China sourcing quote to your own port
Send the product specification, quantity per variant, packaging details, destination country and port, requested currency and shipping scope. Attach the document list supplied by your own customs broker and ask for inclusions, exclusions and assumptions. Cambridge China Bridge can quote China sourcing to your destination port.
Copy this destination-port quotation brief
Copy the fields below into your enquiry and attach the files they refer to. Mark undecided details as 'please propose' and unavailable information as 'not confirmed'. This works for a trial order or repeat supply. Give the quantity you actually want to buy, rather than leaving the factory to choose its preferred order size.
Use the product specification guide for measurable requirements and the sourcing-agent briefing guide for factory capabilities. This brief adds the destination, freight and document instructions needed to price the proposed shipment.
| Field | What to send |
|---|---|
| Buyer and contact | Business name, country, contact person and contact details; proposed consignee and broker contact if known. |
| Product | Description, intended use, model or drawing reference, photographs and whether you need an existing product or a custom design. |
| Quantity | Units per size, colour or model; identify the current order separately from possible repeat demand. |
| Specification | Dated revision, drawings, materials, finish, acceptance checks and permitted alternatives. |
| Packaging and cargo | Retail and transport packaging; packed dimensions, gross weights and carton count if known; flag batteries, liquids, fragile goods or special handling. |
| Destination | Destination country and exact port name; terminal or port identifier if your broker supplies it; ask for confirmation where the name is ambiguous. |
| Currency | Requested quotation currency; ask the company to confirm availability and identify any conversion assumptions. |
| Shipping scope | Direct shipment from China to your port; requested delivery term, insurance scope and where the quoted service should stop. |
| Documents and timing | Broker-supplied document list, templates and language instructions; requested shipment or arrival window and any unresolved approvals. |
Say exactly what 'to my port' should include
Write: 'Please quote direct shipment from China to the named destination port. Identify the delivery term and named place, included transport and handling, excluded charges, and the point where your service ends.' Ask the company to confirm the route explicitly. A UK-based seller does not by itself describe whether the goods will travel through the UK.
Ask for separate lines for goods, samples or tooling, China-side transport and handling, freight and any quoted insurance. If you request CIF, ask for the insurance cover and exclusions. Ask whether destination unloading, terminal handling and document-release charges are included. If packing figures are estimates, request the assumptions and how freight will be confirmed after packing.
Attach your broker's document instructions
Ask your own customs broker to confirm destination rules and supply the document list for your product and route. Send that list with the enquiry, including any requested invoice, packing list, transport document, origin evidence or product reports. These are prompts for discussion, not a universal list of required documents.
Transport documentation provides instructions to the carrier, receiving authority or forwarder. Keep those instructions separate from product test evidence. For each buyer-requested document, record its exact title, issuer, template, language, recipient and required delivery stage. Ask what the factory or sourcing company can provide, what you or your broker must arrange, and what needs resolving before production or shipment.
Keep destination costs outside an unconfirmed total
Send the proposed port quote to your broker and ask them to confirm destination duties, taxes, clearance arrangements and any applicable permits, standards or document requirements. Ask them to coordinate with the local freight agent on terminal charges, cargo release, storage exposure and onward delivery. Do not use UK tax or compliance figures as estimates for your destination.
Keep the sourcing company's quoted scope and the destination budget separately labelled. Mark unresolved charges 'not confirmed'; do not treat an omission as free. Only combine costs after checking for overlaps and exclusions. The overseas buying guide explains the broader sourcing arrangement, while your own broker confirms your destination rules.
Request a quote you can check and accept
End your enquiry with: 'Please identify the specification revision, quantity and currency quoted; list deviations, exclusions and estimated items; state quotation validity, payment stages, production start conditions and the freight confirmation point. Please identify who prepares each requested document and who approves shipment.' Use the supplier quote comparison guide when offers arrive. For currency comparisons, see comparing port quotes across currencies.
Send the brief and available supplier quotations through our quote-check service. If you want Cambridge China Bridge to supply the goods, use buy through a UK company and ask the quotation to name the seller, payment recipient and shipping responsibilities. Our own staff in China can coordinate the agreed factory work; door-to-door availability depends on the shipment.
Frequently asked questions
Can a UK sourcing company quote to a port outside the UK?
Yes. Cambridge China Bridge can quote to your destination port. Send the country, exact port, product brief and requested shipping scope. Ask the quote to confirm the route and exclusions.
Can I get a shipping quote without carton dimensions?
You can request an estimate. Ask the company to state its packing and weight assumptions, then confirm freight against the actual packed shipment before accepting the final shipping cost.
Can I ask for a quote in my own currency?
Yes. Name your preferred currency in the brief and ask the company to confirm availability. Request any conversion assumptions and confirm the payment currency before accepting.
Does a port quote include customs clearance and import taxes?
Check the written inclusions and exclusions. Ask your own customs broker to confirm destination rules, duties, taxes and clearance costs. Keep unresolved charges outside a confirmed total.