DDP Shipping from China: 10 Things to Confirm Before You Book

DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) shipping from China sounds simple: one price, and the goods arrive at your door with duties paid. In practice, two DDP quotes can cover quite different things, and the gaps only show when the goods arrive. This checklist lists the ten things to confirm before you book a DDP shipment, so the price you agree is the price you pay.

Key points
• DDP is a delivery term (an Incoterms® rule), not a shipping method. It can be used with sea, air, rail or express.
• Under DDP, the seller’s side arranges import customs and pays duties and taxes. Someone must act as the importer in your country: confirm who.
• Unloading at your address is not automatically included. Ask.
• A DDP price is only as accurate as the product description, HS code and value it is based on.

What DDP Covers, and What It Does Not

For how DDP compares with other terms, see DDP vs DAP vs EXW and DAP Incoterms.

10 Things to Confirm Before You Book DDP

1. Who is the importer of record?

Every import needs an importer who is responsible to customs. Under DDP, this is usually a partner company of the forwarder in your country, not you. Ask who it is, and confirm it is arranged for your shipment before the goods leave China. In the USA, the importer also needs a customs bond; see customs bonds.

2. Is the product description and HS code agreed?

Duties depend on the HS code. If the DDP price uses a code with a lower duty than your product really has, either the price will change later or the shipment risks problems at customs. Agree the code before you accept the quote. See how to find an HS code.

3. Is the declared value the real value?

Duties are charged on the customs value. A DDP price that is cheap because the goods will be under-declared is a risk to you: goods can be held or seized, and future shipments can be checked more closely. Use the real invoice value.

4. Which duty layers are included?

For the USA, Chinese goods can carry several tariff layers on top of the normal duty. Ask whether the quote includes all of them and the customs fees. See US tariffs on Chinese goods. For the UK and EU, ask whether import VAT is included.

5. What is the exact delivery address?

DDP names a place of delivery. A commercial warehouse with a loading dock, a home address, a shop and an Amazon fulfilment centre all need different trucks and appointments. Give the full address and postcode.

6. Who unloads the goods?

Under the Incoterms rule, the seller delivers the goods ready for unloading. Unloading itself is the buyer’s job unless agreed otherwise. If you have no forklift or staff, ask for a tail-lift truck or unloading service and get it in writing.

7. What happens if customs inspects the shipment?

Inspection fees and extra storage are sometimes excluded from DDP prices. Ask whether they are included, or how they will be charged. See import customs clearance.

8. Are there any products that cannot be shipped DDP?

Some goods need licences, certificates or registrations at destination, for example food, cosmetics, medical products, some electrical goods and batteries. Tell the forwarder exactly what you are shipping before booking. See shipping batteries from China.

9. What is the transit time, and from when?

Ask whether the time is counted from pickup, from sailing or from arrival, and to the port or to your door. For typical times, see shipping time from China to the USA.

10. What is not included?

Ask for a written list of exclusions: for example storage beyond free days, redelivery, appointment changes, remote-area delivery or changes to the goods after booking. A DDP quote without exclusions is incomplete.

DDP to the UK and the EU

DDP works a little differently in Europe, mainly because of import VAT:

• Import VAT is part of the DDP price. In the UK most goods pay 20% import VAT, and EU countries have their own rates, such as 19% in Germany.
• The importer needs an EORI number. Under DDP, the partner acting as importer provides it. See EORI number.
• VAT recovery. If you are VAT-registered and import under your own name, you may be able to reclaim import VAT or use postponed VAT accounting. Under DDP, the VAT is paid by the importer, so ask how it is shown on your invoice.

For costs and times, see shipping cost from China to the UK.

Common DDP Problems

DDP to Amazon FBA

DDP is popular with Amazon sellers because the seller does not need its own importer set-up. For FBA deliveries, also confirm:

• The Amazon warehouse code and shipment ID, and that the delivery appointment is included.
• That FBA labels and carton labels are applied in China and match Amazon’s requirements.
• What happens if Amazon splits the shipment across several warehouses.
• Who handles a refused delivery.

See Amazon FBA shipping from China.

When DDP Is the Right Choice, and When It Is Not

Many importers start with DDP and move to their own import set-up as their volume grows.

How a DDP Quote Should Look

A good DDP quote shows, at minimum:

1. Pickup address and ready date
2. Shipping method, sailing or flight, and transit time
3. Product description, HS code and declared value used for duties
4. Duties, taxes and customs fees included
5. Delivery address and delivery conditions (dock, tail-lift, appointment)
6. Exclusions and how extra charges are handled
7. Validity date

If one quote is much cheaper than others, compare these lines first. For more, see how to get an accurate shipping quote.

DDP Shipping with JIEYI

• We collect from your suppliers in China, handle export customs and book the freight.
• For the USA, our US partner acts as importer of record and uses its own customs bond. We confirm this for each shipment.
• Duties are calculated from your product description, HS code and invoice value, and included in the price.
• We declare the real value. We do not under-declare to lower duties.
• Delivery to your address, warehouse or Amazon fulfilment centre.

See our DDP shipping service, or send us your product and delivery address for a DDP quote.

FAQ

What does DDP mean in shipping?

Delivered Duty Paid: the seller’s side delivers the goods to the named place in the buyer’s country, with import customs cleared and duties and taxes paid.

Is DDP a shipping method?

No. It is a delivery term. The goods can travel by sea, air, rail or express under DDP.

Who pays import duties under DDP?

The seller’s side, usually through the forwarder’s partner acting as importer. The cost is included in the DDP price.

Does DDP include unloading?

Not automatically. Under the Incoterms rule, the goods are delivered ready for unloading. Agree unloading or a tail-lift in writing if you need it.

Can I ship to Amazon FBA under DDP?

Yes. Confirm the warehouse code, labels and delivery appointment before the goods ship.

Is DDP more expensive than shipping FOB?

The price is higher because it includes duties, customs and delivery. The total landed cost is often similar; DDP makes it fixed and simple.

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Updated on 4 November 2026. For the official rules, see ICC Incoterms® 2020. This checklist is general guidance; confirm the scope for your shipment in writing.