Incoterms — International Commercial Terms — are a standardised set of trade definitions published by the International Chamber of Commerce. They define precisely where the seller's responsibility ends and the buyer's begins in an international shipment.

For bulk hardware imports, the choice of Incoterm affects your landed cost, your logistics complexity, and your insurance liability. Here's a plain-English breakdown of the three we offer.

— EXW — Ex Works

Under EXW, our responsibility ends at our Oakville warehouse door. You arrange and pay for everything from that point: pickup, export documentation, customs clearance, international freight, destination customs, and final delivery.

• Lowest unit cost — you absorb the full logistics chain

• Best for buyers with established freight forwarding accounts

• You control carrier choice and insurance terms

• More paperwork on your side — export customs are your responsibility

  —— FCA — Free Carrier

Under FCA, we deliver the units to your nominated freight forwarder at an agreed point — typically a freight station in Toronto or the Buffalo border hub. We handle export clearance and loading. From there, your forwarder takes over.

Why Most BPO Buyers Choose FCA

FCA balances cost control with logistics simplicity. You keep control of your freight forwarder relationship (and negotiate your own rates) while we handle the Canadian export side. Most of our Philippines and India buyers default to FCA.

— DAP — Delivered at Place

Under DAP, we manage everything end-to-end: export clearance, international freight, and delivery to your specified facility. You handle import duties and local handling at your end. We work with established freight partners to Manila, Cebu, Mumbai, Chennai, Nairobi, Lagos, and other major destinations.

• Hands-off for the buyer — ideal for first-time importers

• We absorb freight risk until delivery to your door

• Higher per-unit cost (freight is included in our price)

• You still handle import duties and local taxes

How to Choose

If you already have a freight forwarder: choose FCA. If you're new to importing hardware: choose DAP for your first order — it removes complexity and lets you focus on the destination side. If you have a strong freight account and want maximum cost control: EXW.