Most US importers compare Thai suppliers on FOB price. That is the smallest variable in the equation. Landed cost per unit is what decides whether your margin survives, and it is entirely calculable before you place the order.
The full cost stack
| Line | Basis | Typical 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| FOB unit price | Per unit | Supplier quote |
| Inspection | Per man-day | USD 250–400 |
| Export docs & THC (Thailand) | Per container | USD 250–450 |
| Ocean freight | Per container | USD 2,800–4,600 to USWC |
| Marine insurance | 110% of CIF | 0.25–0.6% of value |
| Customs duty | % of customs value | 0–17.5% by HS code |
| Merchandise Processing Fee | 0.3464% of value | Min USD 32.71, max USD 634.62 |
| Harbor Maintenance Fee | 0.125% of value | Ocean imports only |
| Broker entry fee | Per entry | USD 90–175 |
| Continuous customs bond | Annual | USD 450–700 |
| ISF filing | Per shipment | USD 30–50 |
| Drayage + chassis + terminal | Per container | USD 500–1,400 |
| 3PL receiving & storage | Per container / pallet | USD 150–850 + storage |
Note that MPF and HMF are calculated on customs value, which for FOB purchases is generally the transaction value of the goods — not the freight-inclusive figure. Duty is likewise assessed on that value.
Worked example
Assume 10,000 units of a home goods product, FOB Laem Chabang USD 4.20/unit, one 40' HQ, duty rate 3.4%, discharge Long Beach, 3PL 20 miles away.
- Goods value: 10,000 × 4.20 = USD 42,000
- Inspection (1 man-day): 320
- Thai export docs & THC: 380
- Ocean freight: 3,400
- Insurance (0.4% of ~46,000): 184
- Duty 3.4% of 42,000: 1,428
- MPF 0.3464% of 42,000: 145
- HMF 0.125% of 42,000: 53
- Broker entry + ISF: 175
- Bond (allocated, 6 containers/yr): 95
- Drayage + chassis + terminal: 780
- 3PL palletised unload: 260
Total = USD 49,220 → USD 4.92 per unit landed. That is 17.1% above the FOB price. If you priced your retail margin off USD 4.20, you just lost most of it.
Run the same model against a competing quote at FOB USD 4.05 that ships floor-loaded and requires two extra inspection days, and the cheaper unit price frequently loses.
The five levers that actually move landed cost
- HS classification. A correct code can be the difference between 0% and 12%. Verify it with a broker, and consider a binding ruling for high volume. See our HS code guide.
- Container fill. Freight is per container, so cube efficiency is pure margin. Redesigning a carton to gain 9% fill on a USD 3,400 container saves roughly USD 300.
- Palletising in Thailand. Cuts US unload cost by USD 300–500 and speeds receiving. Details in our 3PL setup guide.
- Pre-arrival clearance. Eliminates demurrage and per diem entirely. Our drayage guide shows the daily cost of getting this wrong.
- Duty recovery. If you re-export any portion, duty drawback returns up to 99%. See our duty drawback and FTZ guide.
Costs buyers systematically forget
- Working capital cost. A 30-day production plus 30-day transit means 60+ days of cash tied up. At a 12% cost of capital, that is another ~2% on landed cost.
- Defect allowance. Even at 98% pass rate, 2% of units are unsellable. Add it to the model.
- Compliance testing. CPSC, FDA, or CE-equivalent testing is real money per SKU — see our CPSC compliance guide.
- Repack and labeling. FNSKU labels, retail cartons, and inserts add USD 0.15–0.90 per unit if done in the USA rather than Thailand.
Do the labeling in Thailand
Almost every per-unit touch is 3–6× cheaper at the Thai factory than at a US 3PL. Retail packaging, barcode labels, inserts, polybagging, and multipacks should be specified into the production order — not fixed later in California.
Model it before you negotiate
Build the sheet first, then negotiate. Once you can show a supplier that a carton redesign or a palletised load improves your total cost, the conversation stops being about shaving cents off unit price and starts being about the number that matters. Our landed cost calculator gives you a working starting point.
How TUSKO handles it
Every RFQ we return is a full landed cost sheet, not a unit price — production, inspection, freight, duty basis, US handling, and packaging all itemised in one number you approve before production begins. One point of contact owns delivery against that number, and our fees are built into the landed cost rather than billed separately.
FAQ
How do I calculate landed cost from Thailand to the USA?
Add FOB goods value, inspection, Thai export charges, freight, insurance, duty, MPF, HMF, broker and bond fees, drayage, and 3PL handling, then divide by sellable units.
What is the MPF and HMF on a Thailand import?
Merchandise Processing Fee is 0.3464% of customs value with a USD 32.71 minimum and USD 634.62 maximum per entry; Harbor Maintenance Fee is 0.125% on ocean shipments.
How much higher is landed cost than FOB price?
For typical consumer goods in a full container, expect 12–22% above FOB. Small LCL shipments can run 30% or more.
Is duty calculated on the freight-inclusive value?
For FOB purchases, US duty is generally assessed on the transaction value of the goods, not on ocean freight and insurance. Confirm the basis with your broker for your terms.
Should packaging and labeling be done in Thailand or the USA?
Thailand, almost always. Per-unit labour is 3–6 times cheaper and specifying it in the production order avoids repack fees at your 3PL.
What is a realistic cost of capital to include?
Model 60–90 days of cash tied up in production and transit; at 10–14% annual cost of capital that adds roughly 2–3% to landed cost.