• “Cost, insurance and freight” (CIF) is an international trade term that applies only to goods shipped by water or ocean.

  • Together with the cost, insurance and freight, the seller covers the costs, insurance and freight of the buyer’s order in transit.
  • Once the shipment has been delivered to the buyer’s destination port, the buyer is responsible for the import and shipping costs of the goods.
  • However, the transfer of risk from the seller to the buyer occurs when the goods are loaded onto the ship.
  • The buyer takes ownership of the goods once on the ship, and if the cargo is damaged during transit, the buyer must file a claim with the seller’s insurance company.