The costs that are not on the supplier's quote, from destination charges and chargeable weight to defects, storage and currency, and how to plan for them.
A supplier’s quote is clear: a unit price, a quantity and a total. The final cost of importing rarely is. These are the costs that most often appear later and how to plan for them before you order.
Before production
- Samples and their shipping: especially when you sample from several suppliers.
- Tooling and molds: for custom products, often charged separately.
- Packaging design and minimums: custom boxes can have their own minimum print runs.
- Testing and certification: laboratory tests your market requires.
In China
- Inland transport and export clearance: included in FOB, but not in EXW.
- Consolidation: receiving and combining goods from several suppliers.
- Inspections: and re-inspections if the first one fails.
- Bank fees for international transfers.
In transit
- Chargeable weight: air freight charges the higher of real and volumetric weight.
- Fuel and peak-season surcharges: can change between quote and shipment.
- Insurance: small, but essential.
- LCL charges: consolidation and deconsolidation fees for shared containers.
At destination
- Port and terminal charges: handling, documentation and delivery orders.
- Customs broker fees.
- Duties and taxes: including anti-dumping duties for some products. See customs clearance basics.
- Storage and demurrage: charges when goods or containers stay too long at the port.
- Inspections by the authorities: if your shipment is selected for checks.
After arrival
- Defects and returns: units you cannot sell, and the cost of handling complaints.
- Warehouse costs: receiving, storage, pick and pack.
- Cash tied up in stock: money paid months before you sell.
- Currency risk: exchange rate changes between the deposit and the balance.
How to avoid surprises
- Calculate the landed cost before you order, with a margin for the unexpected. See our landed cost guide.
- Ask for itemized quotes for freight and services, not just a total.
- Use the same Incoterm when comparing offers. See Incoterms explained.
- Inspect before shipping, because defects are the most expensive hidden cost.
- Review your real costs after each shipment and update your calculation.
Transparent pricing is at the core of how Zyntral works: costs are broken down from the first quote. See how in our End to End import service.
