2026-09-21 · KeXinMaterials Editorial Team
FOB / EXW / CIF Container Loading Optimization B2B Guide 2026
B2B protective case shipping uses Incoterms 2020: EXW (ex-works pickup), FOB Shenzhen/Ningbo (free on board), CIF (cost-insurance-freight). Container loading optimization maximizes units per 20ft/40ft HQ. Here is the 2026 procurement + logistics guide.
Incoterms 2020 Overview (EXW vs FOB vs CIF)
Incoterms 2020 defines 11 terms; the 3 most common for B2B case shipping are EXW, FOB, CIF. Each shifts cost + risk at a different point.
EXW (Ex Works): buyer takes responsibility at factory gate. Buyer arranges pickup, freight, insurance, customs. Lowest factory price. Used when buyer has own freight forwarder.
FOB (Free On Board): seller delivers to port and loads onto vessel. Seller pays factory → port. Buyer pays port → destination + insurance. Most common for B2B protective case shipping from China.
CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight): seller pays factory → destination port + insurance. Buyer pays destination port → final destination + import duties. Used when buyer wants door-to-door simplicity.
CFR (Cost and Freight): like CIF but buyer arranges insurance. Rare in B2B cases.
DDP (Delivered Duty Paid): seller pays everything including duties. NOT offered per brand policy. B2B buyer handles import.
B2B recommendation: FOB Shenzhen/Ningbo for most orders (buyer controls freight + insurance), EXW for buyers with own forwarder, CIF for buyers wanting door-to-door quote.
Container Types + Capacity
Protective cases ship by sea in 20ft or 40ft HQ containers. Capacity depends on case dimensions + palletization.
20ft dry container: 33 cbm usable. 28 MT max payload. ~10-12 standard pallets (1200x800mm).
40ft dry container: 67 cbm usable. 28 MT max payload. ~20-24 standard pallets.
40ft HQ (high cube): 76 cbm usable. 28 MT max payload. ~20-24 standard pallets + 9 inches extra height.
LCL (less than container load): for orders <15 cbm. USD 80-150 per cbm. Higher per-unit cost but flexible quantity.
Air freight: USD 5-15 per kg. For urgent orders <500 kg or samples.
For protective cases: 20ft container typically holds 800-1500 mid-size cases (depending on foam + packaging). 40ft HQ holds 1800-3500 mid-size cases.
CBM Calculation for Cases
CBM (cubic meter) = length × width × height (meters). Container loading optimization starts with accurate CBM per SKU.
Small case (e.g., 300x250x150mm): 0.011 cbm per unit. 20ft container holds ~2,800 units. 40ft HQ holds ~6,500 units.
Mid case (e.g., 500x400x250mm): 0.050 cbm per unit. 20ft ~600 units. 40ft HQ ~1,400 units.
Large case (e.g., 800x600x400mm): 0.192 cbm per unit. 20ft ~150 units. 40ft HQ ~360 units.
Rack case (e.g., 600x600x800mm): 0.288 cbm per unit. 20ft ~100 units. 40ft HQ ~240 units.
Always add 5-10% buffer for irregular case shapes + protective packaging (corner protectors, foam wrap).
B2B recommendation: ask factory for pre-shipment CBM sample measurement before booking container.
Palletization + Loading Patterns
Standard 20ft container holds 10-12 EUR pallets (1200x800mm) or 11-12 standard pallets (1200x1000mm). Stacking pattern affects unit count + stability.
Single-pallet loading: each pallet pre-built with cases stacked. Forklift loads/unloads. Stable but lower density.
Floor-loading (no pallets): cases loaded directly on container floor with dunnage. Higher density but harder unload.
Slip-sheet: cardboard sheets replace pallets. Same density as pallet but lighter (saves 25-30 kg per pallet).
Stacking pattern: vertical stacking (max density), interlocked (stability), pyramid (uneven case sizes).
Max stack height: 1.8m for palletized (safety), 2.2m for floor-loaded (sea voyage stability).
Anti-slip mat between layers: USD 0.50-1 per layer. Prevents sliding during sea voyage.
B2B recommendation: palletized for buyers with forklift, floor-loaded for buyers without forklift (labour at destination +30-50%).
Mixed SKU Container Plan
Most B2B orders include multiple SKUs (sizes, models). Mixed SKU loading requires 3D planning to maximize density.
Step 1: list all SKU dimensions + quantities. Compute total CBM + total weight.
Step 2: check container capacity (cbm + payload). 40ft HQ is 76 cbm / 28 MT.
Step 3: compute unit count per SKU. Verify total ≤ max dimension.
Step 4: allocate container space. Largest SKU on bottom (load-bearing), smallest on top.
Step 5: build mixed pallet (different SKUs per pallet) OR single-SKU pallets (homogeneous).
Mixed pallet: max density but harder unload + accounting. Single-SKU pallet: easier but 5-10% lower density.
B2B recommendation: single-SKU pallets for buyers with WMS / inventory management. Mixed pallets for direct-to-customer shipping.
Cost Comparison: FOB vs EXW vs CIF
Total landed cost differs by incoterm. Below is a 2026 typical mid-size order (500 cases, ~25 cbm, USD 50K goods value).
EXW Shenzhen: USD 50,000 goods. Buyer pays: trucking to port USD 200, export clearance USD 500, ocean freight USD 1,200 (40HQ share), insurance USD 200, import duties + delivery USD 2,500. Total landed ~USD 54,600.
FOB Shenzhen: USD 50,000 goods + USD 700 factory → port. Buyer pays: ocean freight USD 1,200, insurance USD 200, import duties + delivery USD 2,500. Total landed ~USD 54,600 (same).
CIF destination port: USD 50,000 goods + USD 700 factory → port + USD 1,200 ocean freight + USD 200 insurance = USD 52,100. Buyer pays: import duties + delivery USD 2,500. Total landed ~USD 54,600 (same).
Note: total landed cost is roughly equal. The difference is CASH FLOW + RISK + ADMINISTRATIVE burden, not absolute cost.
EXW: lowest cash outflow at order, but most admin (buyer arranges everything).
FOB: middle cash flow + risk. Standard for B2B.
CIF: highest cash outflow at order, but lowest admin (seller handles freight + insurance).
Shipping Documents + Customs
International B2B shipping requires specific paperwork. Missing document = container held at customs = USD 100-500/day demurrage.
Commercial invoice: seller-issued. Describes goods + value + buyer/seller.
Packing list: itemized by SKU + quantity + weight + cbm. Required by customs.
Bill of lading (B/L): carrier-issued. Title document for goods.
Certificate of origin (C/O): issued by China Chamber of Commerce. Required for tariff calculation in some countries.
Insurance certificate: separate document. CIF includes insurance by seller.
Customs declaration: HS code classification. Protective case = HS 4202.92 (travel goods) or 3923.10 (plastic containers). Varies by country.
B2B recommendation: ask seller for commercial invoice + packing list draft before shipment to verify HS code + value declaration.
Container Loading Checklist
Pre-shipment checklist prevents common loading mistakes. Below is the 2026 B2B protective case shipping checklist.
1. Verify case dimensions (sample measurement by seller before production).
2. Compute total CBM + weight. Choose 20ft / 40ft / 40HQ based on cbm + payload.
3. Pre-build pallets OR plan floor-loading layout. Confirm with buyer.
4. Apply anti-slip mats + edge protectors + corner reinforcement.
5. Container inspection before loading (dry, clean, no holes, no odors).
6. Photograph loading process (insurance + dispute evidence).
7. Seal container with numbered seal. Record seal number on B/L.
8. Verify all SKUs loaded (cross-check packing list vs actual count).
9. Take final photo of closed container with seal visible.
10. Send shipping documents to buyer within 24 hours of B/L date.
B2B recommendation: request seller to share loading photos + seal number + container number on B/L date.
Key Takeaways
- EXW: buyer arranges pickup; lowest factory price; most admin
- FOB Shenzhen/Ningbo: standard B2B term; seller delivers to port; buyer controls freight
- CIF destination: seller pays freight + insurance; buyer handles import; most admin simplicity
- 40ft HQ: 76 cbm / 28 MT; ~1,800-3,500 mid-size cases per container
- Mixed SKU: pre-plan CBM + layout; single-SKU pallets for WMS buyers, mixed for direct ship
- Total landed cost similar across incoterms; difference is cash flow + risk + admin burden
- Loading checklist: dimensions, CBM, pallets, anti-slip mats, seal number, photos
FAQ
What is FOB Shenzhen for protective cases?
FOB Shenzhen means seller delivers protective cases to Shenzhen port (Yantian or Shekou) and loads onto vessel. Seller pays factory → Shenzhen port + export clearance + loading. Buyer pays Shenzhen → destination port + insurance + import duties + final delivery. Standard B2B term for protective case shipping from China.
What is the difference between FOB and CIF?
FOB: seller delivers to origin port (Shenzhen). CIF: seller delivers to destination port (e.g., Los Angeles, Hamburg). FOB excludes ocean freight + insurance. CIF includes ocean freight + insurance. Both have buyer handling import clearance. CIF has higher upfront cost (seller collects freight upfront) but lower admin burden.
What is EXW vs FOB?
EXW (Ex Works): buyer takes responsibility at factory gate. Buyer arranges pickup + freight + insurance + customs. Lowest factory price. FOB (Free On Board): seller delivers to port + loads onto vessel. Seller pays factory → port. EXW shifts more work to buyer; FOB is balanced.
How many cases fit in a 40HQ container?
40HQ (high cube) container holds 76 cbm / 28 MT. Mid-size protective case (500x400x250mm = 0.050 cbm) fits ~1,400 units per 40HQ. Small case (300x250x150mm = 0.011 cbm) fits ~6,500 units. Large case (800x600x400mm = 0.192 cbm) fits ~360 units. Density depends on case size + foam + packaging.
What is CBM in container loading?
CBM (cubic meter) = length × width × height in meters. Container capacity: 20ft = 33 cbm, 40ft = 67 cbm, 40ft HQ = 76 cbm. CBM calculation determines how many units load per container. Add 5-10% buffer for packaging irregularity.
What documents are required for international case shipping?
Required documents: commercial invoice (goods + value), packing list (SKU + qty + weight + cbm), bill of lading (B/L, carrier-issued title document), certificate of origin (C/O, China Chamber of Commerce), insurance certificate (CIF only), customs declaration (HS code). Missing document = container held at destination + demurrage fee.
What is palletized vs floor-loaded shipping?
Palletized: cases pre-built on pallets (EUR 1200x800 or standard 1200x1000). Forklift load/unload. Stable, easier accounting. 5-10% lower density. Floor-loaded: cases loaded directly on container floor with dunnage. Higher density but harder unload (requires labour at destination). Choose based on buyer destination equipment.
What is HS code for protective case?
Protective case HS code varies by country. Common codes: HS 4202.92 (travel goods, leather / plastic), HS 3923.10 (plastic containers for goods), HS 3926.90 (other plastic articles). China export default: 4202.92. US import default: 4202.92. EU import default: 4202.92. B2B buyer verifies with customs broker before shipment.