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Practical writing for people who import charcoal

Grades and grilling, packaging decisions, Incoterms, documentation and sourcing — written for buyers making a real purchase, not for search engines alone.

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EXPORT & LOGISTICS · 30 April 2026 · 6 min read

Incoterms without the jargon: EXW, FOB, CFR, CIF

Four terms cover almost every charcoal shipment. Here is what each one actually asks of you.

EXW and FOB put you in control

Under EXW you collect from the factory and arrange everything after that. Under FOB we deliver to the vessel and the risk passes once the goods are loaded. Both suit buyers with an established forwarder and a preferred routing.

CFR and CIF hand the sea leg to us

With CFR the freight to your named port is included; with CIF, insurance for that leg is included as well. These suit buyers who want a single landed figure to compare against domestic supply.

The right choice depends on your side, not ours

If you already move containers on that lane regularly, quoting FOB usually lands cheaper. If this is a first shipment and you want fewer moving parts, CFR or CIF removes several decisions at once.

There is no best Incoterm. There is the one that matches how much of the journey you want to own.

WHAT TO TAKE AWAY

EXW and FOB suit buyers with their own freight arrangements.

CFR and CIF give one comparable landed number.

Final terms are agreed per destination and stated on the quotation.

Carbon Bridge export desk

Written by the team that quotes, loads and follows your shipment.

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