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Buy Requests on CFR and CIF Terms: How to Post One

A buy request tells sellers what you want to import and at which port. On Comdity a buy request is on CFR and CIF terms: the seller brings the cargo to your discharge port.

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What a buy request contains

Name the product, the quantity, the discharge port, the delivery period and the terms you accept: CFR, CIF or both. At least one of CFR and CIF must be chosen. Add the quality you need: grade, specification and the inspection company you accept. A buy request is shown on the product page, for example coal, rice or NPK fertilizers.

CFR or CIF

With CFR the seller pays the freight and you insure the cargo; with CIF the seller also buys the insurance. If you have a cargo insurance policy for all your imports, CFR is often easier. If not, CIF saves a step. See FOB vs CFR vs CIF.

Opening the request to FOB offers

You can mark that you are also open to FOB offers. Sellers who only sell FOB can then respond, and you book the ship yourself. No loading port is needed in the request. If you do not mark it, only CFR and CIF offers are possible.

Comparing the offers

Compare the total cost at your port, not only the price per tonne. For an FOB offer add freight, insurance and port costs. For CFR add insurance. For CIF check the insurance level. Compare the shipment dates, the quality terms and the origin of the goods. Use counteroffers to ask for a change.

Checking the seller

Ask for the company registration, a bank reference and samples or a certificate of analysis. Use an independent inspection company at loading. See how to find and check suppliers and the documents you will need.

Example of a buy request

A clear buy request reads: "30,000 tonnes of thermal coal, calorific value 5,500 kcal per kg, CFR discharge port, shipment in December, inspection at loading, open to FOB offers." The sellers see what you need, where it must arrive and when. If you also want to accept FOB offers, say so, and you will book the ship yourself.

The discharge port

Choose the port from the port list and check its limits: the maximum draft and length of the ship, the discharge rate per day and the cost of waiting. A port with a low draft can take only smaller ships, which changes the freight cost. If your cargo is large, ask the seller to confirm that the ship can discharge at your port.

Payment and documents

Say how you want to pay: many bulk deals are paid by letter of credit or against documents through a bank. Ask for the standard set of documents: commercial invoice, bill of lading, certificate of origin, quality and quantity certificates and, for CIF, the insurance certificate. See export and import documents.

Common mistakes of buyers

Comparing offers only by the price per tonne and forgetting freight, insurance and port costs. Not asking for the quality standard in writing. Choosing a shipment date before checking the import licence or the customs time. Paying a large advance to a seller you have not checked. See how to find and check suppliers.

Ready to trade?

Post a sell offer or a buy request, or look at the active listings of the product you need.

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