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Practical guides to importing from Asia
Incoterms, freight, 3PL, quality control, customs: clear explanations, costed examples and free tools, written by the NOVASEA teams in Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Paris.
- 25guides
- 6topics
- 3free tools
- 127glossary terms
14 results for FOB
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Incoterms & international tradeFOB, CIF, DDP or EXW: which Incoterms® rule should you choose when importing from Asia?
FOB, FCA, CIF or DDP: what each Incoterms® rule changes for your costs, your risk and freight control, with a costed example Yantian → Rotterdam and a choice by buyer profile.
Customs & complianceHow to Import from China to the USA (2026 Guide): Tariffs, Customs and Costs
HTS codes, the tariffs stacked on Chinese goods, the end of de minimis, importer of record, customs bond, ISF and landed cost: a practical guide to importing from China into the US, checked in October 2026.
Sourcing & suppliersImporting from China on Your Own or With a Partner: The Real Cost of Mistakes
The 10 mistakes that cost first-time importers the most, the hours importing from China really takes, and an honest comparison of going it alone, hiring a sourcing agent or using full-service support.
Sourcing & suppliersCanton Fair Guide: How to Prepare, Register and Choose Suppliers
Phase dates, buyer registration, visas, hotels, the questions to ask at each booth and a post-show follow-up plan: how to leave the Canton Fair with suppliers worth vetting.
Customs & complianceImporting from China to the UK: Duties, VAT, UKCA and EORI (2026)
GB EORI, the UK Global Tariff, anti-dumping duties, import VAT and postponed accounting, UKCA vs CE, customs agents: a practical guide to importing from China into the UK, checked in October 2026.
Sourcing & suppliersChina Sourcing Agent: What They Do, What They Cost and How to Choose One
Independent agent, sourcing company, trading company or DIY: what a China sourcing agent does, what sourcing agent fees really cost, and how to avoid hidden factory kickbacks.
Incoterms & international tradeHow to Negotiate with Chinese Suppliers: Price, MOQ and Payment Terms
Target price, itemized quotes, MOQ, 30/70 deposits, letters of credit and contract penalties: a practical method to negotiate with Chinese suppliers without sacrificing quality.
- Sourcing & suppliers
Finding and qualifying a supplier in China: the 7-step method
From specification to first-order inspection: the 7 steps to find, vet and qualify a supplier in China, with no nasty surprises.
3PL & e-commercePreparing an Amazon FBA shipment from China: FNSKU, packaging, cartons
FNSKU or GTIN barcodes, poly bags, cartons, declared contents, appointments: Amazon no longer prepares anything in 2026. What you must do in China so your FBA shipments enter Europe, the UK and the United States without fees or refusals.
Incoterms & international tradeIncoterms® 2020: the complete guide to the 11 rules for importing from Asia
The 11 Incoterms® 2020 rules explained simply: where risk changes hands, who pays for freight, insurance and customs, what has changed since 2010, and the pitfalls of importing from Asia.
Logistics & freightOcean freight FCL or LCL: containers, lead times, costs and documents
Choosing between FCL and LCL, knowing the real container dimensions, transit times to Europe and North America, surcharges, demurrage, VGM, security declarations and Red Sea routing in 2026.
Customs & complianceClearing an import from China: EU, UK, US, Canada
Identifier, tariff code, value, origin, taxes: clearing Chinese goods in the EU, the UK, the US and Canada, up to date with the September 2026 rules.
Logistics & freightMulti-supplier consolidation in China: one container, several factories
Several Chinese factories, one container: how a consolidation warehouse works, which documents to prepare and when the operation really saves money.
Incoterms & international tradeCalculating the landed cost of an imported product: method and costed example
From factory price to product delivered to your warehouse: every line of the landed cost, the right duty base (EU, UK, US, Canada), import VAT and a worked example.
Topics
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Incoterms & international trade
Who pays the freight, who carries the risk, who clears customs? Incoterms® 2020 answer these questions in three letters, provided you choose them well. Our…4 guidesLogistics & freight
Sea, air, rail, full container or LCL: how to move your goods from Asia to your warehouse at the best cost and with no nasty surprises. Real lead times, hidden…3 guides3PL & e-commerce
Storage, order preparation, returns, Amazon FBA: what a third-party logistics provider (3PL) really does, what it costs and how to prepare your products at the…2 guidesQuality & inspections
AQL, pre-shipment inspection, factory audit, laboratory testing: the quality control methods that keep you from discovering defects on arrival. With an ISO…4 guidesSourcing & suppliers
Finding a real manufacturer, checking its strength, negotiating price and terms, protecting your designs and your brand: the NOVASEA method for selecting and…8 guidesCustoms & compliance
HS code, customs duties, import VAT, EORI, CE marking, UKCA or FCC requirements: what to prepare before the goods arrive in Europe, the United Kingdom or North…4 guides
Tools
Free tools
Three tools to decide fast, with no sign-up.
Incoterms® 2020 Explorer
Choose a rule: the diagram shows where costs pass, where risk passes, and who clears customs.
Open the toolAQL sample size calculator
Batch size, inspection level, AQL: get the sample size to inspect and the acceptance thresholds (ISO 2859-1).
Open the toolLanded cost calculator
Factory price, freight, duties and taxes: estimate the landed unit cost at your warehouse.
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