# EXW, Ex Works (Incoterms 2020)

EXW (Ex Works) means the seller only makes the goods available at its own premises or another named place, not loaded and not cleared for export; the buyer takes the risk and pays for everything from there, including export clearance.

- Transport: any mode
- Delivery and risk transfer: Goods placed at the buyer's disposal at the named place (usually the seller's premises), not loaded on any collecting vehicle.
- Seller's costs run to: Seller's premises

## Responsibilities

| Job | Who |
|---|---|
| Export clearance | Buyer |
| Loading at origin | Buyer |
| Main carriage | Buyer |
| Insurance | No obligation |
| Unloading at destination | Buyer |
| Import clearance and duties | Buyer |

## Common mistakes

- **The buyer must clear export** Under EXW the buyer is responsible for export clearance in the seller's country, which a foreign buyer often cannot do legally. FCA at the seller's premises is usually the better fit.
- **Loading is not the seller's job** Many sellers load the truck anyway, but if goods are damaged while the seller's forklift loads them, the risk was already the buyer's. Agree it in writing, or use FCA.
- **No proof of export for the seller** Because the buyer handles export, the seller may lack the export evidence it needs for VAT or tax purposes.

## EXW or FCA?

FCA puts export clearance and loading at the seller's premises on the seller, which matches how most export sales actually work.

Incoterms® is a trademark of the International Chamber of Commerce; CartonMath is not affiliated with the ICC.

## FAQ

**What does EXW mean?**
EXW (Ex Works) means the seller only makes the goods available at its own premises or another named place, not loaded and not cleared for export; the buyer takes the risk and pays for everything from there, including export clearance.

**When does risk pass under EXW?**
Goods placed at the buyer's disposal at the named place (usually the seller's premises), not loaded on any collecting vehicle.

**Who pays the main freight under EXW?**
The buyer arranges and pays the main carriage.

**Who pays import duties under EXW?**
The buyer clears the goods for import and pays any duties and taxes under EXW.

**Can EXW be used for container shipments?**
Yes. EXW works for any mode of transport, including containers and multimodal shipments.

Source page: https://cartonmath.com/incoterms/exw/
Updated: 2026-10-06
Publisher: CartonMath (https://cartonmath.com)