Episode Details

Most Alibaba suppliers default to EXW, but that lower unit price often hides hundreds of dollars in pickup, clearance, and consolidation fees. This episode breaks down the real cost and risk tradeoffs between EXW and FOB for importers using a freight forwarder — including how to verify whether your supplier can actually deliver on FOB, and why inland factory geography changes the math entirely. We cover the FOB port trap, insurance implications, and a practical checklist for vetting supplier export capability.