06 January 2011
FOB(Free 0n B0ard) value in simple terms you can say is the product price whereas CIF (Cost ,Insurance & Freight)value includes in addition to Cost price ,the insurance part & freight part also to the destination ,if you are talking about Customs valuations rules it is always CIF value ,in fact to the CIF value 1% landing charges also to be added for custom duty calculation purpose.
FOB and CIF are the most two popular price terms of INCO TERMS, defined by ICC to harmonize the possible dispute of arising form the international trade practice. FOB (Free On Board): Term of sale under which the price invoiced or quoted by a seller includes all charges up to placing the goods on board a ship at the port of departure specified by the buyer. Also called collect freight, freight collect, or freight forward.
CIF (Cost, Insurance & Freight): Term of sale signifying that the price invoiced or quoted by a seller includes insurance and all other charges up to the named port of destination. In comparison, carriage and insurance paid to (CIP) terms include insurance and all charges up to a named place in the country of destination (usually the buyer's warehouse). See also cost and freight (C&F, or CFR). The difference between CIF and CFR is the insurance during the transportation.
for more info:- read foreign trade policy 2010-2011