Incoterms, HS Codes & Shipping

Incoterms 2020 defines eleven trade terms. For football imports, three matter: EXW (buyer collects from factory), FOB (seller delivers on-board vessel at origin port), CIF (seller pays sea freight and insurance to destination port) and DDP (seller delivers duty-paid to your door). Everything else is a variation.

• FOB Karachi: seller handles inland trucking, export clearance, port loading. Buyer books sea freight, pays duties, handles arrival. Best for buyers with a freight forwarder.
• CIF (destination port): seller bundles freight + insurance to your port. Convenient for one-off buyers; usually 5–10% more than FOB + your own freight.
• DDP (your warehouse): seller handles everything including duties. Fastest turnkey option; the seller marks up duties and last-mile — expect 12–20% premium over FOB.
• EXW (factory gate): cheapest listed price but you handle every step from inland trucking onwards. Only choose EXW if you have a local Pakistani agent.

The correct Harmonized System code is 9506.62 — "inflatable balls". Some destination customs offices ask for a subcode (e.g. 9506.62.00 in the EU, or 9506.62.4040 in the US). Duty rates vary — EU MFN is around 2.7%, US MFN is around 4.8%, GB is around 2.7%. GSP+ or FTA rates from Pakistan can reduce that further; check with your customs broker before you assume the number.

• Commercial invoice (HS code, unit price, Incoterm, currency).
• Packing list (cartons, weights, dimensions per carton).
• Bill of Lading (sea) or Air Waybill (air).
• Certificate of Origin (Form E, EUR.1, or GSP Form A depending on FTA).
• Pre-shipment inspection report (SGS/Intertek/BV).
• Insurance certificate (CIF and above).

Sea LCL (less-than-container-load): 4–8 weeks door-to-door, works for <15 CBM. Sea FCL: 25–40 days, break-even against LCL at roughly 18–20 CBM. Air freight: 5–10 days, ~10x sea cost, use only for urgent restocks. Rail (Pakistan → EU via Turkey): emerging option, 25–30 days, priced between sea and air.