DDP vs EXW: What They Mean When You Buy Cups from China
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When you buy blank cups from a factory in China, your quote will usually say DDP or EXW. These are Incoterms: standard trade terms that say who pays for shipping, customs and duties, and who carries the risk at each step. Choosing the right one makes a big difference to your total cost and to how much work you do.
EXW (Ex Works)
With EXW, the price covers the goods at the seller's factory. From the moment the cartons are ready for collection, everything else is the buyer's job:
- Collecting the goods from the factory
- Export clearance in China
- International freight (sea, air or rail)
- Import customs clearance in your country
- Import duties and taxes
- Delivery from the port or airport to your door
EXW suits buyers who already work with a freight forwarder, ship regularly from China, or want to combine goods from several suppliers into one shipment.
DDP (Delivered Duty Paid)
With DDP, the seller arranges and pays for everything up to your door, including import customs clearance and duties. The price you agree is the total cost of getting the goods to your address. You receive the cartons without dealing with customs or paying extra on delivery.
DDP suits small businesses, first orders and anyone who does not want to manage freight and customs.
Side by side
| EXW | DDP | |
|---|---|---|
| Price covers | Goods at the factory | Goods delivered to your door |
| Freight | Buyer arranges and pays | Seller arranges and pays |
| Customs and duties | Buyer handles and pays | Seller handles and pays |
| Work for you | More: you need a forwarder | Less: one price, one delivery |
| Best for | Regular importers, consolidated shipments | Small businesses, first orders |
How to compare quotes fairly
An EXW price always looks lower, because it leaves out freight, duties and delivery. To compare an EXW quote with a DDP quote, add your forwarder's freight charge, the customs clearance fee, duties and taxes, and local delivery to the EXW price. Only then do you see the real difference.
How we price
Prices on our product pages are EXW factory prices per piece, so you can see what the cups themselves cost. When you send a quote request, we reply with both options:
- DDP by sea or air worldwide, and by rail to the UK and Europe, delivered to your door
- EXW if you prefer to use your own forwarder
Add the cups you need to your quote list and tell us your country. We usually reply within 1–2 hours (China time). For the full ordering process, read how to order blank tumblers wholesale from China.