Straight-talking guides to shipping, customs, costs and trade documents — organised by topic so you can find what you need fast.
How freight moves, the modes, and choosing the right one.
FCL (full container) or LCL (shared container)? Learn the break-even volume, the cost trade-offs, and when each ocean freight option wins.
Read guide →Carriers bill on chargeable weight — the greater of actual or volumetric weight. Learn the formulas for air and LCL sea freight, with worked examples.
Read guide →A practical step-by-step guide to importing from China to the US in 2026 — suppliers, HTS codes, customs, duty, and choosing air vs ocean.
Coming soonThe questions that separate a good forwarder from a costly one — on coverage, transparency, customs, insurance and communication.
Coming soonHow the EU ETS for shipping and sustainable aviation fuel affect freight costs — and how to ship with a lower carbon footprint.
Coming soonWhat a pre-shipment inspection checks, what it costs, and how it protects you from defective or short shipments.
Coming soonCompare air and sea freight on cost, transit time, reliability and carbon — and learn the rule of thumb for choosing between them.
Coming soonWhat counts as dangerous goods, the UN classes, the paperwork required, and how to ship hazardous cargo safely and compliantly.
Coming soonA freight forwarder arranges and manages the movement of goods across carriers, modes and borders. Here's what they do and when you need one.
Coming soonWhat shipping costs, and how to read a freight quote.
What drives container shipping costs, realistic FCL and LCL price ranges, and the surcharges to watch — so your freight quote holds no surprises.
Read guide →Decode your freight quote: BAF, THC, PSS, CAF, ISF, demurrage and detention — what each charge means and which are negotiable.
Read guide →Landed cost = product + freight + duty + insurance + fees. Learn the formula with a worked example so you price imports for profit.
Coming soonWhere ocean and air freight rates are heading in 2026 — overcapacity, peak-season risk, and what it means for your shipping budget.
Coming soonWhat demurrage and detention are, how the charges accrue, free-time rules, and practical ways to avoid them.
Coming soonLine by line, what a freight quote should contain, and the floating charges to watch for before you book.
Coming soonClearing the border and paying the right duty.
The US scrapped the $800 de minimis exemption in 2025. Here's exactly what changed, what every shipment now needs, and how to keep importing profitably.
Read guide →What an ISF / 10+2 filing is, what data it needs, deadlines, and the penalties for getting it wrong.
Coming soonWhat a customs bond is, single-entry vs continuous, when US importers need one, and how to get one.
Coming soonWhat customs brokers do, how they differ from freight forwarders, and when you legally need one.
Coming soonHow customs clearance works for imports and exports — the documents, the duty, and how to avoid delays at the border.
Coming soonLawful ways to lower import duty: correct HS classification, free trade agreements, preferential origin and customs special procedures.
Coming soonWhat HS codes are, how they're structured, and why correct classification controls your duty rate and clearance.
Coming soonTerms of sale and the paperwork behind a deal.
A clear, plain-English guide to all 11 Incoterms 2020 rules — who pays, who bears the risk, and how to choose the right term for your shipment.
Read guide →DDP or DAP? Who pays import duty, who carries the risk, and which delivery term suits your shipment.
Coming soonThe Bill of Lading is receipt, contract and — when negotiable — a document of title. Learn the types and how it controls your cargo.
Coming soonCountry-to-country shipping guides.
Ocean and air options, transit times, customs and duty for importing from Vietnam to the US — and how to get the best rate.
Coming soonModes, transit times, customs and costs for shipping from India to the United States.
Coming soonCross-border trucking, customs, and costs for shipping from the US to Canada.
Coming soonA practical guide to importing from China to the UK — ocean vs air, transit times, customs, duty and how to get the best rate.
Coming soonHow to ship from Europe to the United States — modes, transit times, US customs and how Boabab sources the best rate.
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