Shipping to Europe: EXW vs FOB — Which Is Right for You?

Direct answer: Kexin ships B2B protective cases from China to Europe via EXW Guangdong (customer pickup) or FOB Shenzhen / Ningbo (we deliver to port, you arrange ocean freight). We offer only EXW (Guangdong factory pickup) and FOB (Shenzhen/Ningbo). We do not offer DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) or overseas warehouse storage — by design for our B2B source-factory model. Typical transit: 28–35 days sea freight to Hamburg / Rotterdam, 4–7 days air freight. EU import duties are 2.7% on cases (HS 4202). Customers are responsible for customs clearance and last-mile delivery.

Why Kexin Does Not Offer DDP or Overseas Warehouse

Kexin New Material (Guangdong) Co., Ltd. operates a strict B2B-only business model. We do not sell to retail, do not offer EXW/FOB (no DDP) (Delivered Duty Paid) terms, and do not maintain overseas warehouse storage. This is by design, for three reasons:

1. Legal compliance. DDP requires us to act as importer of record in your country, which carries tax liability, customs responsibility, and product liability exposure. We are a manufacturer, not a logistics company.
2. Business focus. B2B customers (distributors, brand owners, OEM) prefer to control their own import process. They have freight forwarders, customs brokers, and last-mile logistics partners. Adding our layer creates complexity.
3. Cost transparency. DDP pricing includes hidden costs (import duty, VAT, handling fees, storage, returns). EXW or FOB pricing is transparent — you see exactly what the case costs, plus freight, duty, and last-mile separately.

For customers who need DDP, we recommend using a freight forwarder that offers DDP service (DHL, FedEx, Kuehne+Nagel, DSV, Sinotrans). They can quote a full DDP price including all duties and delivery to your warehouse.

EXW vs FOB vs CIF vs DDP: Definitions

Term	What seller does	What buyer does	Risk transfer point
EXW (Ex Works)	Make cases available at our factory in Guangdong	Pickup, export clearance, freight, import, delivery	At our factory gate
FOB (Free On Board)	Deliver cases to Shenzhen / Ningbo port, load on vessel	Freight from origin port, import, delivery	On board the vessel at origin port
CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight)	Freight + insurance to destination port	Import, duty, last-mile delivery	On board the vessel at destination port
DDP (Delivered Duty Paid)	Freight + insurance + duty + delivery to buyer's door	Receive at door	At buyer's door
DAP (Delivered At Place)	Freight + insurance to buyer's named place	Import, duty, last-mile from named place	At buyer's named place (e.g. warehouse)

For B2B shipments from China, EXW and FOB are the most common. CIF is occasionally used when the buyer wants freight bundled but prefers to handle customs. DDP is rare for B2B (more common for B2C e-commerce). Kexin offers EXW and FOB only.

FOB Shenzhen / Ningbo: Kexin's Standard Term

For most B2B customers shipping to Europe, FOB Shenzhen or FOB Ningbo is the most cost-effective and flexible option. The process:

1. Production complete. Cases are QC-inspected, packed in export cartons, and palletized.
2. Export clearance. Kexin's export team handles Chinese export customs (typically 1–2 days).
3. Container loading. Cases are loaded into 20'GP or 40'HQ container at Shenzhen or Ningbo port.
4. Bill of Lading (B/L). Issued by the ocean carrier. Kexin sends B/L to customer or freight forwarder.
5. Ocean transit. 28–35 days to Hamburg, Rotterdam, Felixstowe, or other major EU ports.
6. Customer import. Customer's customs broker handles EU import clearance.
7. Last-mile delivery. Customer arranges trucking from port to warehouse.

Container loading: 20'GP fits ~1,200 standard cases (Premium). 40'HQ fits ~2,800 cases. For 1,000-piece orders, LCL (Less than Container Load) is used — cases are consolidated with other shipments. LCL cost is higher per case but no need to fill a full container.

Shipping Costs and Transit Times to Europe

Origin	Destination port	Sea transit (FCL)	Sea transit (LCL)	Air transit	Sea cost / case	Air cost / case
Shenzhen / Ningbo	Hamburg	28–32 days	32–38 days	5–7 days	USD 2–4	USD 8–15
Shenzhen / Ningbo	Rotterdam	28–35 days	32–40 days	5–7 days	USD 2–4	USD 8–15
Shenzhen / Ningbo	Felixstowe (UK)	30–35 days	35–42 days	5–7 days	USD 3–5	USD 8–15
Shenzhen / Ningbo	Le Havre (FR)	32–38 days	35–42 days	5–7 days	USD 3–5	USD 8–15
Shenzhen / Ningbo	Antwerp (BE)	28–33 days	32–38 days	5–7 days	USD 2–4	USD 8–15

For 1,000+ pieces, FCL (Full Container Load) is most cost-effective. For 100–500 pieces, LCL is the standard. For urgent orders or samples, air freight or express (DHL / FedEx) is faster. Kexin can recommend a freight forwarder on request, but the customer makes the final arrangement.

EU Import Duty, VAT, and Customs

When importing protective cases into the EU, customers are responsible for customs clearance. The key cost components:

Component	Rate / amount	Notes
Import duty (HS 4202)	2.7 % (cases, bags)	EU Common Customs Tariff
VAT	19 % (DE) / 20 % (FR / UK) / 21 % (NL)	On (product + duty + freight)
Customs broker fee	EUR 50–150 per shipment	Flat per entry
Port handling	EUR 100–300 per container	FCL
Last-mile trucking (port to warehouse)	EUR 200–600 per truck (DE / NL)	Full or part load
Total landed cost (per case, FOB USD 12)	USD 12 + 2.7 % duty + 19 % VAT + EUR 5 handling = ~USD 16	Approximate, varies

For a 1,000-piece order at FOB USD 12 per case: landed cost in DE is approximately USD 16,000 + EUR 1,000 handling. Customers can claim back import VAT if they are VAT-registered. Duty drawback programs exist for re-export, but require more complex customs work.

Recommended Freight Forwarders for B2B Customers

• DHL Global Forwarding. Largest global forwarder, strong China-EU lanes, DDP service available. Suitable for all shipment sizes.
• Kuehne+Nagel. Strong in DE / EU, good for FCL and project cargo. Offers DDP and customs brokerage.
• DSV Panalpina. Strong in Nordic and DE markets, good LCL rates, DDP available.
• Sinotrans. Chinese state-owned forwarder, good FOB / CIF rates from China, less DDP service in EU.
• DHL Express / FedEx / UPS. For air freight and samples, 3–7 days transit, premium pricing.

Kexin can recommend forwarders on request but does not arrange shipping on the customer's behalf. Customers make their own arrangements and pay the forwarder directly. We deliver cases FOB Shenzhen / Ningbo port and provide Bill of Lading.

LCL vs FCL: When to Use Each

For 1,000+ pieces, FCL is usually more cost-effective. For smaller shipments, LCL is the standard. Here's a comparison:

Risk of damage

Criteria	LCL (Less than Container Load)	FCL (Full Container Load)
Min volume	1 m³ (≈50–100 cases)	20 m³ (20'GP ≈ 1,200 cases)
Cost per case	USD 4–6	USD 2–4
Transit time	32–42 days (extra consolidation)	28–35 days (direct)
Medium (consolidation handling)	Low (single-customer container)
Best for	Trial orders, samples, small re-orders	Bulk orders, repeat production

For first-time orders, LCL is common (test the market). For repeat orders with established demand, switch to FCL for cost savings and faster transit. Kexin can advise on optimal container loading for your order size.

Air Freight vs Sea Freight: Decision Matrix

Criteria	Sea freight (FCL / LCL)	Air freight (DHL / FedEx)
Cost per case (1,000 pcs)	USD 2–5	USD 8–20
Transit time	28–42 days	4–7 days
Best for	Bulk orders, non-urgent, cost-sensitive	Urgent orders, samples, high-value
Capacity	Unlimited (FCL)	Limited by aircraft payload (typical 5–10 t)
Documentation	Bill of Lading, packing list, commercial invoice, certificate of origin	Air Waybill, packing list, commercial invoice
Insurance	Optional, ~0.3 % of cargo value	Optional, ~0.5 % of cargo value

For 90% of B2B cases, sea freight is the right choice. Air freight is for samples (3–5 day transit, USD 30–100 per shipment) and urgent bulk orders (where the cost premium is justified by the time savings).

How to Arrange Shipping from Kexin

1. Confirm order. PI signed, deposit paid, production complete.
2. Pre-shipment inspection. AQL inspection per ISO 2859-1. Customer or third-party inspector attends.
3. Export packaging. Export cartons, pallets, strapping, ISPM 15 heat-treated pallets (required for EU import).
4. Customs documents. Commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin (Form A or RCEP for preferential duty), B/L or AWB.
5. Container loading. At Shenzhen or Ningbo port. Sealed by customs.
6. Shipment. Vessel departs. Transit 28–35 days to EU.
7. Tracking. Customer or forwarder tracks via carrier portal. Kexin shares updates on key milestones (loaded, departed, arrived).
8. EU import. Customer's broker handles clearance. VAT paid, duty paid (or deferred).
9. Last-mile. Trucking from port to warehouse. 1–3 days depending on distance.

For first-time customers, Kexin provides a shipping checklist and recommends 2–3 freight forwarders. We do not receive any commission or benefit from the forwarder choice — we are neutral.

FAQ

What shipping terms does Kexin offer?

EXW Guangdong (you pick up at our factory) or FOB Shenzhen / Ningbo (we deliver to the port, you arrange ocean freight and import). We do not offer EXW/FOB (no DDP) or overseas warehouse storage per our B2B-only business model.

Can Kexin arrange shipping for me?

No. We can recommend freight forwarders, but the customer arranges and pays shipping directly. Kexin's role is to deliver cases FOB port with proper export documents.

What's the transit time to Europe?

Sea freight FCL: 28–35 days to Hamburg / Rotterdam / Antwerp / Le Havre / Felixstowe. Sea freight LCL: 32–42 days (extra consolidation). Air freight: 4–7 days. Express (DHL / FedEx): 3–5 days for samples.

What's the cost of shipping?

Sea FCL (1,000+ cases, FOB to DE): USD 2–4 per case landed. Sea LCL (100–500 cases): USD 4–6 per case. Air freight: USD 8–20 per case. Express (samples): USD 30–100 per shipment. Costs vary by season, fuel surcharge, and port fees.

What's the import duty in EU?

2.7 % on cases under HS 4202. Plus 19 % VAT (DE) / 20 % (FR / UK) / 21 % (NL) on (product + duty + freight). UK post-Brexit: 2.7 % duty + 20 % VAT.

What documents does Kexin provide for export?

Commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin (China), B/L (for FOB), Form A or RCEP certificate (for preferential duty in some countries). All in English. Customer's broker uses these for import clearance.

Can I use my own freight forwarder?

Yes, most customers do. You can use any forwarder; we just need the forwarder's name and contact to coordinate the FOB delivery. We have worked with DHL, Kuehne+Nagel, DSV, Sinotrans, Expeditors, and many regional forwarders.

Is there a minimum order for FOB shipping?

Technically no minimum, but for orders under 100 cases, the cost per case for FOB handling (export clearance, B/L fee, port handling) is high (USD 50–200 fixed). For small orders, air freight or express is more practical.

What's the difference between FOB Shenzhen and FOB Ningbo?

FOB Shenzhen is more common (Kexin is 1.5 hours from Shenzhen port). FOB Ningbo is for customers in central / northern China or those who want to consolidate with other shipments from the Yangtze delta. Transit time to EU is similar (28–35 days). Cost difference is small (USD 100–300 per container).

Can Kexin ship DDP if I really need it?

No. Kexin is B2B only and does not act as importer of record. For DDP service, we recommend using a freight forwarder that offers DDP (DHL, FedEx, Kuehne+Nagel, DSV). They will quote a full door-to-door price including all duties.

What about UK post-Brexit?

UK is now outside EU customs union. Cases shipped to UK (Felixstowe, Southampton) require UK customs clearance. UK import duty: 2.7 %, UK VAT: 20 %. Customer's UK broker handles clearance. Lead time 1–2 days longer than EU due to additional customs check.

Is there a port near Kexin for the fastest shipment?

Shenzhen Yantian Port is 1.5 hours from Kexin (vs Ningbo 12 hours by truck). For fastest FOB turnaround, FOB Shenzhen is recommended. We can also ship via Hong Kong port (2 hours) for special routing.

For more on shipping, see our shipping policy page or EXW Guangdong / FOB Shenzhen/Ningbo vs air freight guide. To start shipping from Kexin, fill out the 4-step RFQ form or email [email protected].