Sourcing glossary
Landed cost
Also known as: Total landed cost, Landed cost per unit
The total cost of getting imported goods to your warehouse, including product price, freight, insurance, duty, fees, brokerage and delivery, usually expressed per sellable unit.
Landed cost is the number to compare suppliers on, not the unit price on the quote. A low EXW price can end up more expensive than a higher FOB or DDP price once inland China costs, freight and import charges are added.
Duty is part of landed cost, and its base differs by country: the US applies duty to the price excluding international freight and insurance, while the EU and UK include freight and insurance up to the border. Import VAT counts as a cost only if you cannot reclaim it.
See how to calculate landed cost for a worked example.
Related terms
Guides that use this term
Compliance
Is Your Order Too Small to Import from China? A Break-Even Test
Why 20 units or a US$100–500 budget rarely pays to import from China: per-shipment fixed costs, a simple break-even test, and six options for small buyers.
Updated 2026-10-19 · 7 min read
Suppliers
China Sourcing Agent: What They Do, What They Cost and When You Need One
What a China sourcing agent actually does, the four types you will meet, typical fees, when an agent beats buying direct, and a checklist to vet one before you pay.
Updated 2026-10-14 · 8 min read
Compliance
Importing from China to Peru: SUNAT Duties, IGV, Thresholds and the FTA
How a Peruvian importer clears goods from China: the US$200 and US$2,000 thresholds, ad valorem 0/6/11%, IGV and IPM, IGV perception, customs agents and the China FTA.
Updated 2026-10-14 · 6 min read
Compliance
Import Taxes from China to Mexico: Duty, IVA, DTA and the 33.5% Courier Rate
What a Mexican importer pays on goods from China in 2026: IGI by tariff line (5–50% since January), 16% IVA, DTA, antidumping quotas, the 33.5% courier rate, an example.
Updated 2026-10-14 · 7 min read
Shipping
Shipping Small Orders from China to Latin America: Brazil, Mexico, Peru
Courier, air or sea for a first order from China to Latin America, the customs thresholds and taxes in Brazil, Mexico and Peru, and how consolidation works.
Updated 2026-10-10 · 8 min read
Suppliers
How to Source Women's Clothing from China: Markets, MOQ, Samples and Labels
Where women's clothing is made and sold in China, stock-pack vs made-to-order MOQs, how to sample and check quality, sizing, and the labels your market requires.
Updated 2026-10-10 · 8 min read
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