Shipping, Consolidation & Trade Terms
FOB · CIF · DDP · LCL and FCL · Consolidation
Most pet products move by sea, and the freight is decided by volume rather than weight. A container of beds, litter boxes and cat trees is charged on cubic metres; a container of trackers and cameras is charged on kilograms. We quote both, consolidate mixed categories into one shipment, and hand over the documents your customs broker needs before the vessel sails.
Which Incoterm to use
| Term | You pay | We pay | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| EXW | Everything from our door | Nothing | Buyers with their own forwarder in China |
| FOB Shenzhen | Ocean freight, insurance, import duty | Inland haulage, export clearance, loading | The default for a first order |
| CIF | Import duty and destination charges | Freight and insurance to your port | Buyers without a freight contract |
| DDP | Nothing until delivery | Everything including duty | Small and mid-size orders, e-commerce restocks |
Sea, air or rail
Sea is the default: 18 to 35 days port to port depending on the route, and the only economic option for bulky goods. LCL suits a first order under 12 cubic metres; above 15 cubic metres, a 20-foot container is usually cheaper than the LCL charges.
Air is for trackers, cameras and small electronics where the value per kilogram justifies it, and for restocks that have to land before a retail season. Rail to Europe takes 18 to 25 days and sits between the two on cost, but the schedule is less reliable than sea.
Consolidation is where the money is
A buyer with five categories usually places three or four orders with different factories. Consolidating them into one container removes three sets of documentation, three port charges and three chances of a delay. We collect from each factory, inspect at our warehouse, and load one container against one packing list.
The saving is often 8 to 15 percent of landed cost, which is larger than the discount most buyers negotiate on unit price.
HS codes you will meet
| Product | Typical HS heading | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Plastic toys, puzzle feeders | 9503.00 | Toy classification triggers EN71 and CPSIA |
| Harnesses, leashes, collars | 4201.00 | Saddlery and harness, even in synthetic webbing |
| Pet beds and mattresses | 9404.90 | Mattress supports and articles of bedding |
| Plastic litter boxes, bowls | 3924.90 | Household articles of plastics |
| Electronic feeders, fountains | 8479.89 or 8509.80 | Depends on the function the broker accepts |
| GPS trackers | 8526.91 | Radio navigational aid apparatus |
| Pet apparel | 4201.00 or 6114.30 | Leather versus textile decides the chapter |
A classification is the importer responsibility, not ours. We provide the description, the material breakdown and the function, and your broker makes the ruling. Getting it wrong is a duty adjustment or a penalty at your end, so it is worth a five-minute conversation with the broker before the first shipment.
Documents you will receive
- ›Commercial invoice and packing list, itemised per SKU with carton dimensions.
- ›Bill of lading, or airway bill for air freight.
- ›Certificate of origin on request, for preferential duty where an agreement exists.
- ›Test reports and declarations for the SKUs that carry a certification claim.
- ›UN38.3 test summary, MSDS and Class 9 declaration for lithium batteries.
- ›Loading photos and, where used, the third-party inspection report.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest way to ship a first order? +
LCL by sea under FOB terms, with your own forwarder. Under 12 cubic metres the LCL charges are manageable, above 15 cubic metres a 20-foot container is usually cheaper.
Can you ship different categories in one container? +
Yes, and it is usually the largest single saving available to a multi-category buyer: one set of documents, one port charge, one loading plan instead of three.
Do you offer DDP? +
Yes, for small and mid-size orders and for e-commerce restocks. The duty is included in the quoted price, so the number you see is the number you pay on delivery.
How are batteries handled? +
Lithium cells need a UN38.3 test summary, an MSDS and a Class 9 declaration. Air freight also requires the battery at around 30 percent state of charge on most carriers. Sea freight has fewer restrictions but longer transit.
Who classifies the goods for customs? +
The importer, with their broker. We supply the material breakdown and function description, and we will tell you the heading we usually see, but the ruling and the duty are yours.
Send a product list, get a costed reply
Photos, a specification or a link is enough to start. Quotation within 24 hours, with MOQ, lead time and the certification position stated.