Sea Freight Hamburg – EXW and FOB Shipping Options

Global trade between Asia and Europe relies heavily on Sea Freight Hamburg solutions. Today, a significant share of ocean freight entering European ports originates from Asia because competitive production costs and improving quality standards make suppliers in this region highly attractive.

When purchasing goods from Asia, for example from China, companies typically choose between EXW (Ex Works) and FOB (Free On Board). Since both Incoterms define responsibilities for transport, customs clearance and risk transfer, it is essential to understand their differences according to international trade rules established by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) .

1) EXW Process

• You agree with the seller on EXW terms, and responsibility starts at the supplier’s premises.
• In this case, ECL Kontor organizes the complete transport from the supplier’s door to your final destination.
• After collection in China, we handle export customs clearance and port coordination.
• Once loaded, the container is shipped to Hamburg and prepared for import handling.
• Upon arrival, we manage customs clearance and terminal procedures before arranging delivery or storage.
• Finally, you receive one transparent invoice covering the entire logistics chain.

2) FOB Process

• Under FOB terms, the supplier books the container and handles export formalities.
• After shipment, you receive the commercial documents and the Bill of Lading (B/L).
• With these documents, we take over the import process in Hamburg and coordinate with the shipping line.
• While customs clearance is arranged, terminal handling and documentation are processed simultaneously.
• Delivery or storage is then organized according to your operational requirements.

Modern container systems enable the safe shipment of standard cargo, oversized goods and bulk materials. Therefore, regardless of shipment complexity, our customs clearance services ensure compliant and efficient processing.