Shipping is part of the sourcing decision
Shipping cost and import compliance can add 20–40% to your landed cost — and compliance mistakes can stop your goods at the border. Plan both before you place the order.
Freight options
- Sea freight (LCL/FCL): lowest cost for large volumes, slowest lead time — weeks
- Air freight: fastest, costliest — for small volumes or urgent launches
- Consolidated / express: shared containers or courier services for small shipments
Export documents you will need
- Commercial invoice and packing list
- Bill of lading or air waybill
- Certificates required by your product category and destination (for example, certificates of origin or testing reports)
Incoterms in plain terms
- EXW / FOB: you (or your agent) handle most of the risk and logistics from the factory gate
- CIF / DDP: the supplier handles more — DDP means delivery to your door, duties paid
Know what you are agreeing to. The same unit price can mean very different landed costs under different terms.
Import compliance checklist
- Confirm your product is legal to import into your market
- Check labeling, safety, and certification requirements for your category
- Budget for import duties and taxes — get a landed-cost estimate before ordering
- Work with a forwarder or agent who knows your destination market
How Procovia handles delivery
In our Deliver stage we run pre-shipment inspection, prepare export documentation, and coordinate freight matched to your timeline and budget.
See also: How to source products from China and the China sourcing FAQ.