Shipping & trade terms
FOB, and what happens after the container is loaded
We ship FOB Shenzhen, Ningbo or Yiwu. That is a deliberate choice, not a limitation we are hiding: on FOB terms you own the freight contract, you see the real cost, and your name is on the bill of lading. Here is exactly what that means at each stage.
| Stage | Who handles it on FOB terms | What it means in practice |
|---|---|---|
| Production & packing | Us | Bulk production to the approved specification, export cartons, packing list confirmed before shipment |
| Inland transport to port | Us | Goods moved to Shenzhen, Ningbo or Yiwu and delivered to the terminal |
| Export customs clearance in China | Us | Export declaration handled, so the goods are legally cleared out of China |
| Loading on board | Us | Loaded on the vessel you nominate; the risk transfers when the goods are on board |
| Ocean freight | You | You book and pay the forwarder, at the rate you negotiated, with the bill of lading in your name |
| Import clearance & duties | You | Handled by your broker in your country, against the documents we send you |
| Inland delivery to your warehouse | You | Arranged locally, usually by the same forwarder |
If you need CIF or delivery to your door, tell us at the enquiry stage. We do not present ourselves as a freight company, and we do not mark up freight and hide it in the tool price. What we do is introduce you to forwarders we work with on your lane. You contract with them directly, you see the actual freight cost, and you keep the bill of lading — which matters most on the day something goes wrong at the destination port.
FCL or LCL — choosing the right one
LCL — less than container load
For a first order, a mixed sample shipment or a test of a new category. You share the container, you pay for your cubic metres, and the per-unit freight cost is higher.
- Practical from a few cartons upward
- Good for testing demand before committing to volume
- Longer transit: consolidators hold and de-consolidate on both ends
- More handling, so carton strength matters more
FCL — full container load
Once your volume is roughly ten cubic metres or more, a 20-foot container usually beats LCL on total cost and on transit time, and the goods travel without being re-handled.
- Better per-unit freight cost at volume
- Faster and less handling damage
- We give you carton dimensions and weights so you can model the loading yourself
- Mixed categories in one container are normal — not a special request
Tell us the volume and the destination port and we will quote both options, so you can compare landed cost per unit rather than guess.
Consolidation — one container, several suppliers
Many importers buy tools from us and plastic goods, hardware or packaging from two other Chinese suppliers. We can receive those goods at our warehouse, check the cartons against the packing lists, and load everything into one container. You get one supplier relationship without giving up the price advantage of buying from several.
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1. You send us the other suppliers' addresses | We give you a delivery address and a contact for our warehouse, and the deadline for goods to arrive |
| 2. Their goods arrive | We check the carton count against their packing list and photograph anything that arrives damaged |
| 3. Loading plan | We confirm the total volume and weight with you before the container is booked, so there are no surprises at the terminal |
| 4. One container | Loaded and cleared under one export declaration, with one set of shipping documents on our side plus theirs as required |
Consolidation is a service we provide to our own customers. If your other suppliers need their own export documentation, tell us at the start so the paperwork is planned rather than improvised.
The documents you receive
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list — cartons, units per carton, net and gross weight, total volume
- Certificate of origin
- Certification files where they apply — test reports and certificates for the model shipped
- Inspection record with photographs and video from the pre-shipment check
- Bill of lading issued by your forwarder, in your name
We send these before the vessel sails wherever possible, so your broker can prepare the import entry rather than waiting for documents while your goods sit at the port incurring storage.
Packing, and why it matters to your landed cost
Freight is charged on volume or weight, whichever is greater, so an inefficient carton costs you money on every unit even when the tool price is good.
- Cartons sized for container loading, not for the Chinese domestic pallet
- Export-grade board, with the drop test done before loading
- Carton dimensions and weights confirmed on the proforma invoice, so you can model the loading before you pay a deposit
- Retail cartons protected inside the export carton where the channel needs retail presentation
If your carton is 10 percent bigger than it needs to be, you pay for that on every shipment for the life of the product. Ask us for the packing figures and check them against your own landed-cost model.
Shipping and trade terms — questions
Which ports do you ship from?
Shenzhen, Ningbo and Yiwu, depending on the model and the best routing for your destination. We will tell you which port gives you the better sailing and rate for your cargo.
Can you consolidate several suppliers into one container?
Yes. If you buy from several Chinese suppliers, we can receive, inspect and consolidate the goods and load a single container — useful when you want one supplier relationship without giving up the price advantages of buying from several.
Can you ship less than a container load?
Yes. LCL is available when your volume does not justify a full container. Tell us the volume and destination port and we will quote both options so you can compare landed cost per unit.
Who arranges the freight?
On FOB terms you do. If that is not convenient, we can introduce a freight forwarder we work with for CIF or door delivery — you contract with the forwarder directly, so you always see the actual freight cost and hold the bill of lading.
How is the goods packed?
Export cartons sized for container loading, with the packing configuration confirmed on your proforma invoice — units per carton, carton weight and total volume. Getting the carton dimensions right before production is what keeps your landed cost per unit predictable.
Tell us your port and we will tell you the best loading
Volume, destination port and destination country is enough for us to advise FCL against LCL and to quote the right port for your lane.