You have nailed the factory quote. Now how does the cargo actually get to your warehouse? This guide explains the three most common shipping terms for custom apparel (FOB, CIF, DDP), the real costs at each stage, the LCL vs FCL decision, and which option to pick for your first order.
Quick answer
- FOB (Free On Board): factory delivers to your nearest port. You handle freight, insurance, customs, and last mile. Most common for experienced importers.
- CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight): factory pays for ocean freight and insurance. You handle customs clearance and last mile.
- DDP (Delivered Duty Paid): factory delivers to your door with all duties and customs paid. Most expensive on paper, simplest for first-time importers.
The 5 stages of getting apparel from China to your door
Stage 1: Factory to port (inland trucking)
- Cost: 200-500 USD per shipment (China domestic)
- Time: 1-3 days
- Who pays: included in FOB, CIF, and DDP
Stage 2: Export customs clearance
- Chinese customs broker files the export declaration
- Cost: 50-150 USD per shipment
- Time: 1-2 days
- Who pays: included in FOB, CIF, and DDP
Stage 3: Ocean freight
- Either LCL (Less than Container Load, you share a container) or FCL (Full Container Load, you rent the whole container)
- LCL: 50-100 USD per cbm + 50-150 USD documentation
- FCL 20ft: 1,500-4,000 USD
- FCL 40ft: 2,500-6,000 USD
- FCL 40ft HC: 3,000-7,000 USD
- Time: 14-30 days from China to most destinations (longer to US East Coast via Panama Canal)
- Who pays: you for FOB, factory for CIF and DDP
Stage 4: Import customs clearance
- Your customs broker files the import declaration and pays duties on your behalf
- Cost: 100-300 USD per shipment (broker fee)
- Duties: 10-30% of FOB value depending on HS code and destination country
- Time: 2-5 days
- Who pays: you for FOB and CIF, factory for DDP
Stage 5: Last-mile delivery (port to warehouse)
- Inland trucking, rail, or local courier from port to your warehouse
- Cost: 200-800 USD per shipment depending on distance
- Time: 1-5 days
- Who pays: you for FOB and CIF, factory for DDP
FOB vs CIF vs DDP side-by-side
| Stage | FOB | CIF | DDP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Factory to port | Factory | Factory | Factory |
| Export clearance | Factory | Factory | Factory |
| Ocean freight | You | Factory | Factory |
| Cargo insurance | You | Factory | Factory |
| Import duties | You | You | Factory |
| Import clearance | You | You | Factory |
| Last-mile delivery | You | You | Factory |
| Best for | Experienced importers | Mid-size, want logistics help | First-time importers |
Which one to pick
Pick FOB if:
- You have an existing freight forwarder relationship
- You want the lowest possible unit shipping cost
- You are moving multiple containers per year (volume negotiation leverage)
- You want full control over shipping schedule and routing
Pick CIF if:
- You want to lock in total shipping cost at quote time (factory cannot surprise you with freight surcharges later)
- You do not have a freight forwarder yet
- You are moving less than 3 containers per year
- You want the factory to handle the booking and most of the paperwork
Pick DDP if:
- This is your first import order (you do not yet know the customs process in your country)
- You are shipping less than 1 container (LCL volume, no freight negotiation leverage)
- You do not want to deal with customs paperwork, duty calculation, or customs broker selection
- You can pay a 5-15% premium for end-to-end simplicity
LCL vs FCL: the container decision
LCL (Less than Container Load)
- For shipments under 15-18 cbm (cubic meters)
- You pay only for the space you use; the container is shared with other importers
- Cost: 50-100 USD per cbm + documentation fees
- Time: 2-3 days longer than FCL (warehouse consolidation before vessel)
- Best for: < 1,000-piece orders, samples, mixed SKUs from multiple factories
FCL (Full Container Load)
- 20ft container: ~28 cbm, fits ~10,000-15,000 t-shirts or ~6,000-8,000 hoodies
- 40ft container: ~56 cbm, fits ~20,000-30,000 t-shirts or ~12,000-16,000 hoodies
- 40ft HC (high cube): ~67 cbm, fits ~25,000-35,000 t-shirts or ~15,000-20,000 hoodies
- Cost: 1,500-7,000 USD depending on route and season
- Time: same as LCL, no consolidation wait
- Best for: > 1,000-piece orders, single SKU, factory can load a full container
FCL is almost always cheaper per piece. The break-even point is usually around 15-18 cbm — below that, LCL is cheaper because you do not pay for unused container space.
Common shipping mistakes
- Not budgeting for duties. First-time importers are often surprised by 15-25% duty on FOB value. Always include estimated duties in your per-piece cost calculation.
- Picking the wrong HS code. Apparel HS codes vary by fiber content (cotton, polyester, wool, silk), gender (men’s, women’s, kids), and construction (knit vs. woven). Wrong code = wrong duty rate, which can be 2-3x off.
- Skipping insurance. Cargo insurance is 0.3-0.5% of cargo value. Cheap protection for the rare cases of damage, loss, or container incidents at sea.
- Not asking about peak season surcharges. August-October (back-to-school + Christmas) and February-March (Chinese New Year buildup) have General Rate Increases of 500-1,500 USD per container. Plan ahead.
- Forgetting port congestion delays. Los Angeles and Long Beach regularly have 5-10 day congestion delays in peak season. New York / Savannah are usually faster. Rotterdam, Hamburg, Antwerp similar.
- Using the factory’s forwarder without comparing. The factory’s forwarder is convenient but often 10-20% more expensive than what you can get from a third-party broker. Always get 2-3 quotes.
How to choose a freight forwarder
If you go with FOB or CIF, you need a forwarder. Look for:
- Apparel experience: knows the HS codes, customs quirks, and seasonal patterns
- Good rates on your trade lane: China to US East vs. West coast, EU, UK, AU, etc.
- Online tracking portal: real-time visibility on where your cargo is
- Reasonable customer service: 24/7 support for in-transit issues
- Cargo insurance offerings: built-in or as an add-on
- Customs brokerage: one-stop shop for both shipping and import clearance
Major forwarders: Flexport, Freightos, Kuehne+Nagel, DHL Global Forwarding, FedEx Trade Networks, Expeditors. For smaller shipments: UPS Supply Chain, regional Chinese forwarders like Sinotrans, Eastern Car Liner.
FAQ
How long does shipping take?
- FOB + sea to US West Coast: 18-25 days port-to-port
- FOB + sea to US East Coast: 28-35 days (via Panama Canal)
- FOB + sea to EU: 25-35 days depending on destination port
- Express air (DHL / FedEx) for samples: 3-7 days door-to-door
Can I ship by air?
Yes, but expensive. Air freight costs 4-8 USD per kg vs. 1-2 USD per kg by sea for the same volume. Air makes sense for: urgent samples (under 50 kg), high-value items, time-sensitive seasonal launches. For bulk production, sea freight is always 80-90% cheaper per piece.
What is the cheapest way to ship?
LCL by sea is the cheapest per cbm. But if you can fill a container, FCL is significantly cheaper per piece. For small orders (under 500 pieces), consider air freight plus small-parcel shipping to your door — sometimes faster and cheaper than LCL for tiny volumes.
What if I want a different port than the factory’s default?
Most factories default to Shenzhen, Shanghai, or Ningbo. If you need a different port (Qingdao, Xiamen, Tianjin), specify it. There may be an additional inland trucking cost of 100-300 USD.
How do I track my shipment?
Your forwarder should provide a booking number and tracking portal. Major ocean carriers: Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM, COSCO, Hapag-Lloyd, ONE, Evergreen.
What if cargo arrives damaged?
File a claim with the insurance company within 7-14 days of arrival. Take photos before opening cartons (and during). Most claims are honored if you have insurance and proper documentation (commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading).
Hidden costs first-time importers forget
- Import duties: 10-30% of FOB value depending on country and HS code
- Customs broker fee: 100-300 USD per shipment
- Customs bond (US imports): 50-500 USD per shipment for first-year importers; required by CBP
- Container drayage: 200-500 USD to move container from port to your warehouse
- Demurrage: 100-300 USD per day if your container sits at port past free time (usually 4-7 days)
- Detention: 50-150 USD per day if you hold the container past free time at your warehouse
- Chassis fee: 50-100 USD per container for the trailer at the port
- ISF (Importer Security Filing): 25-50 USD for US-bound ocean freight; must be filed at least 24 hours before vessel loading
Total hidden costs typically add 8-15% on top of the FOB quote for first-time importers. Add them to your per-piece cost for true landed cost budgeting.
How this fits the buyer journey
Shipping is what connects the factory’s quote to your warehouse. For the upstream decisions:
- What MOQ to Expect from a Custom Apparel Factory — quantity drives whether you can fill a container
- Private Label vs OEM vs ODM — model choice affects sample shipping complexity
- How to Vet a Custom Apparel Factory in China — a factory that mishandles shipping paperwork is a red flag
- How to Write a Tech Pack for Custom Apparel — accurate specs reduce customs HS code mistakes
- Custom Apparel Pricing: What Drives the Cost Per Piece — FOB, CIF, DDP each have a different cost line
How we work at Kemondo
At Kemondo Apparel, we offer FOB, CIF, and DDP shipping on every quote. For first-time importers, we recommend DDP for the first 1-2 orders so you see the final landed cost upfront and we handle all the logistics. As you scale, switching to FOB with your own freight forwarder usually saves 5-15% on shipping cost.
Get a quote with shipping terms that fit your business: Message us on WhatsApp. We usually reply within 12 hours.