Incoterms & Shipping
Our default quote is FOB Shenzhen: we deliver the goods cleared for export onto the carrier you nominate, and you arrange and pay the main freight and import. EXW, CIF and DDP are available on request, but each shifts cost and risk. We do not hide freight in a unit price — ask for the term you want and we will quote the same product under that term.
What our quotes assume
Unless you ask for a different term, we quote and . That is a starting point, not a limitation: the same product can be quoted EXW, CIF or DDP when the destination and importer of record are clear.
- Default term:
- Default payment:
- Freight and insurance are quoted separately under FOB; they are not buried in the unit price.
- DDP requires the delivery address, importer of record and VAT arrangement before quoting.
Who pays and who carries risk
| Term | Main cost / risk | What it means | Practical note |
|---|---|---|---|
| EXW | Buyer | Buyer collects at our factory | Cheapest on paper; the buyer handles export clearance and pickup in Shenzhen. |
| FOB Shenzhen | Buyer | Seller delivers to the vessel/air carrier | Our default. Seller handles export clearance and loading; buyer pays main freight and import. |
| CIF | Seller | Seller pays freight + insurance to destination port | Risk still passes at origin; the buyer pays import clearance, duties and inland delivery. |
| DDP | Seller | Seller delivers duty-paid to the buyer’s door | Most convenient for the buyer; requires a clear importer of record and VAT arrangement. |
Documents to expect
A shipment is only as useful as its paperwork. At minimum you should receive a commercial invoice, a packing list and the transport document. For customs, compliance or tender files, request the certificate of conformance, test reports or certificate scans with your order — we share the actual document rather than relying on a logo.
Read more: what a Certificate of Conformance says and why the importer of record decides VAT recovery.
Import notes by market
The same drive lands differently in each market. These notes cover the points buyers ask about most often — not a substitute for your customs broker.
- United States: importer of record, duty, FCC and Prop 65
- European Union: EORI, VAT/IOSS, CE/RoHS/REACH
- Gulf: UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman
- Southeast Asia: Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines
- Nigeria and West Africa: the forex angle
- Total delivered cost vs unit price
- Why a freight quote is only valid for a week
Frequently asked questions
Can you quote DDP to the EU or US?
DDP is available on request, but it depends on the destination, importer of record, VAT/GST handling and the delivery address. Send the full address and the product spec and we will quote the exact term rather than guess.
Which documents do we receive with a shipment?
A commercial invoice, packing list, and the transport document (bill of lading or air waybill) as applicable. Certificate of Conformance, test reports and certificate scans are available on request. Import licences and destination-country registrations remain the buyer’s responsibility unless DDP is agreed in writing.
Do you pay the import duty under DDP?
Under DDP the seller is responsible for the destination charges agreed in the quotation, which may include duty and import VAT depending on the destination. The exact scope is written into the DDP offer; it is never inferred from a unit price.
How should I compare two quotes with different Incoterms?
Convert both to the same delivered basis first: add freight, insurance, duty and inland delivery to the FOB quote, or strip them out of the DDP quote. Compare the total delivered cost for the same product spec, quantity and delivery date.