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FOB vs CIF vs DDP: Shipping Compressed Sofas from China
The Incoterm decides who pays for what between the factory and your warehouse — and for furniture, that decision moves thousands of dollars per container. This guide compares FOB, CIF and DDP for compressed-sofa imports, explains the freight maths that makes vacuum compression profitable, and lists the documents you need before the goods sail.
1. The three terms at a glance
| Cost item | FOB | CIF | DDP (selected lanes) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Factory to Chinese port | Seller | Seller | Seller |
| China export clearance | Seller | Seller | Seller |
| Sea freight | Buyer | Seller | Seller |
| Marine insurance | Buyer | Seller | Seller |
| Destination port charges | Buyer | Buyer | Seller |
| Import duties & VAT | Buyer | Buyer | Seller |
| Inland delivery to warehouse | Buyer | Buyer | Seller |
The further down the chain the seller carries the goods, the higher the quoted price — but the less logistics work on your side. Most established distributors run FOB with their own forwarder; first-time importers often start with CIF; DDP suits buyers who want one landed number and no local customs handling.
2. Why compressed sofas change the freight maths
Sea freight is charged per container, not per sofa. That single fact is the economic engine of the compressed-sofa model:
- Vacuum compression removes up to 70% of the shipping volume per sofa
- A 40HQ carries roughly 206–400 compressed sofas depending on model, versus 30–40 traditional sofas
- Sea-freight cost per sofa falls by the same factor — often turning freight from the biggest landed-cost item into a minor one
- Smaller warehouse footprint compounds the saving at destination
Run your own numbers with the container loading calculator.
3. Container sizes and what fits
| Container | Internal volume | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 20GP | ~33 m³ | Small trial orders, dense single-model loads |
| 40GP | ~67 m³ | Mid-volume orders |
| 40HQ | ~76 m³ | Standard for compressed sofas — the extra height fits carton stacks |
Plan loading at 82–85% efficiency, never 100% — port rejections cost more than the empty space. Mixed-model containers are standard: several models, each meeting its 10-set MOQ, loaded to one full container.
4. What we need to quote your shipping
- Destination port (or city, for door delivery on DDP lanes)
- Models and quantities — so the loading plan is real, not estimated
- Preferred Incoterm — FOB, CIF or DDP
With those three, the quotation carries the current freight rate and the total delivered cost in one document — no "freight TBD" placeholders that blow up later.
5. Documents for a clean import
- Commercial invoice & packing list — the basis for your customs declaration
- Bill of lading — title document for the container
- Certificate of origin & fumigation certificate — for wooden components
- Compliance pack on request — BS 5852 / TB 117-2013 fire-safety reports, OEKO-TEX and REACH documentation, SGS test reports
Ask for the compliance pack together with the quotation — your import file should be complete before the goods sail, not assembled in a panic at the port.
6. Destinations we serve
Europe is our core market, with active trade customers in Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, Denmark, France, Spain and Belgium; we also serve buyers in the Middle East, Asia-Pacific and South America on a project basis. We hold no overseas stock — orders ship as full or consolidated containers, and full-container door delivery to destinations such as Ukraine can be arranged. Note that B2C small-parcel dropshipping is not offered: our logistics are built for container-level B2B deliveries.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between FOB, CIF and DDP?
FOB: we deliver to the Chinese port and clear export; you arrange and pay the sea freight from there. CIF: we additionally pay sea freight and insurance to your destination port, but import clearance remains yours. DDP: we deliver to your door with duties paid — the fullest service, available on selected lanes. The further down the chain we go, the higher the quoted price, but the less logistics work for you.
Do you ship DDP?
Yes, on selected lanes and for full-container quantities — confirm your destination with us. Note that we do not offer B2C small-parcel dropshipping or DDP; our DDP service is for container-level B2B deliveries.
How is sea freight calculated for compressed sofas?
Freight is charged per container, not per sofa — which is exactly why vacuum compression matters. Removing up to 70% of the air volume means a 40HQ carries 206–400 compressed sofas versus 30–40 traditional ones, dropping the sea-freight cost per sofa by the same factor. We quote the current rate for your destination port with each offer.
Which countries do you ship to?
Europe is our core market (active customers in Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, Denmark, France, Spain and Belgium), plus the Middle East, Asia-Pacific and South America on a project basis. We hold no overseas stock — orders ship as full or consolidated containers, and full-container door delivery to destinations such as Ukraine can be arranged.
What documents do you provide for import clearance?
Standard export documents: commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin, and the fumigation certificate for wooden components. Compliance documents — fire-safety reports, OEKO-TEX and REACH documentation — travel with the quotation on request, so your import file is complete before the goods sail.
What do you need from me to quote shipping?
Three things: destination port (or city for door delivery), the models and quantities you want, and your preferred Incoterm. With those we confirm loading plan, current freight rate and total delivered cost in one quotation.
Get FOB, CIF or DDP priced for your port
Send destination port, models and quantities — one quotation with the full delivered cost.
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