Table of Contents

Why Import Pottery From Vietnam?

Overview: How To Import Planters For Retail

Step-by-Step: Importing Vietnamese Pottery

1. Placing Your Order & Choosing FOB Terms

2. Working With a Freight Forwarder or Shipping Agent

3. Ocean Transit and U.S. Port Arrival

4. Duties And Customs Process For Importing Ceramics

5. Receiving and Unloading the Container

What You’ll Need for Unloading:

Important Safety and Inspection Procedures

Fumigation Requirements

Customs Exams

Is Importing Pottery From Vietnam Right for You?

Sources

If you’re a garden center or pottery retailer wondering how to import pottery from Vietnam to the U.S., the process is simpler than it looks: you place your order, work with a freight forwarder to handle shipping and customs, and receive your container once duties are cleared. This guide walks you through each step so you know exactly what to expect.

Vietnam has long been known for its beautifully glazed, durable ceramic pots made using traditional firing techniques that last for decades. If you're exploring direct importing, you’re tapping into one of the world’s best sources for handcrafted planters.

Why Import Pottery From Vietnam?

With a long-standing tradition of ceramic artistry in Vietnam, regions like Binh Duong produce earthenware and stoneware that’s beautiful, durable, and competitively priced for buyers of wholesale ceramic pots. As a store owner, you get access to:

Handmade designs not found in other mass-produced markets
Durable, weather-resistant pots ideal for outdoor displays
Competitive pricing through direct shipping

Overview: How To Import Planters For Retail

Importing pottery may sound complicated, but it follows a consistent structure. Here’s a simplified overview tailored for business owners:

The supplier loads your order onto a shipping container at their factory in Vietnam, which is then trucked to the port.
A shipping agent books space on a cargo ship for your container.
Your pottery is loaded at a Vietnamese port—usually Ho Chi Minh City.
The vessel sails to a U.S. port of destination (often Los Angeles, Long Beach, Miami, Tampa, or Houston).

- Similar to airplanes, shipping containers from Vietnam typically stop at hub ports such as Shanghai to consolidate with others before their final journey to the U.S.

Customs paperwork is filed and duties are paid through the shipping agent
Once cleared, your container is hauled by truck to your location for unloading.

Step-by-Step: Importing Vietnamese Pottery

1. Placing Your Order & Choosing FOB Terms

Most suppliers will quote you a FOB (Free on Board) price. This means:

The factory handles trucking and export logistics up to the Vietnamese port.
You (the buyer) take over once the goods are loaded onto the ship.

This is a standard international arrangement and gives you more control over costs and timing once the cargo leaves Vietnam.

2. Working With a Freight Forwarder or Shipping Agent

Your freight forwarder is your main point of contact for the international journey, and is primarily responsible for:

Book cargo space on the vessel for your container
Arrange trucking or rail once the goods arrive in the U.S.
Coordinate with your customs broker to handle all legal paperwork

You’ll want to find a forwarder experienced with ceramic and fragile goods, since pottery needs careful handling throughout the trip. By ordering with TT Pottery, our 15+ years of experience in ceramics makes it easy to find experienced, trustworthy agents.

Before the cargo leaves Vietnam, U.S. Customs requires an ISF 10+2 form to be submitted [1]. This form tells them what’s being shipped, who’s involved, and where it’s going.

Your freight forwarder/customs broker is responsible for filing the ISF form at least 24 hours before the container is loaded
Missing this step can result in fines or delays

3. Ocean Transit and U.S. Port Arrival

Once the ISF is filed, your container boards a ship and sails to the U.S. It typically takes:

3–5 weeks by sea, depending on the route
Additional 1–2 weeks for customs and inland delivery

Major ports of discharge (POD) include Los Angeles, Long Beach, Miami, Tampa, and Houston. From there, your goods travel by truck or rail to your business.

4. Duties And Customs Process For Importing Ceramics

At this stage, your customs broker files an entry with U.S. Customs using the appropriate HS Code for your pottery. These codes determine how much you’ll pay in duties, and they vary for each product. They’ll also need a Power of Attorney (POA) to act on your behalf during clearance, which authorizes the broker to work on behalf of an importer.

5. Receiving and Unloading the Container

Once cleared and transported from the port, the container will arrive at your store for unloading:

What You’ll Need for Unloading:

Forklift
Pallet jack or pallet puller + rope
Hammer and crowbar (for crate disassembly)
Trained forklift driver + 1–2 helpers

Most trucking companies allow 2 free hours for unloading. After that, you’ll be charged around $95/hour for any additional time.

Some breakage can be expected; usually, around 3% is the industry standard. However, TT Pottery has had only under 1% for orders in the past. Be sure to inspect each pallet for damage and keep photos for claims, if needed.

Important Safety and Inspection Procedures

Fumigation Requirements

Since shipments use wooden pallets, they must be fumigated to meet U.S. import rules to prevent pests from entering the U.S. ecosystem [2].

If bugs are discovered at the port, your container could be:

Held for inspection
Sent to a USDA lab for testing (which adds inspection and storage costs)

Customs Exams

Sometimes, your shipment will be selected for a random customs exam. This might include:

X-ray scan
Tailgate exam (container partially opened)
Intensive exam (full unloading and repacking)

These exams come with extra costs and can cause delays—so it’s best to factor them into your timeline just in case. Another important fact to keep in mind is that Customs tend to select containers from new or unrecognized importers. Since TT Pottery has a long-standing history with shipping, our containers are much less likely to be searched, giving peace of mind to both new and returning wholesale customers.

Is Importing Pottery From Vietnam Right for You?

For many garden center owners and independent retailers, importing directly from Vietnam is a game-changer. You get access to:

High-quality, low MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity) pottery at factory-direct prices
Unique designs and colors that set your store apart
Complete control over your inbound product selection

If you're ready to take the leap, start by connecting with TT Pottery to easily get started with importing wholesale ceramic planters for your business. From there, the process becomes much more manageable with each shipment.

📩 To start your journey towards importing pottery from Vietnam, or any other inquiries, reach out to john@ttpottery.com today!

Sources

[1] U.S. Customs and Border Protection. (n.d.). Importer security filing and additional carrier requirements. Importer Security Filing and Additional Carrier Requirements. https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/documents/import_sf_carry_3.pdf

[2] U.S. Customs and Border Protection. (n.d.). Import and Export Requirements for Wood Packaging Material into the United States. CBP Customer Service. https://www.help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-1200?language=en_US

Resources | TT Pottery

FOB vs. Landed Cost: What Garden Centers and Pottery Retailers Need to Know

How to Import Pots From Vietnam to the U.S.: A Guide for Garden Centers and Pottery Retailers

Why Independent Garden Centers Are Turning to Direct Import Vietnamese Garden Pottery

When to Order Pottery?