EXW
Ex Works
any
The buyer collects the goods at the seller's premises and bears all costs and risks from that point onwards. It places the maximum obligation on the buyer and the minimum on the seller.
- Seller stages
- 0 of 12
- Buyer stages
- 12 of 12
Incoterms 2020
Who pays for what, and where risk transfers. The full responsibility matrix for all eleven Incoterms 2020 rules.
Incoterms are the international rules that define who arranges and pays for each stage of a shipment, and where the risk in the goods passes from seller to buyer. They do not cover the price of the goods themselves, nor do they replace the contract of sale.
Use the matrix below to see the split stage by stage, then open a rule for the practical detail. The eleven rules shown are the Incoterms 2020 set.
| Incoterms 2020 | Loading on truck (carrier) | Export customs declaration | Carriage to port of export | Unloading of truck in port of export | Loading charges in port of export | Carriage to port of import | Unloading charges in port of import | Loading on truck in port of import | Carriage to place of destination | Insurance | Import customs clearance | Import taxes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXW Ex Works | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer |
| FCA Free Carrier | Seller | Seller | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer |
| FAS Free Alongside Ship | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer |
| FOB Free On Board | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer |
| CFR Cost and Freight | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer |
| CIF Cost, Insurance and Freight | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Seller | Buyer | Buyer |
| DPU Delivered at Place Unloaded | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer |
| CPT Carriage Paid To | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer |
| DAP Delivered at Place | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Buyer | Buyer |
| CIP Carriage and Insurance Paid To | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Buyer | Buyer |
| DDP Delivered Duty Paid | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller |
Scroll the table sideways on smaller screens. Seller = arranges and pays, Buyer = arranges and pays.
Rule by rule
What each Incoterm means in practice
FCA
Free Carrier
any
The seller delivers the goods, cleared for export, to a carrier nominated by the buyer at a named place. Risk transfers once the goods are handed over to that carrier.
- Seller stages
- 2 of 12
- Buyer stages
- 10 of 12
FAS
Free Alongside Ship
sea
The seller delivers the goods alongside the vessel nominated by the buyer at the named port of shipment. Risk passes when the goods are placed alongside the ship.
- Seller stages
- 4 of 12
- Buyer stages
- 8 of 12
FOB
Free On Board
sea
The seller delivers the goods on board the vessel nominated by the buyer at the named port of shipment. Risk passes once the goods are on board.
- Seller stages
- 5 of 12
- Buyer stages
- 7 of 12
CFR
Cost and Freight
sea
The seller pays the cost and freight to bring the goods to the named port of destination, but risk passes when the goods are loaded on board the vessel.
- Seller stages
- 6 of 12
- Buyer stages
- 6 of 12
CIF
Cost, Insurance and Freight
sea
The seller pays the cost and freight to the named port of destination and arranges minimum cover insurance. Risk passes when the goods are loaded on board.
- Seller stages
- 7 of 12
- Buyer stages
- 5 of 12
DPU
Delivered at Place Unloaded
any
The seller delivers the goods and unloads them at the named place of destination. The seller bears all risks involved in bringing the goods there and unloading them.
- Seller stages
- 7 of 12
- Buyer stages
- 5 of 12
CPT
Carriage Paid To
any
The seller pays the freight to the named place of destination, while risk passes when the goods are handed over to the first carrier.
- Seller stages
- 9 of 12
- Buyer stages
- 3 of 12
DAP
Delivered at Place
any
The seller delivers the goods, ready for unloading, at the named place of destination. Risk is transferred when the goods arrive at that place.
- Seller stages
- 10 of 12
- Buyer stages
- 2 of 12
CIP
Carriage and Insurance Paid To
any
The seller pays the freight to the named place of destination and provides insurance cover. Risk passes when the goods are handed to the first carrier.
- Seller stages
- 10 of 12
- Buyer stages
- 2 of 12
DDP
Delivered Duty Paid
any
The seller delivers the goods to the named place of destination, cleared for import and with all duties and taxes paid. It places the maximum obligation on the seller.
- Seller stages
- 12 of 12
- Buyer stages
- 0 of 12
Need help choosing a term?
The right Incoterm depends on who can arrange transport and insurance more cheaply, and on how much control you want over the goods. We are happy to walk through it with you.