Overview
DDP shipping from China at a glance
Buyer
Fewer local payment shocks
When tax language is clear
Seller/forwarder
Broader accountability
Needs accurate product data
Transparency
One commercial path
Still list exclusions
Risk
DDP with silent gaps
Storage, exams, wrong HS
Scope
What DDP typically includes (when written)
Pickup + China export customs Named main carriage Import clearance as agreed Duty / VAT / GST per quoted tax language Final delivery to named place or FC
Scope
What DDP includes vs excludes
Typically includes (when written): pickup + China export customs; named main carriage; import clearance as agreed; duty / VAT / GST per quoted tax language; final delivery to named place or FC. Often excludes unless listed: customs exams, holds, storage after free time; special tariffs outside quote assumptions; product compliance failures and rework; re-delivery / failed appointment charges.
Typically includes (when written)
- ✓Pickup + China export customs
- ✓Named main carriage
- ✓Import clearance as agreed
- ✓Duty / VAT / GST per quoted tax language
- ✓Final delivery to named place or FC
Often excludes unless listed
- –Customs exams, holds, storage after free time
- –Special tariffs outside quote assumptions
- –Product compliance failures and rework
- –Re-delivery / failed appointment charges
Warning
A one-line “DDP all-in” without city, HS assumption, and exclusions is not a reliable offer. Tax language must state which duties and VAT/GST basis are covered.
DDP vs FOB / FCA
When to use DDP vs FOB or FCA
| Term | Destination control | Use when |
|---|---|---|
| FOB | Buyer takes ocean + import from origin port/on board | You have a broker and want freight leverage |
| FCA | Risk passes when carrier takes custody at named place | Containerized cargo; often cleaner than FOB |
| DDP | Seller/forwarder delivers with agreed duty/tax treatment | Buyer wants one scoped landed delivery; HS data ready |
Prefer FOB/FCA when the buyer must be importer of record or duty prepaid is impractical. Prefer DDP when clearance is executable and tax language is explicit. FCA vs FOB · Incoterms 2020
Compare
DDP vs door-to-door vs DAP
| Door-to-door | DAP | DDP | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Address design | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Duty / VAT paid | May be excluded | Buyer pays | Included only if written |
| Best question | "Who pays import tax?" | "Who clears and pays?" | "What exact tax logic?" |
Duty reality
Duty does not disappear under DDP
Example only, not a live quote. Under Incoterms 2020, freight layers and destination duty/VAT still exist inside a scoped DDP design—DDP changes who pays, not whether the tax stack exists. For EU lanes follow EU importation practice; for US entries see CBP Basic Import. Warning: A one-line “DDP all-in” without city, HS assumption, and exclusions is not a reliable offer. Tax language must state which duties and VAT/GST basis are covered.
FBA
DDP for Amazon FBA
Many FBA sellers need import charges resolved before FC intake. DDP-style delivery is commonly used when clearance and delivery to the assigned fulfillment center are executable.
Destinations
DDP shipping by destination
Verified DDP country spokes (NZ has no mode routes). Sea · Air · Door-to-door · FBA
DDP scope
Minimum complete DDP scope
A credible DDP quote should state:
- 1Pickup point in China
- 2Export clearance
- 3Named main mode (air / sea / rail / express)
- 4Import clearance at destination
- 5Duty / VAT treatment (included, estimated by HS, or disbursement rules)
- 6Final delivery address type (commercial / residential / Amazon FC)
- 7What happens on exam, storage, or failed delivery
Warning
If any of the above is missing, you do not have a full DDP offer—only a freight estimate with a DDP label.
Duty & scope
DDP vs door-to-door vs DAP — who pays duty
| Question | Door-to-door | DAP | DDP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Address / mile design? | Yes — door page owns this | Usually to named place | Yes only if named place says so |
| Import duty/VAT in the price? | Not decided by door alone | Buyer pays | Included only when written |
| IOR / clearance responsibility? | Depends; often buyer-side | Buyer clears | Seller/arranger as agreed in quote-scope |
Door designs the miles. DDP writes who pays duty/IOR and what the quote-scope includes or excludes. Do not treat them as interchangeable labels. Door-to-door shipping from China · DDP shipping from China
Cost structure
What “shipping cost” actually includes
A usable number is built in layers:
- Origin — pickup, export docs, origin terminal/handling
- Main carriage — ocean / air / rail linehaul + fuel/peak surcharges
- Destination — terminal, handling, documentation
- Delivery — truck to door or FC (if scoped)
- Tax layer (only if DDP) — duty, VAT/GST as agreed
Ask for a dated all-in to the real delivery point.
Port-to-port rates are not door costs. “DDP” without tax logic is incomplete.
Honest fit
When not to force DDP
- ✕Buyer must be importer of record or prepaid duty is impractical
- ✕HS and product data are incomplete
- ✕Quote is “all-in DDP” with no city, exclusions, or exam/storage rules
- ✕Market requires buyer-side clearance the forwarder cannot execute
Common mistakes
Mistakes that create cost and delay
- 1Calling a quote “DDP” when tax logic is undefined
- 2Comparing ocean-only rates to landed DDP quotes
- 3Ignoring volumetric weight on air/express DDP designs
- 4Using DDP language for FBA without FC address type and duty rules
Guides
Related reading
- DDP vs CIF comparison (2026)
When CIF “cheap freight” still leaves you paying destination CFS and duty.
Get a quote
DDP quote checklist
- ✓Origin city
- ✓Destination city or FC
- ✓Mode
- ✓Dims/weight
- ✓Commodity + HS if known
- ✓DDP tax included yes/no
- ✓Must-arrive date
- ✓Residential vs commercial
Typical response within 24 hours · Scope listed before booking
FAQ