Export and import planning
Plan delivery from the packed shipment.
Freight uses the packed carton, not the product trim size alone. Keep production readiness, transit, customs and final delivery as separate stages when working back from an in-hand date.
Compare routes using one packing list.
| Route | Useful comparison | Inputs and limits |
|---|---|---|
| Express courier | Samples and smaller urgent consignments | Packed size, gross weight and volumetric weight; carrier rounding and service terms affect charges. |
| Air freight | Time-sensitive larger consignments | Airport or final-address scope, handling, destination charges and import responsibilities. |
| Sea freight | Larger planned consignments | Carton/pallet volume, shipment mode, port and inland delivery scope; moisture and movement risks need appropriate packing. |
Estimate the space and express weight.
Use outside carton dimensions in cm and gross weight in kg. The default 5000 divisor is a DHL Express reference example, not a freight price or universal tariff.
Total gross weight: 180 kg
Volumetric weight per carton: 12 kg
Higher of gross / volumetric per carton: 18 kg
Identical cartons only. Cubic meters = L × W × H (cm) ÷ 1,000,000. Volumetric kg = L × W × H ÷ the carrier divisor. Ten 50 × 40 × 30 cm cartons occupy 0.60 m³. The 5,000 divisor is a courier example; the carrier tariff, rounding and service determine billing. This is not a freight quote.
A trade term needs a named place.
| Rule reference | Transport / delivery distinction | Question for the order |
|---|---|---|
| FCA | Any mode; named carrier-delivery point | Who collects, where is handover, and which documents prove delivery? |
| FOB | Sea/inland waterway; delivery on board at the named port | Is this suitable for the actual handover? Container handover to a carrier can call for a different rule. |
| DAP | Any mode; named destination, ready for unloading | Who handles unloading, import clearance and destination taxes? |
| DDP | Any mode; seller import-clearance obligations | Can the seller lawfully arrange the destination import requirements? Do not infer this scope from “door to door”. |
These are selection references. The quotation must identify the chosen rule, named place and Incoterms 2020 edition. No rule is automatically offered for every order.
Specify the protection around the actual contents.
Books can need edge protection and surface separation. Cards need complete-deck identity and protection against rubbing. A presentation box needs restraint for its contents; a decorative closure alone is not transport protection.
Shrink wrapping can group units and reduce surface exposure, but it does not make every package waterproof or crush-resistant. Record carton contents, protection, labels and any pallet requirement.
Prepare import information before dispatch.
The brief needs consignee details, destination, product description, declared value and the agreed shipping scope. The commercial invoice and packing list should identify the same versions, quantities and units.
Destination duties and taxes depend on classification, origin, value and local rules. Do not copy a tax rate from another shipment. Have the responsible importer or broker establish current requirements for the destination.
- Carton outside dimensions in cm; gross/net weight in kg.
- Units per carton, carton count and any pallet dimensions.
- Named delivery point and importer responsibilities.
- Required arrival date, clearance documents and handling restrictions.
Common questions
Does “door to door” mean duties are included?
The phrase alone does not define import responsibility. The order must state the delivery scope, named trade rule and who pays destination clearance, duties and taxes.
Does free sample preparation include free courier shipping?
Free samples and preparation within 15 days are confirmed. Courier arrangements and transit time are confirmed separately; free preparation does not establish free freight.
Sources and scope of this guide
Reviewed October 8, 2026. Industry examples explain selection; the quotation defines the actual Lemon product and service. Supplier data does not certify Lemon or establish our inventory.
- ICC: Incoterms 2020 checklist
Trade-rule selection and named delivery points; not a quoted shipping service or destination tax calculation.
- DHL Express: volumetric weight
5000 cm³/kg express-courier example; the carrier tariff defines divisor, rounding and charges.
- ISTA: distribution tests
Select tests for the packed product and route; not a claim that every shipment is certified or tested.
Build a specification we can quote.
Tell us the product, finished size, quantity and destination. Include the feature you need the sample to check.