FOB or FCA: which Incoterm to choose for containers?

For containerised shipments, FCA (Free Carrier) is generally preferable to FOB (Free on Board), as recommended by the ICC itself. Main reason: with FOB, risk transfers when goods pass the ship's rail (a concept from bulk cargo), but containers are delivered to the port terminal often days before loading — creating an ambiguous period. FCA provides a precise delivery point: the seller delivers to the carrier at the agreed place. In practice, FOB remains widely used for maritime containers, especially with letters of credit (L/C) requiring on-board bills of lading. FOB remains appropriate only for conventional break-bulk cargo loaded directly onto vessels. For landlocked Switzerland, FCA is particularly relevant as the delivery point is typically an intermodal terminal or forwarder's warehouse.