When purchase from China, not a little importers want to door to door service. Some suppliers only sell exclusion of any exportation logistics cost, buyer need to arrange pick up and exportation customs. Customer usually is not very familiar China local operation especially customs license and then confuse on it. At the same time, there are many charge items in it, importer worries over charged. So, how to deliver from China in door to door service (DDU/DAP/DDP) in economic, simple and transparent?

As a company for it many years, we will share experience, transit time, documents, how to choose, expenses control, attention and suggestions. As customs, ports and regulations are constantly updated, it changes too. Mainly for air freight and general cargo, welcome query about sea shipment, export to China etc.

Part A What’s DDU (DAP)/DDP?

Full name of DDU (DAP) is Delivered Duty Unpaid, i.e., delivery from shipper door to consignee door, only exclusion of import duties. "Requires pick up from shipper and importation customs clearance ", "door to door service" etc. are also popular. It’s known as DAP (Delivered at receiving place) from year 2000. DDP is Delivered Duty Paid, compared to DDU, it adds import tax.

Part B Why need DDU?

Some buyers prefer a simpler logistics rate to focus core business.

Part C DDU is more cost effective in which weight segments?
DDU clause includes all costs in whole process, in which not a little are charged by minimum, or fixed charged per shipment (not as Kg). Suppose lower sum cost, from experience DDU has advantages for following 3 types.

C.1 Gross weight 100Kg around

If less than about 100Kg, express total cost (Specifically for DHL/UPS/FEDEX express/TNT or similar) may be lower, while if over it DDU is less cost. Due to higher fixed costs in Oceania and North America, weight needs to increase accordingly.

Remarks: Case by case according to gross weight, volume, packag, destination etc. Due to above variance, it’s only an estimate for easy remembering approximate weight segment.

C.2 Volume is over 0.5 m3 around for bulky cargo
Chargeable weight is different in express delivery and air freight.
In express delivery, to take bigger data between Gross Weight (by Kg) and volume weight (m3*200), while in air freight to use larger data between GW and volume weight (m3*167). Conversion ratio of volume weight in express is 20% more than air freight’s. So, when 0.5m3 volume bulky cargo, chargeable weight is 0.5m3*200=100Kg, then DDU can be considered.

For example, one shipment is 90Kg and 0.5m3, what’s different? If by express, to charge 100Kg (0.5m3*200) while not 90Kg. While if by air freight, still charge 90Kg.

Remarks: Volume weight conversion ratio in courier is m3*200, some calculation is cm3/5000, they are same result. Similarly in air freight, volume weight conversion ratio is m3*167, same as cm3/6000.

C3. If gross weight over 300Kg
At present some dedicated lines have lower fees than express delivery, but if more than 300Kg, total cost of DDU is generally less.

D. How to operate and what’s estimated transit time for DDU?

D.1 Arrange pick up, export declaration, 1~2 days

D.2 Fly to destination airport, subject to customer option. Usually has direct flight service, indirect service 2 days (Asia Pacific), 3~5 days (Europe, North America, Oceania, Middle East), 3~7 days (South America, Africa…)

D.3 Importation, pre-alert, 0.5 hours

D.4 Import, exchange delivery order, 2 hours

D.5 Import, declaration to customs, 2 hours, various in site,

D.6 Import, to pay customs taxes by taxes sheet, 1 hour

D.7 Import, to send to consignee, 0.5-2 days

In summary, 1-2 days in exportation, airport to airport time is subject to customer option (as above step 2), 1-3 days in importation, and then adds all accordingly.

E What documents for DDU?

Still in need air waybill, invoices and packing list (some in need original document), and certifications (if need only). Just extra requires HAWB and Manifest, usually prepared by freight agent.

F In quotation, which items are excluded and to be charged at cost only?

DDU generally includes all costs, just excludes below. It’s same as other delivery clause.

F1 Import taxes. Paid by consignee, often use for tax refund later.

F.2 To be at actual cost only if have. The entire delivery involves airline, terminal, customs and other departments. Although door to door price, it’s excluded (including but not limited to), inspection, storage after free storage cost, document change, fumigation, forklift, unloading from platforms, repackage... If no actual occurrence, it will not be surcharged.

G How deliver in DDU? (From air freight point view)

Fly to main or important international airport at first, arrange customs clearance, pay taxes, and then send to consignee by land, rail...

H Suggestion on DDU
H.1 Pre-judge whether to arrange DDU

Try to get accurate GW, volume and package, send to check estimated cost. The agent often calculates drafted cost soon. If not economic by DDU, change to other methods.
 
H.2 Try not let flight arrival time destination airport in after Friday

After arrival it needs to unload from aircraft, transfer to bonded warehouse, customs clearance, pay taxes, etc, usully takes at least 0.5 day for all. Only 1 day free storage or even no fee at airport, if not completed same day, then has additional costs. Forwarder needs to coordinate to avoid flight arrival after 13:00 and in weekends.

H3 Is necessary for the HAWB and manifest?

No need in some areas, try to check to reduce expenses.

G What are the current operational areas?
As below and is expanding. Welcome query and comment.

G1Europe
Country:Albania,Ireland,Estonia,Austria,Bulgaria,Belgium,Poland,Bosina and Herzegovina,Danmark,Germany,Russia,France,Finland,Netherlands,Montenegro,Czech,Croatia,Latvia,Lithuania,Luxembourg,Romania,Macedonia,Norway,Portugal,Sweden,Switzerland,Serbia,Cyprus,Slovakia,Slovenia,Turkey,Spain,Greece,Hungary,Italy,United Kingdom. City
Tirana,Dublin,Tallinn,Graz,Innsbruck,Linz,Vienna,Sofia,Brussels,Warsaw,Wroclaw,Sarajevo,Billund,Copenhagen,Bremen,Dusseldorf,Munster,Frankfurt,Hamburg,Munich,Stuttgart,Berlin,St.Petersburg ,Moscow,Brest,Bordeaux,Paris,Lille,Lyon,Marseille,Nice,Nantes,Toulouse,Helsinki,Amsterdam,Podgorica,Prague,Zagreb,Riga,Vilnius,Luxembourg,Bucharest,Skopje,Oslo,Lisbon,Porto,Gothenburg,Malmo,Stockholm,Basle,Geneva,Zurich,Belgrade,Larnaca,Bratislava,Ljubljana,Adana,Istanbul,Barcelona,Madrid,Valencia,Athens,Budapest,Catania,Roma,Florence,Milano,Naples,Belfast,Birmingham,Glasgow,London,Manchester

G2 North American
Country: Canada, USA, Mexico City: Calgary,Montreal,Vancouver,Winnipeg,Ottawa,Dallas,Washington,San Francisco,Las Vegas,Raleigh,Los Angeles,Miami,Naples,Newburgh,New York,Honolulu,Seattle,New Orlean,Houston,Atlanta,Indianapolis,Chicago,Mexico City

G3 Oceania and Asia
Country: Australia, New Zealand, Philippines,Georgia,Cambodia,Malaysia,Nepal,Taiwan,Thailand,Singapore,Indonesia,Viet Nam, Sri Lanka City: Sydney,Melbourne,Adelaide,Brisbane,Perth,Darwin,Gold Coast,Cairns,Auckland,Christchurch,Wellington,Manila,Tbilisi,Phnom Penh,Kuala Lumpur,Kathmandu,Taipei,Bangkok,Singapore,Jakarta,Hanoi,Ho Chi Minh,Colombo

G4 Middle East and Africa
Country: South Africa, United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia,Isreal City: Johannesburg,Dubai,Lahore,Jeddah,Riyadh,Tel Aviv Yafo

Focus air freight quick arrival from China since Year 2003, Air freight service provider for WTA Tennis Match AIR+ATY=AA Service
ShippingService@Aty-logistics.com, T: 0086-20-2862 7903, 0086-150 1875 8092 Wechat or Skype: Oceanianie, QQ: 6382 7169
Airport Sites Shanghai·Shenzhen·Ningbo·Hangzhou·Beijing·XiaMen·Qingdao·Zhengzhou·ChengDu·WuHan·KunMing, etc