If you have ever tried to buy gold directly from an artisanal cooperative in the Democratic Republic of Congo, two terms come up very quickly in the conversation: X-Works and CIF. Most buyers nod along, assume they understand, and then discover mid-deal that their assumptions were wrong, sometimes expensively so.
This guide exists to fix that. COOMIBAT operates under both transaction structures, and we have walked enough international buyers through the difference to know exactly where the confusion lives. By the end of this article you will know who carries the risk at every stage, which documents you will be holding, and which structure actually fits your situation.
X-Works and CIF are Incoterms, internationally standardised trade terms published by the International Chamber of Commerce that define exactly where a seller’s responsibilities end and a buyer’s begin. They are not COOMIBAT inventions; they are global commercial law translated into everyday use.
In the context of gold sourced from South Kivu, DRC, these terms answer three practical questions:
X-Works, formally known as Ex Works (EXW) in ICC Incoterms, means the seller (COOMIBAT) makes the gold available at a named location, typically the mine gate or cooperative storage facility in Shabunda, South Kivu. That is where COOMIBAT’s obligation ends.
From the moment the gold is ready for collection at the agreed pickup point, all risk transfers to the buyer. If the truck breaks down on the road to Bukavu, if there is a customs delay at the DRC border, if the consignment is damaged in transit to the destination port, those costs fall on you.
What Documents Change Hands
Practical note: DRC export procedures require a licensed export agent. Most international buyers appoint a Bukavu-based freight forwarder who handles customs documentation, OFIDA clearance, and loading supervision. COOMIBAT’s buyer support team can recommend vetted local agents, but the contractual and financial relationship between you and that agent is yours to manage. Under X-Works, the buyer also typically arranges armed escort from the mine area to the main logistics hub, a non-trivial operational consideration in eastern DRC.
X-Works works well when you already operate in African mineral supply chains and have established logistics infrastructure. Buyers who fall into this category include:
The upside: you pay a lower per-gram price because you are absorbing the logistics cost yourself. You also have full operational visibility and control over the shipment.
CIF stands for Cost, Insurance, and Freight. Under this structure, COOMIBAT handles and pays for the export process, international freight booking, and marine insurance up to the named destination port. Risk transfers to the buyer when the consignment is loaded onto the vessel at the port of loading, typically Mombasa, Kenya, or another agreed export hub.
COOMIBAT carries the logistics and insurance risk from the mine gate through to the point the gold is loaded onto the vessel. Once it is loaded and the Bill of Lading is issued, risk passes to you as buyer. From that point, your marine insurance, or the policy COOMIBAT provided up to that point, governs any claim.
Note: under standard CIF terms, COOMIBAT is obligated to provide a minimum level of marine insurance cover. If you want higher-value cover such as all-risk or war risk, that should be negotiated explicitly in the sale contract.
What CIF does not cover: CIF ends at the destination port. Import duties, destination customs clearance, VAT or equivalent taxes in the buyer’s country, and onward delivery from the port to your facility are all buyer responsibilities. Buyers sometimes confuse CIF with DDP (Delivered Duty Paid), which covers everything to the buyer’s door. COOMIBAT does not currently offer DDP. Always confirm the named destination port in writing. CIF Dubai is a different contract from CIF London.
CIF is the right choice when:
The trade-off: you pay a higher per-gram price because COOMIBAT’s logistics costs are included. You also cede operational control of the DRC-side movement to COOMIBAT.
Side-by-Side: X-Works vs CIF
Regardless of whether you transact on X-Works or CIF terms, two documents are non-negotiable for any responsible gold buyer sourcing from South Kivu.
This document maps the gold from the individual mining cooperatives affiliated with COOMIBAT through to the point of transaction. It is your primary evidence that the gold does not originate from conflict-controlled areas and has been extracted in compliance with DRC mineral regulations and OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas. For buyers operating in the EU, UK, or US where downstream due diligence requirements apply to gold importers, this document is essential for your own compliance reporting.
COOMIBAT conducts gold testing at our Bukavu facility. For larger transactions, independent third-party assay is available and recommended. The assay certificate confirms the gold’s fineness, typically expressed in parts per thousand, and is used to calculate the final invoiced value. Under X-Works, the assay is completed before handover. Under CIF, it is completed before loading. Either way, you should receive this document before you make final payment.
Choose X-Works if you have DRC freight and customs experience, you want maximum price efficiency, and your compliance team needs end-to-end chain-of-custody control.
Choose CIF if this is your first South Kivu purchase, you lack DRC logistics infrastructure, or you want COOMIBAT to manage the complexity of eastern DRC export operations.
For repeat buyers, COOMIBAT also offers hybrid arrangements. Contact our buyer services team to discuss.
There is no universally superior option. The right choice depends on your operational capability, your risk appetite, and the weight you place on price versus convenience.
COOMIBAT is a mining cooperative, not just a gold trader. Our commitment to buyer support does not end with the transaction structure. Under both X-Works and CIF, our team provides:
X-Works and CIF are not just contract jargon. They are practical allocations of responsibility that determine who does what, who pays for what, and who gets hurt if something goes wrong between Shabunda and your destination port.
COOMIBAT’s gold comes from one of the most mineral-rich regions on earth. Getting it to international buyers safely, legally, and with a clean paper trail is what we have built our operations around since 2012. Understanding which transaction structure fits your business is the first step in making that work.
If you are evaluating a gold purchase from South Kivu and want to understand how X-Works or CIF would apply to your specific situation, reach out to our buyer assistance team through the contact page at coomibat.com. We are happy to walk through the options before any commitments are made.