Incoterm choice can swing landed cost by 4-11%. Most Chinese suppliers quote FOB Shanghai by default; buyers who negotiate CIF or DDP need to know exactly what shifts in cost, control and risk.
FOB Shanghai (620W)
$0.108/W
buyer arranges ship
CIF Rotterdam
$0.116/W
seller ships + insures
DDP Warehouse
$0.148/W
seller handles all
When to use which
Use FOB if you have your own freight forwarder — cheapest for anyone with >20 containers/yr. Use CIF for one-off shipments or new buyers. Use DDP only if VAT complexity in your country justifies paying the 8-12% premium.
Frequently asked questions
QDoes insurance actually cover damage?
Standard CIF insurance covers total loss + general average but not micro-damage. Add All-Risk (Institute Cargo Clauses A) for +0.4% premium.
Post your specification on Chinese.Solar and our AI matches you to 3–5 verified tier-1 manufacturers in under 60 seconds — with live CIF pricing, factory audits and export track records.