What Incoterms do you use, and what do they mean for my order?
Our standard term is FOB Shenzhen: we deliver the goods on board the vessel at the Shenzhen port, and ownership and risk pass to you at that point. You arrange and pay for the main freight, insurance and import clearance from there. If your freight forwarder works a different term, tell us when you request the quote — we can work to EXW (ex-works, you collect from our factory) or CIF (we pay freight and insurance to your port) where the shipment volume makes it practical. The term decides who pays each leg of the move and who carries the risk if something goes wrong in transit, so it belongs in the quotation, not in a side conversation.
What the common terms mean
The term sets where cost and risk transfer. Three cover most flash orders:
| Term | We pay | You pay | Risk passes to you |
|---|---|---|---|
| EXW (ex-works) | Factory loading only | Everything from our dock onward | When goods leave our factory |
| FOB Shenzhen | To vessel at Shenzhen port | Sea freight, insurance, import | On board at Shenzhen |
| CIF | To your port (freight + insurance) | Import duty and local delivery | On board at Shenzhen |
How to choose
If you have your own forwarder and import routine, FOB keeps you in control of the ocean leg and usually costs less than asking us to arrange everything.
If this is your first import and you want one party responsible to your port, CIF is simpler to manage even though you pay a margin on the freight we book.
EXW only makes sense if your forwarder collects from our door and you want no Incoterms gap between us.
Sources
Figures quoted on this page are from the published reporting listed above. Where a number is an estimate rather than a published figure, it is described as approximate.
Frequently asked questions
Can you ship DDP to my country?
DDP (delivered duty paid) means we clear your import and pay the duty, which we do not do as standard because duty rates and paperwork differ by product and destination. For established volumes we can discuss it, but most orders run FOB or CIF and you handle import.
Who arranges freight insurance?
Under FOB and EXW, you do, through your forwarder. Under CIF, we book it to your port. Either way, confirm the cover level in writing before the vessel sails rather than assuming a default.
Does the Incoterm affect lead time?
It affects the paperwork, not our production. Build time is set by the specification; the term only changes what happens after the goods are ready to move.
Working on a specification?
Send us the product type, capacity, quantity and target date. We reply to business enquiries within 1 business day.
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