How do I calculate whether an export sale is actually more profitable after freight, customs, and inspection costs?
Short answer: Build a complete cost comparison that includes the export price offered, freight and shipping costs, customs duties and clearance fees, any required inspection or certification costs, and insurance, then compare the resulting net figure against what a domestic sale would net you — export prices can look attractive on the surface but the additional cost layers specific to international trade sometimes erode much of that apparent advantage.
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List Free →Why export costs are easy to underestimate
Beyond the base freight cost, international shipments commonly involve customs duties, clearance fees, potential inspection or certification costs, and sometimes documentation fees that domestic sales simply don’t incur — these additional layers can meaningfully change your actual net proceeds compared to the headline export price.
What a complete comparison needs to include
List every cost specific to the export transaction — freight, insurance, customs duties, any required certificates or inspections, currency conversion costs if applicable — and subtract the total from the export price to get your true net figure, then compare that directly against a domestic sale’s net proceeds.
Why this comparison is worth doing even for a seemingly obvious export opportunity
An export price that looks meaningfully higher than domestic options can still net out lower once all these additional costs are properly accounted for — doing the full calculation, rather than comparing headline prices alone, protects you from an export deal that’s actually less profitable than it initially appears.
How ScrapTrade Makes This Easier
Comparing both domestic and international offers side by side through ScrapTrade helps you see the real headline price difference before you factor in the additional export-specific costs.
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