Hair foil landed cost: how it is calculated
The landed cost of hair foil is the factory price plus freight and insurance, import duty, import VAT or GST where it applies, and broker, port and delivery charges. Duty is charged on the customs value and tax on the value including duty. Divide the total by the number of boxes for a landed cost per box.
Reviewed by Export compliance team
This page is general guidance, not customs advice. Confirm your classification and rates with your customs broker before import.
The formula
Landed cost is built in a fixed order, because each charge is calculated on the total before it.
| Step | Item | How it is calculated |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Goods value | Cartons × price per carton, at the agreed Incoterm |
| 2 | Freight | Forwarder’s quote from the port of loading to the port of entry |
| 3 | Insurance | A percentage of the goods value plus freight |
| 4 | Customs value | The value your customs authority charges duty on |
| 5 | Import duty | Customs value × duty rate, plus any trade-remedy duty |
| 6 | Import VAT or GST | (Customs value + duty) × tax rate, where the market has one |
| 7 | Broker, port and delivery | Broker’s quote and local charges |
| 8 | Landed cost | Steps 1 to 5 plus step 7; add step 6 if you cannot reclaim it |
| 9 | Landed cost per box | Landed cost ÷ number of boxes |
Step 4 is where markets differ. Some customs authorities charge duty on the price of the goods alone; others charge it on the price plus freight and insurance to the border. Your broker confirms which basis applies to your shipment.
Step 6 is a cash payment at the border. A VAT- or GST-registered business usually reclaims it on its next return, so it belongs in a cash-flow plan and normally not in the cost of the goods.
Duties by market
Hair foil is aluminium foil under heading 7607. The duty rate depends on the destination and on the tariff line, which in turn depends on the form of the foil; HS code for hair foil explains the classification. Trade-remedy duties, such as anti-dumping duty, are charged on top of the ordinary rate where the goods fall inside the scope of a measure.
We do not publish duty rates or a calculator. Rates change, differ by product and sometimes by exporter, and are confirmed by a customs broker for the date of import. The market pages set out the questions to settle in each market.
What to send for a landed-cost quote
A landed cost is only as good as its inputs, and each of them is dated. Send these with your quote request:
| Input | Why it is needed |
|---|---|
| Product and quantity | Sets the goods value and how many cartons ship |
| Destination port or address | Sets the freight and the local charges |
| Incoterm you want quoted | Decides which steps are inside the price |
| Whether you have a broker and a forwarder | Decides who quotes clearance and freight |
| Planned shipping date | Freight rates and duty rates are set for a date |
The quotation shows the steps above with the assumptions stated, so that each line can be checked. We do not publish a price list, and we do not publish example totals built on assumed prices or rates.
What moves the number most
Three inputs change the landed cost per box more than the rest.
- The duty rate. It is set by the destination and the classification, and a trade-remedy duty can be several times the ordinary rate. This is the reason to settle classification before ordering, and where a binding ruling earns its cost.
- How full the container is. Freight is paid per container, so every carton added to a container that is not yet full lowers the freight carried by each box. Rolls pack more foil per carton than boxed sheets.
- The Incoterm. It decides which of the steps are inside the price you were quoted. Two quotes can only be compared at the same term.
The DDP option
Under FOB, the price covers the goods loaded at the port in China; you appoint the forwarder and the broker and pay freight, duty and local charges yourself. Under DDP, one price covers delivery to your door with duty paid.
DDP suits a buyer with no forwarder or broker of their own, and a first order where the amounts are small. FOB suits a buyer who imports regularly, already has a forwarder’s rates, and wants to see each charge. We quote EXW, FOB, CIF, DDU and DDP to every market; the market pages cover each market: USA, UK, EU, Australia and New Zealand and Canada.
The documents that support either route are listed in documents for importing hair foil.
FAQ
How do I calculate the landed cost of hair foil?
To calculate the landed cost of hair foil, add the price of the goods, freight and insurance, import duty, broker and port fees, and delivery to your door. Import VAT or GST is paid at the border as well, but a registered business usually reclaims it, so it affects cash flow more than cost. Divide the total by the number of boxes.
Is DDP cheaper than FOB for hair foil?
DDP is not usually cheaper than FOB for hair foil; it is simpler. Under DDP the seller arranges freight, clearance and duty and quotes one delivered price. Under FOB the buyer arranges them and can compare forwarders. Ask for both quotes on the same goods and compare the totals.
How much do duties add to hair foil from China?
The duty added to hair foil from China depends on the destination market and on the tariff line the goods are classified under, and a trade-remedy duty can be added on top. A customs broker confirms the rate for your product and the date of import; the quotation then shows it as a separate line.
How many boxes should I order to lower cost per box?
Cost per box falls as fixed charges are spread over more boxes. Broker fees, documentation and some port charges are the same for a small shipment as for a large one, and a full container costs less per carton than a shared one. The largest steps come at a full pallet load and at a full container load.