Start with four buying decisions, not a unit price
For FOB Xiamen 220gsm microfleece travel blankets, the unit price is the output of four linked decisions: fabric specification, roll format, carton geometry, and compliance/inspection burden. If any one is vague, suppliers will quote against different assumptions and your landed cost will drift after approval.
For this channel, microfleece should not be treated as a loose marketing term. Specify it as a 100% polyester knitted fleece, typically warp- or weft-knitted, with a brushed face and defined pile finish. State the finished GSM as 220gsm with an agreed tolerance tied to a test method, for example ISO 3801 or a mill-equivalent gravimetric method on a defined cut size and conditioning regime. A sourcing-friendly tolerance is often ±5% on bulk, but only if the supplier can demonstrate process control; otherwise agree a tighter or wider band only after pilot runs and lab verification.
Typical travel-blanket formats are 130 x 170 cm, 140 x 180 cm, or 150 x 200 cm. If the target is airport retail, 130 x 170 cm is usually the easiest to roll neatly and keep shelf-friendly. The trade-off is coverage: larger sizes improve user value but materially increase roll diameter and carton cube. For a 220gsm fleece, a heavily brushed fabric packed with a stiff header board can look premium, but the same brush density can increase lint release and make roll recovery slower after compression.
Header-card roll packaging is useful because it gives the product a display-ready silhouette and protects the rolled face from shop handling. The downside is that the pack becomes a controlled geometry. If you do not specify roll outer diameter, board size, and recovery time, the packing team will make the pack to fit whatever carton is available. That is how shelf-fit failures happen.
What is included in FOB Xiamen, exactly
Under Incoterms 2020 FOB Xiamen, the seller’s responsibility ends when goods are loaded on board the vessel at the named port. FOB is a sea or inland waterway term; it should not be used as a general airfreight or airport-retail logistics shorthand. If the shipment moves by air, use the correct Incoterm for that mode, such as FCA, rather than forcing FOB into an air shipment.
Before the FOB handover point, the seller typically bears the costs of manufacture, inland movement to port, export clearance, and any port charges required to get the goods loaded on board. FOB does not include ocean freight, marine insurance, destination terminal charges, import customs clearance, duties, VAT/GST, or final-mile delivery after arrival. If the retailer is asking for airport delivery, the commercial term should be reviewed separately; airport retail programmes are often sold ex-works or FCA rather than FOB.
A clean FOB quote should separate the following cost lines: fabric cost, knitting or finishing, cutting, stitching, header card, wrap or polybag, carton, carton labels, labour, in-line QC, export documentation, and port-side handling up to loading on board. If the supplier adds a hang tag, barcode, or carton master artwork, ask whether it is included or separately charged. Do not let “FOB” become a loose shorthand for “everything before leaving China.” It is a defined point in the Incoterms rule set, not a vague logistics phrase.
Ask for a separate line on tooling and project costs: print screens, header-card die cuts, barcode setup, lab tests, and any retailer compliance pack. These are often not amortised into the unit price on the first PO, and they should not be buried inside blanket cost. For an RFQ, require the supplier to distinguish fabrication cost drivers from packaging cost drivers; they behave differently and should be negotiated separately.
A worked FOB cost example for one SKU
Here is a realistic structure for a single-SKU order: 130 x 170 cm, 220gsm microfleece, one roll per carton, header card included. Assume 5,000 pcs, standard brushed polyester fleece, one body colour, one simple printed header card, and no special claim testing. At this scale, the FOB number is usually driven more by pack components and labour than by a small fabric-weight change.
A plausible illustrative FOB Xiamen range for this specification might sit around US$3.20 to US$4.60 per pc. This is a budgeting range only. It assumes standard bulk production, no retailer-specific packaging inserts, no special hangtag finishing, no premium laminated board, and no third-party compliance testing beyond normal factory QC. It also excludes ocean freight, destination charges, duties, and any artwork rework after first proof.
A simple cost build-up could look like this:
- Fabric, knitting and finishing: US$1.30 to US$1.85
- Cutting and edge finishing: US$0.25 to US$0.40
- Header card and print: US$0.30 to US$0.55
- Roll wrap / polybag / tie: US$0.10 to US$0.25
- Carton and carton label: US$0.20 to US$0.35
- Packing labour and internal QC: US$0.20 to US$0.40
- Export handling and overhead allocation: US$0.25 to US$0.50
If you change any one variable, the quote moves. A thicker header board can add only a few cents per unit, but if it pushes the roll OD above carton limits, the carton must grow and the cube penalty can outweigh the board cost. A more premium print finish may add modest direct cost but require extra setup, proofing, or reject allowance. For that reason, a buyer should ask the supplier to show unit economics by fabric, pack components, labour, and overhead, not just a final number.
Microfleece specification: what to write, and what not to guess
Do not rely on a narrow or unverified yarn-denier claim unless the supplier has confirmed the knitting route and can support repeatability. For a sourcing programme, buyers usually need fewer yarn details and more final-product controls. Specify: 100% polyester knitted fleece, 220gsm finished weight, single-side or double-side brushed, anti-pilling requirement, and finished size tolerance. If the mill wants to propose yarn count, accept it only as an internal manufacturing parameter unless it is locked into the commercial spec.
For anti-pilling, reference ISO 12945-2 and define the minimum grade you will accept after the agreed cycles, rather than saying “good handfeel” or “premium quality.” For wash performance, use ISO 6330 for domestic laundering and ISO 5077 for dimensional change if the blanket is consumer-washable. For colour, ask for ISO 105-C06 wash fastness, ISO 105-X12 rubbing fastness, and ISO 105-B02 light fastness if the blanket will sit under retail lighting or in bright display environments.
Performance trade-offs are straightforward. More brushing gives a softer hand and higher loft, but it can also raise fibre shedding in the first few washes. A denser knit may improve stability and reduce transparency, but it can feel warmer and bulkier when rolled. If you need lower pack volume, you may need to accept slightly less loft or a thinner header board profile. If you need a richer retail appearance, you may need to accept a larger carton or a lower carton fill ratio.
For dark colours or repeat orders, ask for lot-to-lot shade control using a reference standard and a defined ΔE target if your lab measures colour difference. Avoid vague terms such as “good colour consistency.” Ask the mill what light source is used for visual matching, whether AATCC or ISO light boxes are used, and whether the same bulk yarn lot will be reserved for replenishment orders.
Carton diameter planning: the rule you can put in the PO
The carton should be designed from the measured roll outer diameter, not the other way round. For a 220gsm microfleece blanket in a 130 x 170 cm format, a practical roll OD often falls around 7.5 to 10.5 cm, depending on fold sequence, board thickness, brush density, and whether a tie band is used. The same blanket can vary by more than 1 cm if the packing sequence changes, so the method must be locked before bulk.
Use this acceptance rule in the PO: carton internal width or diameter shall be roll OD after 24-hour recovery plus specified clearance. A useful starting point is 5 to 8 mm clearance per side in the critical dimension. Example: if the measured roll OD is 9.0 cm, target a carton internal cross-section of roughly 10.0 to 10.6 cm, then confirm with a first-off packed sample and a 24-hour recovery check.
Define the testing method clearly so suppliers do not interpret it differently:
- Conditioning: unpacked rolls held at ambient packing conditions for 24 hours after compression release.
- Compression force: use a repeatable hand fixture or platen load in the 5 to 10 kgf range for a packaging-simulated compression check; state the actual factory method and keep it constant across approvals.
- Measurement points: measure OD at the centre and both ends of the roll, then record the maximum value.
- State of sample: specify whether the check is on the unpackaged roll, the header-card packed roll, or the fully closed retail carton; do not mix them in one approval without saying so.
If your carton-fit method is based on a diameter check, write the acceptance formula into the PO: roll OD after 24-hour recovery shall not exceed carton internal width/height minus specified clearance. Without that sentence, pack-fit disputes usually become subjective at inspection.
PO-ready wording example: “Packed roll OD shall be measured on the finished retail roll, after 24 hours at ambient conditions, at the widest point and at two end points. Maximum permitted OD: 95 mm. Carton internal width/height: 105 mm minimum, to provide a minimum 10 mm total clearance. Any sample failing the 24-hour recovery check is rejectable as a critical pack-fit defect.”
A PO checklist that prevents rework
For buyer control, the purchase order and tech pack should include these exact fields:
1. Finished size in cm, with tolerance, for example 130 x 170 cm ±2 cm.
2. Finished GSM in gsm, with tolerance, tied to the agreed test method, for example 220gsm ±5% on conditioned bulk samples.
3. Fabric type: knitted polyester microfleece, brushed side count, and anti-pilling requirement.
4. Roll OD target and maximum permitted OD after 24-hour recovery.
5. Header card dimensions, board caliper, print version, and finish.
6. Carton internal dimensions and pack quantity per carton.
7. Artwork version control: file name, revision number, approved date, and owner.
8. Barcode standard: EAN-13, UPC-A, or retailer-specific code, plus first-pass scannability requirement.
9. Label placement and carton mark layout.
10. Inspection plan: AQL level, defect definitions, and photo reference set.
A practical inspection basis is often AQL 2.5 for major defects and AQL 4.0 for minor defects, but this should be stated explicitly and aligned with your retailer’s tolerance. Do not just write “AQL inspection” without numbers. Define what counts as critical, major, and minor defects: holes, wrong artwork, incorrect barcode, wrong size, open seam, major staining, and pack mismatch should be critical or major; loose threads or slight shade variation may be minor if within agreed limits.
For barcode control, do not just say “barcode on carton.” State the symbology and the print quality expectation. If the retailer uses EAN-13, the symbol must be scannable on first pass under normal DC scanning conditions. If the product is for airport retail, clean presentation matters because cartons may be opened, displayed, and handled more often than in a bulk supermarket channel. That affects returns, markdowns, and shelf acceptance.
If the programme includes hangtags, inserts, or QR traceability, define the substrate and print method. A coated card can behave differently from uncoated stock in humid transit, and a low-contrast QR can fail a handheld scan even when it looks acceptable on proof.
Inspection and testing: use the right method, not a convenient one
For fleece, use tests that match the construction. ISO 12945-2 is appropriate for pilling resistance and should be part of the approval set if surface appearance matters. ISO 6330 domestic laundering and ISO 5077 dimensional change are useful if the blanket is washable by the consumer. For colour, ISO 105-C06 wash fastness, ISO 105-X12 rubbing fastness, and ISO 105-B02 light fastness are the practical references.
For lint or fibre release, be careful with method selection. ISO 9073-10 is primarily associated with nonwoven structures, so it is not a perfect fit for knitted fleece. If the mill uses it as an internal screening check, label it clearly as an internal comparative test, not the sole acceptance method. For knitted fleece, a buyer is better served by a defined internal shed-screening protocol, photographed against a control sample, plus pilling and wash/rub results.
If the supply is headed to the EU or UK, add destination-market controls in the RFQ. For general consumer textile compliance, buyers commonly ask for REACH Annex XVII azo-dye restriction screening where relevant, and OEKO-TEX Standard 100 only if the supplier actually holds a valid certificate for the exact product scope and construction. Do not assume a broader mill certificate covers every blanket line. If the item is marketed as an airline amenity or used in a regulated transport environment, confirm flammability requirements separately with the airline or carrier spec; depending on route and channel, 16 CFR 1610, FAR 25.853, or other destination-specific rules may be relevant. For U.S. retail, if applicable, review Prop 65 and fibre-content/labeling requirements. For UK/EU retail, check textile fibre composition and care-label law for the destination market before artwork is frozen.
A test pack should include the following before bulk approval:
- approved gold sample and sealed counter-sample
- measurement sheet for GSM, size, and roll OD
- colour standard or master swatch
- print proof or artwork control sheet
- seam photo set and defect library
- carton compression or shelf-fit record if the roll is display-packed
- lab reports for the specified claims, not generic supplier reports
A sourcing checklist for airport-retail buyers
If you are buying for airport retail, the sample needs to prove more than softness. Use this checklist before confirming bulk:
- Does the roll fit the planned fixture without edge crush?
- Does the header card hold shape after 24 hours compressed in carton?
- Is the barcode scannable after transit handling?
- Is the colour stable under retail lighting and repeat reorder lots?
- Does the blanket shed excessively on first unpacking or first wash?
- Is the carton strong enough for pallet stacking and hand-carried replenishment?
Airport retail also changes the commercial risk profile. Unit margin is sensitive to display damage, so a carton that is one centimetre too large or too soft can create downstream loss even if the FOB price is lower. Ask for a pre-production sample, a packed first-off sample, and at least one mock shelf-fit check before you approve the carton structure. If your programme uses mixed SKUs, require SKU-specific carton marks and outer-case routing labels so the DC does not mis-sort the stock.
If you need replenishment speed, keep the spec simple. Complex border prints, laminated cards, and multiple hangtag variants lengthen approval time and increase scrap risk. The cheapest FOB price is not always the lowest landed cost once rework, freight, and display failures are included.
RFQ template fields you can copy
Use these fields in the supplier RFQ so quotations are comparable:
- Product name and unit of sale: rolled retail blanket, not loose blanket, not carton pack.
- Finished size and tolerance.
- Fabric construction: knitted polyester microfleece, brushed side count, anti-pilling level.
- Finished GSM and test method.
- Colour reference: Pantone, lab dip standard, or approved swatch code.
- Roll OD target and 24-hour recovery limit.
- Header card size, board grade, and print method.
- Carton internal dimensions, carton style, and pack count.
- Barcode type and placement.
- AQL level and defect classification.
- Compliance documents required: test report list, country-specific label rules, and claim support.
Request the supplier to break pricing into fabrication, packaging, and export handling. For example: fabric and sewing, header-card print and die-cut, carton materials, labour, QC, and port handling. This is the only way to compare a mill that quotes low fabric cost but high packaging cost against a mill that quotes the opposite. You are buying a finished retail roll, not just a textile tube in a carton.
Frequently asked
What does FOB Xiamen include for a rolled blanket order? Under Incoterms 2020, FOB Xiamen covers the seller’s costs up to loading the goods on board the vessel at Xiamen port, including manufacturing, inland movement to port, export clearance, and port-side handling needed for loading. It does not include ocean freight, insurance, destination charges, duties, or final delivery.
Is FOB suitable for airfreight or airport retail shipments? No. FOB is a sea or inland waterway term under Incoterms 2020. For air shipments, use an appropriate airfreight term such as FCA and define the handover point clearly in the RFQ.
How should microfleece be specified to avoid supplier interpretation drift? Write the construction, not just the marketing name: 100% polyester knitted fleece, 220gsm finished weight, brushed face, anti-pilling requirement, finished size tolerance, and the relevant test methods for GSM, pilling, wash fastness, and dimensional stability.
What carton fit rule should be used for roll-packed blankets? Base carton size on measured roll OD after 24-hour recovery, then add a defined clearance. State the measurement method, the packed state being measured, the acceptable max OD, and the carton internal dimensions in the PO.
What inspection level is practical for retail blanket rolls? AQL 2.5 is common for major defects and AQL 4.0 for minor defects, but the correct level depends on the retailer. You should also define critical defects such as wrong barcode, open seam, wrong artwork, major staining, or pack-size failure.
Which tests are most useful for 220gsm polyester microfleece blankets? Common tests include ISO 12945-2 for pilling, ISO 6330 and ISO 5077 for wash and dimensional change, ISO 105-C06 for wash fastness, ISO 105-X12 for rubbing, and ISO 105-B02 for light fastness. Add destination-market compliance tests where needed, such as REACH Annex XVII screening or flammability requirements.
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