For a lot of young business owners, the hardest aspect of starting a water sports brand isn’t making the board; it’s getting it from the factory floor in China to your warehouse door in the US or Europe.
It can be hard to understand terms like Bill of Lading, Commercial Invoice, ISF Filing, and Customs Bonds. I’ve seen customers hold off on placing orders because they’re worried their items would get detained at the port.
As a manufacturer that helps hundreds of companies throughout the world, I can tell you that logistics doesn’t have to be complex. You don’t need a degree in international trade; all you need to do is pick the proper shipping word.
This tutorial will clear up any confusion about shipping and show you why DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) is the best option for small to medium-sized businesses.
Decoding the Alphabet Soup: EXW, FOB, and DDP
When we quote you a price, it usually comes with a 3-letter code. These are Incoterms, and they determine who is responsible for the shipment.
EXW (Ex Works): The “do it yourself” choice. We create the products, and you take care of everything else, such shipping, importing, and picking up the items. Not a good idea for novices.
FOB (Free On Board): The “Standard” choice. We take care of everything in China, from trucking to the port to customs for exports. You are responsible for the cargo once they over the ship’s rail. You need to hire your own freight forwarder to take care of the remainder.
DDP (Delivered Duty Paid): The “VIP” choice. This is what we tell 90% of our startup clients to do.
- What it means: We take care of everything. Transportation by truck, ocean freight, customs clearance in your nation, payment of import taxes and duties, and final delivery by truck to your door.
- The Benefit: You pay one last fee. No extra costs, no surprise tax bills, and no paperwork. You only have to wait for the doorbell to ring.
Sea Freight vs. Air Express: Balancing Cost and Speed
There are two answers to the question “How much is shipping?” depending on how quickly you need it.
1. Air Express (FedEx / UPS / DHL)
- Time: 7-10 Days.
- Best For: Samples and urgent restocking.
- Cost Reality: Shipping a single SUP board by air often costs more than the board itself due to “volumetric weight” (size). It is not sustainable for bulk orders.
2. Sea Freight (LCL / FCL)
- Time: 30-45 Days (to USA/EU).
- Best For: Bulk Orders (50+ units).
- Cost Reality: This is where you make money. Shipping a board by sea might cost $15-$30 per unit (depending on volume), compared to $150+ by air.
- LCL (Less than Container Load): You share a container with other goods. Good for orders of 50-200 units.
- FCL (Full Container Load): You rent the whole container (20ft or 40ft). This offers the lowest per-unit shipping cost.
The “Invisible” Obstacles: HS Codes and Duties
If you want to manage shipping yourself (FOB), you need to know your HS Code. This is the figure that tells the world what your tax rate is.
For Inflatable Water Sports equipment, we typically use:
- 9506.29: Water skis, surf-boards and other water-sport equipment
- 8903.10: Inflatable vessels (for Kayaks).
Expert Warning: Misclassifying your goods to save tax is illegal and can lead to your shipment being seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. When you use our DDP service, our logistics partners make sure to apply the right codes and pay the tariffs for you, so you don’t have to worry about breaking the law.
Packaging for Survival: How We Protect Your Investment
Shipping from China entails forklifts, cranes, vehicles, and weeks at sea. The package has to be bombproof.
At Huale, we don’t just use regular boxes. We deploy 7-layer reinforced corrugated containers for all export orders.
- Inside the box: The board is wrapped in bubble wrap, and there are extra cardboard blocks on the nose and tail to keep them safe.
- On the pallet: We put your boxes on pallets and shrink-wrap them so that they don’t be crushed by other heavy cargo in the container when they are LCL shipments.
Conclusion: Focus on Selling, Not Shipping
Don’t let worries about logistics keep you from beginning your brand.
I almost always suggest DDP Shipping for your first order. It lets you quickly figure out your precise “Landed Cost” (Product Cost + Shipping), so you know exactly how much money you’ll make before you ever sell a board.
Are you ready to get a quote that includes everything? Please get in touch with our sales team and give them your delivery address. They will give you a shipping estimate that covers everything, such as taxes, customs, and delivery to your door.
