The price a supplier quotes is rarely the price you actually pay. Landed cost is the total cost to get goods to your door — and importers who ignore it routinely lose their margin to charges that appear after the order.
What goes into landed cost
- Product cost — the unit price times quantity
- Freight — ocean/air/road, plus origin and destination handling
- Duties and taxes — based on HS code, value and origin
- Insurance — cargo cover for loss or damage
- Fees — customs brokerage, port, documentation, inspection
- Finance and FX — payment costs and currency movement
Why it decides your margin
A unit that looks cheap at the factory gate can become expensive once duty and freight are added — especially on low-value, high-volume goods. Comparing suppliers on product price alone is how importers end up underwater.
Estimate before you commit
Model landed cost per unit before placing an order, and re-check it against the Incoterm you agree — who pays for what changes the number significantly.
Imponexpo is in pre-launch — no live orders, payments or escrow are available yet. This resource is a preview to help you prepare.