Contracts & Pricing

Incoterms

Also known as: International Commercial Terms

Incoterms are standardised international trade terms that define who is responsible for shipping, insurance, duties and risk at each stage of a delivery.

Published by the International Chamber of Commerce, Incoterms (such as EXW, FOB, CIF and DDP) create a common language so buyer and seller know exactly where responsibility and risk transfer between them — who pays freight and insurance, who handles export and import clearance, and at what point the goods become the buyer's risk.

Getting Incoterms right avoids costly disputes and surprise charges. They matter most in cross-border trade, but the principle of clearly defining delivery responsibility applies to any supply arrangement.

Frequently asked questions

What are Incoterms?
Incoterms are standardised international trade terms, published by the International Chamber of Commerce, that define who is responsible for shipping, insurance, duties and risk at each stage of a delivery.
Why do Incoterms matter?
They remove ambiguity in cross-border trade about who pays for freight, insurance and customs, and exactly when risk passes from seller to buyer — preventing disputes and unexpected costs.

Explore related across the knowledge graph

GlossaryLiquidated Damages (LD)Liquidated damages (LD) are a pre-agreed sum a supplier must pay the buyer if it fails to meet a defined obligation, such as a delivery deadline.GlossaryPenalty ClauseA penalty clause is a contract term that imposes a financial charge on a party for failing to meet agreed obligations, such as late or defective delivery.GlossaryService Level Agreement (SLA)A service level agreement (SLA) defines the measurable standards a supplier commits to — such as response time, uptime or delivery reliability — and the consequences of missing them.GuideContract managementThe discipline that turns a negotiated agreement into delivered value — keeping contracts used, monitored and renewed on time.GuideMRO procurementThe spare parts, tools, safety and consumables that keep facilities and equipment running — critical, fragmented and easy to overspend on.GuideProcure-to-payThe operational cycle that turns an approved need into a purchase order, a delivery, a matched invoice and a payment.SolutionAI Procurement Software in MalaysiaAI procurement software for Malaysian enterprises — AI spend categorization, price benchmarking, GL code detection and approver insights on a full workflow platform that also executes what it recommends through 10,000+ suppliers and owned fulfilment.SolutionB2B Procurement & Supplies in CyberjayaB2B supplier for Cyberjaya and Putrajaya's tech and government corridor — office, pantry, cleaning and facilities goods on one managed account with contract pricing, credit terms and free delivery on orders from RM1,000.SolutionB2B Procurement & Supplies in IpohB2B supplier for Ipoh and Kinta Valley businesses — office, pantry, cleaning, MRO, packaging and safety goods on one managed account with contract pricing, credit terms and free delivery on orders from RM1,000 in Perak.ToolInventory Carrying Cost CalculatorEstimate the annual cost of the stock sitting in your storeroom.ToolVendor Risk AssessmentScore a vendor's financial, delivery, quality and continuity risk.TemplateContract Register TemplateAn Excel register to track every supplier contract, its value and renewal dates, with automatic expiry alerts.TemplateGoods Received Note (GRN) TemplateAn Excel GRN to record and inspect deliveries, flag quantity variances and feed three-way matching.TemplateOffice Supplies Inventory TemplateAn Excel inventory for office and pantry supplies with reorder points that flag what to replenish.ComparisonBuild vs buy a platformBuild vs buy a procurement platform: why AI makes the ordering software easy to build, but the supplier network, pricing, credit and owned fulfilment underneath are the real decision.

Put procurement theory into practice

Talk to our team about wholesale pricing, credit terms, sourcing support and delivery across Peninsular Malaysia — or explore the marketplace built for Malaysian enterprises.

Prefer to talk to a real person?

Our team replies fast on WhatsApp and email — no forms, no waiting.