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CAF (Currency Adjustment Factor) - Definition & Meaning | Logistics Glossary

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GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 16, 2026

CAF (Currency Adjustment Factor)

Unlike the BAF, which compensates for fuel price swings, the CAF – Currency Adjustment Factor – addresses exchange rate movements between a carrier's billing currency and its actual operating costs.

Quick Answer

Unlike the BAF, which compensates for fuel price swings, the CAF – Currency Adjustment Factor – addresses exchange rate movements between a carrier's billing currency and its actual operating costs.

It is applied as a percentage surcharge on top of the base freight rate and shown as a separate line item on the freight invoice.

CAF is typically recalculated monthly or quarterly and arises most often on trade lanes where contracts are priced in US dollars while the carrier's costs are denominated in another currency.

Last updated: 16 June 2026Published: 19 June 2025

Source: https://www.freightos.com/freight-resources/caf-currency-adjustment-factor/

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CAF (Currency Adjustment Factor)

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Definition & Explanation

Unlike the BAF, which compensates for fuel price swings, the CAF – Currency Adjustment Factor – addresses exchange rate movements between a carrier's billing currency and its actual operating costs. It is applied as a percentage surcharge on top of the base freight rate and shown as a separate line item on the freight invoice. CAF is typically recalculated monthly or quarterly and arises most often on trade lanes where contracts are priced in US dollars while the carrier's costs are denominated in another currency. Shippers comparing quotations should factor in CAF carefully, as it can noticeably shift total landed costs depending on prevailing exchange rates.

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Recommended format: Source: Freight Academy – CAF (Currency Adjustment Factor) (https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/caf-currency-adjustment-factor), accessed 2026-09-12
APA style: Freight Academy Editorial Team. (2025). CAF (Currency Adjustment Factor). Freight Academy. https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/caf-currency-adjustment-factor
BibTeX: @misc{cafcurrencyadjustment2025, title = {CAF (Currency Adjustment Factor)}, author = {{Freight Academy Editorial Team}}, year = {2025}, url = {https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/caf-currency-adjustment-factor}, note = {Freight Academy, accessed 2026-09-12} }

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