Manufacturer just asked for the delivery port

Why not ask the manufacturer exactly what 'port' he is referring to? Is that possible?

Just ask what he means by port, and surely it can't be airport. If he is shipping you a sample they usually do it by DHL which takes about 5 days. The thing I think of when you say "port" is the one for ships not airport.

He is thinking further down the track to the time when you place a full size order, and wants to give you a quote. If he is asking you to state which port, he no doubt expects that the size of your order will warrant sea freight as the most economical option.

You should have obtained that quote long before placing an order for a sample, so either you or your supplier has failed to take the proper steps.

A sample shipped via air courier will go through whichever airport the courier service finds most convenient and there is no point in you nominating a port. Tell the supplier you want pre-paid door to door air courier service for your sample.

Ask your supplier to quote you on an FOB basis. He will then identify which Chinese port the goods will go through. The shipping arrangements for FOB are your responsibility once the goods arrive at the port in China.

Many Chinese business people don't properly understand FOB, and might quote you something like FOB factory, which is in fact not FOB, but is EXW (Ex Works)

Depending on the size of the shipment, any of the three shipping methods might be best: Air Freight, Air Courier, or Sea Freight. You will need to get quotes from freight forwarders in Israel. It is risky to rely on your supplier to organize freight other than Air Courier.

If you have any more questions, please post them on my AMA: Ask Me Anything About Product Sourcing And Importing For Profit. ― Veteran Importer Here.

Walter Hay
ProvenChinaSourcing