Who owns what

FOB in day-to-day Shenzhen port practice

Three parties touch fob shenzhen practice, and most disputes come from assuming somebody else owns a step. This is how we split it.

Shipper responsibilities: pre-loading charges

Terminal handling and pre-loading charges sit with the seller under FOB even though the container is already inside the terminal.

We confirm this division in writing before the cargo moves, not after a charge appears.

Forwarder responsibilities: export clearance by seller

Under FOB the seller clears the goods for export and delivers them on board the vessel named by the buyer at the port of shipment.

Our coordinator keeps one owner per step so a handover cannot fall between two teams.

Consignee / broker responsibilities: vessel nomination

The buyer nominates the vessel and books the space, so a late nomination can push the cargo past the terminal cutoff.

The consignee sees the same document set, which removes the usual "we never received it" argument.

The failure point we see most often: Agreeing FOB and then asking the seller to include ocean freight in the same price.

Have these ready before filing:

Commercial invoice and packing list with matching values and descriptions.
Classification, origin and any licence references used in the declaration.
Booking reference, transport document and the consignee’s broker contact.

Questions importers ask us

Who is responsible for getting this right on a China-origin shipment?

The shipper supplies accurate product and value data; Hovmar Logistics checks the file before submission and coordinates with the destination broker. We confirm the split in writing at booking.

Can Hovmar review this before the cargo leaves Shenzhen?

Yes. Send the commercial invoice, packing list and intended classification before cutoff and our customs desk will flag gaps while they are still easy to fix.

Where this fits in your shipment

Planning a shipment from Shenzhen?

Request a routed freight quote · Chat on WhatsApp · info@hovmar.com

Notes from the Hovmar Logistics customs desk in Shenzhen. Confirm current requirements with your licensed broker before filing.