CNF, Cif, Fob & Exw Explained!

11/8/2016
CNF,CIF,FOB&EXWExplained!
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May 13, 2016 by Andrew Minalto 156 Comments
CNF, CIF, FOB & EXW Explained!
Its time for our weekly Readers Question post! And this time Im actually doing an update on
an older post as it seems that many people are still confused about the various terms used when
importing products from China!
CNF, CIF, FOB, Ex-Works what does it all mean? And most importantly which of these shipping
methods is most cost e ective?
Lets find out!
http://andrewminalto.com/cnfciffobexplained/
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Hi Andrew!
My congratulations, your blog is very, very helpful (the most helpful information
I have found in one blog so thank you for that!).
But I still have a couple of questions which I hope youll be able to help me with.
For about two months Ive been dealing and negotiating with a Chinese fabric
supplier. Im going to order 500m from various designs and the final price weve
agreed is $3.37/m CNF London. The price is good so I would like to proceed and
organise shipping.
But Im completely lost on where to start
What exactly does CNF London mean?
Could you explain to me how it works, step by step, from beginning to end? First
I pay for my goods, and then what happens aer that?
The supplier suggested that we use a smaller price on the invoice than what Im
actually paying to lower the cost of import tax and duty. Do you think this is a
good idea? To me it sounds like fraud but I wanted to get the advice of someone
with as much knowledge as yourself.
I would need to pay $1685 for my 500m of fabrics. What about the rest of the
costs? How much are taxes and duties in the UK? And when do I need to pay
them?
Does CNF London mean I have to collect my goods from a port in London? I live
in London so this wont be a huge diiculty, Im just confused about how it
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works.
I am sorry for asking so many questions but when I think about all of these
things it turns into a bit of a nightmare! I hope you can help clarify some of it for
me.
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Kind regards and many thanks!

Malwina
Okay, lets start with the basics. When dealing with suppliers from China, youll o en be o ered 4
types of pricing:
FOB Free on Board (or Freight on Board). This basically means that the cost of delivering the
goods to the nearest port is included but YOU, as the buyer, are responsible for the shipping from
there and all other fees associated with getting the goods to your country/address.
EXW (Ex-Works) also sometimes referred to as the Ex-Factory price. This basically means the
cost of the product and nothing else! No shipping costs or export fees in China are included in
this price, never mind local port and custom fees or delivery to your door.
CIF Cost, Insurance and Freight. In this case, the price also includes sea freight charges and
insurance to deliver the goods to YOUR nearest port. But only to the port from that point
onwards, you take the shipment into your hands.
CNF Cost & Freight (or Cost, no Insurance, Freight). Similar to CIF only this time insurance is
not included.
If your supplier quoted you a CNF London price, this means that the price includes shipping of
the goods via sea freight to London port. When the goods arrive, youll have to organise customs
clearance and delivery to your home/o ice/warehouse.
While the CNF price can look very attractive, keep in mind that there will be other costs involved
when your goods arrive in London, such as:
Customs clearance fee
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Value Added Tax

Import Duty
Port security charge
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Fuel surcharge
Docking charge
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Warehouse storage fee

Etc.
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So the CNF price is really just the tip of the iceberg and does not show you the true, FINAL
price youll pay for the products youre importing.
Also, as youre new to importing, it will take extra time and be a lot of hassle for you to organise
everything at Londons port.
If your supplier quoted you an Ex-Works price, this means that there will be LOTS of hidden
charges in China + the actual freight charge + all the additional charges I already covered under
CNF. This really is NOT the way to do business! Youll never know for sure how much your import
will cost in total, so please NEVER deal with Ex-Works prices!!!
A much better alternative to CNF, FOB, CIF and Ex-Works is to use a freight forwarding
agent for your shipments from China. These companies will take care of EVERYTHING
mentioned above and will deliver the goods to your door without you having to mess around
with the customs clearance procedure.
You usually receive an invoice from them once your goods have arrived with all taxes, customs &
port fees clearly listed.
I highly recommend you use such a company, at least for your first few importing deals. These
freight forwarding companies are very a ordable and can actually work out cheaper than if you
try to do it all on your own.
My recommendation for UK customers is Woodland Global a freight forwarder with great
customer service, weekly shipments from China and very competitive prices. Get in touch with
them to find out exactly how much your order will cost delivered to your door, a er all the fees
and taxes.
When contacting a freight forwarding company, make sure you ask for a Door to Door
price. This is very important as otherwise you can end up with a host of additional charges when
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your goods arrive in the UK.
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As for declaring a lesser value on the invoice to avoid/minimise taxes BAD, BAD idea! Its
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nothing but fraud, never mind the fact that you wont even be able to get such a shipment
through customs as youll have to provide a payment receipt to prove the value of your goods.
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And furthermore, you wouldnt be able to properly book such shipments from an accounting
point of view as your payments to suppliers wouldnt match the tax invoices you pay in the UK.
So just keep it safe and play by the rules!
To sum it up when you deal with suppliers in China, ALWAYS ask for a FOB price! This means
products cost + local charges in China to the nearest port.
Then you ask your supplier for order dimensions (weight & size) and contact a freight forwarder
for a door to door quote. Lastly dont forget about insurance! It usually costs just 20-30 and
will protect your shipment against loss and damage.
Thanks,
Andrew
Want toMaster IMPORTING from China?
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156 comments
Julian Dixon
October 11, 2016 at 10:02 am
Thanks for your article are there any freight forwarders/agents you might
recommend to get goods to Sweden from China? Thx Jules
Reply
Andrew Minalto
October 11, 2016 at 11:01 am
Hi Jules,
I can recommend same Woodland Global:
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http://www.woodland-group.com/contact-us/europe/sweden
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Thanks,
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Andrew
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Reply
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Stanley Lim
October 6, 2016 at 11:02 am
Dear Andrew,
I find your article very helpful. I am planning to order from various suppliers over
Alibaba.com and have a couple of questions I would like to seek your advice.
1) Would it be more costly if I were to get all my suppliers to individually arrange door
to door shipping of the goods to my address?
2) If I decide to use a Forwarding agent for door to door shipping, would it be wiser to
ask my product suppliers for ex-warehouse quotes instead of FOB? Since all the
shipping cost would be handled by the forwarding agent?
Thanks
Reply
Andrew Minalto
Hi Stanley,
1) Yes, it would be MUCH more expensive.
2) You would still want FOB prices arranged to same port for all suppliers. Port
where your freight forwarder can consolidate this shipment.
Andrew
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Angela
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Hi Andrew
I am looking at starting a new business and importing Baby clothes from China to
Zurich (Switzerland).
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I have been quoted a price of $5800 FOB, my question is which company should I use
to ship the items to Zurich (Switzerland) and what other costs would be involved in
getting the Baby clothes to Zurich (Switzerland).
If you know any companies I should get quotes form, their names would be
appreciated.
Thanks
Reply
Andrew Minalto
Hi Angela,
Contact WG, they can take care of all this for you:
http://www.woodland-group.com/contact-us/europe/switzerland
Thanks,
Andrew
Reply
Yogesh
September 22, 2016 at 1:05 pm
Hi Andrew
I am looking at starting a new business and importing sweets from Dubai to
Nottingham UK.
I have been quoted a price of $4600 FOB, my question is which company should I use
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to ship the items to UK and what other costs would be involved in getting the pallet
to Nottingham.
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If you know any companies I should get quotes form, their names would be
appreciated.
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Andrew Minalto
Hi Yogesh,
Yes, get in touch with this company to organise shipping, customs clearance
etc.:
http://www.woodland-group.com
Thanks,
Andrew
Reply
Rey
August 20, 2016 at 6:22 am
Andrew, thank you very much for your expertise and help.
Q: If I am shipping a container with auto parts from, lets say, from Los Angeles to X
port in the Middle East and the shipping company quote me a price CIF that means
that my buyer will have to take care of the container from then on including customs
clearance ?
Once again thank you VERY much.
Reply
Andrew Minalto
August 21, 2016 at 2:15 pm
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Yes, thats correct Rey.
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Sergej
July 22, 2016 at 5:43 pm
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Hi there mate, I want to order bicycles from china, and they o er FOB it means I will
need to pay VAT and import, anti dumping duty, customs clearance and etc? what is
cleared by FOB
Reply
Andrew Minalto
July 25, 2016 at 10:31 am
Yes, correct.
FOB price only covers cost of goods and delivering them to the port.
Reply
Sergej
July 25, 2016 at 9:06 pm
so basicly its the same as CNF?

Reply
Andrew Minalto
July 26, 2016 at 7:06 am
No.
CNF includes shipping charges.
FOB does not include shipping charges.
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Sergej
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July 26, 2016 at 10:47 pm
It means CNF is better then FOB?

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Andrew Minalto
July 27, 2016 at 7:45 am
Not better, not worse theyre 2 di erent things.
Sean Cole
July 20, 2016 at 7:04 pm
Awesome advice. Thanks AM

Reply
Andrew Minalto
July 21, 2016 at 7:06 am
Youre welcome Sean!

Reply
Paul W
July 11, 2016 at 1:54 pm
Hello Andrew,
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You seem to o er extremely helpful advice so I wonder if you could o er me some

advice with an import problem that I believe relates to this thread.
I have imported a plastic bathroom product for a number of years. I pay the company
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in China for the goods and shipping by bank transfer and they then send the goods to
my door via airfreight using a well known courier. The courier then send me a vat and
duty invoice which I pay.
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The duty has always been (roughly) 6.5% of the costs of the goods and the VAT 20%
of the cost of the goods. So for example if the goods were 1000GBP then I would
expect duty of 65 and vat of 200.
On a recent order though the delivery arrived, the cost of the goods was 3500GBP so
I was expecting to pay roughly 228 duty and 700 Vat 928 total. When the invoice
arrived though it was for 606.85 duty and 2254.15 Vat a total of 2861.00
I queried the invoice with the courier and initially the told me they had made an error
with the paperwork and refunded me 331.76 duty but told me I needed to reclaim
the VAT myself. They have since emailed me and told me that all my previous
invoices were only charged VAT and Duty on the goods as the seller had not declared
the cost of delivery. It said the Commercial invoice from China confirms the value of
the goods however the Customs declaration document does not show the AWB/ Frt
Charges. This information was not provided on the o icial document therefore this
has not been taken into consideration when calculating the duty vat element due. As
a consequence you have been underpaying duty and vat on previous orders???
I have since had further orders and im only be charged VAT and Duty on the cost of
the goods still. So im confused, was that one invoice correct and all the others wrong
or has someone at the courier or sender changed something for that one delivery
which has made the invoice so high. I hope you can point me in the right direction as
I have not paid the courier the extra money as I believed it was wrong but they are
now threatening me with court action. One extra thing I noticed was the very high
invoice has FOB Shanghai on the commercial invoice but this does not appear on
any previous commercial invoices. The same box has Terms S in it.
I look forward to your reply.
Kind Regards
Paul
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Andrew Minalto
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July 11, 2016 at 6:22 pm

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Hi Paul,
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I dont know really what to suggest as it is a very specific case
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You do have to pay VAT on shipping though so if you havent done it previously,
it could be that you under-paid all the time. I dont know though legally how
they can now charge you for all previous orders.
I cant really help much with this, youll have to sort this out with courier
company and Customs.
Andrew
Reply
Laura
June 29, 2016 at 11:34 am
Hi Andrew your website is really useful, thank you!

I have a client that want to buy some non-latex sponges to Argentina, as per your
article the best would be to find me a freight forwarding agent, I would like to ask you
if should I consider any other permit/license or anything in order to export this good
since it touches the skin? (Im in China for many years but Im new in this field)
I would really appreciate your opinion, thank you very much in advance!
Kind regards,
Laura
Reply
Andrew Minalto
June 30, 2016 at 6:19 am
Hi Laura,
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Im sorry but I dont have specific knowledge on these products and exporting
them to Argentina.
Youll have to do your own research on this, especially if this is your business.
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Andrew
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Austin Addo
June 27, 2016 at 1:03 pm
Hello Andrew,
Is the fob dependent on the importing country? When I am in Israel and I am
importing an item from China, will the fob di er from another importer importing
from Sierra Leone?
My opinion is that fob depends on the exporter but please enlighten me further.
Thanks
Reply
Andrew Minalto
June 27, 2016 at 1:47 pm
Hi Austin,
No, FOB does not change because of destination country as shipping costs are
not included in FOB price.
Andrew
Reply
Agnes
June 22, 2016 at 4:11 pm
Hi. Hopefully you can help me too.

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I had ordered a shipment from China to Southampton CIF.

Appointed freight forwarder as quote was good. I understand I need to pay tax and
vat, customs clearance and my agents delivery charges. Now I found out I will need
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to pay an additional 127 for arriving fees. When I questioned that I was advised that
shipment is going into London Gateway instead. According to another company I
shouldnt be charged that much. My question is what additional charges are there
with CIF? I feel that my freight forwarding company whants to make money on me
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Andrew Minalto
June 22, 2016 at 7:02 pm
Hi Agnes,
Those fees vary greatly depending on port shipment size and shipping
company.
I cant give you any exact numbers Im afraid.
Andrew
Reply
Tony
June 7, 2016 at 3:44 pm
Hey Andrew
I am getting ready to import fencing materials to US , Who would be a good freight
forwarder to use to import here?
Thank You in Advance.
Reply
Andrew Minalto
June 8, 2016 at 4:01 am
Hi Tony,
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Same Woodland Global I recommend also works in the US:

http://www.woodland-group.com/division/woodland-global
Thanks,
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Andrew
Reply
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Darren
June 5, 2016 at 4:24 pm
wish I had read this before. I have imported from china by air freight no problems.
However 1 order has gone cif and arrives next week in Folkestone. Just received an
unexpected 700 list of fees. Plus goods will start to incur warehouse fees. Can I just
abandon the goods with no further liability as its not worth the cost to get them ? or
am I now liable and stuck paying far more than the goods are worth ?.
Reply
Andrew Minalto
June 6, 2016 at 6:49 am
Hi Darren,
Yes, this is very typical
But I dont know what happens if you simply abandon goods and dont
proceed with payments etc. Theoretically, if you havent signed any contracts
with freight forwarder, you shouldnt be in trouble but Im not sure as I have
never done it.
You may try asking freight forwarder about this be honest, tell them that you
did not expect such extra costs and that its not cost e ective for you to proceed
with it. See what they say.
Andrew
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Susie
June 4, 2016 at 7:00 pm
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This is honestly one of the most useful things I have found from a quick Google
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search. Thank you! Would love to hear more about working with the freight
forwarder. I.e. What info must I provide them and what should I expect back?
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Andrew Minalto
June 6, 2016 at 6:43 am
Thanks Susie!
I will have a shipping post tomorrow that goes into more detail on this.
Thanks,
Andrew
Reply
NE
June 15, 2016 at 10:13 pm
I will have a shipping post tomorrow that goes into more detail on this.
Hi Andrew could you provide a link please?
Reply
Andrew Minalto
June 16, 2016 at 6:38 am
http://andrewminalto.com/courier-vs-air-sea-freight/
Reply
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Moses
May 28, 2016 at 7:51 am
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Hello Andrew,
Thanks a lot for this information. Youve saved me from loosing my money. Let me
look for a freight forwarding company right away.
Reply
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Reply
Andrew Minalto
May 29, 2016 at 4:38 pm
Youre welcome!
Reply
John Edwards
May 14, 2016 at 6:29 am
Fantastic post MORE and more in-depth detail on how to really succeed on eBay!
Nice one Andrew.
Reply
Andrew Minalto
May 16, 2016 at 5:10 am
Thanks John!
Reply
Paul
April 26, 2016 at 8:18 pm
Hi Andrew, great thread and info on here, I wonder if you could o er some advise,
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were a company that has arranged a freighter to ship 2.56cbmtrs of product to

Australia, value of goods 3000. The customer was quoted we can quote to Sydney
port only . There was no reference to CFR or CIF just as quoted.
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The customer is being charge around 1000 for handling docs and goods by two
di erent companies, one handling disembarkation and the other I believe handling
customs and paperwork, It does seem very expensive.
Is it common to have two companies handling the unloading and customs charges.
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Any thoughts or advise on this would be very welcome, our window to sort this out is
narrow, by thursday latest.
Reply
Andrew Minalto
April 27, 2016 at 4:28 am
Hi Paul,
Yes, its common that two companies are involved in this process.
1000 does sound like a total rip-o , I agree. This is exactly why I always
recommend getting a door to door quote as these companies I think are taking
advantage of small clients/individuals and simply over-charging them.
I dont know even what you can do about this right now as you dont have time
to look for better deal probably as port storage fees will eat up your savings
anyway. Best advice I can give is to next time use a good freight forwarder and
deal with complete door to door service.
Andrew
Reply
Mahmud
April 7, 2016 at 6:50 am
Hi Andrew!
This is a great blog. Wish I knew it before.
Can you tell me how does a CIF invoice/informa write or any sample? The one my
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supplier is giving is not accepted by my bank.

Thanks in advance.
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Andrew Minalto
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April 7, 2016 at 7:12 am
Hi Mahmud,
Your bank probably can give you advice on what needs to be changed.
Usually pro-forma invoice has all the buyer details, seller details, payment
information, shipping information etc.
Andrew
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Solomon
April 6, 2016 at 12:30 pm
Hi
Can someone elaborate please that if terms are CIF Regina, should Destination
Delivery Charges at Vancouver Port be covered by shipper? Or will importer be
responsible for this?
Thanks
Solomon
Reply
Andrew Minalto
April 6, 2016 at 2:38 pm
Sorry, which charges youre referring to?

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ahamed ibrahim
March 30, 2016 at 7:48 pm
Hi Andrew,
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I am happy to see you are answering for many new business people. i really
appreciate your answers and god bless you.
i am also a beginner in importing. i am living in Australia . i have got few reliable
cashew kernels suppliers/manufacturers from India who could be my supplier for
importing cashew kernels into Australia . i really wanted to do import cashew kernels
to Australia but i havent got an idea of how to start and getting an order from the
buyers in Australia. when i made the calculation to see my profit a er all expenses ,
my selling price for a kilo of cashew is a dollar more than competitive importers in
Australia.
how could i approach the buyers with this competitive price ?
do i need any kind of lab test certificates for Australia before importing (like sgs,
bicon,bio sanitary etc )?
kindly please answer my doubts and very well appreciated
Thank you.
Regards,
ahamed ibrahim
Reply
Andrew Minalto
March 31, 2016 at 7:05 am
Hi Ahmed,
Yes, as far as I know you will need various certificates to import such food items
into Australia.
As for the price well, your competitors probably import in much larger
quantities and get lower price this way. Price will also of course depend on
supplier/product quality, shipping costs etc.
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Tarun
February 14, 2016 at 9:16 pm
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Hi man,i really appreciate the work you do,your advices are so very helpful and god
bless you,regards
Reply
Andrew Minalto
February 15, 2016 at 5:18 am
Thanks!
Reply
Ben Childs
January 26, 2016 at 10:22 am
Hi
I want to purchase 200 bajot tables from India and have a supplier. However he says
he will send them to Southampton Docks. I dont know anything about import tax or
what I need to do, or if I need to do anything regarding these goods coming into the
country. Please advise
Reply
Andrew Minalto
January 26, 2016 at 11:02 am
Please contact a freight forwarder who can help you with customs clearance
and shipping goods straight to your door:
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Thanks,
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amanda Daniels
January 5, 2016 at 4:34 pm
Hi Andrew, Unbelievable that i still have a question a er all of that information.But

here goes. I am importing equipment from China and have been quoted a CIF
amount to the LA port. I realize i will be responsible for freight forwarding to my
location, but my question is. Who pays Duty and Taxes and customs fees at the port
of LA? Is that on my or my shipper in a CIF price quote. Thanks so much in advance,
Amanda
Reply
Andrew Minalto
January 6, 2016 at 5:52 am
Hi Amanda,
CIF price means cost, insurance and freight. YOU are still liable for any taxes
and custom fees so youll pay these.
Andrew
Reply
Ruman Khan
December 22, 2015 at 8:42 am
Hello Andrew,
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Thanx for sharing your valuable information to all the wonderful people here.
Your blog, if ever to be described in one word, Fantastic.
Keep up the good work. Hope to get more information from you in future.
Thanx
Reply
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Andrew Minalto
December 22, 2015 at 3:23 pm
Youre welcome Ruman!

Reply
Otilia
Hi Andrew!
I just want to say a big THANK YOU! for sharing all this information. I find your blog
most helpful for putting ideas in practice. All the best!
Reply
Andrew Minalto
Youre welcome Otilia!

Reply
Imran
November 19, 2015 at 5:34 am
Hi Andrew,
i am planning to import Hospital scrubs from Pakistan to Canada.i don`t have
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experience and this is first time.Please let me know which term is best for me if i will
use sea or air, i am going to start my own business.Please guide me i really
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appreciate you to guide me,

Best regards,
Imran
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Andrew Minalto
its best to go with FOB terms Imran so you dont have to pay any additional
fees in Pakistan.
And then simply work out delivery/customs clearance fees with the freight
forwarder youll be using.
Thanks,
Andrew
Reply
Jazz
Hoo boy, just when I thought opening my little side business to sell handmade things
at cra fairs was going to be easy and fun
Im in the middle of negotiating with a supplier in China for 25 picture frames, which
will cost me $200 (USD). I hadnt even considered import taxes and customs
and.Im literally sitting here gobsmacked.
So, if the supplier has agreed/o ered FOB, I have a couple of questions that I hope
you can answer.
1. Do you have any recommendations for a freight forwarding agent in the United
States?
2. I live surprisingly close to one of the biggest US sea ports, but its on the east coast.
However, if the goods were (somehow) to arrive there, would I be able to go pick
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them up and deal with customs at the port?

I know these are such noob questions, but the artwork I plan on making and selling
requires a specialized frame which I cant find on eBay, Amazon, etc. for less than $20
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apiece. I wanted to keep my overhead low so I can keep my prices low enough to be
of interest to the kind of people who go to cra fairs/shows and farmers markets. I
_could_ sell them without the frames, but they wouldnt be as nice.
Sigh. Im beginning to wonder if Ive bitten o more than I can chew
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Reply
Andrew Minalto
Hi Jazz,
Importing just 25 picture frames from China wont make any sense. Youll pay
LOTS of extra money for shipping, taxes etc. its simply not worth it. You would
have to buy at least 100-200 frames o even consider it.
So my advice would be to look for a USA based wholesaler (on Google,
WholesaleCentral.com) to buy these frames locally, in small bulk.
At least in the beginning.
If you can get them @ $20 a piece, that will still be cheaper than importing 25
pieces from China.
But with some more research you should be able to find a wholesaler who can
do these cheaper for you.
Thanks,
Andrew
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jay
thank you exllant information

so much helpful
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Andrew Minalto
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Youre welcome Jay!
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Reply
Richard
What does EXW mean?

if you choose exw term, you can easily know which forwarders solution is good.
Thank you
Reply
Andrew Minalto
Hi Richard,
EXW (Ex Works) price means that its basic product price AT the factory. You
would have to pay/organise shipping from there to port, insurance, freight etc.
etc.
Thanks,
Andrew
Reply
Lucie
Hi Andrew,
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Thanks much for dedicating your time answering our questions, very much
appreciated. I have a quick question for you: If a supplier from China tells me The
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EXW unit price is $4.35/pc. And shipping fee to the USA is 60USD. So total price =
$4.35*30 + $60 = $190.5. What would this mean to you? Are they pretty much stating
that the goods will come to my door? Their site shows a chart with the express
shipping method via DHL, FedEx, or Postal Service and their corresponding shipping
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time. I found the following formula on another site which makes it a little more
confusing to me Im not certain how accurate they are though:
EXW is a basic price
EXW + handling = FOB
FOB + freight cost = C&F to any place that you may wish.
Thanks!
Lucie
Reply
Andrew Minalto
Hi Lucie,
What shipping method youll be using for that order? Courier? Sea freight?
Let me know.
Andrew
Reply
Lucie
I would definitely prefer courier (DHL or FedEx).

Lucie
Reply
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If its courier, they will take care of customs clearance procedure for
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you and you just need to pay their invoice which will include import
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duty, VAT & admin fee.

Andrew
Reply
Lucie
Ok, thanks much Andrew!

Lucie
Andrew Minalto
No worries!
Krishna
October 12, 2015 at 9:08 pm
Hi Andrew,
I am totally new to this industry, I have a simple question
I am planning to order iPhone cases from China and requesting the seller To ship
directly to Amazon UK warehouse. What is the best Trade terms I should select, as I
do want to incur any type of additional cost
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Regards
Krishna
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Andrew Minalto
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Hi Krishna,
Its not that simple you cant simply send such shipments to FBA.
Please read importing guide on FBA website.
Thanks,
Andrew
Reply
Krishna
October 13, 2015 at 10:58 am
Hi Andrew,
Thanks for the quick response, sorry I missed word [not] in my previous
query
I dont want to incur any type of additional cost
Regards
Krishna
Reply
Derek
Hi Andrew
I am about to start importing copper from china to the uk and I am curious about
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shipping terms.
Something isnt adding up when reading your blog though I will explain,
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FOB Free on Board (or Freight on Board). This basically means that the cost of
delivering the goods to the nearest port is included but YOU, as the buyer, are
responsible for the shipping from there and all other fees associated with getting the
goods to your country/address.
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Then,
Hi Riaz,
FOB just means goods loaded onto ship and carriage paid to your nearest port, thats
it. Nothing else.
Customs clearance fees, VAT, import duty and delivery to your address is NOT
included in FOB price.
Thanks,
Andrew
To me these look like 2 di erent answers ? Does FOB include shipping to my country
?
In the first answer it says it doesnt, but in the 2nd answer it says it does ?
Your help is appreciated
Regards
Derek
Reply
Andrew Minalto
Hi Derek,
Yes, my bad there I got mixed it up myself for a very simple reason that very
o en, if goods are small, Chinese suppliers actually include sea freight cost in
FOB price.
But by standard definition FOB does not include sea freight cost.
Also, usually suppliers state PORT of unloading so for example FOB
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Shanghai. This means that FOB price includes delivery to Shanghai port only.
Ports located in di erent locations may incur additional charges.
Thanks,
Andrew
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Rico Coballes
September 4, 2015 at 2:44 am
Hi Andrew,
First I would like to thank you so much for all the informative answers to all the
questions posted, its a big help to everyone like me who aspires to start an import
business.
Got a few questions hope you find yourself available to answer.
I want to import rice from Thailand to UK and not sure where to start, Ive gone
through HMRC website on how to start imports and so on but would like to ask you a
favor to guide me through. First what license should I apply before doing this import,
secondly how can I guarantee that the exact order Ive asked is what supposed to be
in a container and not less.
Thank you so much.
Regards,
Rico
Reply
Andrew Minalto
Hi Rico,
Thanks for your email.
Im sorry but I have no experience whatsoever with importing food items from
outside EU so I dont know what kind of certificates/permissions youll need to
import rice from Thailand.
You should probably check trading standards website for more info on this.
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Shares
Andrew
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Joe
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August 22, 2015 at 5:03 pm
Hi Andrew,
Youre unaware but your advice has saved me SO much time over the past few
months!
Im currently negotiating a deal however im unsure as to which payment method to
go with.
T/T, D/P, D/A and all the rest! wheres good old paypal when you need it
Eagerly awaiting your reply,
All the best,
Joe
Reply
Andrew Minalto
August 24, 2015 at 8:02 am
Hi Joe,
Great to hear that!
PayPal is usually my number one choice.
If thats not possible, do the order via Alibaba so you get trade assurance
protection.
Last resort is direct bank transfer but of course then you dont get any
protection whatsoever so be very careful with this and only use bank payment if
youre 110% confident in the supplier youre dealing with.
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Thanks,
Andrew
Reply
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Umang jain
August 21, 2015 at 7:30 am
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Hi Andrew,
Greetings for the day
Came across your blog and found it to be very informative. Thank you for this
initiative.
I have a query regarding CNF and hope you could help me understand it. My supplier
from china in a mail replied- CNF 4.8 USD PER SET BY LCL , not BY AIR. I couldnt
understand what does it mean.
Request if you can make me understand it.
Thanks in advance.
Regards,
Umang
Reply
Andrew Minalto
August 21, 2015 at 7:47 am
Hi Umang,
It means you pay CNF $4.8 USD per set (of whatever you order there) via LCL
which stands for less than container load via sea freight.
So $4.8 per set, cost of product and freight via sea freight, in a mixed container.
Thanks,
Andrew
Reply
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Umang jain
24
Hello Andrew,
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Greetings for the day

So what I am understanding is USD4.8 include the freight also along with
the product.
Thanks a lot,
Umang
Reply
Andrew Minalto
yes, correct.
Reply
David
July 22, 2015 at 3:12 pm
Hi Andrew, Thanks for all the explanations! Really informative!

But, I also have a few small questions. Its about smaller freight compared to the
others (based on the blog comments).
I am ordering just a few hundred pieces of a certain product from a supplier in china.
These pieces dont weigh that much and they are small in size too. The total weight
will be around 25KG. They will send two boxes of the size: 50w x 80h x 60h (This is one
box and sizes are in centimeters).
My question is, do you recommend a freight forwarding company for this amount
of KG and packages?
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Or do you recommend a courier service? In that case I would opt for the incoterm CIF
at the supplier and then let a courier service pick up the goods from the port and
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transort it to my doorstep.
Last question. Does it matter (in my case) if the supplier sends it by air or by sea, price
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wise? (Assuming ithe incoterm is CIF).
Reply
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Andrew Minalto
July 22, 2015 at 3:47 pm
Hi David,
For a 25kg package you want to use nothing but a courier service! Air freight
and sea freight wont be cost e ective for such small shipments as youll
actually pay more in various fees than for the shipment itself.
So just go with the courier, FOB price and ask supplier to find cheapest courier
for you. Then they just charge courier shipping price in your invoice, together
with product cost.
Thanks,
Andrew
Reply
Monika
May 22, 2015 at 7:33 am
Hi Andrew,
Do you have any tips for great freight forwarders from China to USA?
Thanks,
Monika
Reply
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Andrew Minalto
May 22, 2015 at 7:57 am
Hi Monika,
Same WG that I recommend in Uk works in USA too:
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Thanks,
Andrew
Reply
shan
May 13, 2015 at 3:08 pm
hi Andrew,please help me for my basic questions, FOB price means the cost of
delivering to the nearest port,the nearest post means whom? the supplier or the
buyer port and then the freight and insurance charges are bared by the importer,is it
so. CIF means cost freight and insurance will be not charged to the importer is that
statement okay and delivered to which port ? and please let me know what are the
cost included in FOB,
Reply
Andrew Minalto
May 13, 2015 at 6:23 pm
Yes, FOB means product plus delivery to nearest port (suppliers port).
and yes, CIF means that sea freight and insurance is included, to buyers country
port.
Reply
Varun
April 30, 2015 at 7:38 am
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Hi Andrew
I appreciate your blog here!
I am trying to purchase a kitchen equipment from China and Ive been quoted a price
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of $1600 CIF (Kolkata).
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I do understand what that means for me, but what exactly are the costs that I am
going to end up incurring ?
Reply
Andrew Minalto
April 30, 2015 at 1:06 pm
Is this for personal use? Or bulk purchase?

Reply
Hsin
March 8, 2015 at 5:10 pm
Hi Andrew
I am also new to importing from China, and I was wondering if you could help me
I am importing 10 scooters, and the dimensions are per piece (individually
packaged):
Carton size: 58*45*27CM1PCS/CTN, G.W:15.5KG
The supplier has quoted me the CIF price of 295 USD, but from the comments I have
read online, there may be a lot of hidden costs involved. I was also quoted the FOB
price of 525 USD for the same shipment, so I was wondering if it would be better?
The goods would be shipped to the port of London, so it isnt far for me to go get
them myself when they arrive, but I was wondering if there was a di erence between
CIF and FOB that would prevent me from doing so?
Also, if I were to use a freight forwarding company, would they have problems with
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collection based on me using CIF over FOB?

Reply
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Andrew Minalto
6
March 9, 2015 at 8:37 am
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Hi Hsin,
Yes, I would recommend you go with the FOB price when possible as otherwise
you will be hit with various extra charges. freight forwarders can do either way
of course but at added cost.
Thanks,
Andrew
Reply
Hsin
March 9, 2015 at 4:22 pm
Thanks Andrew
This is what my supplier emailed me:
You dont need to pay any additional cost. The CIF price include local
charge and shipping fee to London port.
So I guess she is lying?
Reply
Andrew Minalto
March 9, 2015 at 4:27 pm
sorry, I thought it was ex-works price because it was cheaper than

FOB.
CIF does include include everything up to London port, yes BUT why
its cheaper than FOB?
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It does not make sense

Reply
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Hsin
March 9, 2015 at 4:49 pm
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Yes, that was what I was initially concerned by

My supplier quoted me the higher FOB price first with one
shipping company, but as I asked a lot of questions about
additional costs and freight forwarding services, she then said
she found another company that can do the shipping at the
cheaper CIF price
Is this unheard of?
I can easily find details online for the FOB company SHENZHEN
JOINT A SUPPLY CHAIN CO.,LTD, but so far, nothing for the CIF
company
Shenzhen HYD Logistics Ltd. the supplier has given me their
contact details, so I am waiting for their response to see if there
is something dodgy going on (seems to be a lot of shipping
companies in Shenzhen)
Andrew Minalto
March 9, 2015 at 5:08 pm
The price di erence seems way too high to me

I would start questioning how legit that supplier is, it could be
that they are up to something and just lowered the price to get
your order in. Not saying its the case 100% but it does look
suspicious to me.
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Hsin
24
March 9, 2015 at 6:42 pm
Thanks for your advice

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They are an ali baba supplier, so I have been as cautious as I

can, doing as much research as I can. They appear to have
been manufacturing for 5 years and are gold suppliers, they
have their own company website, and the details on the PI
they want me to pay is for their company HSBC bank account
based in Hong Kong
I have been toing and froing with this supplier for the past
month, mainly because they were shut for 2 weeks due to the
Chinese New Year, and I have conveyed interest in putting a
larger order in if this one goes well
I have emailed the supplier again for more details of this CIF
courier, so fingers crossed
Thanks again
Ira Caplan
March 5, 2015 at 11:45 am
Thanks Andrew; very helpful article. I plan to visit your site again researching similar
topics and gain familiarity with others you decipher.
Best,
Ira
Reply
Andrew Minalto
March 5, 2015 at 12:27 pm
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Youre welcome Ira!

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joe
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Hi Andrew,
Im still a little fuzzy on some of the shipping options from China to the USA.
Im about to start pitching local big box retailer managers with my product and I
would like to have my numbers as accurate as possible before I configure my pricing
for them.
I have negotiated with two or three suppliers in China for my best possible price but
Im still leery about any surprise fees at the port.
Is it possible for you to tell me:
Is it accurate to say that suppliers in China get better rates for shipping then I would
get on my own?
When discussing FOB vs. CNF (or CIF), which one will be more beneficial monetarily
for myself here in the USA?
What fees will I have to pay at the port for an FOB shipment vs. the fees I will have to
pay for the other 2?
When discussing CNF vs CIF, is it really worth paying extra for the insurance?
Is this insurance for damage to the goods, or for the goods just completely
disappearing?
Can I actually transport goods on a maritime freight ship without insurance?
I have seen you mention on here, and I have heard others mention elsewhere, that
the first few times I should get a freight forwarding company to handle my shipment.
My confusion on this is the following:
The consensus is that I should let them handle it first few times, but whether they
handle it 3 times or 25 times, wouldnt I have to handle it on my own at some point?
Why not just tackle that hassle the very first time in order to save money?
Does the freight forwarding company only handle the shipment upon its arrival at my
destination port in my local city?
I would certainly prefer someone to do the work for me but I am working on an
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extreme shoestring budget with no wiggle room to spare.

Another question I have is about air freight, for what types of products which you
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recommend air freight and how much more expensive have you found that it is over
maritime freight?
24
Thanks for all your help!
Reply
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Andrew Minalto
Hi Joe,
There are too many questions to answer them in this comment reply.
But I can definitely recommend you using a freight forwarder (who can also
help you with all these questions) and no actually you can save some money
by using a freight forwarder VS doing it yourself as youll get better shipping
rates, faster customs clearance (which also costs money for extra days goods
are at port) and delivery of goods to your door.
Thanks,
Andrew
Reply
Jigar
Hi, Nice Blog! I was wondering if anyone planning to export from India, does he need
to pay the VAT in India? For Example If i m exporting Rice from India to UK, What taxes
i m bound to pay? please help me understand this, i appreciate.
Regards,
Jigar
Reply
Andrew Minalto
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Hi Jigar,
Im not familiar with tax system in India so youll have to find out whatever you
have to pay any export taxes in India when exporting to UK.
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Thanks,
Andrew
Reply
Arjun
Hi,
is there di erence between CIF and FOB Destination?
Reply
Andrew Minalto
CIF stands for Cost, Insurance and Freight.

FOB Destination is usually used as term to describe destination port for that
FOB shippment.
Reply
Will
January 26, 2015 at 11:37 pm
Hey Andrew,
im trying to buy something from china through Alibaba and want it shipped to New
York and not have to deal with anything other than receiving it at my door. What
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would be the best way to do that?
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Andrew Minalto
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Hi Will,
How big the shipment will be?
if its a small package, you can simply use any courier service and theyll take
care of everything and deliver goods right to your door.
If its a larger, sea freight or air freight shipment, youll want to use a freight
forwarder for Door to Door service, such Woodland Global.
They can collect goods from supplier in China, ship over to USA, do customs
clearance and deliver goods to any address you want.
Thanks,
Andrew
Reply
martin richardson
hi andrew, having read most of the post here, is was wondering if you could advise on
this, i ordered and paid for a timber grab and rotator to fit a small 3 ton excavator, i
paid fob, $540 which very roughly is 380. i am now looking at charges of 393 to
pay just to collect it from port..lcl terminal handling70 uk documentation
90.uk handling 25. uk warehousing19.73 customs clearance55.
deferment fee30 .import duty and v.a.t104.68 this has all come from CMI,
CARGO MOVERS INTERNATIONAL LTD in essex. having found the commodity code
for item it turns out there will be no duty to pay, could you clarify maybe , as i am not
a buisiness and do not intend to sell the item, just use it myself to help with li ing MY
firewood to keep our three woodburners fed at our home , is v.a.t applicable? the
thing is you cann read to much information or listen to avise and help by di erent
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people and it becomes to bloody confusing!! HELP . we have establihed there is no

duty to be paid, is there v.a.t? and am i right in noting all these charges seem
extorionate?! is there a goverment ombudsman who can determine if all these
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charges are fair!!! PLEASE HELP many . regards martin. p.s my half pallet is due at
port 24/1/15 a er three di erent due dates!! at felixstowe. cheers
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Andrew Minalto
Hi Martin,
These fees seem about right. Thats why sea freight is usually used for bigger
orders, not just one item as port & related fees are almost fixed.
Youll still have to pay VAT though ,even if import duty is 0%.
Thanks,
Andrew
Reply
Kyla
January 14, 2015 at 11:47 am
Hi Andrew,
Fabulous blog! Thank you. Question when importing from China, is it safer to go
with CIF or CNF? Wouldnt it be better to have insurance?Thanks
Reply
Andrew Minalto
Yes, of course its always better to have insurance.

Reply
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Alice
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24
Thank you for your prompt reply. I am actually exporting to Mumbi. I was quoted
$8078 /MT-FOB. Therefore does that mean $8078 per metric ton for a container to be
exported?
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Reply
Alice
Great thanks Andrew.

Reply
Andrew Minalto
not sure on that one, I havent imported anything weighting tonnes before
You should probably just ask your supplier to clarify this.
Thanks,
Andrew
Reply
Haji
Thanks for your blog I benefited a lot

just have question regarding shipping, I am starting export business From Indonesia
to USA. Exporting seeds such as clove, black paper. Any advice with shipping
company.
Reply
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Andrew Minalto
24
Im sure there are many local freight forwarders working in Indonesia just
6
contact several and get quotes to compare.
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Andrew
Reply
SCOTT
Hello Andrew, looking at importing clothes from china. first time at this what is the
smallest amount a company like woodland global will consider working with?
thanks scott
Reply
Andrew Minalto
Hi Scott,
There are no minimum order really WG can do the shipment no matter how
small it is. Of course, you have to keep in mind fixed admin costs and such so
sending few kgs wont be worthwhile.
Thanks,
Andrew
Reply
Ray
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Hi Andrew,
Nice blog!
133
I am new to importing and procurement. Trying to get answer for a very basic
question. If i want to purchase an equipment worth 1000 USD, cant I raise an
24
underpriced PO for 500 USD, make the supplier invoice me for 500 USD alone. And
pay the remaining 500 USD to my supplier through other channel like black money.
How will the customs in this case find out that my PO is underpriced?
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Regards,
Ray
Reply
Andrew Minalto
Im sorry Ray but I wont even comment on such illegal activities.

Reply
Alfredo Moya
Hi Andrew
I am hoping to import some goods from China (alibaba) to the United States. I would
like to start my business on ebay. Which it will be the best way to bring product to my
home. .
Reply
Andrew Minalto
Hi Alfredo,
Thanks for your comment.
Please check out my Importing from China guide for more details on this.
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Thanks,
Andrew
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Aly
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November 11, 2014 at 12:31 pm
Im about to purchase a new forkli from Jcb UK for the amount of 75k, I would like
to export it to the gulf (Saudi Arabia). Im doing this on a individual basis so have no
company entity setup.
How best to to make this deal e icient? Will I be charged UK taxes, vat, etc. Should I
let the buyer deal with the shipping?
Should I go for the fob or other or other option? Should I arrange the insurance
separately? Any advice, guidelines would be much appreciated.
Reply
Andrew Minalto
Do you buy it for re-selling in Saudi Arabia?

Reply
Eric
Hi Andrew
Great post
there are some questions in my mind
i were to buy stu s worth 40.000USD
20 container
what payment method is best for me?
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is it possible if i use escrow or e-credit?

Reply
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Andrew Minalto
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Hi Eric,
Yes, Escrow should be taken for amount like that. Some companies will also
accept letter of credit from your bank, for orders of that size.
Thanks,
Andrew
Reply
Wes
Great post. I was looking online for information on how to deal with customs to
Canada and I stumbled upon your blog. You answered questions I havent even
thought of yet. Thanks a lot.
Reply
Andrew Minalto
Youre welcome Wes!

Reply
Mike
Hi Andrew
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I am hoping to import some goods from Lagos to the UK by L C L

Do you know of a company ?
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Regards Mike
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Reply
6
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Andrew Minalto
Hi Mike,
Try contacting Woodland Global.
Maybe they can help you.
Thanks,
Andrew
Reply
Conrad
Hi Andrew,
Hope all is well! What a brilliant blog! Im from Toronto, Canada! I have a new
connection to export scrap metal to India (used railway lines, copper wire and Raw
copper).. Can you step me through the process? I would definitely appreciate that.. It
would really help me out..
Thank you in advance!
Conrad
Reply
Andrew Minalto
Hi Conrad,
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Unfortunately I can help you with a detailed guidon that as:
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1) Im not in Canada;
2) I have never exported anything to India;
3) I have no experience in scar metal business.
Good luck anyway!
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Thanks,
Andrew
Reply
Guillaume
Hi Andrew
Quick question : a CIF HK price for a chinese fabric does include the full chinese VAT (
17%) or it s possible to get without VAT ?
Reply
Andrew Minalto
Hi Guillaume,
Exported goods from China are VAT free so you dont have to pay Chinese VAT
on these goods.
Thanks,
Andrew
Reply
Guillaume
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Thanks . Yes on finished goods it s (allmost) VAT free ( tax refund depend
the type of product) .
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However in my case it s pure raw material .

So you think even in that case , exporting a raw material from China is VAT
24
free ?
Thanks
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Reply
Andrew Minalto
I have never had to pay VAT on any kind of goods/materials

imported from China.
I mean Chinese VAT, not EU one.
Reply
Riaz Ahmad
August 20, 2014 at 7:21 pm
Hi Andrew,
looking for some answers to what is included in FOB price I have come accross your
blog. Various people have di erent views on what is included in FOB price. I would
like an expert view as to if Custom Clearance and any other charges are included in
FOB or is it just the transportation charges?
From Free on Board, I perceive as goods are free of every exepenses at origin port? or
am I just singing from a completely wrong swing!?
Thanks in advance for clarifying.
Riaz
Reply
Andrew Minalto
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August 21, 2014 at 4:57 am
Hi Riaz,
FOB just means goods packed, sent to nearest port, thats it.
Shipping costs, customs clearance fees, VAT, import duty and delivery to your
address is NOT included in FOB price.
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Thanks,
Andrew
Reply
Jon Turner
April 10, 2016 at 5:16 pm
Hi Andrew,
Beg your pardon, but the answer you gave to the previous questioner
from this one is inconsistent and looks downright wrong. He wants goods
shipped from S. Korea to Kolkata, and you say FOB will cover freight cost
to Kolkata. That may be the receivers nearest port, but it is not the
shippers. Granted a shipper has discretion to choose among ports and
isnt forced to pick the closest one, but arent they restricted to the port of
loading, and to a domestic port? There is no such thing as FOB (foreign)
port of delivery.
You are doing a lot to dispel the confusion around international trade,
dont get me wrong, I just want to understand the situation myself.
Jon
Reply
Andrew Minalto
April 11, 2016 at 6:28 am
Hi Jon,
Thanks for correcting me on this one, youre correct.
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FOB price does not include actual shipping costs.
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Thanks,
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Andrew
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Reply
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N Rijal
July 15, 2014 at 12:43 am
Hi Andrew,
Very helpful blog.
I am attempting to import some surgical items from South Korea to Nepal We also
import from Malaysia and China. Our nearest sea port is Kolkata, India. We can take
charge of the goods from Kolkata. Can you please advise me the freight forwarder
that would be the most a ordable for shipment of the goods.
Thank you.
Reply
Andrew Minalto
July 15, 2014 at 6:12 am
Hi There,
If you only need goods delivered to your port, then just ask supplier to arrange
FOB terms for you when you buy goods and this will include shipping to your
nearest port.
Thanks,
Andrew
Reply
W. Rory Burnlees
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July 9, 2014 at 10:27 am
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Hi Andrew , great blog. Also getting into some trading , I want to bring textiles from
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Chaing Mai to Spain , can I use a UK frieght forwarder or must it be Spanish , if so do

you know of a good company preferably Barcelona ? ,
Thanks,
Reply
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Reply
Andrew Minalto
July 9, 2014 at 10:39 am
You can use a UK freight forwarder, sure but probably it will be easier for you to
work with a local company.
I cant recommend any specific companies but Im sure you can find many
freight forwarders in Barcelona, just do a Google search, check local yellow
pages etc.
Thanks,
Andrew
Reply
kalu
July 7, 2014 at 1:03 pm
hi Andrew am from Nigeria a first time importer from China.I will like you to advice
me on which freight forwarder should I use.
so my goods will be delivered directly to my company.the products am buying are
industrial chemicals like iron oxide,titanium dioxide,ammonia,biocide etc
I will appreciate your advice
thanks
Reply
Andrew Minalto
July 7, 2014 at 1:06 pm
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Hi Kalu,
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24

I havent sent any goods to Nigeria so unfortunately cant help you out with this.
You want to look in your local yellow pages/business pages or attend a trade
show related to importing and find freight forwarder this way.
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Sorry about that.

Andrew
Reply
Pepukayi Chidanyika
July 4, 2014 at 4:01 am
Hi Andrew,i am from Zimbabwe,Harare,i have just stumbled upon your blog as I was
looking for information on purchasing goods from China. Your response to Malvina
has provided all the answers to the questions I had but I would like you to advice me
on reputable freight forwarding agents to bring my goods to zimbabwe. I would like
to import brick molding machines and its my first time.so would like to avoid all the
hassles and just get the goods on my door step. Your advice will be greatly
appreciated. Thanks.
Pepukayi
Reply
Andrew Minalto
July 4, 2014 at 6:41 am
Hi Pepukayi,
Just check your local yellow pages in Zimbabwe and there youll find contacts
for local importing/freight forwarding companies.
Thanks,
Andrew
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charlie2015
Hi Andrew.
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11/8/2016
I am thinking of starting a new venture and would be really grateful for your
advice, you seem to have a lot of knowledge in importing.
Can I give you a random figure of a made up order for a rough guide to see what
extra costs one might expect on a simple order.
Say a 5,000 order of bathrobes before CIF, to the UK Southampton,
say each item 5.
Thank you in advance..
Charlie.
What rough estimate would I be placing on an order like this?
Reply
Andrew Minalto
January 30, 2015 at 11:42 am
Hi Charlie,
You mean shipping costs?
Whats the weight and size of this order?
Reply
Charlie
January 31, 2015 at 10:43 am
Hi Andrew,
Here is the reply from the manufacturer below ;
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ctn size: 66*44*32ctn

pcs/ctn: 20pcs
gross weight: about 17kg/ctn
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1000pcs, it need 50 ctns.total gross weight is about 850kg.

china tax is17% , you will see the invoice.
Look forward to your reply..
Reply
61/68
11/8/2016
Reply
Andrew Minalto
China tax? What China tax is that?

As for exact shipping costs, you should contact a freight
forwarder such as Woodland Global and ask them for exact
door to door quote.
Thanks,
Andrew
Charlie
So there is no China Tax?
Andrew Minalto
no, we as importers dont pay any taxes in China.
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July 18, 2014 at 3:17 pm
[] the sound of it, you have purchased goods on FOB basis which means that the goods
are loaded onto the ship in China but you take care of customs clearance []
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CNF, Cif, Fob & Exw Explained!

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May 13, 2016 by Andrew Minalto 156 Comments

CNF, CIF, FOB & EXW Explained!

Kind regards and many thanks!

Value Added Tax

Warehouse storage fee

your goods arrive in the UK.

Want toMaster IMPORTING from China?

Filed Under: Importing

Click here to Leave a Comment

October 5, 2016 at 8:15 am

Yes, thats correct Rey.

so basicly its the same as CNF?

July 26, 2016 at 10:47 pm

It means CNF is better then FOB?

Not better, not worse theyre 2 di erent things.

Awesome advice. Thanks AM

Youre welcome Sean!

You seem to o er extremely helpful advice so I wonder if you could o er me some

July 11, 2016 at 6:22 pm

I dont know really what to suggest as it is a very specific case

Hi Andrew your website is really useful, thank you!

Hi. Hopefully you can help me too.

I had ordered a shipment from China to Southampton CIF.

Same Woodland Global I recommend also works in the US:

were a company that has arranged a freighter to ship 2.56cbmtrs of product to

supplier is giving is not accepted by my bank.

April 7, 2016 at 7:12 am

Sorry, which charges youre referring to?

Hi Andrew, Unbelievable that i still have a question a er all of that information.But

Youre welcome Ruman!

Youre welcome Otilia!

appreciate you to guide me,

them up and deal with customs at the port?

Sigh. Im beginning to wonder if Ive bitten o more than I can chew

thank you exllant information

November 15, 2015 at 6:49 am

Youre welcome Jay!

What does EXW mean?

I would definitely prefer courier (DHL or FedEx).

October 21, 2015 at 5:58 am

duty, VAT & admin fee.

Ok, thanks much Andrew!

October 13, 2015 at 6:55 am

goods to your country/address.

August 22, 2015 at 5:03 pm

September 15, 2015 at 8:34 am

Greetings for the day

Hi Andrew, Thanks for all the explanations! Really informative!

wise? (Assuming ithe incoterm is CIF).

of $1600 CIF (Kolkata).

Is this for personal use? Or bulk purchase?

collection based on me using CIF over FOB?

March 9, 2015 at 8:37 am

sorry, I thought it was ex-works price because it was cheaper than

It does not make sense

Yes, that was what I was initially concerned by

The price di erence seems way too high to me

March 9, 2015 at 6:42 pm

Thanks for your advice

They are an ali baba supplier, so I have been as cautious as I

Youre welcome Ira!

ctn size: 664432ctn