Guide
How international medical equipment shipping works
Shipping terms decide who carries cost and risk at each stage — and they change the comparability of two otherwise identical quotations.
Incoterms set the boundary
EXW, FOB, CIF and DAP each place the handover at a different point. Comparing a CIF price against an EXW price without adjustment is misleading.
Consolidation saves cost
Grouping equipment and consumables from multiple suppliers into one shipment usually reduces freight cost and simplifies clearance.
Documentation drives clearance
Invoices, packing lists, certificates and technical documentation must match the shipment exactly. Mismatches, not transport, cause most delays.
Plan realistic lead times
Production, consolidation, sea or air transit, clearance and inland delivery each consume time. Ask for the lead time per stage rather than one total figure.