Do You Need Cargo Insurance for China Imports?
What cargo insurance covers, what it costs (typically 0.2–0.5% of cargo value), and when skipping it is actually a reasonable call.
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Costs, Rates & Payments
The freight rate is only part of what you pay. These guides cover landed-cost calculation, the surcharges hidden in an ocean quote, demurrage and detention, rate benchmarking, cargo insurance, currency risk and supplier payment terms — the full set of levers that separate a healthy import margin from a deal that loses money after the goods arrive.
Managing Currency Risk When Paying Chinese Suppliers — A Practical Guide for SMBs
USD/CNY swings can add or erase 5–8% of your cost without anyone changing the price. Here is how small and mid-sized importers can manage this exposure without a treasury team.
Read guide10 ways to cut your freight costs from China
Practical levers that actually move the number — from packing smarter to timing your bookings — without cutting corners that come back to bite you.
Read guideDemurrage and Detention Explained — The Two Port Clocks That Cost Importers Money
Demurrage and detention are two separate charges with two separate clocks. Understanding the difference — and your free time — can save you hundreds per container.
Read guideHow to Benchmark Freight Rates So You Know If a Quote Is Fair
Getting one freight quote tells you the price. Benchmarking tells you whether it is competitive — here is how to do it without spending hours on research.
Read guideBAF, CAF, and Other Freight Surcharges Explained — What Those Invoice Line Items Actually Mean
BAF, CAF, LSS, EBS — freight invoices are full of three-letter surcharges. Here is what each one covers and which ones you can push back on.
Read guideThe Hidden Import Costs Checklist — What to Budget Before You Commit to a China Shipment
Ocean freight is just the beginning. THC, customs exams, storage, drayage, and last-mile costs can add 15–30% to your landed cost — here is the full list.
Read guideLanded cost calculation: the number that actually tells you if an import is profitable
Goods price is just the start — add freight, duty, VAT, and destination fees to find the real cost of an import before you commit.
Read guidePaying Chinese Suppliers Safely — Deposits, Balances, and Red Flags
How to structure supplier payment terms (30/70, T/T, LC, escrow) to protect your money without killing the deal.
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