Free Carrier
FCA (named place of delivery) the Incoterms 2020
FCA suomeksi, in Finnish
- The seller delivers the goods to the buyer, when he hands them over to the carrier nominated by the buyer at the agreed place at the agreed time of delivery.
- The seller pays the costs and bears the risks of damage to or loss of the goods until he has delivered them.
- The seller will take care of the export formalities.
- The buyer takes delivery of the goods when the seller hands them over to the carrier named by the buyer.
- The buyer pays the costs and bears the risk of loss of or damage to the goods after the delivery.
- The buyer takes care of formalities for the import of the goods and for their transit through any country.
According to FCA, the seller delivers the goods to the buyer close to the seller. The seller delivers the goods and the buyer will take the delivery when the seller hands over the goods to the custody of a carrier designated by the buyer. At the same time, the costs are divided, and the risk is transferred from the seller to the buyer.
The seller may deliver the goods to the buyer, usually to the carrier named by the buyer, either at the premises of the seller or at any other place designated by the buyer, for example, at the carrier’s terminal.
The seller will receive a document from the carrier as a proof of the delivery. If the delivery takes place at the seller’s premises, such document proves that goods were loaded on buyer’s means of transport. When the seller delivers the goods at the buyer’s terminal, the delivery takes place and the risk is transferred when goods are on the arriving vehicle, even if the carrier would issue a transport document upon departure from the terminal.
The seller is responsible for the export formalities and their costs. The seller is responsible for the costs related to the goods until the delivery takes place whereas the buyer is responsible for the costs associated with the transport of the goods. Import formalities and any costs of transit formalities belong to the buyer.
Some goods may by their very nature require special handling. Goods can be heavy, sizable, valuable, dangerous, or they may be liquid or gaseous. In such case the goods must be handled in such a manner as their nature may require.
FCA is suitable for use when the seller delivers the goods to the buyer close to the seller or the buyer wishes to pick up the goods close to the seller. It can be used with all modes of transport.
Page updated / checked 4.1.2025.