DDP shipping is the most comprehensive logistics solution for importing goods from China. Under Incoterms 2020 Delivered Duty Paid terms, Great Hensen assumes all costs and risks, from the factory floor in China to the consignee's door anywhere in the world. For importers, this means no dealing with customs brokers, no surprise duty bills at the border, and no arranging last-mile delivery. Everything is handled by one forwarder with one invoice. This is the service our clients use to relocate entire factories, launch e-commerce brands into new markets, and supply JIT production lines without building an in-house logistics department.
What is DDP shipping?
Under Incoterms 2020, DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) places the maximum obligation on the seller. The seller bears all costs and risks of transporting goods to the named destination, including import customs clearance and payment of import duties and taxes. For the importer, DDP means:
- No customs broker required: We handle import customs clearance through our local agent network in every destination country.
- No surprise duty bills: All import duties, VAT/GST, and customs fees are calculated and included in your fixed quote before shipment.
- No last-mile logistics: We arrange truck delivery from the port or airport to your specified address and provide a signed POD (Proof of Delivery).
Every DDP shipment from Great Hensen covers six stages: (1) factory pickup in China, (2) export customs clearance at the Chinese port, (3) international freight by sea, air, or rail, (4) import customs clearance at destination, (5) payment of import duties and taxes, and (6) last-mile delivery to your door.
DDP vs FOB: What is the Difference?
Under FOB (Free On Board), the buyer arranges and pays for international freight, import customs clearance, duties, and delivery, a process that requires coordinating with a freight forwarder, a customs broker, and a local trucking company. Under DDP, Great Hensen handles all of these steps. You receive the goods at your door with nothing to handle and nothing to pay at the border. This makes DDP the preferred option for first-time importers, e-commerce sellers, and companies shipping to multiple countries with different customs regimes.
DDP by Country
Great Hensen provides DDP door-to-door service to major markets worldwide. The table below shows sea and air DDP availability with typical transit times from Qingdao, Shanghai, and Tianjin ports.
| Destination | Sea Freight DDP | Air Freight DDP | Typical Transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA | Available, all ports | Available, all airports | Sea 25-35 days, Air 5-8 days |
| UK | Available | Available | Sea 30-35 days, Air 5-7 days |
| Germany | Available | Available | Sea 30-35 days, Air 4-6 days |
| Canada | Available, Toronto/Vancouver | Available | Sea 25-30 days, Air 5-7 days |
| Australia | Available, Sydney/Melbourne | Available | Sea 18-22 days, Air 4-6 days |
| UAE | Available, Dubai | Available | Sea 20-25 days, Air 4-6 days |
| France | Available | Available | Sea 30-35 days, Air 4-6 days |
| Netherlands | Available, Rotterdam | Available, AMS | Sea 28-32 days, Air 4-6 days |
Transit times are door-to-door totals including factory pickup, export clearance, international transit, import clearance with duty payment, and last-mile delivery. Actual times vary by shipment specifics and seasonal congestion. For destinations not listed above, contact us, our agent network covers 50+ countries.
What DDP includes (and what it costs extra)
Included in Your DDP Quote
- Factory pickup: Truck dispatched to your supplier's facility in China. Standard container chassis, flatbed, or specialized trailers for OOG cargo.
- Export customs clearance: Chinese export declaration preparation and submission. Including VGM filing, DG declaration (if applicable), and all export documentation.
- International freight: Ocean freight (FCL/LCL), air freight, or rail freight, carrier selection based on your transit time and cost requirements.
- Import customs clearance: Destination country customs entry through our local broker network, including all brokerage fees and customs entry charges.
- Import duties and VAT/GST: Calculated on CIF value (goods + freight + insurance) at the destination country's applicable rates. All duty and tax payments handled by us.
- Last-mile delivery: Truck delivery from destination port/airport to your specified address, with signed Proof of Delivery.
Additional Costs (Not Included in Base DDP Quote)
- Cargo insurance: Recommended for all shipments. All-risk cargo insurance typically costs 0.3-0.5% of the declared cargo value. Not included by default, opt in when booking.
- DG cargo surcharge: $150-350 depending on IMDG class and destination. Covers DG packaging certificate preparation, MSDS review, and maritime/air DG declaration.
- OOG / heavy-lift surcharge: Applies to out-of-gauge cargo requiring flat racks, open tops, or breakbulk handling. Priced per shipment based on dimensions and weight.
- Storage / demurrage: Applicable only if the consignee delays receiving goods beyond the free time period at the destination port or warehouse.
DDP Pricing
Every DDP shipment is quoted individually based on the specific cargo. To receive a fixed DDP price, provide us with: product description and HS code (if known), declared cargo value, total weight and dimensions, and the delivery address in the destination country. We respond with a binding DDP quotation within 24 hours, what we quote is what you pay. Request a DDP quote here.
HS code and duty considerations
The HS (Harmonized System) code is the single most important factor in DDP pricing, it determines the import duty rate applied at destination. Great Hensen verifies HS code classification before shipping to prevent customs delays and unexpected charges.
- USA, Section 301 tariffs: Additional 7.5-25% on many Chinese-origin goods, on top of the standard MFN duty rate. All Section 301 tariffs are included in our DDP quote for the USA. We cross-reference HS codes against current USTR exclusion lists before quoting.
- EU: Standard VAT ranges from 19% (Germany) to 27% (Hungary), calculated on CIF value plus duty. All EU import VAT is included in our DDP quote.
- UK: Post-Brexit customs procedures apply. We handle UKCA marking requirements, CDS customs entries, and 20% standard VAT, all included.
- Australia: 10% GST on imports with a simplified customs clearance process. GST is included in our DDP quote.
- Bonded warehousing option: For importers who want to defer duty payment, our Qingdao FTZ bonded warehouse allows storing goods duty-free until they are ready for distribution to the destination country. This is particularly useful for multi-country DDP programs and seasonal inventory management.
Why Great Hensen for DDP
- 50+ country agent network: Local customs brokers in every destination country handle import clearance with native-language documentation and established relationships with local customs authorities. No subcontracting to unknown third parties.
- HS code pre-classification: We verify the correct HS code with your supplier before the bill of lading is issued. This prevents the most common cause of DDP delays, customs holding goods for tariff classification review.
- DG DDP capability: Dangerous goods classes 2-9 shipped door-to-door with full compliance at both ends. See our DG freight service for details. We handle DG packaging certificates, MSDS in destination languages, and DG-compliant last-mile trucking.
- Consolidated DDP: Combine goods from multiple Chinese suppliers into one DDP shipment. We pick up from multiple factories, consolidate at our Qingdao CFS, and ship as a single door-to-door consignment. This reduces per-unit logistics cost significantly for multi-supplier supply chains.
- Fixed-price quotes: What we quote is what you pay. Our DDP quotations are binding, no fuel surcharge adjustments, no currency fluctuation fees, no unexpected customs charges passed through to the importer.
Related: China Freight Forwarder → | Sea Freight from China → | Door-to-Door China-Europe → | Bonded Warehousing & JIT →
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between DDP and DDU?
DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) includes import duties and taxes, the seller pays everything, and the buyer simply receives the goods with no additional payments. DDU (Delivered Duty Unpaid) excludes duties and taxes, the buyer pays those upon import. Under DDU, the buyer receives an invoice from the destination customs broker for duties, VAT, brokerage fees, and often storage charges if the shipment is held pending payment. Most importers prefer DDP because the total landed cost is known upfront with no surprise charges. The Incoterms 2020 rules replaced DDU with DAP (Delivered at Place), which functions similarly, seller handles everything except import clearance and duties.
How much does DDP shipping from China cost?
The total cost depends on five factors: cargo type, declared value, HS code (which determines the duty rate), destination country, and transport mode. As a benchmark for mid-2026 pricing: a DDP sea freight shipment from Qingdao to Los Angeles for a 20ft container of general goods with $30,000 declared value costs roughly $4,000-$6,000 all-in (including ocean freight, US customs clearance, Section 301 tariffs, and last-mile trucking). Air freight DDP for 100kg from Qingdao to Germany costs roughly $800-$1,200. These are estimates, every shipment is unique. Contact us with your specific product details, HS code, and delivery address for a binding quote within 24 hours.
Can you ship DG cargo via DDP?
Yes. Great Hensen handles DDP for dangerous goods classes 2-9 to most destinations. DG DDP includes the DG packaging certificate (危包证) preparation, MSDS review (in both Chinese for export and destination language for import), maritime DG declaration (IMDG) or air DG declaration (IATA DGR), and DG-compliant last-mile delivery with licensed DG trucking carriers at the destination. DG surcharges apply, typically $150-$350 depending on IMDG class and destination country. Some DG classes and UN numbers have destination-specific restrictions (for example, certain Class 1 explosives are restricted in specific ports). We verify all restrictions before quoting, if we cannot provide DDP for your DG cargo to a specific destination, we tell you upfront and suggest alternatives.
Can I use DDP for e-commerce shipments from China?
Yes. DDP is widely used by e-commerce sellers shipping from China to Amazon FBA warehouses, third-party fulfillment centers, and direct-to-consumer distribution hubs in the USA, Europe, UK, and Australia. Our consolidated DDP service is particularly effective for e-commerce: we combine products from multiple Chinese factories into one shipment, handle customs clearance and duty payment at the destination, then deliver palletized inventory to your warehouse or fulfillment center. For Amazon FBA sellers, we coordinate pallet labeling, FBA shipment ID compliance, and carrier appointment scheduling at Amazon fulfillment centers, all included in the DDP price.