Full container or shared load, and how to pick
A full twenty-foot or forty-foot high-cube box gives you the lowest ocean cost per cubic metre once you’re furnishing a house, villa, cafe or store. A shared load costs more per cubic metre and suits a small flat or trial order.
Don’t judge by ocean rate alone; it’s landed cost per item that matters. A local warehouse in Foshan can merge sofas, tiles, kitchen units and lights from ten makers into one container.
How workshop-gate and port quotes work
Ask makers to quote both ex-works at their door and FOB at the South China port, or let your local partner group every pickup on one truck plan. Seeing local haulage and export fees in writing makes quotes easy to compare.
First-time visitors often let one team in Foshan run pickup, loading and port delivery end to end. Repeat trade buyers with a customs broker back home can plug straight into FOB Shenzhen or Nansha.
Export wrap that keeps finishes clean at sea
Good export wrap isn’t guesswork; you’ll see right away when a shop packs with care. Ask for thick corner guards on sofa arms and cabinet edges, soft foam wrap under five-ply boxes on painted pieces, and wood crates on stone tops, mirrors and bath ware.
Ask to see wrapped boxes on the floor or get loading photos before the container doors shut. Makers who ship abroad every week are glad to show how they pack.
Put that wrap spec right on the invoice so every batch gets the exact same care.
Wood stamps and port paperwork
Solid wood crates and some destination ports need heat-treated wood stamps or origin papers that cut import duty. Foshan shippers sort these every week once they know your port.
Share your destination country when asking for quotes rather than on loading day. Lining papers up during the build keeps port clearance quick when the ship docks.
Keep your three shipping papers matched
Your invoice, packing list and bill of lading must match on box counts, weights and item names. Checking draft papers before the ship sails takes ten minutes and keeps customs smooth.