CY/CY (Container Yard to Container Yard) is a common handover method in international container transport, meaning the carrier receives a full container at the container yard of the port of loading and is responsible for delivering it to the container yard of the port of discharge. This term applies when the shipper has enough cargo to fill one or more containers, and the shipper usually stuffs, counts, and seals the container itself and bears the stuffing and stripping costs. Use scenarios include FCL (full container load) transport, with the carrier's period of responsibility from CY at the port of loading to CY at the port of discharge. Notes: the shipper must ensure accurate declaration of the cargo in the container and that the seal is intact; the carrier is not responsible for the quantity and quality of the cargo inside the container. The difference from terms such as CY/CFS, CFS/CY, and CFS/CFS lies in the handover location: CY/CY is purely full-container handover, while terms involving CFS (Container Freight Station) include LCL or stripping services. In addition, under CY/CY the carrier's responsibility is clear, but the shipper must arrange inland transport to the CY itself.
📝 Examples
1. This transaction adopts CY/CY terms: the seller is responsible for delivering the fully loaded container to the container yard at Shanghai Port, and the buyer picks up the container at the container yard at New York Port and arranges inland transport itself. (Note: This clarifies that the seller delivers to the CY at the port of loading, and the buyer takes delivery at the CY at the port of discharge and bears subsequent costs.)
2. According to the contract, the carrier transports on a CY/CY basis, receiving the container at Qingdao Port CY and delivering it at Hamburg Port CY; the shipper must ensure that the cargo in the container is consistent with the customs declaration and bears the stuffing and stripping costs. (Note: This emphasizes the carrier's period of responsibility and the shipper's obligation to stuff and strip the container itself.)
💡 Foreign Trade Tips
Foreign trade terms are the foundation of international business communication
Trade practices may vary slightly by country; pay attention when using them
When using terms in contracts, specify the applicable version (e.g., Incoterms 2020)
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