EXW can look cheap
EXW shifts much of the pickup and export handling burden to the buyer. The unit price may look attractive, but a small importer can lose the savings through pickup fees, coordination, and weak documentation.
FOB is often easier to compare
FOB usually gives the buyer more control over freight while keeping the supplier responsible for getting goods to the port. For many ecommerce importers, FOB is a cleaner baseline for quote comparison.
DDP hides risk inside one number
DDP can be convenient for samples and small shipments, but it can hide duty assumptions, customs declarations, and delivery service quality. If a DDP quote is much cheaper than your own landed-cost model, inspect the assumptions before accepting it.
Compare quotes by profit after freight, duty, tariffs, and fulfillment. A higher supplier unit price can still win if it lowers landed cost and operational risk.
This guide is for planning and supplier comparison only. Confirm duties, importer responsibilities, and customs declarations with official sources or a qualified customs broker before relying on any trade term quote.