In Shipping, What Does the Term “CNF” Mean?

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The acronym “CNF” stands for “Cost and Freight.” The term refers to a common type of shipping agreement where the seller pays for delivering the item to the port closest to the buyer.

CFN shipping does not include the cost of insurance. The buyer must pay for insuring the item from the point of origin to the final destination. The buyer also must pay various other fees, such as customs fees and any storage fees. Another common type of shipping agreement, known as CIF, is similar to CNF but requires the seller to purchase insurance for shipping the item to the port of destination.