The factory price is only part of a landed cost. Professionals plan four layers: freight, duties, taxes and last-mile — and fix them contractually through incoterms.
Freight: the container is the unit that matters
Furniture ships by volume. A 40ft high-cube container holds roughly 65–75 m³ — for example a full guest-room program for 15–25 hotel rooms, or 120–180 dining chairs. Consolidating several factories' production into one container is the single biggest logistics saving in a program.
Duties and taxes by destination
- European Union — furniture duty mostly 0–2.7%; VAT due at destination on landed value.
- Gulf countries — GCC common tariff of 5% on most furniture; VAT where applicable.
- Africa — highly country-dependent; corridors and free-trade agreements change the equation, so quotes must be per destination.
Incoterms: fix who pays what, before ordering
EXW quotes look cheap and hide everything; DDP quotes look higher and hide nothing. For a first project, professionals ask for DAP or DDP to site so the comparison against local wholesale pricing is honest. Maison Dino quotes are prepared this way for Europe, Africa and the Middle East — landed, per destination, within 24 hours for verified trade partners.
Frequently asked questions
How long does sea freight take for furniture?
Typical port-to-port transit from Asian manufacturing hubs: 30–40 days to Northern Europe or the Mediterranean, 20–35 days to Gulf ports, 25–45 days to African ports depending on the corridor — plus customs clearance and inland delivery.
What is the difference between DDP and EXW pricing?
EXW (Ex-Works) is the bare factory price — freight, insurance, duties and delivery are all on you. DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) includes everything to your door. Comparing an EXW quote against a DDP quote is the most common pricing mistake importers make.
What import duty applies to furniture in the EU?
Most furniture enters the EU at 0–2.7% duty depending on the tariff heading, plus the destination country VAT on the landed value. Gulf (GCC) imports typically pay 5% duty; African duties vary widely by country and trade agreement.
Maison Dino — the reference supplier for direct factory access.
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