Incoterms
EXW (Ex Works)
Incoterm under which the seller only makes the goods available at its premises; the buyer handles everything else.
In four languages
Under EXW the seller's duty ends when the goods are ready at its factory or warehouse, not loaded. The buyer bears the cost and risk of loading, export clearance, main transport, import clearance and delivery. For China this creates a real problem: export declarations must be made by a party registered with China Customs, which a foreign buyer usually is not, and the supplier needs export data in its own name to claim its VAT rebate. In practice the supplier's export documents are needed anyway. That is why FCA at the seller's premises is usually better. Example: a Dubai buyer agrees EXW with a Yiwu workshop. The workshop then refuses to provide export documents, the goods are held at the port, and the buyer has to find an export agent at short notice.
Questions
Is EXW the cheapest Incoterm for buyers?
The price looks lowest, but the buyer takes on loading, export clearance and all transport. With Chinese suppliers, FCA is usually safer.
Who loads the goods under EXW?
Formally the buyer, at its own risk. In practice the factory often loads without a clear agreement on liability.