Small exporters face a special problem: their shipments are too small for a container but too valuable to risk on informal channels.
Options by shipment size
| Size | Best option |
|---|---|
| Under ~30 kg | Express courier, duties prepaid if possible |
| ~30–300 kg | Consolidated air freight |
| ~1–13 m³ | Sea LCL — see FCL vs LCL |
| Recurring small orders | Monthly consolidation into a US 3PL, then domestic parcel delivery |
Since de minimis ended
Low-value parcels no longer enter duty-free, and foreign importers lost access to informal entry under the 2026 IOR rules. Budget for duties and entry costs on every shipment — see e-commerce after de minimis.
Keeping costs predictable
- Ask for an all-in DDP price including duties.
- Standardise carton sizes to reduce volumetric weight.
- Avoid using "gift" or "sample" declarations for commercial goods — misdeclaration risks seizure and penalties.
We consolidate small shipments from Vietnam every week. Ask for a small-shipment quote.