Freight & logistics guide

    How to Ship from China

    Sea, rail, air, or express — the right freight choice can swing your landed cost and delivery date dramatically. Here's how each mode compares on cost and transit time, how Incoterms work, and the exact steps to move your goods.

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    Quick Answer

    To ship from China, match your volume, value, and deadline to a freight mode: sea FCL is cheapest for full containers, sea LCL suits small loads, rail is a mid-speed option to Europe, and air or express courier are fastest but pricier. Then agree an Incoterm (FOB is the most transparent), confirm packing and CBM, book a forwarder, and clear customs at destination — or buy DDP to have the seller handle it all.

    Compare the options

    Freight modes: cost, transit time, and when to use each

    Transit times are indicative China → US/EU and vary by route, port, and season. Always confirm with a live quote.

    Sea — FCL (full container)

    Transit
    ~30–45 days port-to-port (China → US/EU)
    Cost
    Lowest per unit; you pay a flat rate for a 20ft or 40ft container
    Best for
    Large volumes that fill (or nearly fill) a container — the cheapest way to move heavy or bulky goods

    Sea — LCL (less than container)

    Transit
    ~35–55 days (adds consolidation/deconsolidation time)
    Cost
    Priced per cubic metre (CBM) with a minimum charge; cheap for small-to-mid loads
    Best for
    Volumes below roughly 15 CBM, where paying for a full container isn't justified

    Rail (China → Europe)

    Transit
    ~18–25 days
    Cost
    Between sea and air; often ~30–50% more than sea FCL
    Best for
    Europe-bound cargo that needs to beat ocean transit without paying for air

    Air freight

    Transit
    ~5–10 days including handling
    Cost
    Priced on chargeable weight (the greater of actual or volumetric weight)
    Best for
    Time-sensitive, high-value, or low-volume goods where speed outweighs cost

    Express courier (door-to-door)

    Transit
    ~3–7 days
    Cost
    Highest per kg, but bundles customs and last-mile delivery
    Best for
    Samples, small parcels, and urgent replenishment under ~100–200 kg

    Incoterms in plain terms

    Incoterms define where the seller's responsibility ends and yours begins.

    • EXW — you collect from the factory door and own every cost and risk after that. Rarely ideal without strong origin support.
    • FOB — the seller delivers to the origin port; you control and pay the main sea/air leg. The most transparent choice for comparing freight quotes yourself.
    • CIF — the seller arranges freight and insurance to your destination port, but destination charges and duties are still yours.
    • DDP — the seller delivers to your door with duties paid. Simplest for you, but the convenience usually carries a hidden margin.

    Consolidation & DDP

    If you buy from several factories, consolidation combines those separate orders into one shipment at a single origin warehouse. That often turns multiple LCL charges into one FCL booking — cutting per-unit freight and simplifying documents and customs.

    DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) is the hands-off option: the seller or your agent handles freight, customs, duties, and final delivery so you receive goods at your door. It's convenient but you should always ask for the freight and duty portion to be itemised so you can see what you're paying for.

    Trade Entrust consolidates cargo across our OEM manufacturing and general supplier network, and can quote FOB, CIF, or DDP depending on how much you want to control.

    The process

    How to ship from China, step by step

    A repeatable sequence from confirming terms to final delivery.

    1. 1

      Confirm your Incoterm and who controls the freight

      Agree with the supplier whether the deal is EXW, FOB, CIF, or DDP. FOB (supplier delivers to the origin port, you control the main leg) is the most common and transparent choice for buyers who want to compare freight quotes independently.

    2. 2

      Finalise cargo details and packing

      Lock the total weight, dimensions, number of cartons, and CBM. Confirm export-grade packing and, for LCL, palletisation. Accurate numbers are what every freight quote is built on — guesses lead to reprices later.

    3. 3

      Choose the freight mode against your deadline and budget

      Match volume, value, and required delivery date to sea FCL/LCL, rail, air, or express using the trade-offs above. Splitting an order (e.g. air for the first batch, sea for the rest) is often the cheapest way to hit a launch date.

    4. 4

      Get quotes and book with a forwarder

      Collect origin charges, ocean/air freight, and destination charges as separate line items so you can compare like-for-like. Book space early during peak seasons (pre-Chinese New Year and Q4), when rates and delays spike.

    5. 5

      Prepare documents and clear customs

      You'll typically need a commercial invoice, packing list, and bill of lading (or air waybill), plus HS codes and any product certificates. Duties and import taxes are assessed at destination unless you buy DDP, where the seller handles them.

    6. 6

      Arrange destination handling and final delivery

      After customs release, cargo moves from the port or airport to your warehouse. Confirm who pays terminal, storage/demurrage, and trucking charges before the container arrives, so nothing stalls on the dock.

    Common shipping mistakes & red flags

    • Comparing all-in quotes without itemised origin, freight, and destination charges — the cheapest headline often hides fees added at the port.
    • Ignoring volumetric (dimensional) weight on air and express, then being surprised when light-but-bulky cargo is priced far higher than actual weight.
    • Under-declaring value or using the wrong HS code to save on duty — this risks customs holds, penalties, and delays that cost more than the tax.
    • Booking too late before Chinese New Year or the Q4 peak, when space vanishes and rates and transit times climb sharply.
    • Accepting DDP without an itemised breakdown, so freight and duty margin are buried in a single unit price you can't verify.
    • Skipping cargo insurance on high-value shipments to save a small percentage, leaving you exposed to loss or damage in transit.
    Related: China sourcing agent · Industrial packaging · Pricing & commission

    Shipping from China — FAQ

    It depends entirely on mode, volume, and route, so treat any single figure with caution. Sea FCL is the cheapest per unit because you pay a flat container rate; LCL is priced per cubic metre with a minimum charge; air is priced on chargeable weight; and express couriers cost the most per kg but bundle customs and door delivery. Rates also swing with fuel, season, and capacity, so always get a live quote based on your exact weight, dimensions, and Incoterm before you commit.

    Ship from China without the guesswork

    Tell us your product, quantity, and destination. We'll source verified factories, recommend the right freight mode, consolidate where it saves money, and quote FOB, CIF, or DDP — all tracked live in ImportOS.ai.

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