FCA – Free Carrier

Mode of Transport: Any mode (road, rail, air, sea, multimodal).
Delivery Point: Seller delivers goods to the carrier or buyer’s nominated person at the named place (inland terminal, port, airport, etc.).
Risk Transfer: Risk passes when goods are handed over to the carrier at the agreed place.
Export & Import Clearance: Seller clears for export; buyer clears for import.
Carriage & Insurance: Buyer arranges and pays for main carriage; no insurance obligation on seller.
Typical Use: Containerized shipments, multimodal transport, inland deliveries.

FAS – Free Alongside Ship

Mode of Transport: Only for sea or inland waterway transport.
Delivery Point: Seller delivers goods when placed alongside the vessel (on quay or barge) at the named port of shipment.
Risk Transfer: Risk passes when goods are alongside the vessel at port.
Export & Import Clearance: Seller clears for export; buyer clears for import.
Carriage & Insurance: Buyer arranges and pays for main carriage; no insurance obligation on seller.
Typical Use: Bulk cargo shipments like coal, grain, oil.

Key Difference

FCA is flexible, works for all modes of transport, and suits containerized/multimodal cargo.

FAS is restricted to sea transport and only covers delivery “alongside the ship,” not loaded onboard.