Sourcing & shipping guides
No fluff, no recycled 2022 advice — written by the team that ships the cargo, including the uncomfortable parts other blogs skip.
Shipping Costs from China
1What freight really costs — and where the extra fees hide.
Import Guides
2From first idea to delivered cargo — the beginner-friendly path.
LCL & FCL Shipping
2Shared containers, full containers, and the crossover math between them.
Sourcing Agents
2What agents do, what they cost, and how to pick an honest one.
Customs & Duties
1Clearance, HS codes, duty math and who pays what — decoded.
Latest guides
What Is DDP Shipping from China? Costs, Process & When to Use It
DDP from China explained: seller and buyer responsibilities, import requirements, delivery and risk transfer, reference costs and questions to ask before booking.
Read →How to Choose a Reliable China Sourcing Agent: 10 Red Flags
Ten practical checks for choosing a China sourcing agent: company identity, clear fees, inspection reports, payment milestones and verifiable references.
Read →China Sourcing Agents to Compare in 2026: A Buyer’s Shortlist
A transparent shortlist of China sourcing providers, including Linfon, with official websites and practical questions to verify scope, fees, inspections and delivery.
Read →LCL vs FCL: How to Choose for Small Orders from China
LCL or a full container? The real answer hides in the 15–25 CBM crossover zone and the destination fees nobody quotes you. Here's how to decide.
Read →How to Import from China: A Beginner's Step-by-Step Guide (2026)
The complete first-time importer path: find suppliers, verify them, sample, inspect, pay safely, ship and clear customs — in eight steps without the jargon.
Read →1688 vs Alibaba: Which Is Better for Buying from China?
Compare Alibaba.com and 1688 by supplier verification, order protection, export services and total landed cost rather than listing price alone.
Read →The Hidden LCL Fees Nobody Quotes You (and How to Protect Yourself)
A $80/CBM ocean rate that lands with $60/CBM in surprise charges. How CFS fees, documentation and handling turn cheap LCL quotes expensive — and what a clean quote looks like.
Read →What You're Actually Paying: The Anatomy of a Landed Cost
Your supplier quotes $2.55 per unit. The real number is closer to $4. The five layers of landed cost every importer must calculate before ordering.
Read →