Shipping, Delivery & Incoterms
This page states exactly how orders on this site are quoted, packed, documented and delivered. Every price we issue names its Incoterm and its place, because a number quoted EXW and a number quoted DDP are not the same number. Lead times, documents and packaging rules are listed here rather than negotiated later.
Incoterms 2020: what each term commits us to
Incoterms are published by the International Chamber of Commerce. Each term answers three questions only: who books and pays the main carriage, who clears the goods for import and pays duty, and the exact point where risk passes from seller to buyer. The table below is the standard reading; our availability per term is in the last column.
| Term | Main carriage paid by | Import clearance & duty | Insurance | Risk transfers | With us |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXW — Ex Works (our premises) | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer’s choice | At our factory floor in Nanpi | Quoted as standard |
| FCA — Free Carrier (named place) | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer’s choice | Into the buyer’s carrier at the named place | Quoted as standard |
| FOB — Free on Board (named port) | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer’s choice | Once loaded on board the vessel | Quoted as standard |
| CFR — Cost and Freight (named port) | Us, to the destination port | Buyer | Buyer’s choice | On board at the port of shipment | Available on request |
| CIF — Cost, Insurance and Freight (named port) | Us, to the destination port | Buyer | Us, minimum cover | On board at the port of shipment | Available on request |
| DAP — Delivered at Place (named destination) | Us, to the named destination | Buyer | Us, in transit | At the named destination, ready to unload | Available on request |
| DDP — Delivered Duty Paid (named destination) | Us, to the named destination | Us | Us, in transit | At the named destination, cleared | Available on request |
Two things buyers get wrong about these terms
FOB, CFR and CIF apply to sea and inland-waterway cargo only. For air freight and international courier, the equivalent terms are FCA, CPT/CIP, DAP and DDP. Quoting “FOB” on a DHL parcel has no defined meaning.
Under CFR and CIF the cost runs to the destination port but the risk stops at the origin. If a container is damaged at sea, a CFR buyer carries that loss and claims on the carrier or insurer. That is why we state the term in writing on the quotation rather than leaving it to be inferred.
Lead times: what the clock starts from
Times below run from a confirmed drawing and a signed order, not from the first enquiry.
| Stage | Typical lead time | What we commit to |
|---|---|---|
| Quotation | Within 8 hours | A price that states its basis: Incoterm, material grade, finishing, packaging and quantity |
| Samples | 72 hours for simple parts | Sample made on the same lines as production |
| Soft tooling | One to two weeks | Quoted per part before it starts |
| Production, small batch | One to four weeks | Confirmed schedule stated on every quotation |
| Shipping | By the freight mode chosen | Booking confirmation and tracking on handover |
97.9% of our shipments leave on time. That figure is our own internal record, not an audited statistic, and we publish it with that caveat. It covers departure from our premises; it does not cover carrier transit, which is why the Incoterm above decides who carries that risk.
Export documents that ship with every order
Export shipping needs paperwork as much as packaging. Every shipment includes a packing list, a commercial invoice and a certificate of conformity. The rest depends on your market and your product.
| Document | In every shipment | On request / by arrangement | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial invoice | Yes | — | Value for customs entry |
| Packing list | Yes | — | Matches cartons to order lines |
| Certificate of conformity | Yes | — | Declares conformity to the agreed specification |
| Bill of lading (sea) / air waybill (air) | Issued by the carrier | Copy provided to you | Title and proof of handover |
| Inspection report | Per agreed plan | Dimensional and appearance records | Proves the parts as shipped |
| Material / mill certificate | — | Yes | Confirms grade and batch |
| Certificate of origin | — | Yes | Where your entry requires it |
| Test reports / safety data sheets for finishes | — | Yes | Where the coating is regulated |
| ISPM 15 heat-treated wood packaging | Marked and documented | — | Required for timber pallets and cases |
Your customs broker is the right party to confirm the exact list for your entry, as requirements vary by market and by product. Tell us the list before the goods leave, not after.
Packaging and marking
- Inner protection: parts separated so faces and finished surfaces do not touch during transit.
- Outer packaging: export-grade cartons, or plywood cases and pallets for heavy or large assemblies, ISPM 15 marked where timber is used.
- Marking: order number, part number, quantity, gross and net weight and handling marks on every carton, matching the packing line it belongs to.
- Special test, packaging or marking requests are quoted at the start — added after packing is finished is a change order.
- Before shipment, photos and video of the packed goods are shared for approval.
Payment terms tied to shipping documents
A deposit with the balance against shipping documents is the common structure for a first order — typically in the region of 30% deposit and 70% on presentation of shipping documents. For larger first orders a letter of credit or an escrow structure can be appropriate. Agree the deposit percentage, the balance trigger and the accepted payment method before production starts, not at handover.
Tracking, split shipments and after-sales
- Tracking. Tracking updates are shared until the goods are delivered, not only until they leave.
- Split shipments. Yes — split shipments across several dates are standard practice, and each batch passes the same inspection checks and ships with its own document set.
- Delivery accountability. Every project runs as a single production chain with one responsible team from drawing to delivery, so a late stage has one owner rather than three.
- After delivery. Any issue raised after delivery is answered within 8 hours.
Where your goods ship from
Manufacturing is in Nanpi County, Cangzhou City, Hebei Province, in operation since 1999, between Beijing and Tianjin. Sea freight moves through Tianjin and air freight through Beijing and Tianjin, which is why lead times on this page start from the factory floor and end at the term you buy on.
Frequently asked questions
Which Incoterm should I buy on?
If you have your own freight forwarder and want control of the freight cost, buy FCA or FOB. If you want one delivered number and do not want to manage a customs entry, buy DDP. If you are importing for the first time, DAP with your own broker is usually the clearest split: we deliver, you clear.
Why is your DDP price so much higher than another supplier’s EXW price?
Because they are not the same purchase. A DDP price contains freight, insurance, import clearance, duty and taxes that an EXW price leaves to you. Compare quotes only when the term, the named place, the material grade, the finishing, the packaging and the quantity are identical.
Do you handle customs clearance in my country?
Only under DDP. On every other term the import entry is the buyer’s responsibility, and we support it with documents rather than with the filing itself.
Can you ship by air for a prototype and by sea for production?
Yes. Prototypes and small batches commonly move by air or courier; repeat volumes move by sea. The two shipments are quoted on their own terms, and the production price does not carry the air-freight cost of the prototype.
Can I inspect before the goods ship?
Yes. Your own inspector or a third-party inspection is welcome at the factory before handover, and the agreed inspection plan is written into the order so the result is a pass/fail against a document rather than an opinion.
What happens if parts arrive damaged?
Who bears the loss follows the term you bought on. Risk passes at the point named in the table above: damage before that point is ours; damage after it is a claim against the party that holds the cover — us under CIF, DAP and DDP, your insurer under EXW, FCA and FOB. Send photos of the outer carton, the dunnage and the damaged parts against the packing list, and the claim is answered within the same 8-hour after-sales window as any other issue, with a remedy agreed in writing: replacement, repair or credit.
Page last updated: 22 September 2026. Terms, lead times and document lists above reflect current practice; a specific order is governed by its own quotation and confirmation.