Updated 8 August 2026. This buyer guide explains how to request and review a shipment of Vietnam-origin cashew kernels to Aqaba, Jordan under CFR Aqaba Port, Jordan, Incoterms® 2020. “CNF” or “C&F” is still used informally in trade conversations, but the official ICC rule is CFR: Cost and Freight.
The key point is easy to miss: under CFR, the seller pays the contracted freight to the named destination port, while delivery and risk transfer occur earlier, when the goods are on board the vessel at the port of shipment. The seller is not required by the CFR rule to obtain cargo insurance. Buyers should align the sales contract, insurance and broker instructions before loading.
CFR Aqaba responsibility map
| Item | Seller under CFR | Buyer under CFR |
|---|---|---|
| Export clearance | Arranges export formalities | Provides assistance or information when required |
| Delivery | Delivers when goods are placed on board at origin | Bears risk from the delivery point stated by the rule |
| Main carriage | Contracts and pays freight to Aqaba Port | Receives cargo under the agreed transport document |
| Cargo insurance | No obligation under CFR | Normally arranges suitable cover or negotiates CIF instead |
| Import clearance | Supplies agreed shipment documents | Arranges Jordan import formalities, approvals, duties and taxes |
| Destination costs | Only costs included in the seller’s carriage contract | Plans charges not included in that contract, subject to carrier and port terms |
Always write the full term in the quotation and contract: “CFR Aqaba Port, Jordan, Incoterms® 2020.” The named destination does not move the CFR risk-transfer point to Aqaba.
Product selection: WW160 to WW320 and A180
Grade names are only the starting point. The sales contract should attach a buyer-approved specification covering count or size, colour, moisture, defects, broken kernels, foreign matter, packing and sampling method.
| Product | Typical commercial use | Points to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| WW160 | Extra-large presentation, premium retail and gifting | Count basis, colour, whole-kernel tolerance and availability |
| WW180 | Large premium whole-kernel programmes | Count, visual uniformity, defects and approved sample |
| WW240 | Premium retail, roasting and food service | Application, roast performance, specification and packing |
| WW320 | Versatile retail, roasting and ingredient demand | Count, broken tolerance, moisture, defects and volume plan |
| A180 | Le Duong commercial designation for a large unpeeled salt-roasted product | Do not treat as an AFI white-whole grade; confirm testa, roast, salt, oil, flavour and shelf-life specification |
See Le Duong’s product portfolio and market specification guide. Availability and final tolerances remain subject to written confirmation.
Packing and container plan
Possible formats include bulk vacuum packs in cartons and selected retail or private-label packs. Tin or other formats may be evaluated for a specific programme. Do not copy a packing weight from an earlier shipment without checking the current product, line capability, Jordan label and container plan.
The packing schedule should state:
- inner-pack material and net weight;
- packs per carton and carton gross weight;
- carton dimensions and marks;
- lot coding and best-before format;
- English and Arabic label artwork approved by the importer;
- pallet or floor-loaded configuration;
- container net weight, gross weight and carton count; and
- desiccant or liner arrangement when agreed.
Pallet height, wood treatment, load securing and container payload must follow the confirmed carrier, port and importer requirements. Use the final packing list and verified container plan rather than a generic stack-height promise.
Jordan document matrix: confirm before production
Jordan food-import requirements depend on product classification, processing, label, use and current authority instructions. The Jordan Food and Drug Administration (JFDA) handles food-control functions, the Jordan Standards and Metrology Organization (JSMO) develops and administers standards, and customs or Aqaba-zone procedures also apply. Requirements can change, so the Jordan importer and licensed broker should issue a shipment-specific checklist before artwork approval and production.
| Document or approval | Status for planning | Who should confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial invoice | Core commercial document | Importer/broker confirms wording, currency and values |
| Packing list | Core shipment document | Importer/broker confirms required fields |
| Bill of lading | Core transport document | Buyer, bank and broker approve consignee/notify wording |
| Certificate of origin | Commonly requested; form and legalisation can vary | Broker and chamber/customs instructions |
| Food, health or phytosanitary certificate | Conditional on classification and current authority requirement | Importer verifies with JFDA, Ministry of Agriculture or broker |
| Laboratory report, including aflatoxin when required | Buyer- or authority-specific | Importer states analytes, limits, method and lab acceptance |
| Fumigation or wood-packaging evidence | Conditional on treatment, packaging and route | Broker, carrier and plant-health authority |
| Halal certificate | Only if buyer, channel or authority requires it for the product | Importer defines acceptable certifier and scope |
| Insurance certificate | Not a seller obligation under CFR | Buyer arranges cover, or parties choose CIF with defined terms |
Do not add “Non-GMO,” “Halal,” phytosanitary or test statements automatically. Each claim or certificate must match the product, facility, shipment and destination requirement. Le Duong keeps applicable quality documents in its quality-document centre; buyers should select the records relevant to the contracted product.
Labels for Jordan: approve the actual artwork
USDA’s Jordan FAIRS report describes Arabic as the principal label language and identifies JSMO and JFDA roles in food standards and testing. Because that report is an older secondary reference and rules can change, it should be used as a research lead—not as final clearance authority for a 2026 shipment.
The importer should approve a print-ready label that addresses, as applicable:
- product name and grade or commercial description;
- ingredients and allergen declaration;
- net weight in metric units;
- country of origin;
- manufacturer and Jordan importer details;
- production, expiry or best-before date format;
- lot or batch code;
- storage instructions;
- nutrition panel for the intended channel; and
- Arabic translation and placement.
For A180 or another seasoned product, confirm the full ingredient list and declaration order from the final recipe. Do not reuse a white-kernel label.
Build a CFR quotation that can be compared
| Quotation field | Example of adequate detail |
|---|---|
| Product | WW320 against attached specification and approved sample |
| Quantity | Named metric tonnes with shipment tolerance |
| Packing | Net kilograms per vacuum pack, packs per carton, total cartons |
| Price basis | US$/kg, CFR Aqaba Port, Jordan, Incoterms® 2020 |
| Shipment | Defined loading window, subject to carrier booking |
| Freight validity | Named validity date and treatment of carrier surcharges |
| Documents | Included core set plus priced conditional documents/tests |
| Payment | Currency, method, timing, bank charges and document conditions |
| Offer validity | Exact date, time and time zone |
When comparing offers, align grade, specification, pack, shipment window, carrier assumptions and document scope. A lower CFR number may exclude a test, surcharge or destination cost included elsewhere.
Destination charges and free time
CFR does not mean every Aqaba cost is prepaid. The buyer should obtain a written destination estimate from the carrier or local agent for the specific bill of lading and equipment. Items may include terminal handling, delivery order, documentation, inspection, storage, demurrage, detention and inland delivery, depending on the carrier contract and clearance timeline.
Request free-time terms before booking and assign responsibility for delays caused by late originals, document discrepancies, inspection holds or buyer instructions. Port and carrier tariffs change; avoid publishing a fixed charge as if it applies to every shipment.
Cargo insurance under CFR
Because CFR does not oblige the seller to insure the cargo, the buyer should arrange cover early enough for the actual risk period. Confirm insured value, start and end points, deductible, exclusions, temperature or moisture considerations, claims notice and required evidence. If the buyer wants the seller to procure insurance, compare a properly defined CIF offer rather than informally assuming insurance is included in “CNF.”
Pre-shipment approval sequence
- Importer sends product, grade, quantity, packing and target shipment window.
- Supplier issues specification, quotation and preliminary container plan.
- Importer and broker confirm HS classification, approvals, documents and label requirements.
- Parties approve artwork, test plan, contract and payment terms.
- Supplier confirms production and booking; buyer confirms CFR insurance.
- Draft invoice, packing list, certificate wording and bill-of-lading instructions are reviewed.
- Final documents are checked against the contract and broker checklist before release.
Frequently asked questions
Is CNF an official Incoterms® 2020 rule?
No. The official rule is CFR. Use “CFR Aqaba Port, Jordan, Incoterms® 2020” in the quotation and contract; CNF can be noted only as informal buyer terminology.
Does risk transfer when the container reaches Aqaba?
No. Under CFR, risk transfers at the delivery point at origin when the goods are on board the vessel, even though the seller pays freight to Aqaba.
Is insurance included in a CFR price?
Not by the CFR rule. The buyer normally arranges insurance. If seller-procured insurance is required, define and compare CIF terms.
Are phytosanitary, fumigation, aflatoxin and Halal certificates always required?
Do not assume so. Requirements depend on classification, product, packing, channel and current Jordan instructions. The importer and broker must confirm the shipment-specific list before production.
Can A180 use the same specification as WW180?
No. A180 is a Le Duong commercial product designation for unpeeled salt-roasted cashew and needs its own recipe, process, quality, label and shelf-life specification.
Authoritative references
- International Chamber of Commerce: Incoterms® 2020
- Jordan Customs Department
- Jordan Food and Drug Administration
- Jordan Standards and Metrology Organization
- Aqaba Special Economic Zone customs regulation
- USDA FAS: Jordan Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards report
Ready to brief a CFR Aqaba enquiry? Send the grade, specification, quantity, pack, shipment window and your broker’s document checklist through the quotation form. Final acceptance remains subject to written specification, compliance and commercial confirmation.
