Compare China Port Quotes in GBP, USD and EUR
Match the goods, packing, named destination port and Incoterm, then convert each GBP, USD or EUR quote into your budgeting currency using a dated payment-provider quote. Record included charges, exclusions and expiry dates before ranking totals. Ask Cambridge China Bridge to check the comparison.
Match the shipment before converting prices
Send the same goods specification, quantity, packing requirements and shipment plan to every quoting party. Name the destination country and port, and ask for the same Incoterm and edition. A shared destination port does not make different delivery terms comparable. Use the supplier comparison guide to resolve product differences before comparing currencies.
Request written confirmation of deviations, included charges and exclusions. Record packed dimensions, weight and shipment method so that freight assumptions match. If a quote changes the packing or delivery scope, obtain a revised offer rather than treating the difference as a currency saving.
Convert into your own budgeting currency
Choose the currency in which your business budgets this purchase. It need not be sterling, and none of GBP, USD or EUR is automatically cheapest. Obtain payment-provider quotes at the same comparison time for the amounts you expect to send. Record the rate source, conversion direction, date, time and charges, including any deductions from the recipient's payment.
Keep the original quoted amounts alongside the converted totals. A comparison rate does not fix a future payment rate. Record paid deposits at their actual cost and assess the unpaid balance separately. The supplier currency and payment guide explains fixed prices and balance resets; apply that method in your budgeting currency.
| Field | What to record |
|---|---|
| Original offer | Quoted currency, amount, document date and expiry |
| Common shipment | Specification, quantity, packing, named ports and Incoterm |
| Conversion | Budgeting currency, rate source, direction, date and time |
| Payment costs | Conversion, transfer and receiving charges; amount credited |
| Price commitment | Fixed settlement currency, payment stages and any reset clause |
| Comparable total | Converted quote plus confirmed costs for matching scope; unresolved items labelled |
Check where the port price stops
Ask for a charge schedule covering collection in China, origin handling, export clearance, freight, insurance and destination handling. Mark each item as included, separately payable or unconfirmed. Under CIF, the seller pays the freight needed to reach the named destination port. Still obtain written confirmation of destination charges and the insurance offered.
An FOB quote names the shipment port in China, so add matching onward freight before comparing it with a destination-port offer. Avoid adding freight again when it is already included. Use the freight forwarder comparison guide for transport detail. Keep clearance, destination import charges and onward delivery visible outside the port total wherever excluded.
Distinguish quoted margin from a service fee
A quoted margin means the seller's commercial return is built into the price offered to you; that price does not reveal the underlying factory cost. An itemised service fee is a separately stated charge for specified work. Ask whether that fee is already included in the total, what work it covers and whether other charges remain.
Compare the total payable for the same goods and services rather than judging only the visible fee. Do not assume that an offer without a separate sourcing fee contains no margin. For Cambridge China Bridge, factory audits and inspections are usually included in the quote; complex checks that need a third party are charged separately and agreed in advance.
Resolve gaps before accepting the quote
Confirm destination rules and import costs with your own customs broker before ordering. Using a UK-based sourcing company does not make UK figures suitable for your destination. The guide for buyers outside the UK explains the sourcing arrangement. Keep your destination budget separate from the matched port comparison until the remaining costs are confirmed.
Send the quotations and comparison sheet for a quote check or cost review. Ask for confirmation of the fixed currency, included charges, quote expiry and freight validity. If an offer expires or scope changes, refresh the affected costs and conversion together. Keep unresolved items labelled as unknown rather than treating them as free.
Frequently asked questions
Is a GBP quote cheaper than a USD or EUR quote?
No currency is automatically cheaper. Compare identical scope in your budgeting currency using payment-provider quotes, including conversion and transfer costs.
Which exchange rate should I use to compare China quotes?
Use a dated payment-provider quote for the currency and amount you will send. Record its charges and expiry. Refresh it before paying; the comparison does not lock the future rate.
Does a quote to my port include destination charges?
Ask for written confirmation of handling, clearance, import charges and onward delivery. Keep anything excluded or unconfirmed visible beside the port total.
What is the difference between a quoted margin and a service fee?
Margin is built into the seller's quoted price. A service fee is separately stated for agreed work. Confirm whether it is included in the total and compare the complete scope.