Commonly Used Terms

Ex Works (sometimes shown as EXW or ExWorks) is a widely used international shipping term or Incoterm. The terms allocate the division of responsibility between the Shipper (usually the supplier) and the Consignee (usually the buyer) in the process of shipping the goods from one to the other.

Under Ex Works shipping terms, the only responsibility for a seller during the whole transportation process is to ensure that the goods they are selling are made available for collection at their premises.

"Ex Works" means that the seller has delivered the goods when he places the goods at the disposal of the buyer at his (seller's) premises or at another named place (i.e., works, factory, warehouse, etc.). Under an Ex Works contract of sale, the seller does not need to load the goods on any collecting vehicle, nor does he need to clear the goods for export, where such clearance is applicable.