Do you ship to the US and EU?

Short Answer (Citable)

Key Export Markets

Ginwen's export business is concentrated in the markets where jacket demand is strongest and where the factory's quality and compliance standards match buyer expectations. The United States and the European Union are the anchor markets, and shipments to both are a routine part of the production calendar rather than an exception.

The primary export destinations are the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Australia, and Canada. The factory also ships regularly to Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden, and other EU member states. In total, orders have been shipped to clients in more than 30 countries across North America, Europe, Oceania, and select markets in the Middle East and Asia.

This market structure affects how the factory works in practical ways. Certification coverage, including OEKO-TEX for the EU and RDS for down traceability, is maintained because these are the standards the main markets expect. Sizing programs are developed for US and EU markets, and the export documentation is prepared in the format that US and EU customs brokers handle every day.

For buyers, the practical takeaway is that shipping to the US and EU is not a special arrangement; it is the core of the factory's business. Freight lanes, documentation templates, and compliance files are already in place, which shortens the planning time for your order and reduces the risk of surprises at the border.

Shipping Terms: FOB and DDP

Ginwen offers both FOB and DDP terms, and the choice between them determines who manages the freight, insurance, customs clearance, and duties at the destination. Both terms include the full export documentation package; the difference is where the buyer's responsibility begins.

Under FOB terms, the factory handles all costs and logistics up to the point where the goods are loaded onto the shipping vessel at the Chinese port. The buyer is then responsible for ocean freight, insurance, customs clearance at destination, import duties, and inland transportation from the destination port to the warehouse. FOB is the most commonly used term in the garment industry because it gives the buyer control over carrier selection and freight cost.

Under DDP terms, the factory manages the entire logistics chain from the factory door to the buyer's specified address. This includes export customs clearance, ocean or air freight, import customs clearance at the destination, payment of all duties and taxes, and final delivery to the warehouse or distribution center. DDP simplifies the process for buyers who do not have established import procedures or who prefer a single point of contact for logistics.

DDP is available for shipments to the US, UK, and all EU member states. It is particularly practical for first-time importers and for brands that want a single landed-cost number for their budgeting. FOB remains the preferred structure for buyers with an established forwarder and broker relationship, who can often reduce cost through their own carrier contracts.

Typical Transit Times to the US and EU

Transit time depends on the freight method and the destination. Sea freight is the standard for bulk orders because of its cost advantage, while air freight and express courier serve urgent restocks and smaller shipments. The ranges below are typical planning figures, and the exact schedule is confirmed when the shipment is booked.

These transit times are separate from production time. A complete order timeline is: sampling and approval, bulk production of 25 to 40 days, then transit. For a sea freight order to the US East Coast, plan on roughly 8 to 12 weeks from order confirmation to arrival, assuming an approved sample and no material delays.

Customs clearance time at the destination adds to the physical transit. Under DDP, the partner broker pre-files the entry so clearance usually proceeds quickly; under FOB, clearance speed depends on when your broker receives the document set. Providing the documents to your broker before the vessel arrives is the single most effective way to avoid port delays.

How Freight Costs Are Structured

Freight cost is quoted separately from the product price, and it depends on the method, the volume, and the destination. Jackets are bulky relative to their weight, so dimensional weight matters: a container of down jackets occupies more space than its actual weight suggests, and both sea freight and air freight pricing account for this.

• Sea freight FCL: full container load, the lowest cost per piece for large orders
• Sea freight LCL: less than container load, for medium orders sharing a container
• Air freight: charged per kilogram by dimensional weight, several times sea freight cost
• Express courier: per-shipment rates, practical for samples and small urgent orders
• DDP bundles freight, insurance, duties, and delivery into one quoted delivered cost

For planning purposes, the delivered cost is what matters, not the FOB price alone. An experienced account manager can model both options on your actual order: sea freight to the port plus trucking, versus air freight to your door. The comparison frequently changes the decision, especially for high-value styles where air freight on a small quantity may be affordable.

Duties and taxes are the other component of landed cost. The US applies duty based on the HTS classification, typically ranging from about 7% to 28% for jackets depending on fabric and construction. EU import duty follows the EU's Common Customs Tariff, and VAT applies at the destination member state's rate. Under DDP these amounts are included in the quoted price; under FOB they are paid by the buyer at clearance.

Customs Documentation Provided

Every export shipment is accompanied by a standard document set prepared by the factory's export team. These documents support export clearance in China and import clearance at the destination, and they are prepared in the format that US and EU customs brokers expect. The set is the same for FOB and DDP; what changes is who files it at the destination.

1. Commercial invoice: declares value, description, HTS or HS code, and country of origin
2. Packing list: details carton contents, pieces per carton, weight, and dimensions
3. Certificate of origin: certifies the garments are made in China
4. Bill of lading or air waybill: the shipping contract issued by the carrier
5. Fiber content declaration: lists fiber percentages for textile compliance
6. Down documentation for insulated styles: supports fill content claims and RDS traceability where applicable

The commercial invoice is the document that drives the duty calculation, and its accuracy is checked before shipment. For the EU, the invoice and certificate of origin support the customs declaration, and the fiber content declaration supports the labeling requirements under EU textile regulations. For the US, the HTS code and country of origin marking are the critical fields.

Buyers should provide the consignee details, importer of record information, and destination address at order confirmation so the documents are accurate from the start. Corrections after departure are possible but slower, and they can delay clearance if they touch the fields customs uses to assess duty.

Packaging and Shipment Preparation

Packaging is part of shipping quality. Jackets are packed with the same care for export as for domestic delivery, and the packing standard is confirmed during the order. For down and puffer jackets, compression is controlled so the fill recovers properly at destination, and each garment is protected in its own poly bag before cartoning.

• Poly bag per garment, sealed to protect from moisture and dust
• Carton packing with piece counts and sizes per the packing list
• Carton marking with the required shipping marks and handling labels
• Compression-controlled packing for down styles to protect fill loft
• Optional retail-ready packaging when the buyer supplies branded poly bags or boxes

Carton weight and dimensions are recorded for the packing list and the freight quote. Oversized or overweight cartons change the freight calculation and can trigger surcharges, so the packing plan is agreed before production rather than improvised at the warehouse. The export team flags any packaging requirement that affects carton dimensions during order review.

For brands that ship directly to retail distribution centers, the packaging must match the DC requirements: barcodes, case labels, and pallet instructions. Share these requirements at order confirmation so the packing standard is built in from the start, avoiding the cost and delay of repacking at destination.

Planning a Shipment Calendar

The reliable way to plan international shipping is to work backward from the date the goods must arrive. A jacket order has a predictable set of phases, and each phase has a range that depends on the specifics of the order. Building the calendar with buffers prevents the most common failure: discovering too late that the freight leg cannot be compressed.

A typical sea freight program from order confirmation to arrival runs about 10 to 16 weeks for a new style, including sampling. A reorder of an approved style with stock materials can compress to 7 to 10 weeks. Air freight can cut the transit leg to days, but the cost per piece rises sharply, so it is reserved for launches, restocks, and small quantities.

Seasonal timing also matters. Down jacket production peaks before the northern winter season, and freight lanes are busiest in the same window. Ordering earlier in the cycle secures both production capacity and carrier space, and the factory's planning team flags peak-season constraints during order review so you can decide whether to book earlier or accept the risk.

Frequently Asked Questions About Shipping

These are the shipping questions that come up most often in the inquiry process, with direct answers based on how shipments actually run.

Do you ship samples to the US and EU? Yes, samples are shipped by DHL, FedEx, or UPS and arrive in 3 to 5 business days for most destinations. Sample shipping cost is quoted with the sample fee.

Can I use my own freight forwarder? Yes, under FOB terms you or your forwarder controls the freight from the departure port. The factory coordinates booking and documentation with your forwarder.

Are duties included in the price? Under DDP, duties and taxes are included in the delivered price. Under FOB, duties are paid by you at import clearance, with the amount based on the HTS classification and value.

What if my country is not the US or EU? Ginwen ships to more than 30 countries. Send the destination in your inquiry and the team confirms the available freight options and any import requirements.

How do I know where my shipment is? You receive tracking information at each stage: export clearance, carrier booking, departure, arrival, and delivery. DDP shipments include confirmation when customs clearance and duties are settled.

Can partial shipments be arranged? Yes, for large orders the shipment can be split, for example air-freighting a portion for launch while the remainder travels by sea. This is a common pattern for brands with fixed drop dates.