Group E · Any mode
EXW — Ex Works
The seller makes goods available at their factory or warehouse. Everything else is on the buyer.
Risk transfers
When the seller places goods at the buyer’s disposal at the named place (no loading).
Egypt example
A French importer of Cleopatra Ceramics tiles picks them up directly from the Suez factory. The Egyptian seller is done at the gate ; the buyer arranges trucking, export clearance, sea freight, EU import.
Seller pays
- Goods at the factory gate
Buyer pays
- Loading at origin
- Inland transport in Egypt
- Egyptian export customs
- Sea freight
- Insurance
- EU import customs + VAT
Group F · Any mode
FCA — Free Carrier
Seller delivers goods to a carrier or place named by the buyer (could be a warehouse, the airport, a forwarder’s yard).
Risk transfers
When goods are loaded onto the buyer’s carrier at the named place in Egypt.
Egypt example
A German distributor of Egyptian dates says "FCA Daltex Cairo warehouse". Daltex pallets and loads onto the buyer’s contracted truck. From there, the German buyer’s freight forwarder takes over.
Seller pays
- Egyptian export customs
- Loading on buyer’s carrier
Buyer pays
- Sea/air freight
- Insurance
- EU import customs + VAT
Group F · Sea only
FAS — Free Alongside Ship
Seller delivers goods alongside the buyer’s vessel at the named Egyptian port. Loading is on the buyer.
Risk transfers
When goods are placed alongside the vessel at the Egyptian quay.
Egypt example
A bulk shipper of Egyptian phosphate to a Chinese fertilizer plant uses FAS Damietta. The seller covers trucking from the mine to the dock ; the buyer’s ocean carrier handles loading and everything after.
Seller pays
- Egyptian export customs
- Delivery alongside the ship
Buyer pays
- Loading on vessel
- Sea freight
- Insurance
- Destination customs + VAT
Group F · Sea only
FOB — Free On Board
The most common Egyptian-export term for ocean freight. Seller delivers and loads onto the vessel ; risk passes once goods cross the ship’s rail.
Risk transfers
When goods are loaded on board the vessel at the named Egyptian port.
Egypt example
A Spanish food importer of Egyptian potatoes negotiates "FOB Alexandria". Daltex loads the reefer container onto the carrier ; the Spanish buyer’s freight forwarder handles freight from Alexandria to Algeciras.
Seller pays
- Egyptian export customs
- Loading on vessel
Buyer pays
- Sea freight
- Insurance
- EU import customs + VAT
Group C · Sea only
CFR — Cost and Freight
Seller pays freight to the named destination port, but risk passes at loading in Egypt.
Risk transfers
On board the vessel at the Egyptian port (same as FOB) — the seller pays for the carriage but doesn’t carry the risk during transit.
Egypt example
"CFR Hamburg" : an Egyptian cotton mill ships Giza yarn to a German weaver, paying for sea freight Alexandria → Hamburg. The German buyer insures the shipment because risk transferred at Alexandria.
Seller pays
- Egyptian export customs
- Loading
- Sea freight to EU port
Buyer pays
- Insurance
- EU import customs + VAT
Group C · Sea only
CIF — Cost, Insurance and Freight
CFR + minimum insurance coverage paid by the seller. Risk still passes at loading in Egypt.
Risk transfers
On board the vessel at the Egyptian port. The seller paid for transport AND insurance, but risk is on the buyer during transit.
Egypt example
"CIF Marseille" : an Egyptian olive-oil exporter to a French distributor includes freight + a basic insurance policy. If a container is damaged at sea, the buyer files the claim against the seller’s policy.
Seller pays
- Egyptian export customs
- Loading
- Sea freight
- Minimum insurance
Group C · Any mode
CPT — Carriage Paid To
Like CFR but for any transport mode (sea, air, road, rail, multimodal).
Risk transfers
When goods are handed to the FIRST carrier in Egypt (usually a forwarder collecting from the factory).
Egypt example
"CPT Frankfurt" by air : an Egyptian aromatic-herbs supplier ships a small high-value batch to Germany. The seller pays the air-freight forwarder ; risk passed when the forwarder picked up the boxes in Cairo.
Seller pays
- Egyptian export customs
- Carriage to destination
Buyer pays
- Insurance
- EU import customs + VAT
Group C · Any mode
CIP — Carriage and Insurance Paid To
CPT + ALL-RISKS insurance (Institute Cargo Clauses A) paid by the seller. The seller’s insurance bar is higher than CIF’s minimum.
Risk transfers
When goods reach the first carrier in Egypt.
Egypt example
"CIP Milan" by road-rail multimodal : an Egyptian textile-finished-goods exporter to an Italian fashion brand. Seller covers everything to Milan including all-risk insurance ; risk technically passed at the Cairo warehouse but the policy covers the buyer end-to-end.
Seller pays
- Egyptian export customs
- Carriage to destination
- All-risks insurance
Group D · Any mode
DAP — Delivered at Place
Seller delivers to a named place in the destination country, ready for unloading. Buyer handles import customs.
Risk transfers
When goods arrive at the buyer’s named place (e.g. their warehouse).
Egypt example
"DAP Lyon, buyer’s warehouse" : an Egyptian marble exporter ships blocks to a French stoneyard. Seller covers transport all the way to Lyon ; the French buyer handles EU customs clearance + VAT once the truck arrives.
Seller pays
- Egyptian export customs
- Carriage to destination
- Insurance
Buyer pays
- Unloading
- EU import customs + VAT
Group D · Any mode
DPU — Delivered at Place Unloaded
DAP + the seller also unloads at the buyer’s named place.
Risk transfers
After unloading at the buyer’s place.
Egypt example
"DPU Antwerp customer site" : an Egyptian heavy-stone exporter delivers and unloads slabs at a Belgian quarry yard, including the crane operator. Buyer handles only the import paperwork.
Seller pays
- Egyptian export customs
- Carriage to destination
- Insurance
- Unloading at place
Group D · Any mode
DDP — Delivered Duty Paid
The seller covers EVERYTHING to the buyer’s door : transport, insurance, EU customs, EU VAT. Maximum seller obligation, minimum buyer hassle.
Risk transfers
When goods arrive at the named destination, ready for unloading.
Egypt example
"DDP buyer’s warehouse Munich" : a vertically-integrated Egyptian agro-exporter sells fresh produce to a German wholesaler with everything inclusive — including pre-paying German VAT. The wholesaler pays one invoice in EUR, no follow-up customs paperwork.
Seller pays
- All Egyptian + EU export and import duties
- VAT (paid as the importer of record)
- Carriage
- Insurance