Door to port is a service scope in which the cargo is collected from the sender's door (factory or warehouse) and carried to the port in the destination country. Pre-carriage, port of loading charges and sea freight fall within this scope; export customs clearance is also included in most quotations. Charges at the port of destination, import customs clearance and final delivery remain with the buyer.
Which steps does door to port include?
Door to port describes the boundary of a freight quotation: the carrier or forwarder starts the job at the sender's door and finishes it at the port of destination. Typical steps are:
- Collecting the cargo from the sender's address, or bringing the container to the factory and loading it.
- Pre-carriage to the port of loading.
- Export customs clearance; the quotation should state clearly whether it is included.
- Port of loading (POL) terminal and handling charges.
- Main sea carriage and issue of the bill of lading.
- Arrival at the port of destination (POD) and sending the arrival notice to the buyer.
Example: if a manufacturer in Gaziantep obtains a door to port quotation for its buyer in Hamburg, the price covers bringing the container to the factory, road haulage to Mersin Port, terminal charges in Mersin and sea freight to Hamburg. Releasing the container from the port in Hamburg and taking it to the buyer's warehouse are not part of the quotation; that part is handled by the buyer's own forwarder or through a separate port to door quotation.
What does the buyer deal with at the port of destination?
- Destination terminal and handling charges, and the agent's delivery order fees.
- Presentation of the original bill of lading or telex release confirmation.
- Import customs clearance, customs duty and VAT.
- Collecting the container within the free time; otherwise demurrage accrues.
- Final haulage and return of the empty container to the depot designated by the shipping line.
How does door to port match up with Incoterms?
Door to port is not an Incoterms rule but the scope of a transport service. Incoterms, by contrast, determine where costs and risk change hands between seller and buyer. The two match up as follows:
| Incoterms 2020 | Who buys the door to port service? | Where does risk pass? |
|---|---|---|
| CFR / CIF | Seller | At the port of loading, when the goods are loaded on board |
| CPT / CIP (named with the port of destination) | Seller | When the goods are handed over to the first carrier |
| FOB | Seller only up to the port of loading; sea freight with the buyer | At the port of loading, when loaded on board |
| EXW / FCA | Buyer, through its own forwarder | At the seller's premises or the agreed place of delivery |
Under CFR and CIF the seller pays costs up to the port of destination, but the risk passes to the buyer much earlier, at the port of loading. For containerised cargo, CPT or CIP is therefore a better fit; the reasoning is explained in the entry FCA instead of FOB for container cargo. The moment risk passes is detailed in the entry risk under Incoterms.
Door to port vs door to door and the other options
| Service | Start | End | Left to the buyer at destination |
|---|---|---|---|
| Door to door | Sender's door | Buyer's door | Depending on the contract, only duties and taxes or nothing |
| Door to port | Sender's door | Port of destination | Destination charges, customs, final haulage |
| Port to door | Port of loading | Buyer's door | Usually only duties and taxes at destination |
| Port to port | Port of loading | Port of destination | Destination charges, customs, final haulage |
The door-to-door model is detailed in the door to door delivery entry.
Common mistakes
- Assuming a door to port quotation includes destination charges.
- Not checking whether export customs clearance and port of loading charges are written into the quotation.
- Forgetting insurance; a door to port service does not automatically include cargo insurance.
In its door to port quotations for sea freight, Voltim Global shows on separate lines which items are included and which remain with the buyer; on request, the destination side is extended to door-to-door delivery.