.
  • Electronics: Protecting sensitive electronic products during transportation.
  • Consumer goods: Efficient transportation and insurance of consumer goods over long distances.

Conclusion

Carriage and Insurance Paid (CIP) is an important Incoterm condition in international trade that defines clear responsibilities and cost allocations between buyers and sellers. CIP offers a high level of cost transparency and security for both parties by covering transportation and insurance costs up to the point of destination. This makes CIP a popular choice for the worldwide transportation of goods.