Meaning
Total expense of an item from the point of manufacture to the moment it arrives at the buyer’s facility. Landed inventory cost includes the purchase price plus freight, customs duties, insurance and any local handling fees. It provides the only accurate basis for setting a retail price that covers all logistical overheads.
Component Breakdown
Calculation of this figure requires summing several distinct variables beyond the simple invoice price. While the supplier might offer a low unit cost, a high landed inventory cost can result from expensive transoceanic shipping or complex import tariffs. Local drayage and warehouse receiving fees also contribute to the final sum.
Margin Calculation
Gross profit depends on the delta between the selling price and the landed inventory cost. If a business only tracks the purchase price, it may inadvertently sell products at a net loss once the shipping bills arrive. Modern enterprise resource planning systems track these landed expenses at the stock keeping unit level.
Sourcing Strategy
Comparison of different vendors must happen on a landed basis. A domestic supplier with a higher unit price might provide a lower landed inventory cost compared to an overseas factory due to the absence of duties and lower transit fees. Supply chain managers use this data to optimize the global sourcing footprint.