“How much for a container?” is the first question we hear. The honest answer is that it depends on what is inside, but a worked example helps. Below is a typical villa finishing package from recent orders, with rounded numbers.
The goods (FOB Foshan / Shenzhen)
| Category | Quantity | Indicative value |
|---|---|---|
| Porcelain tiles, first choice, 800×800 and 600×1200 | 900 m² | USD 6,500 |
| Bathrooms: 5 WCs, 6 basins, taps, showers, accessories | 5 sets | USD 3,200 |
| Aluminium windows and sliding doors, thermal break, Low-E | 110 m² | USD 14,000 |
| Interior doors, WPC/paint, with hardware | 14 sets | USD 2,800 |
| Kitchen, PET doors, Blum hardware, quartz top | 9 lin. m | USD 5,500 |
| Lighting: downlights, pendants, outdoor | ~180 pcs | USD 2,400 |
| Vanities and wardrobes | 5 + 4 | USD 4,600 |
| Goods total | ≈ USD 39,000 |
Getting it to your port
| Item | Indicative cost |
|---|---|
| Consolidation, export packing, crates for glass | USD 700 |
| Ocean freight 40ft HC (varies widely by route) | USD 1,800 – 3,500 |
| Origin charges, documents, CO | USD 350 |
| Marine insurance | USD 150 |
| Agent commission (example, 7%) | USD 2,730 |
| CIF-equivalent total | ≈ USD 45,000 – 46,500 |
At destination
Destination port charges and brokerage: USD 400–900. Duties and VAT depend entirely on your country and the HS codes; tiles, sanitary ware and windows commonly carry 5–15% duty plus local VAT/GST on the CIF value. Budget 15–30% on top of CIF in most markets, less where a free-trade agreement applies.
The comparison
Buyers price the same specification locally before ordering; for this package the local retail quotes we have seen range from USD 75,000 to 120,000 depending on the country. That gap is why the container makes sense even for one house – as long as specification, inspection and packing are done properly.
Line-by-line ranges are in the catalog; the shipping mechanics are in the shipping guide.
Planning to buy building materials in Foshan?
Tell us what you need and when you plan to come. We aim to reply the same business day with a realistic plan, price ranges and which markets to visit.