Port-to-Port vs Door-to-Door: How Logistics Responsibilities and Costs Are Allocated Under Different Trade Terms

1. Port-to-Port

The service scope only covers loading at the origin port to unloading at the destination port. Included fees: origin port charges (THC, document fees, booking fees, customs clearance fees, etc.), ocean freight, destination port charges. Excluded fees: trucking fees (factory → origin port), destination port trucking fees, import customs clearance fees, customs duties.

2. Door-to-Door

The service scope covers the entire logistics from the shipper's designated location to the consignee's designated location. Included fees: origin port trucking fees, export customs clearance fees, origin port charges, ocean freight, destination port charges, import customs clearance fees, destination port trucking fees (under DDP terms, also includes customs duties and taxes).

3. Division of Responsibilities Under Different Trade Terms

FOB (Free on Board): The seller is responsible for trucking to the origin port, export customs clearance, and port charges; the buyer is responsible for ocean freight, destination port fees, import customs clearance, and destination port trucking.

CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight): The seller is responsible for trucking, customs clearance, port charges, ocean freight, and insurance; the buyer is responsible for destination port charges, import customs clearance, and destination port trucking.

DDP (Delivered Duty Paid): The seller is responsible for all costs including trucking, export customs clearance, ocean freight, insurance, destination port charges, import customs clearance, customs duties, value-added tax, and destination port trucking. Complete door-to-door service.

4. Fee Comparison Example

Case: Shenzhen → Los Angeles, 1×20GP, Cargo Value $20,000

5. Selection Recommendations

If the buyer has their own customs broker and contracted trucking company, choose port-to-port; if the buyer lacks customs clearance capability or is unfamiliar with the import process, choose door-to-door. For cross-border e-commerce, Amazon FBA shipments, and project cargo, door-to-door is preferred.

Contact Bofeng Logistics (TEL: 130-7567-8958) for flexible service modes including port-to-port, door-to-port, port-to-door, and door-to-door.