Shipping Custom Apparel from Pakistan: Incoterms, Lead Times, and Import Basics

Import buyers sourcing apparel from Pakistan for the first time usually ask about lead time and stop there, without asking who is responsible for freight, insurance, and customs clearance once goods leave the factory. Those responsibilities are defined by incoterms, and getting them wrong is a common source of unexpected cost on a first order.

Common incoterms used in apparel export

• EXW (Ex Works) — the buyer takes responsibility from the factory door. The manufacturer’s price covers only the goods, not any part of freight. This gives the buyer full control over their own freight forwarder but means managing pickup and export documentation yourself.
• FOB (Free On Board) — the manufacturer handles export customs clearance and delivery to the port, and the buyer’s price covers freight from that point. This is the most common term for buyers who already work with their own freight forwarder or import agent.
• CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight) — the manufacturer arranges and includes shipping and insurance to your destination port, quoted as a single landed price. This is the simplest option for a first-time buyer without an existing freight relationship, though usually not the cheapest per-unit freight cost.

Ask specifically which term a quote is based on. A lower per-unit price under EXW terms can end up more expensive than a higher CIF quote once you add your own freight, insurance, and documentation costs.

Typical shipping times by method

• Sea freight — 4 to 6 weeks to North America or Europe, depending on port and transshipment. The standard method for bulk orders since it is significantly cheaper per unit than air.
• Air freight — 5 to 10 days to most major markets. Used for smaller orders, urgent reorders, or samples, since the per-kilogram cost is substantially higher than sea freight.

Documents you should receive

A properly handled export shipment comes with a commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading (sea) or air waybill (air), and a certificate of origin if your destination country requires one for duty purposes. Request these upfront as part of your order confirmation, not after the goods have shipped, so any discrepancy can be caught before departure rather than at customs.

Import duties: what to check before ordering

Duty rates depend on your destination country’s tariff classification for the specific garment type and fabric composition, not a flat apparel rate. Check your country’s import tariff schedule for the correct HS code before finalizing an order, since duty cost is part of your real landed cost and should factor into your sourcing decision, not be discovered after the shipment arrives.

Planning total delivery time

Your real timeline is production lead time plus shipping time, not production lead time alone. A 15 to 20 working day production lead time combined with 4 to 6 weeks of sea freight means budgeting roughly 9 to 12 weeks from sample approval to goods in hand for a standard sea-freight order. Plan bulk orders around this full window, particularly for seasonal or event-timed launches.

Get a quote for your specific order

Asons Impex ships apparel from Sialkot, Pakistan under FOB, CIF, and EXW terms depending on buyer preference. Minimum order is 20 units per design. Production lead time is 15 to 20 working days from sample approval. Send your destination country and order details to info@asonsimpex.com for a landed cost quote.