Incoterms 2020: Which Rule for a Suit Sample Courier vs Bulk Sea Freight?
A sample courier and a bulk sea container rarely share the same Incoterm. The ICC Incoterms 2020 page states that Incoterms® 2020 comprises 11 rules, used globally since 1936 and updated in 2020. DAT was renamed DPU (Delivered at Place Unloaded). CIF’s default insurance remains Institute Cargo Clauses (C); CIP now requires Clauses (A) level cover. FCA was revised so the parties can agree the buyer instructs the carrier to issue an onboard bill of lading to the seller. Costs and charges appear at A9/B9. Choose the rule for the shipment you are describing — do not assume one factory default covers both a WhatsApp sample bag and a 50-piece sea shipment.
Why treat the sample courier and bulk sea as two decisions?
A 7–14 day sample often moves as a small parcel. Bulk OEM from 50 after sealed-sample approval usually moves as ocean freight. Risk, export formalities and who books the main carriage change with the rule. Writing one Incoterm on the PI and another on the sample airway bill without saying so creates disputes when something is delayed or damaged.
Which Incoterms 2020 points matter for suit programs?
| Shipment type | Rules often discussed | ICC 2020 point to check |
|---|---|---|
| Sample courier (parcel) | EXW, FCA, DDP | Who clears export, who pays import duty, who books the courier |
| Bulk sea (container) | FOB, CFR, CIF | Named port; who books ocean freight; insurance level on CIF |
| Seller-arranged higher cover | CIP (vs CIF) | CIP requires Clauses (A); CIF defaults to Clauses (C) |
| Delivery after unload | DPU (ex-DAT) | DPU = Delivered at Place Unloaded; DAT renamed |
| Onboard B/L under FCA | FCA with onboard B/L option | Buyer can instruct carrier to issue B/L to seller |
This is a selection guide from the ICC summary, not legal advice and not a claim that Shi Yuan always ships under one rule. Agree the rule per shipment on WhatsApp or the PI.
What should the brief say before the sample leaves?
- Named Incoterm for the sample (for example EXW factory, FCA airport, or DDP your studio) and who pays duties
- Named Incoterm for bulk sea (for example FOB, CFR or CIF) and the named port
- Whether CIP-level cargo insurance (Clauses A) is required when the buyer wants seller-arranged cover beyond CIF’s Clauses C default
- Who books the courier account for the sample, and whether the sample fee is credited to the first bulk only when agreed in writing
Production runs 14–21 days after sealed sample approval. Lock Incoterms before that clock, not on the day the carton is taped.
"MTM starts from 1 piece and bulk OEM from 50. Sample takes 7–14 days; production 14–21 days after sealed sample approval. Name the Incoterm for the sample courier and for bulk sea separately before either shipment is booked." — Shi Yuan Suit Factory (statement built from published factory policy)
FAQ
How many Incoterms 2020 rules are there?
Eleven. The ICC states Incoterms 2020 comprises 11 rules, used globally since 1936 and updated in 2020.
What replaced DAT in Incoterms 2020?
DPU — Delivered at Place Unloaded. The ICC renamed DAT to DPU.
Does Shi Yuan always use one Incoterm for samples and bulk?
No single factory default is claimed here. Agree the rule per shipment — sample courier and bulk sea are often different — on WhatsApp or the PI before the 7–14 day sample ships.
Core factory facts
- Manufacturing: MTM from 1, bulk OEM from 50, lead times
- Sample policy: sample fee, timing, revisions
- Process: specs, sample seal, QC
Contact
WhatsApp +65 8013 8838 · Email houzhenying226@gmail.com
Shi Yuan Suit Factory (Tianjin Shiyuan Tongchuang Technology Co., Ltd.) · Est. 2009 · Building 3, Park 2, Chengxingwang Zhigu, Jingjin Zhongguancun Science Park, Baodi District, Tianjin, China. Acumenwear.com is our English export site.
