Shipping & export · 2026-10-11 · 4 min read
FOB vs. CIF: which quote should an importer ask for?
Two prices, two different risks. Here is what each covers when you buy U.S. liquidation for export.
Every V Outlet quote comes in two forms: FOB at the U.S. origin and CIF to your port. They describe the same goods. The difference is where our responsibility ends and yours begins.
FOB: free on board
An FOB price covers the goods loaded at the U.S. origin. From that point you pay the trucking to the port, the ocean freight and the insurance, and the risk is yours. FOB suits importers who already have a U.S. forwarder with good rates and who consolidate other cargo with it.
CIF: cost, insurance and freight
A CIF price includes the goods, consolidation, U.S. trucking, ocean freight and cargo insurance up to your named port. You still clear customs and pay duties at destination. CIF suits buyers without a U.S. forwarder, and buyers who want to compare one landed number against local supply.
What goes into a CIF number
- Lot cost at the U.S. origin
- Consolidation and re-palletizing near Long Beach, priced per pallet
- Drayage to the port
- Ocean freight for LCL, 20 ft, 40 ft or 40 ft high-cube
- Cargo insurance, usually under 1% of the insured value
- Our service fee, shown on the quote
Which should you ask for?
Ask for both. We send both by default. If the gap between them is smaller than your own forwarder's freight cost, CIF is the better deal. Duties are calculated on the CIF value in most of our markets anyway, so having the CIF number early also lets your broker estimate the landed cost before you commit.