International Shipping & Incoterms for Wheel Buyers
FOB, CIF, DDP — what each term actually covers for a container of wheels, and where the cost lands.
The price of a wheel changes depending on who carries the freight, insurance and import obligations. That is what incoterms decide — and a misunderstanding here turns a good quote into a bad deal.
FOB (Free On Board)
The supplier delivers the goods onto the vessel at the named port. Freight, insurance and import clearance from that point are the buyer's responsibility. The most common baseline for factory pricing.
CIF (Cost, Insurance & Freight)
The supplier covers cost, insurance and freight to the destination port. Import duty and inland delivery remain the buyer's responsibility.
DDP (Delivered Duty Paid)
The supplier delivers to the buyer's named location, covering freight, insurance, duty and import clearance. Maximum convenience, and the term where you must be precise about what is included.
Packaging and volume weight
Wheels ship boxed and palletized for sea freight, or individually boxed for air freight. Volume weight can matter on air quotes — confirm the dimensional weight basis before comparing rates.
Ask for the same configuration quoted FOB and DDP — the gap tells you exactly what the freight chain costs.
Tell sales your destination port or door and we quote the incoterm that fits your import structure.
