Shipping from China to Colombia

How to ship goods from China to Colombia?
Over the years, the shipping business from China to Colombia has developed air, sea, door-to-door, LCL and FCL services. This service allows us to ship from China to Colombia in the most affordable way and protects space availability when transporting your cargo.
We use our expertise to handle your shipments so you can build stronger relationships with your Chinese suppliers and customers in Colombia.

There are two ways to send goods from China to Colombia for exporters from China to Colombia as follows:
Shipping from China to Colombia
Air or Freight from China to Colombia

Sea and Container Shipping from China to Colombia
Are you looking to ship cargo containers from China to Colombia? Our shipping services from China to Colombia cover all major ports: Shanghai, Shenzhen, Ningbo, Qingdao, Guangzhou, Tianjin, Dalian, Xiamen, Hong Kong and Macau. Depending on your specific needs, we offer door-to-door, door-to-port and port-to-port shipping from China to Colombia.

With our door to door service you will be able to deliver your goods to different inland cities such as Bogota, Cali, Medellin, Bucaramanga and many others. Depending on the destination city, we will ship your cargo through the most convenient ports in Colombia, such as Buenaventura, Barranquilla, Cartagena.
The transit time for a container from China to Colombia is estimated to be 20 to 30 days from port to port. The number of days will vary depending on the desired service route and sailing schedule.

FCL – FCL Shipping from China to Colombia
We offer FCL sea freight for 20ft containers and 40ft containers to Colombia. If the goods being transported require different types of equipment, such as open top containers, flat racks, reefers or other equipment, our specialist equipment department will provide you with the best alternative.

Less than a Container Load – LCL Shipping from China to Colombia
We always offer LCL service from China to Colombia if the cargo cannot fill the whole container. When using this service, the applicable rate depends on the volume of the shipment. If the weight of the cargo exceeds the maximum allowable weight per cubic meter, the applicable rate is based on the weight.

Air Freight from China to Colombia
We have established a huge air cargo network, providing daily and weekly flights from major airports in China to any air destination in the world.

Our air freight services from China to Colombia provide a safe and reliable solution for all your air freight needs, including time sensitive and high value goods. Our shipping options include airport-to-airport, door-to-door, airport-to-door, and door-to-airport services, among others.

When shipping by air, our team of experts provides the most cost-effective solution and fastest route. We take care of your cargo from start to finish, overseeing every stage in the logistics chain, from when your cargo is picked up to delivery to its destination.

Depending on the route chosen, the average transit time for air cargo from China to Colombia is usually 3 to 7 days. This may be different when increased market demand results in a large volume of cargo being transported.

Air cargo charter from China to Colombia

Air cargo charter is the perfect solution when all other air cargo alternatives cannot meet your desired schedule or space capacity needs. Cargo leasing allows fast and economical transportation of your goods from anywhere in China to Colombia.

Latin America Cargo’s charter service gives you peace of mind when handling your cargo exports from China to Colombia. Some of the items we ship on charter flights include:
regular commercial cargo
high value commodity
Sensitive goods, such as dangerous, fresh or perishable goods
time-critical shipments
Medical Supply and Humanitarian Relief Aid
Heavy and oversized equipment
Spare parts for cars, aircraft and ships

Our partial and full charter options range from 10.000 lbs (5.000 kg) to 45.000 lbs (22.000 kg) and can be loaded on pallets, skids, crates or in bulk.

Door to Door Service from China to Colombia
One of the fastest ways to ship from China to Colombia is door to door service.
DDS or door-to-door service gives you peace of mind that your shipments from China to Colombia are worry-free.
DDPCH can pick up in China where you place your order and deliver it to your recipient’s doorstep in Colombia. So you don’t need to worry about customs clearance in China for exports and Colombia for imports.

Difference between packing list and invoice

Purpose of Packing Lists and Invoices
The purpose of the packing slip is to describe the contents of the package so that the shipper can state what has been sent and the recipient can verify that the same item has been received. The information on the packing slip furthers this by listing the product description and quantity along with any other information that may be useful to the receiving department of the business making the purchase – for example, weight or identifying information such as a SKU (stock keeping unit) number.
The purpose of the invoice is to tell the buyer’s accounting department how much money needs to be paid, and when. Invoice container for information related to this payment process, such as price and terms, such as whether payment is due immediately or within 30 days.

Packing List

A typical packing list will contain the following information:

order date
packing list
Purchase order number (if cross-linked)
Shipping Address
Contact information
Detailed list of physical items ordered
Detailed list of physical goods shipped
A detailed list of any items in the same order, but shipped separately
Itemized list of out-of-stock items that may need to be reordered
The number of each item listed
General size and weight information for each item
Stock keeping unit (SKU) number and/or Universal Product Code (UPC) for each item
Packing slips are usually printed out, placed in a shipping bag, and attached to the shipment by staff in the supplier’s shipping department to confirm when the order arrives at the buyer’s receiving department that everything in the order has been included. Inside. They may or may not double duty as a packing list and shipping label.

For international shipments, customs can use the packing slip and related invoices to estimate the total value of the shipment and charge accordingly.

Packing lists are generally not issued for services or service-based businesses because their “”product”” is intangible.

bill
A typical invoice includes the following information:

order date
Invoice number
Packing slip number (if cross-linked)
Purchase order number (if cross-linked)
Shipping Address
Billing Address
Contact information
Detailed list of physical items ordered
Detailed list of physical goods shipped
A detailed list of any items in the same order, but shipped separately
The number of each item listed
General size and weight information for each item
Stock keeping unit (SKU) number and/or Universal Product Code (UPC) for each item
Payment terms, including available payment methods
payment deadline
For prepaid orders, payment date, method and confirmation number (if applicable)
Region-specific information for tax purposes, such as Value Added Tax (VAT) ID numbers
Invoices are issued by the Accounts Receivable department and sent to the Accounts Payable team. Invoices are used by both parties to track payment due dates, verify payments, and provide documentation for company financial records.

The different roles of packing slips and invoices
1. Usage
If the buyer is not satisfied with the goods received, a packing slip should be included with the return request. Instead, an invoice is a long-term document that an individual or company can use to record purchases.
2. Action required
Packing slips are used to compare the quantity purchased to the quantity actually received, while invoices either require payment or show the cost of each item.

What is the difference between logistics and delivery?

understand logistics
Logistics generally refers to the planning of transportation, warehouse management, inventory management, and handling within a warehouse before goods are ready to be shipped from one destination to another through distribution channels.

It is the management of the flow of goods between origin and destination, it involves the planning of goods transportation such as inbound transportation, outbound transportation, loading and unloading, production, packaging and inventory management, it checks the overall quantity and the balance of each item stored in the warehouse situation.

In other words, logistics deals with the overall strategy and planning of the movement of goods from warehouse to destination. The logistics management process is a key step in supply chain management, planning, implementing and controlling the flow of goods from the first step of raw materials to the delivery of goods to their destination.

Crown SDS is also a proud member of UK Logistics (formerly FTA), one of the UK’s largest business groups, supporting, shaping and supporting safe and efficient logistics.

understand distribution
Distribution is the process of making goods available to consumers or other businesses when needed. This includes the storage of goods, order fulfillment and packaging, and sometimes the handling of returns.

The key difference between logistics and distribution is that logistics has more to do with overall planning whereas distribution has more to do with the physical movement of goods from producers to users.

The goal of logistics is to improve internal functions through careful planning, while the goal of distribution is to find efficient ways to get goods to consumers in the most cost-effective and efficient way possible.

Goods distribution, which involves retrieving goods from storage locations and getting them ready for shipping with adequate packaging and correct documentation, is a critical step in supply chain management. It involves overseeing the movement of goods from the manufacturer or supplier to the point of sale by moving the goods from the source to the destination.

There are more factors related to logistics than distribution, involving the planning, coordination and management process involving goods and their resources.

Compare logistics and delivery
Honestly, I have my own preconceived ideas about what constitutes logistics and what constitutes distribution.

When I think of logistics, I think of freight management, transportation, carriers, and the overall planning and management of the movement of goods throughout the end-to-end supply chain. Nodes in logistics include suppliers, distribution channels, logistics service providers and customers.

When I think of distribution, I think of distribution centers, receipt of goods from suppliers, storage and internal processing of materials, fulfillment of orders from customers and channels, replenishment of goods to those channels, and processing customer returns.

In short, I would consider distribution to be a subset of logistics.

However, when you look at the definitions we have provided here from reputable sources, it’s honestly hard to discern any difference between the two terms.

The terms and concepts of planning, goods movement, material handling, inventory management, warehousing, etc. are basically the same in the definition of logistics and distribution.

Freight vs Cargo [What’s the Difference?]

What is Freight?
The term freight is typically for goods transport by train or truck. This is why we have the terms freight truck and freight trains. However, this is not always the case, as the term “air freight” is commonly accepted as correct usage. This is because freight is also the term used for the payment when certain goods are transported. To further complicate the matter, freight can also mean a cargo being transported via truck, train, plane, or ship. However, mail can’t be considered freight , as it is only used to describe commercial goods. Freight can denote many things. It may mean the product, merchandise, the amount payable, or the money charged. Cargo being transported may be referred to as freight if referring to both the goods and the money charged for their transport.

What is Cargo?
The term cargo is generally used for goods transported by ship or plane. We have cargo planes and cargo ships. Mail may also be called cargo. Used specifically for the goods only, cargo is not used to include the payment or the money being charged for the transport of goods. This means any product that is being transported can be called a cargo. Large cargo containers are usually used in transporting the goods called cargo. Cargo can be transported on pallets, in cargo handling nets, or by other means. The mailing services offered of parcels may also be known as cargo. Any item for consumption that is being transported can be referred to as cargo.

The Traditional Difference Between Cargo & Freight
In a traditional sense, the appropriate use of the terms cargo and freight depends on the vehicle carrying the goods in question.

When we refer to air freight, we don’t call the aircraft freight-planes — we refer to them as cargo planes. The same goes for ocean-going vessels it’s not a freight ship, but a cargo ship.

Conversely, trains carrying goods across the land are considered freight trains; you would rarely hear someone refer to one as a ‘cargo train.’ Long-haul trailers loaded with products are generally referred to as freight trucks.

So, traditionally speaking, ‘freight’ is products or goods moved overland via truck or train, whereas ‘cargo’ refers to goods moved overseas via ocean carriers or through air providers.

Still, even using traditional or contemporary definitions, the two terms share a few things in common. Both freight and cargo are used to communicate the transportation of products or goods, and they’re used almost exclusively in reference to commercial items.

One interesting exception to this rule is mail. The accepted term for mail – whether bundles of letters and correspondence or packages and parcels – is cargo. Mail is never referred to as freight, whether it’s transported by ship, plane, train, or truck.

In Summary, the Subtle Differences Between Cargo and Freight Are Well Worth Noting
In short, the term cargo is traditionally used to refer to commercial goods shipped by sea or plane, and mail of course, is always cargo.

Freight on the other hand, is cargo moved overland in trucks or trains. Plus it has the direct connection to the financial aspects of the transportation of goods.

As a shipper of your own products, better understanding of the differences between these terms will help you avoid confusion, and possible errors through miscommunication while talking to your freight forwarder or 3PL provider.

What’s the Difference between Cargo and Logistics

What is Cargo?
Cargo, also known as freight, refers to goods or produce being transported from one place to another – by water, air or land. Originally, the term “cargo” referred to goods being loaded onboard a vessel. These days, however, cargo is used for all types of goods, including those carried by rail, van, truck, or intermodal container.
Though cargo means all goods onboard a transport vehicle, it does not include items such as personnel bags, goods in the storage, equipment or products to support the transport carried onboard. Cargo transport is mainly for commercial purpose for which an air waybill, bill of lading or other receipt is issued by the carrier.

What is Logistics?
Logistics includes but is not limited to cargo. Complete logistics may include two core modules, one is transportation management in logistics and the other is warehousing and distribution services and even auxiliary modules such as sorting, which perform functions such as storage, transportation, loading and unloading, packaging, and processing of materials between production and consumption.

What is the difference between cargo and logistics?
First, modern logistics services company must master advanced management technology, and communicate with relevant units based on information exchange and information processing technology and equipment; traditional cargo forwarders mainly rely on cargo equipment, such as warehouses and fleets. In cargo forwarding business, the source of the information mainly depends on the customers themselves.

Second, cargo forwarding services usually take the customer’s instructions as the starting point. In comparison, this type of service is passive; while the goal of logistics services is to continuously meet customer needs and help customers formulate business strategies. So it is proactive and plays a guiding role.

Third, modern logistics services do not necessarily engage in specific cargo work. Its main task is to provide customers with transportation management services by selling advanced cargo integrated management technology to relevant customers, focusing on the overall transportation link.

Fourth, cargo forwarders only participate in cargo-related activities, but modern logistics services may also provide customers with global ordering and supply services. Therefore, modern logistics services have a wider scope and are more closely connected with enterprises in the supply chain.

Fifth, modern logistics service companies need a complete logistics network. How to establish and improve their own logistics network is more important than that of an enterprise that only engages in cargo forwarding. Without a perfect network, it is impossible to do a good job in supply chain management and transportation services.

What is NVOCC?

NVOCC stands for Non-Vessel Owning Common Carrier. NVOCC operation comprises sales, stuffing, and transport of the containers to gateway ports. The bill of lading issue and overseas distribution is taken care of by the agents of NVOCC.

Main Functions of NVOCC
As mentioned above, NVOCCs lease or rent space onboard cargo or ships, and sell it to their clients.

Mostly, the NVOCCs are responsible for loading cargo from the customer facility and then transferring it to to the gateway of ports. In some cases, the NVOCCs also undertake the duty of the delivery of goods to the consignee at the destination. Their first key function , therefore, is to conclude contracts for the carriage of goods with the shippers.

Generally, NVOCCs do not own warehouses but some of them may have their own container fleet. They may also provide services such as cargo consolidation, deconsolidation at the destination, container cleaning, and repair, etc.

Since the maritime industry is vast, it comes with its fair share of challenges. The mechanisms and procedures are complex and can be difficult to understand, especially for newcomers to the shipping business. NVOCCs also help businesses clearing their goods through customs and other checks by guiding them on proper documentation and regulations.

Why Should You Go Through an NVOCC?

Ease of doing business
NVOCCs offer you the flexibility of dealing with a smaller organization than a large one, such as a large shipping line. This matters to small business organizations, especially those with a small workforce or IT infrastructure.
The bargaining power of such small to mid-size companies may also be limited and they may find themselves struggling to get better rates from large shipping agents or freight forwarders. Bureaucracy and long-drawn processes are often cut short in NVOCCs to facilitate ease of doing business, without cutting corners.

Better Rates
NVOCCs are often in a better position to give you a lower rate than a mainline shipping agency. Now, how do they manage this? NVOCCs negotiate and get better rates from shipping lines for giving them bulk business. They may pass on some of these savings in the form of better rates to the customer. Small business owners by themselves would not be able to obtain this reduced rate if they directly contacted a shipping line.

Personalized Service
One main advantage when you deal with NVOCCs is that they offer seamless and personalized service to their clients, unlike a large shipping company that usually deals with a very large number of customers. All the logistics functions can be entrusted to the NVOCC who can offer these services to you. It can also ensure that you get the best freight rates whenever possible.
NVOCCs are able to offer several sailing options since they work with different ocean transport carriers.
Tracking your cargo is critical when it comes to meeting business deadlines and commitments. Most NVOCCs offer online Track and Trace facilities that help businesses to find where their cargo is during transit. Information on lead-time (sailing time from origin to destination) patterns and trends are valuable to businesses for planning and forecasting alike.

Efficient Network with Local Bodies
NVOCCs usually maintain a good network of contacts with local trucking associations, trade unions, the Port Customs, etc. Such a diverse and effective network helps to get the work done smoothly and with minimum interruption. An NVOCC with good contacts and standing in the industry can therefore help mitigate the risks associated with trucking problems, labour unions – especially at ports, and other such situations that are seen as normal collateral by large shippers and freight forwarders.

Ease of Documentation
NVOCCs issue the Bill of Lading themselves. When it is issued by an NVOCC, it is called a House Bill of Lading or HBL. This makes the process of documentation much easier for the customer.

Conclusion
Transportation of goods from point A to B involves several stakeholders. And an NVOCC is a key stakeholder in this business, acting as a bridge between carriers and shippers. If you would like to use global trade data intelligence to expand your export or import business

What is the difference between a NVOCC and a Freight Forwarder?

What does a NVOCC do?
NVOCC (= non-vessel operating common carrier) is a company that organizes shipments for individuals or corporations to get goods from the manufacturer or producer to a market, customer or final point of distribution.

NVOCCs sign contracts with shipping lines to guarantee the shipment of a certain number of containers each year. In return, shipping lines offer favorable rates to NVOCCs.

Their main tasks compromises sales, staffing and transport of the containers to the specific ports. In addition to that, NVOCCs can issue their own Bill of Lading.

How does freight forwarding work?
Experts in logistics, freight forwarders are individuals or organizations that act as agents for importer/exporters by helping them to establish relationships with carriers such as trucking companies, ocean liners, and air freighters.

Not only do they take responsibility for the entire process of shipping and storing the goods, which includes handling and processing cargo documents, they also negotiate the cost of the transport while choosing an established trade route that best optimizes speed, price, and reliability.

The list of activities controlled and managed by NVOCC includes:

Concluding international goods carrier contracts as carriers with the shippers.
Delivering and receiving cargo in the form of carriers.
Issuing of various transport documents along with house bill of landing.
Handling booking space as well as the mainline carrier shipping.
Arranging payments for transportation between port to port along with other essential charges.
Consolidation as well as deconsolidation of containers using 3rd party services or through CFS.

The list of activities controlled and managed by Freight Forwarder:

They arrange cargo movements for international destinations.
Take responsibility to dispatch shipments via common carriers from the United States; may also arrange necessary space for the shipments via shippers. A responsibility that makes a forwarder’s liability insurance vital.
They process and prepare documentation related to all shipment activities.
However, freight forwarders also work in different ways. We’ve seen a rise in digital freight forwarders in the past years, changing how freight forwarding is done.

Why use a freight forwarder?
As freight forwarders handle every detail of the movement of goods, from shipping to storage and even the documentation, they are a great option for individuals and companies who are not all that familiar with the rules and requirements of shipping.

Unlike many NVOCCs, they can arrange for intermodal transportation for both international and domestic movement of goods. In this way, they can make the import/export process a lot simpler.

An added bonus of working with a freight forwarder is that, contrary to most situations, in this instance, having a middle man is likely to net you the best price.

Freight forwarders establish close relationships with a multitude of carriers and even use NVOCCs themselves sometimes. This often means that they get access to exclusive prices that their clients can then benefit from. This is especially the case for individuals and small companies who would otherwise be required to pay premium rates for their few containers.

What is the difference between freight and logistics management?

What is freight management?
In its most basic form, freight management can be explained as the process of overseeing freight. But more specifically, according to the Logistics Dictionary, freight management is explained this way:

“”Freight management is the process of overseeing and managing cost-effective cargo operations and delivery. Freight management combines logistics experience, human resources and knowledge to ensure smooth coordination between carriers and shippers.””

But which responsibilities are considered essential in freight management?
In its basic form, by definition, freight management roles can include, but are not limited to:

Choose a shipping company, make connections, hire a carrier and ship
Consult and negotiate terms and conditions, rates and expectations
Prepare proper paperwork to accompany the shipment in transit
Schedule and arrange transport personnel to collect and deliver goods at specified times
Optimized mode selection, truck routing and load balancing
Track the movement of goods throughout the supply chain lifecycle
Hire, select and work with customs brokers to ensure customs compliance
Confirm that insurance is in place to cover the goods in transit
Manage freight claims
Process and supervise receipts, payments and invoices related to the shipment of goods
Seize the opportunity to optimize cargo transportation to improve shipping performance, reduce travel time, lower costs and reduce environmental impact

What is a logistics company?
Unlike freight forwarders, logistics companies own all their assets, including intermodal fleets of trucks, boats or planes, but have no access to actual shipping routes. Logistics companies usually specialize in specific areas, such as dry box, long-haul, refrigeration, intra-city or large-scale. At the same time, they will try to cover all aspects of the supply chain.
Typically, logistics companies are responsible for managing the physical movement of goods through the supply chain. In some cases, they can also manage documents.
For simplicity, logistics management activities can include:

Customer and Supplier Order Management
Warehousing and distribution planning and management
Packaging and shipping management and handling of materials
Import and export logistics
Strategic planning of supply chain and transported goods
Supply chain network and connection optimization
Information flow, tracking and traceability management
Supplier relationship selection and management
Cargo Flow Analysis and Optimization
Start-to-finish supply chain visibility and processes
asset Management

What is the main difference between freight management and logistics management?
Individuals who are not deeply involved in the supply chain segment will not recognize the main difference between the terms freight management and logistics management. But with clear definitions and references to the tasks planned and performed by each term, you can see a clear difference.

Logistics management is a broader, all-encompassing term covering a wide range of activities and key responsibilities.

Freight management is a subdivision of broader logistics management, but of similar importance. There can be no successful logistics management without an effective and comprehensive approach to freight management. Many organizations face collective failure without precise integration of the two management services.

What are the benefits of a freight forwarder?
There are multiple benefits of working with a freight forwarder compared to a logistics company. Advantages include:

A network of multiple logistics companies to help lower prices in a more diverse way
Technology-based freight forwarders can provide instant quotes
Pricing is more transparent as most freight forwarders provide customers with a detailed breakdown of all costs
Maintain data on specialized routes along with route optimization to help minimize delays and ensure timely arrival of shipments
Have a good understanding of logistics companies in many different specialties, including household goods, fragile goods, cold storage, etc.
In addition to these benefits, freight forwarders can handle all paperwork associated with freight forwarding, including customs documents, bills of lading, export declarations from shippers, insurance policies, and invoice letters.

Final thoughts:
The effective execution of freight management and logistics management is key for any type of business to expand its scope to the desired height. It signifies cooperation with experienced logistics companies such as TJ chinafreight to ensure your cargo safety and fast delivery service. We have the ability to provide fast, damage-free service to remote areas of Utah. Our primary purpose is to help your business meet precise logistical requirements, regardless of your business type, size and operating model. We’re happy to provide your business with a highly streamlined shipping process that supports you in reaching the level you need at a cost-effective price.

Freight vs Shipping – What’s the Difference?

what is freight
Freight is the product or cargo that is transported. The term refers to the commercial transportation of goods by any means, whether by land, air or sea. Freight is generally the bulk transportation of goods. Usually divided into air and freight.

what is shipping
Shipping is the transportation of goods. Transportation can be commercial or non-commercial. It can also be cargo of different sizes, not just in bulk. Today, shipping can use multiple modes of transportation, not just ships. Shipping is the movement of bulk cargo from one location to another, whether by ship, air or otherwise. Shipping is often used to refer to sending personal items in the mail, or shipping consumer goods to customers.

What is the difference between freight and ocean freight?
Freight and shipping are two interrelated terms. Each approach has its own challenges, advantages and disadvantages and should not be used interchangeably. Both shipping and freight are the transportation of goods by air, land or sea. While both shipping and freight are used to describe bulk shipments of goods, freight always refers to larger quantities of goods, while shipping can refer to smaller quantities. Freight represents a commercial purpose. Cargo shipments can be used for commercial or personal purposes. Shipping is often considered more expensive than shipping because bulk cargo is cheaper to ship than small quantities.

Freight and Shipping Your Products
When you’re trying to understand the difference between freight and shipping, what you’re really asking is whether you should use freight or package shipping for your product. Here are some advantages and challenges of each approach:

freight

Using this method, shippers have the option of bundling multiple shipments together for long-distance shipments and breaking up shipments for multiple consignees at a storage facility. This is an economical and environmentally friendly mode of transportation. Freight is classified and priced by a variety of factors including weight, size, mode of transport and route.
Freight can often provide significant cost savings for shippers and consignees. Rail can be an efficient and affordable mode of transportation if shippers are transporting goods near major metropolitan areas. If a shipper wants to store products for a sale, a third-party logistics provider can assist in finding the right warehouse and freight carrier to do so in an affordable way.

parcel shipping

Using this method, shippers are usually either small retailers or ordinary citizens. Package shipping is generally not used for long-distance commercial shipping because it is both inefficient and expensive. Package shipping is often categorized and priced based on several factors, including package value, weight, dimensions, shipping method, and guaranteed delivery date.
Package shipping is a convenient option because you can send products directly from point A to point B without intermediate warehousing. But this convenience comes at a high price. Shipping by parcel (even with bulk shipping) is much more expensive than shipping for commercial purposes.

Difference between Freight Collect and Freight Prepaid

Negotiating a contract of carriage is a bit of a chess game. You took one wrong step and lost the whole game. One of these “”wrong moves”” is agreeing to shipping terms that you don’t actually understand. Unfortunately, this is a fairly common occurrence and one of the biggest mistakes we see every day.

Collect and Prepaid Shipping: What’s the Difference?
Prepaid and collect are two terms used to define who pays for a particular shipment, but they are often paired with another term that defines who owns the shipment until delivery.

freight prepaid
In a freight prepaid arrangement, the exporter is responsible for fulfilling the contract of carriage and paying the ocean freight on behalf of the importer.
All of the above procedures still apply to freight prepaid. Once the vessel arrives at the port of discharge, they will promptly issue an arrival notice and invoice to the nominated party or the importer himself.
Notwithstanding the freight prepaid clause, the importer is still responsible for additional documentation and handling charges at the port of discharge.
The importer can pick up the goods after issuing the bill of lading and paying the carrier due.
Again, this shipping term follows the INCOTERM arrangement specified by the International Chamber of Commerce.
For freight prepaid terms, the relevant INCOTERM is:

DPU – Delivery Location Unloaded (2020 Rules)
DDP – Delivery Duty Paid
On-Site Delivery – DAP
CFR – Cost and Freight
CIF – Cost, Insurance and Freight

freight collect

Under this arrangement, the carrier will prepare a notice of arrival and an invoice for freight and overland charges.
In some cases, freight forwarders or freight forwarders make timely payments on behalf of importers. In other cases, the importer will pay for itself.
In exchange, the carrier will issue a delivery note to the named party, be it a freight forwarder, freight forwarder or importer. The purpose of the delivery note is to show that all charges due have been settled and the bill of lading is deemed to have been discharged on time.
Only when the importer or its nominated party has completed these steps will the goods be released to them. In addition, under this freight terms arrangement, the carrier has the right to retain a lien on the goods until payment of freight is completed.
INCOTERM delegates the costs and risks associated with the transport of goods between importers and exporters. They are marked with 3 letters according to the ICC’s well-maintained guidelines. The latest guide to date is INCOTERM 2020.
Importers and exporters can easily and clearly communicate who is responsible for freight and how with INCOTERM
For freight collect terms, the relevant INCOTERM is:

EXW – Factory
FOB – Free on board
FCA – Free Carrier
FAS – Free on board (for non-contained cargo)

All four of the above INCOTERM do not place responsibility for handling the contract of carriage on the seller

Send a waybill or bill of lading
In the end, these charges are paid by a party associated with the shipper or consignee on their behalf. This is often abbreviated as SFB. A bill of lading is an official document emphasizing the type of item and the quantity of the item being shipped.

So there you have it! Now you know what to say when asked if you want to send something prepaid, and you know what happens if you order something “”collected””