FCA, or Free Carrier, is the Incoterm where the seller delivers the goods, cleared for export, to a carrier or a place named by the buyer. Delivery can happen at the seller’s premises, where the seller loads the goods onto the buyer’s collecting vehicle, or at a terminal, where the seller delivers them ready for unloading. Once handed to the named carrier, risk passes to the buyer.
FCA is the flexible, modern term for containerized and multimodal trade, and many trade bodies recommend it over FOB for goods that move in containers rather than over a ship’s rail. Texas International Freight handles FCA shipments and clarifies the shipping terms beside FOB so the handover point is clear.
