EXW — Ex Works
The seller makes the goods available at its own premises or another named place — not loaded and not cleared for export. The buyer does everything else.
- Transport
- Any mode
- Main carriage
- The buyer arranges and pays all transport from the seller's door.
- Risk passes
- When the goods are placed at the buyer's disposal at the named place.
- Insurance
- Not required
Who pays and who carries the risk
- Risk passes to buyerExport clearanceBuyer
- Loading at sellerBuyer
- Transport to terminalBuyer
- Origin terminal & loadingBuyer
- Main carriageBuyer
- Destination terminal & unloadingBuyer
- Import clearance & dutiesBuyer
- Delivery to buyerBuyer
- Unloading at buyerBuyer
Seller
- Have the goods packed and ready at the named place on the agreed date
- Give the buyer notice that the goods are ready
- Help, at the buyer's request and cost, with information for export clearance
Buyer
- Load the goods at the seller's premises
- Clear the goods for export and import
- Book and pay all transport and insurance
- Bear all risk from the moment the goods are made available
When to use it
Domestic sales, or when the buyer has its own logistics set-up in the seller's country and an experienced forwarder there.
Watch out
The buyer has to clear the goods for export in the seller's country, which is often impractical, and the seller is not even obliged to load. In most international sales FCA at the seller's premises works better.
Not sure which term to agree?
Tell us the route and the cargo — we'll suggest the term that fits and quote the freight for it.
Get a quoteOther Incoterms® rules
Incoterms® is a registered trademark of the International Chamber of Commerce. This guide is Cargo 4S's own summary for everyday use; for the complete rules see the official ICC Incoterms® 2020 publication.
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