How about shipping? Who bears the freight cost?

Getting your custom packaging from our factory to your doorstep involves a critical set of decisions — shipping method, trade terms, cost allocation, and timeline planning. At Packshion, we leverage our strategic location and established logistics partnerships to offer flexible, cost-effective shipping solutions tailored to your order size, urgency, and budget. Below is a comprehensive breakdown of how we handle shipping and freight costs.

Our Strategic Location Advantage

Shipping efficiency begins with geography. Our factory is located in Chang'an Town, Dongguan City, Guangdong Province — just 20 kilometers from Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport and within one hour's drive of Yantian Port, one of China's busiest and most efficient container ports. This proximity to major international transport gateways minimizes inland transportation time and cost, streamlines export customs clearance, and ensures faster vessel and flight availability — all of which translate into shorter total transit times and lower logistics costs for our clients.

Shipping Methods: Sea, Air, and Express

We offer three primary shipping methods, each suited to different order profiles. Our team works with established international logistics partners to arrange the most appropriate option for your shipment.

Sea Freight — The Cost-Effective Choice for Bulk Orders

Sea freight is the most economical shipping method for large-volume orders and is the standard choice for most of our production runs. We offer both Full Container Load (FCL) for orders large enough to fill an entire container, and Less than Container Load (LCL) for smaller volumes where your goods share container space with other shipments to reduce costs. Sea freight is ideal for bulk orders, heavy shipments, and non-urgent deliveries where cost efficiency is the priority.

Typical sea freight transit times from our nearest port to major destinations are approximately 14–25 days to the USA West Coast, 25–35 days to the USA East Coast, 25–35 days to Europe, and 15–25 days to Australia. These are port-to-port estimates; door-to-door delivery will add additional days for inland transportation and customs clearance at the destination.

Air Freight — The Balanced Option for Medium-Volume Urgency

Air freight offers a faster alternative for medium-volume shipments where sea freight timelines are too long but the order size doesn't justify premium express rates. Air freight is best for urgent, medium-volume shipments with delivery typically within 5–10 business days. This method strikes a balance between cost and speed, and is often selected by clients launching time-sensitive marketing campaigns, replenishing stock during peak seasons, or fulfilling orders with tight retail deadlines.

Express Courier — The Fastest Option for Samples and Small Orders

For samples, small production runs, and urgent small-volume shipments, we partner with major international express carriers — including DHL, FedEx, UPS, and TNT — to provide fast, door-to-door delivery with full tracking visibility. Express shipping is the fastest option for small parcels and samples, providing door-to-door tracking and typically delivering within 3–7 business days to most global destinations.

Express courier is the default choice for sample shipments and is also available for small production orders where speed to market is critical. While the per-kilogram cost is higher than sea or air freight, express shipping offers unmatched convenience and transit speed for shipments under approximately 30–50 kg.

Understanding Trade Terms: FOB and CIF

One of the most common questions we receive is: "Who pays for shipping?" The answer depends on the trade term (Incoterm) agreed upon in your order. We support both FOB (Free On Board) and CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight) terms, and we are happy to discuss which option best suits your needs.

FOB (Free On Board)

Under FOB terms, Packshion is responsible for all costs and risks up to the point where your goods are loaded onto the vessel at the port of shipment. Our FOB price covers the product cost, inland transportation from our factory to the port, export customs clearance, and loading charges. Once the goods cross the ship's rail, responsibility transfers to you — the buyer — who then arranges and pays for the ocean freight, marine insurance, destination port charges, import customs clearance, duties, and final delivery to your warehouse.

FOB is often preferred by experienced importers who have established relationships with freight forwarders and want direct control over shipping costs and carrier selection. It is also advantageous when you have negotiated favorable freight rates with your own logistics provider. Under FOB, you pay the sea freight and insurance separately from the product invoice, giving you full visibility into each cost component.

CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight)

Under CIF terms, Packshion's quoted price includes the product cost plus ocean freight and basic marine insurance to the named destination port. We arrange and pay for the main carriage and provide minimum insurance coverage for your shipment. However, it is important to understand that under CIF, the risk of loss or damage to the goods still transfers to you — the buyer — once the goods are loaded onto the vessel at the port of shipment, even though we are paying for the freight and insurance.

Once the shipment arrives at the destination port, you are responsible for destination port charges, import customs clearance, duties and taxes, and final inland delivery. CIF is often preferred by newer importers who want a simplified transaction with fewer logistics arrangements to manage independently. It provides a single, all-inclusive price that covers the journey from our factory to your destination port, reducing the number of vendors and invoices you need to coordinate.

Freight Cost Calculation: Based on Actual Weight and Volume

International freight costs are not simply based on the physical weight of your shipment. Carriers calculate shipping charges based on the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight — a pricing mechanism designed to account for the space your shipment occupies in relation to its actual mass.

Volumetric (or dimensional) weight is calculated using the external dimensions of your packaged shipment. The most widely used formula across international courier and air freight services is: Volumetric Weight (kg) = (Length cm × Width cm × Height cm) ÷ 6000 . For certain carriers and service levels, the divisor may be 5000 instead of 6000.

To illustrate: if your packaged boxes measure 40 × 30 × 20 cm, the volumetric weight would be (40 × 30 × 20) ÷ 6000 = 4.0 kg. If the actual weight of this package is 2.5 kg, the carrier will charge based on the higher volumetric weight of 4.0 kg. This is why packaging density matters — boxes that are partially empty can result in disproportionately high shipping costs relative to their actual weight.

We provide transparent freight quotations based on your order's estimated packed dimensions and weight. Our logistics team calculates both actual and volumetric weight to ensure you receive an accurate shipping cost estimate before your order is dispatched. For FOB shipments, you are welcome to use your own freight forwarder and receive shipping quotes independently. For CIF shipments, we present a consolidated quotation with all costs clearly itemized.

How Freight Costs Are Shared — A Clear Summary

The practical question of "who pays for what" depends on the Incoterm you select and the shipping method you choose. Here is how costs are typically allocated:

For sample shipments via express courier, the freight cost is generally borne by the buyer, as sample shipments are small, low-value consignments where the freight cost exceeds the product value. We are transparent about this at the quotation stage and can provide estimated courier charges based on the sample weight and destination.

For FOB production orders, the seller (Packshion) bears all costs up to and including loading the goods onto the vessel at the port of shipment — covering factory-to-port inland transport, export customs clearance, origin port handling charges, and vessel loading fees. The buyer then bears the ocean freight, marine insurance (optional but recommended), destination port charges, import customs clearance, import duties and taxes, and final inland delivery.

For CIF production orders, the seller (Packshion) additionally bears the ocean freight and basic marine insurance to the named destination port. The buyer remains responsible for destination port charges, import customs clearance, import duties and taxes, and final inland delivery.

We are flexible and can discuss freight cost sharing on a case-by-case basis. For long-term partnership clients with regular, high-volume orders, we are open to negotiating more favorable freight arrangements as part of an ongoing commercial relationship. The key is to communicate your preferences and constraints at the quotation stage so we can structure a shipping solution that works for both parties.

Export Packaging: Protection That Keeps Your Goods Safe

Proper packaging for international transit is critical to ensuring your custom boxes arrive in perfect condition. All Packshion shipments are packed using export-grade materials and methods designed to withstand the rigors of long-distance sea, air, and land transportation:

• Outer cartons: We use sturdy corrugated shipping cartons — typically double-wall for heavier consignments — with undamaged flaps and reinforced seams. Carton specifications are selected based on the weight and fragility of the contents.

• Internal protection: Finished packaging boxes are individually protected with tissue paper, poly bags, or foam sheets as appropriate to prevent surface scuffing and abrasion during transit. Void spaces within shipping cartons are filled with air pillows, foam inserts, or kraft paper to eliminate movement and shifting that could cause crushing or deformation.

• Palletization: Larger shipments are palletized using heat-treated, ISPM 15-compliant wooden or plastic pallets, with cartons stacked and stretch-wrapped for stability. Palletization reduces handling damage, speeds up loading and unloading, and is often required by major retailers and distribution centers.

• Moisture protection: For sea freight shipments, we include desiccant packs in each carton and use moisture-resistant outer cartons or pallet covers to protect against humidity during ocean transit.

Our packing approach is designed to anticipate both journeys — the outbound international voyage and any potential domestic handling at the destination — ensuring your packaging investment arrives in the same condition it left our factory.

Important Shipping Considerations for Buyers

Plan for lead time plus transit time. The total time from order confirmation to goods arriving at your door equals our production lead time (14 working days) plus shipping transit time. For a sea freight order to Europe, for example, you should plan for approximately 7–9 weeks total: 2 weeks for production and 5–7 weeks for transit, customs clearance, and final delivery.

Budget for destination costs beyond freight. Even under CIF terms, you will incur destination port charges, customs brokerage fees, import duties, and inland delivery costs. These are not included in our CIF quotation and should be factored into your total landed cost calculation. We recommend consulting with a customs broker in your country to understand the specific duties, taxes, and fees applicable to paper packaging imports under your local harmonized tariff schedule.

Understand Incoterms clearly before ordering. Trade terms define the division of costs, risks, and responsibilities between buyer and seller. We recommend confirming which Incoterm applies to your order at the quotation stage and ensuring both parties have a shared understanding of where costs and risks transfer. If you are unfamiliar with Incoterms, our sales team is happy to explain the practical implications of FOB, CIF, and other terms in the context of your specific shipment.

Risk Advisory and Shipping Insurance

International shipping inherently involves risks — rough handling, container movement at sea, humidity exposure, and occasional logistical disruptions. While our professional export packaging minimizes these risks, we strongly recommend that buyers arrange adequate cargo insurance for their shipments.

For CIF orders, we provide basic marine insurance as required by the Incoterm — typically Institute Cargo Clauses (C) coverage, which covers major casualty events such as fire, sinking, stranding, and collision. However, this minimum coverage does not protect against many common risks such as theft, rough handling damage, water ingress, or partial loss. For FOB orders, insurance is entirely the buyer's responsibility.

For comprehensive protection, we recommend buyers consider All Risks cargo insurance covering the full invoice value of the shipment, plus an additional 10% to account for incidental costs. This broader coverage protects against physical loss or damage from virtually all external causes during transit. Insurance costs are relatively modest — typically 0.3% to 0.5% of the insured value for most trade lanes — and provide significant peace of mind, particularly for high-value custom packaging orders where replacement would involve both financial cost and production delay.

We are happy to provide the shipment details and valuation information you need to obtain insurance quotes from your preferred provider, or to include enhanced insurance coverage in CIF arrangements upon request.

Our Shipping Commitment

At Packshion, we view shipping not as an afterthought but as an integral part of the customer experience. From the moment your order is confirmed, our logistics team coordinates with carriers, prepares export documentation, and monitors your shipment through to its final destination. Whether you choose sea, air, or express — and whether you prefer FOB, CIF, or another trade term — we are committed to making the shipping process transparent, efficient, and stress-free.

For a tailored shipping quotation based on your order specifications and destination, please contact your Packshion account manager or submit an inquiry through our website. We will provide a detailed shipping proposal with estimated costs and transit times within 24 hours.