FOB vs CIF from Mombasa: Which Incoterm Should You Use When Importing from East Africa?
Who pays freight, insurance and port charges under each Incoterm — and how to choose.
Every quotation you receive from an East African exporter is tied to an Incoterm. Choosing the right one changes your price, your risk and your paperwork.
The terms you will see
- EXW (Ex Works) — you collect from the farm or factory. Rarely practical for overseas buyers.
- FCA Nairobi — we hand goods to your forwarder at JKIA. Common for air freight.
- FOB Mombasa — goods loaded on your vessel, export-cleared. You pay sea freight and insurance.
- CFR — we pay freight to your port; you insure.
- CIF — we pay freight and minimum insurance to your port. The simplest choice for most first-time importers.
- CIP — the air-freight equivalent of CIF.
- DAP — delivered to your warehouse or city; common for road freight to Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan and DR Congo.
Full definitions are in our How to Import guide.
Which should you choose?
Choose FOB if you have a forwarder with strong rates or nominate your own shipping line. Choose CIF or CFR if you want one price to your port and less coordination. Choose DAP for landlocked East and Central African destinations.
Example
For a 20ft container of Kenyan tea to Karachi, FOB covers tea, packing, permits and loading at Mombasa; CIF adds ocean freight and insurance to Karachi. See tea to Pakistan.
Ask for both
On our quotation form, choose "Please quote both FOB and CIF" to compare.
Frequently asked questions
Is FOB or CIF cheaper?
FOB looks cheaper because freight isn't included. If you have good freight rates, FOB can lower your landed cost; if not, CIF is simpler and often competitive.
Can I get both FOB and CIF prices?
Yes — choose 'Please quote both FOB and CIF' on our quotation form.
Why import with ProExporters Kenya?
ProExporters Kenya is your single, accountable partner for importing from Kenya and East Africa — from the first quotation to the bill of lading.
- 10 source countries, one partner — Kenya plus DR Congo, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Burundi, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia.
- Verified, licensed suppliers — auction-registered buyers, KEPHIS-registered packhouses, certified factories and licensed mineral dealers.
- Quality you can check — pre-shipment samples, lab analysis and independent inspection before loading.
- Documents handled — export permits, certificates of origin, phytosanitary, EUDR and due-diligence files.
- Transparent sample pricing — instant calculation and an emailed proforma invoice.
- Fast answers — formal FOB / CIF / DAP quotations, usually within 24 hours.
- Registered company — ProExporters is a brand and trading name of PROTECH CONSULTING, a company registered in Kenya.
