FOB vs EXW vs FCA Furniture Incoterms: Which Term to Choose
The trade term on a quotation decides where the supplier’s costs and risk end and yours begin. YASACE quotes upholstered bed orders EXW, FOB or FCA. This guide compares FOB vs EXW vs FCA for furniture buyers, based on the ICC Incoterms rules (Incoterms 2020), so you can compare quotations like for like.
FOB vs EXW vs FCA furniture terms at a glance
| EXW | FCA | FOB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delivery point | Our factory, goods made available to you | Handed to your carrier at the named place | On board the vessel at the port of shipment |
| Export clearance | Buyer | Seller | Seller |
| Loading at origin | Buyer (seller not obliged) | Seller, if the named place is our factory | Seller, onto the vessel |
| Risk passes | When goods are made available | On delivery to the carrier | When goods are on board |
| Transport mode | Any | Any, including containers | Sea and inland waterway |
The table summarises the general rules. The named place or port, and any extra services, are always written into the quotation and the contract.
EXW: collect from our factory
Under Ex Works (EXW) we make the goods available at our factory in Longjiang, Shunde. The buyer arranges everything after that: loading, export clearance, transport and insurance. Strictly, EXW does not oblige the seller to load the goods, so agree in writing who loads the container. EXW suits buyers whose forwarder already handles export formalities in China.
FCA: delivered to your carrier
Under Free Carrier (FCA) we deliver the goods, cleared for export, to the carrier you nominate at the named place. If the named place is our factory, we load the goods onto your carrier’s vehicle. FCA works for any mode of transport, and the ICC recommends it for containerised goods, because containers are usually handed over at a terminal rather than loaded on board by the seller.
FOB: on board at the port
Under Free On Board (FOB) we deliver the goods, cleared for export, on board the vessel at the named port of shipment. Risk passes when the goods are on board. FOB is for sea and inland waterway transport, and is still the term many furniture importers use to compare prices.
Costs and risk: FOB vs EXW vs FCA furniture compared
The price on a quotation is only part of the cost. Under EXW you also pay for loading, export clearance and local transport in China; under FCA and FOB those origin costs are included up to the delivery point. When you compare FOB vs EXW vs FCA furniture quotations, add your forwarder’s charges from each delivery point to your warehouse, and the cheapest landed cost becomes clear.
Which furniture Incoterms suit your bed order?
- You have a forwarder in China: EXW or FCA at our factory gives you the most control.
- You ship full containers by sea: FCA or FOB; FCA follows the ICC recommendation for containers.
- You compare several suppliers: ask every supplier for the same term and named place.
- You are new to importing: FOB is widely understood; your forwarder can advise on the rest.
How we quote EXW furniture and other terms
Tell us your destination and preferred term in the enquiry. The quotation states the term, the named place or port, the price per line and the carton sizes and CBM, so you can add freight and compare. Read what else drives the price on Pricing & Quotation and how cartons are packed in our export packaging guide.
Frequently asked questions
Which trade terms does YASACE quote?
EXW, FOB or FCA, following the ICC Incoterms rules.
Which term is cheapest?
EXW shows the lowest price because the buyer pays for everything after the factory, but the total landed cost depends on your forwarder and route. Compare quotations on the same term.
Who loads the container under EXW?
Under EXW the seller is not obliged to load. Agree loading in writing; under FCA at our factory, we load.
Why does the ICC recommend FCA for containers?
Containers are normally handed over at a terminal before they are loaded on board, which matches FCA’s delivery point better than FOB’s.
Ready to plan an order? Request a quotation with your models, sizes, covers and quantities, or read how upholstered bed pricing is calculated.
