It's every importer's first question: "how much will it cost to bring this from China?". And the honest answer is that the price your supplier quotes on Alibaba is only part of the final cost. To avoid surprises, you need to understand all the components that add up until the goods reach your warehouse in Costa Rica.
In this guide we break down, in order, everything you pay when importing from China and how to estimate your total cost.
In this guide
The 5 components of importing from China
The total cost —what we call the landed cost in logistics— is made up of:
- 1. Product cost: what you pay the supplier. Note: this price depends on the Incoterm (FOB, EXW, CIF), because it includes more or fewer services.
- 2. International freight: transport from China to Costa Rica. It varies a lot by mode: full container (FCL), consolidated cargo (LCL) or air.
- 3. Cargo insurance: protects your goods during the trip. Usually a small percentage of the value.
- 4. Duties and taxes: the DAI, Law 6946 (1%) and the 13% VAT, calculated on the CIF value. We explain it in depth in how import duties are calculated in CR.
- 5. Local charges in Costa Rica: customs clearance, customs broker fees, port/airport handling and inland transport to your warehouse.
Breakdown example
Let's see how the cost builds up in a typical case (illustrative values, not real prices): a purchase with an FOB value of $5,000, brought by ocean consolidation (LCL):
| Item | Who charges it | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Product (FOB) | Supplier in China | $5,000 |
| International freight | Carrier / freight forwarder | $600 |
| Insurance | Insurer | $60 |
| CIF value (tax base) | — | $5,660 |
| Duties + VAT | Tax authority (via customs) | ≈ $1,400 |
| Local charges + broker | Freight forwarder / broker | $400 |
| Total landed cost | — | ≈ $7,460 |
In this example, the $5,000 product ends up costing around $7,460 delivered to your warehouse. That's why you should never calculate your margin looking only at the supplier's price.
What makes the cost vary
- The transport mode: air is fast but expensive; ocean is cheap but slow. Between FCL and LCL, it depends on the volume.
- Volume and weight: freight is charged on the greater of actual and volumetric weight. A few boxes pay differently than a full container.
- The product type: it sets the duty rate (DAI) and whether special taxes apply.
- The agreed Incoterm: with FOB you control the freight and usually pay less than with CIF.
- The season: freight rates rise in high-demand periods (e.g. before Chinese New Year or Christmas).
How to lower your import cost
- Consolidate your purchases: combining several orders into one shipment lowers the freight cost per unit.
- Choose the right mode: if it's not urgent, ocean is much cheaper than air.
- Ask for FOB, not CIF: so you quote the freight with your own forwarder and compare rates.
- Classify the goods correctly: the right tariff code avoids overpaying taxes.
- Work with a freight forwarder: they coordinate everything (origin, freight, customs) and give you a transparent all-in rate, with no hidden costs.
Written by the VS Logistics team.
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