# Shipping Terms for Stone: FOB, CIF, DAP and DDP

> How we ship quartz, terrazzo and natural stone: FOB, CIF, DAP and DDP in plain words, what every quote states, container weights and import rules.

URL: https://datumsurfaces.com/shipping/

Incoterms 2020

# Shipping terms: FOB, CIF, DAP and DDP

You choose who handles freight and customs. We quote FOB for trade buyers with their own forwarder, CIF to your port and DAP to your site. DDP is offered only where we can act as importer.

Every quote names the term, the port or address, and what is and is not included.

## Who handles what

The line runs from the factory to your site. Green is what we handle. The marker shows where risk passes to you.

FOB: Free On Board

We clear the goods for export and load them on the ship at the origin port. You book the sea freight, insurance, import clearance and delivery. Risk passes to you once the goods are on board.

Suits

Trade buyers with their own forwarder

Datum handlesYou or your agent handle

## Incoterms 2020 in plain words

| Term | What we pay and handle | Risk passes to you | Offered |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| EXW  
Ex Works | Nothing beyond making the goods ready | At the factory | Not offered |
| FOB  
Free On Board | Export clearance, Loading at origin port | On board at the origin port | Yes |
| CFR  
Cost and Freight | Export clearance, Loading at origin port, Sea freight | On board at the origin port | On request |
| CIF  
Cost, Insurance and Freight | Export clearance, Loading at origin port, Sea freight, Insurance to the destination port (minimum cover) | On board at the origin port | Yes |
| CPT  
Carriage Paid To | Export clearance, Loading at origin port, Sea freight | At handover to the first carrier | For inland depots and samples |
| DAP  
Delivered at Place | Export clearance, Loading at origin port, Sea freight, Unloading at destination port, Delivery to your site | At your named address | Yes |
| DDP  
Delivered Duty Paid | Export clearance, Loading at origin port, Sea freight, Unloading at destination port, Import clearance, duty and VAT, Delivery to your site | At your named address | Where we can act as importer |

DPU (Delivered at Place Unloaded) is rarely used for stone: slabs need the right crane or forklift on site, which the buyer usually arranges.

## Why DDP is limited

Under DDP the seller pays import duty and VAT and is the importer of record. In the UK and the EU that usually means registering for VAT there.

Until we have a local importer in a country, we quote DAP and you use a customs broker of your choice. The price to site is the same idea, with the duty paid by you.

## What every quote states

-   Price per slab or per m², and the total
-   Number of crates and containers, and the gross weight
-   Production lead time and transit time
-   Freight and insurance, where included
-   The Incoterm and the named port or place
-   Payment terms, and how long the quote is valid

## Containers fill by weight

Quartz weighs about 2.4 tonnes per m³. A 20 mm slab is about 48 kg per m², and a 3200 × 1600 mm slab about 250 kg before packing.

Stone reaches a container's weight limit long before it fills the space. A 20 ft box takes about the same weight as a 40 ft box for less, so stone ships in 20 ft boxes. We confirm every load with the forwarder.

## Proof before you pay the balance

Before loading and balance payment, we send photos of the actual slabs (front, back, edges and any repairs) and of the packed crates.

Engineered quartz releases crystalline silica dust when cut. A safety data sheet ships with every quartz order.

## Shipping by country

Ports, default terms and the import rules to check before you order.

[United Arab Emirates](https://datumsurfaces.com/shipping/united-arab-emirates/)

Jebel Ali (Dubai), Khalifa Port (Abu Dhabi)

Quartz, terrazzo, engineered marble and natural stone

[Saudi Arabia](https://datumsurfaces.com/shipping/saudi-arabia/)

Jeddah Islamic Port, King Abdulaziz Port (Dammam)

Quartz, terrazzo, engineered marble and natural stone

[Qatar](https://datumsurfaces.com/shipping/qatar/)

Hamad Port

Quartz, terrazzo, engineered marble and natural stone

[United Kingdom](https://datumsurfaces.com/shipping/united-kingdom/)

Felixstowe, Southampton, London Gateway

Quartz, terrazzo, engineered marble and natural stone

[France](https://datumsurfaces.com/shipping/france/)

Le Havre, Marseille-Fos

Quartz, terrazzo, engineered marble and natural stone

[Germany](https://datumsurfaces.com/shipping/germany/)

Hamburg, Bremerhaven

Quartz, terrazzo, engineered marble and natural stone

[Netherlands](https://datumsurfaces.com/shipping/netherlands/)

Rotterdam

Quartz, terrazzo, engineered marble and natural stone

[United States](https://datumsurfaces.com/shipping/united-states/)

Los Angeles and Long Beach, New York and New Jersey, Savannah, Houston

Terrazzo and natural stone

Other countries: email contact@datumsurfaces.com with the delivery city and we quote the best term and route. Engineered stone, including quartz, cannot be imported into Australia.

Contact: contact@datumsurfaces.com (email only). Catalogue: https://datumsurfaces.com/catalogue/