Do I need an account to use these tools?

No. All four are free and open, with no sign-up, no email capture and no trial period. Nothing you type into them is required to leave your browser to get a result.

Is duty calculated on the goods value or on the shipping cost too?

It depends on the market, and this is the most expensive thing importers get wrong. The Gulf, the EU and the UK assess duty on a CIF basis — the goods plus freight plus insurance. The United States assesses on FOB, the goods alone. On a CIF market, expensive freight increases your duty bill as well as your shipping bill.

Can I rely on the HS code the tool suggests?

Treat it as a strong starting point, not a legal determination. Classification is the importer's legal responsibility, and the tariff schedule of the importing country is the authority. For composite goods, anything containing a battery, or anything that could sit under two headings, request a binding ruling from the destination customs authority before you ship at volume.

Why does the container calculator fit fewer units than my own volume calculation?

Because dividing volume by volume assumes cargo is liquid. Real items have fixed shapes that do not tessellate, they must pass through a door aperture narrower than the container's internal width, and the load has to be distributed so the centre of gravity stays legal. The calculator models all three, which is why its answer is lower and closer to what actually loads.

If I buy DDP, does my supplier become responsible for certification?

No. DDP allocates cost and risk in the sale contract; it does not move a regulatory obligation. In most jurisdictions, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, the conformity obligation sits with the importer of record, and the certificate has to be issued in the correct name. Agreeing DDP with a supplier who cannot be the importer of record is a common and expensive assumption.

How far before Chinese New Year should I place an order?

Work backwards from the port cut-off rather than from the holiday dates, and allow for the fact that full output does not resume for roughly three to four weeks after the official return. The holiday calendar applies buffer days either side so you can see the effective closed window rather than the published one.

Four free tools for importers: HS codes, container loading, Incoterms and China's factory calendar

We built four calculators for the questions importers ask us most often, and put them online with no sign-up. Here is what each one does, a worked example for each, and — just as important — what none of them can tell you.