How to Ship Prefab Container Houses from China: A Practical Guide

For most overseas buyers, sea freight is the biggest cost variable in a prefab house project — and the one that is easiest to get wrong. This guide walks through the practical decisions: incoterms, loading methods, documentation and the questions to ask your supplier before signing.

1. Choose your incoterm: FOB or CIF?

FOB (Free On Board) means the supplier delivers goods onto the vessel at the port of origin; you own the cargo and the freight from that point. CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight) means the supplier covers freight and insurance to the destination port. FOB gives you control over the shipping line and often better rates if you have a freight forwarder; CIF is simpler but wraps shipping into the product price. Ask your supplier for both quotes and compare total landed cost.

2. How prefab houses are loaded

Folding houses ship in their folded state inside standard 20ft or 40ft containers, maximizing units per shipment. Flat pack (knock-down) houses are disassembled into panels and packed tightly — typically several units per 40ft container. Oversized modules that cannot fit a container travel on flat racks or open-top containers, which carry different surcharges and port handling requirements. Always ask your supplier for the confirmed loading plan per container.

3. Documents you will need

The standard export package includes commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading, plus certificates of origin where required. For prefab buildings, some destinations ask for a certificate of origin, fumigation certificate (for any wood components) or product certificates such as CE — confirm the list with your customs broker in advance.

4. Packing and protection

Reputable manufacturers protect panels with edge guards, wrapping film and steel strapping, and brace doors and windows for the voyage. Ask whether the quote includes marine-grade packing and whether loading supervision is available at the factory. A good packing job prevents most damage claims.

5. Questions to ask before you order

How many units fit per 40ft container? Is the packing included in the price? Who arranges the booking and trucking to the port? Are loading photos or video provided? What is the lead time after the deposit? Getting these answers in writing makes delivery predictable — and that is exactly what we confirm in every NJRUI order contract.