/ By TJ China Freight / Cargo • Logistic • sea freight forwarder • Shipping

Basic Info: Transport Packaging and Packaging Materials

Transport packaging is an important choice in freight transport. Choose the one that suits you according to the characteristics of your cargo and, in the case of sea freight, be very sturdy because of the long sea freight time. So what are the most important options?

The 3 most frequently used packaging containers

There are many different types of packaging materials available, most of which depend entirely on the goods or products being transported.

The mode of transport can also affect the use of packaging. For example, sea freight from China requires more packaging, while air china cargo requires simple packaging.

The outer packaging provides initial protection. Let us know about your packaging material options.

The benefits of using corrugated cardboard boxes.

The complex process of corrugated cardboard is crucial to its benefits. The following are useful attributes of the material.

Protecting the environment: corrugated packaging is also an environmentally friendly option that can be reused many times over.

Cheap material: the corrugated board is always cheaper than other heavy-duty packaging containers and is readily available and lightweight, thus reducing transport weight.

Safe: There is no danger of sharp edges or splinters and square corrugated boxes fold up for easy storage because they are compact. These boxes are light.

Customized design: corrugated packaging can be tailored to your needs. Modifications involve type, stiffness, weight and handling. In addition, any business or buyer can choose the size and unique shape design. Printing your company name, logo and other details on the cardboard box is easy.

Corrugated packaging really is the versatile, reliable and cost-effective choice for your business packaging needs. As you can see, corrugated cardboard is the strongest of all. It can occasionally become a real plank when transporting large or heavy items.

Packing bags

If you have a lightweight item that you may not need to cushion, it’s easy to use bags. Made from a flexible material such as plastic that is water and tear resistant, the bags ensure that the item is securely contained in the bag as it moves around.

Bags are widely used in logistics, such as couriers, for easy transport with weight and size restrictions.

We often see FedEx, DHL, TNT and UPS bags. Their specifications are as follows.

FedEx Large bag: 30 cm * 39 cm.

FedEx Extra Large: 44 cm * 53 cm.

DHL bags: 36 cm * 48 cm.

Corrugated packaging

Corrugated packaging is the most widely used material for heavy packaging and fragile items. Designed for maximum strength, corrugated board is usually available in single-sided, double-sided or triple-walled forms. Corrugated board is made by a special process to withstand a certain amount of pressure and has a cushioning effect. It is considered ideal for fragile items.

Features of corrugated cardboard: Both corrugated boxes and cardboard have three or more layers of cardboard. In this respect, corrugated board differs from ordinary cardboard.

Corrugated cardboard, as a complex material, consists of three parts: an inner liner, an outer liner and slotting.

These layers of cardboard form the outer lining, and the inner lining is made of a rigid material that protects against any type of damage. These layers provide a cushioning effect around the space, so that the packaged goods can withstand the impact of the transport process.

Wooden crate packaging

Crate packing ensures that they are best protected when transported. Crate packing is the packaging of protected items in wooden packaging containers. Wooden packaging was originally manufactured as a packaging material to facilitate transportation and storage.

Depending on the product you are exporting, you will need to check and use the correct packaging to avoid damage. For more international shipments, wooden crates are seen as a safer option as they are stronger. This means they will be able to withstand the rigours of transport.

They are ideal for transporting heavy or fragile goods and can protect them during transit. They are often used to transport heavy machinery and equipment. Some suppliers manufacture it to suit your goods, which means the final crate will be exactly what you want. The advantage of customisation is that you can get any size, any type of wood and the adhesive is optional.

However, whichever wooden packaging you decide to use, you need to check that they meet the requirements for wooden crate packaging. If you do not, the transport company will refuse to ship your wooden crates. Many countries may refuse to allow your products to be crated because the wood has not been processed or the raw wood material has not been fumigated.

Wooden crates are very durable and increase the likelihood that your goods will arrive at their intended destination intact.

Some of the more common padding materials

Boxes or packaging may not be the only packing material available. The first thing you need to be sure of is that the goods are not moving inside the box, we need to fill the empty space inside the box with buffers, they stop the items moving during transit.

Damage can occur if your items are not the same size and shape as the transport packaging. The task of the padding material is to cushion and protect the package from impact. Foam packaging is popular because it fills the gaps that prevent objects from moving. This is a very effective step and should be used to help avoid any damage during transport.

In many cases, some of the more common padding materials may include packing peanuts, paper mouldings, inflatable airbags, wrapping paper and bubble wrap.

Bubble wrap

Bubble wrap is a new, green, shockproof cushioning material. Thanks to its ability to conform to the protection of transported goods and quickly become a transported product, the contents are wrapped in a cushion of bubbles that appear to float in a safe area, providing reasonable impact resistance for most products.

You can also use more bubbles to fill empty spaces in the box, thus reducing the crushing and impact that can occur during transit, so that your products arrive safely at their destination.

Polystyrene packaging

Polystyrene foam packaging material is a popular and effective internal packaging filler. This excellent product is one of the best ways to protect breakable items.

Polystyrene foam packaging material is made from a very lightweight material. It is easy to cut and can be made into a variety of shapes to fill the space inside the packaging. If there is excess packaging space, there is no need to worry about using large amounts of cushioning material. Lightweight foam does not add too much extra weight for transport and is good value for money. It cushions everything and prevents objects from colliding with each other inside the box.

If you ask your supplier or freight forwarder to fill your packaging with foam, it won’t add much to the cost of shipping. Polystyrene foam packaging material is cheap and cost-effective.

What packing skills do you have?

Once transported for a long period of time, especially overseas, it is important to pack correctly. For safe transport, here are four tips that can be used for shipping

Use the box-in-box method

For items that are very fragile or require special handling, you should use double boxes, which are stronger and can withstand greater weight.

Put them in a small box and wrap them in another large box. Alternatively, you can use flexible packaging material to wrap these items in an inner box. This way, double boxes provide strong protection if the box is treated roughly during transport.

Fragile items in particular need extra packaging

If you are sending any fragile items, it is best to use plenty of cushioning to protect the packaging. Loose cushioning fills the available space in the box and prevents items from moving throughout the traffic. Fragile items should also be placed in the middle of the box and filled with as much soft foam as possible, which greatly reduces the chance of damage.

A gentle reminder.

Every item in the shipment should not be handled roughly and it is best to write signs such as “Handle with care” or “Do not bump” on the surface of the packaging. This way, anyone who touches the box will be extra careful.

 

TJ CHINA FREIGHT is From a 20 year old reputable freight forwarding company from China that can help you with all your freight forwarding problems.

/ By TJ China Freight / International • Logistic • Shipping

Can The Import Declaration Form Be Modified After Declaration?

If you find a freight forwarder company in China to help you with all the procedures needed to export from China, and the process of filling out customs declarations due to the negligence of the personnel omitted some details, but at this time has been declared up, then whether it can still be withdrawn to amend?

The customs declaration form must be filled out in accordance with the standard text of the import and export goods declaration form announced by the customs. After the declaration, it is not allowed to modify it by itself. It must first apply for modification in accordance with the relevant provisions of the “Customs Law”.

Basis for modification

  1. After the export goods are released, if part or all of the originally declared goods are withdrawn from the customs, or the means of transport is changed due to shipping, stowage and other reasons, the certification materials for customs clearance and change of means of transport shall be submitted;
  2. If the imported or exported goods are overpacked or underpacked during loading, transportation, or storage, or are lost or short-changed due to force majeure, resulting in discrepancies between the original declared data and the actual goods, certification materials issued by the commodity inspection agency or relevant departments shall be submitted;
  3. If it is necessary to modify or revoke the data on the customs declaration form due to other customs procedures such as tax refund, customs affairs guarantee, etc., relevant materials with endorsement of customs opinions should be submitted;
  4. According to trade practice, the provisional price is first used for the transaction, and the actual settlement is based on the commodity inspection quality determination or the actual price payment method in the international market. If it is necessary to modify the declaration content, the invoice, contract, bill of lading, packing list, etc. that fully reflect the actual situation of the trade should be submitted. and truthfully provide payment vouchers related to the sale of goods and other commercial documents, written materials and electronic data that prove the truthfulness and accuracy of the declared price;
  5. The “Direct Return of Imported Goods Form” or the “Notice of Ordering Direct Return of Imported Goods” should be submitted;
  6. If the electronic data declaration is incorrect due to technical reasons such as computers and network systems, explanatory materials issued by the computer and network system operation management party shall be submitted.
  7. If the declared content needs to be amended or revoked due to errors in the operation or writing of the customs declaration personnel, the party concerned shall submit the “Import and Export Goods Declaration Form Amendment/Cancellation Form” and the following materials to the customs: (1) The contract that can prove the actual situation of the import and export goods , invoices, packing lists, bills of lading or manifests and other relevant documents and certification documents; (2) detailed descriptions; (3) other certification materials. If the customs does not find that the customs declaration personnel have evaded customs supervision, they may modify or cancel the customs declaration form. If no modification or cancellation is made, the Customs shall notify the party concerned in a timely manner and explain the reasons.

Documents to be submitted at the time of application

  1. “Import and Export Declaration Amendment / Revocation Application Form”;
  2. can prove the actual import of contracts, invoices, packing lists and other relevant documents, foreign exchange management, state tax, inspection and quarantine, banks and other relevant departments issued by the documents, taxable goods of the customs special payment, for the receipt and payment of foreign exchange and export tax rebates of import and export declarations issued by the Customs and other relevant documents.

Processing procedure

  1. The enterprise submits the above application materials to the Customs and Excise Department, the Customs and Excise Department will accept the application and conduct an audit;
  2. On-site customs audit agreed to ‘, the decision to grant the modification or revocation, the ability to make a review decision on the spot, should be issued accordingly to grant or not modify, revoke the decision, no longer issued a “declaration of imported goods to amend/revoke the application, acceptance decision” in the Customs clearance management system to complete the operation.

Processing time limit

In addition to the decision can be made on the spot, generally within one working day to make a decision on whether to accept the Customs, the decision is made within five days from the date of acceptance of the application. Import declarations filled out to comply with the declaration of normality, authenticity, and integrity principles, in line with the relevant provisions of the Customs Law, in accordance with the Customs formal process of revision, standardize the import and export trade declaration behavior, to maintain the order of customs entry and exit.

/ By TJ China Freight / International • Logistic • Shipping

2023 Air Freight Guide | Do you know about Air Freight?

There is a special situation in china air freight – a blank voyage (also known as an invalid voyage)

This refers to a situation where a scheduled port or entire voyage is skipped or cancelled.

People are reluctant to break their original sailing opportunities, so the factors that make this happen are often out of their control.

Reasons why air voyages happen 

One of the most important things to know about air sailings is that they can be planned or unplanned. How much notice you receive depends on the reason the sailing was cancelled. Although the circumstances vary, stoppages are usually due to sailing schedule problems or market fluctuations.

Difficulties in meeting sailing schedules

Shipping companies have a fixed number of days to complete their voyages and each schedule has a specific ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival) and ETD (Estimated Time of Departure) for each destination port. Adherence to sailing schedules is essential to keep containers moving through the global supply chain, but it is not always possible to meet every deadline. Shippers may see empty sailings due to delays caused by

Supply chain issues

Congestion and labour shortages are two port issues that can lead to stoppages. In these cases it often makes more sense for the vessel to skip the port rather than risk a delay that will affect the rest of the sailing schedule. Port omissions may be known prior to booking if the event is ongoing (e.g. if the port is heavily congested or locked during Covid restrictions), but may occur throughout the voyage if unexpected challenges arise.

Adverse weather

Weather can also cause a stoppage if the vessel is unable to safely travel to or moor at a specific location. Some ports may even be closed if conditions make it unsafe to complete the required processes. For example, ports may cease operations if cranes are unable to operate due to high winds.

Market changes

Sometimes planned stoppages are required to help control demand. When demand for cargo space is low, shipping companies often use stoppages to help improve operational efficiency. By cancelling certain sailings, routes can consolidate cargo to use all the available space on board – a more cost effective method than sailing multiple ships with a lot of space left.

Due to low demand, stoppages often occur during holiday periods such as Lunar New Year, when factories shut down and outbound cargo volumes at Asian ports fall. Your carrier will be able to discuss historical patterns and current maritime market conditions to help you plan shipments accordingly.

Vessel complications

Although vessels are maintained to help maintain seaworthiness, mechanical problems may arise in the process. Some repairs can only be carried out in specific locations, which may mean re-routing or skipping ports where the problem cannot be resolved. Depending on how long repairs take, additional cancellations may be required to meet the remaining port arrival times.

air freight

The potential impact of a stoppage  

A stoppage can create multiple challenges for shippers, including

Additional costs

Significant delays due to air traffic can result in unexpected costs. Firstly, any cargo requiring access to the port will require additional service charges. Another possible cost is a demurrage and detention charge for filled containers that are held in port for more than a specified number of free days. In addition, cargoes containing perishable or temperature sensitive goods may result in a total loss.

Inventory issues

Not receiving items on time can lead to long term inventory problems. Initially, you may struggle to keep up with demand while waiting for your goods to arrive, but problems can arise even after delivery – especially if your shipment is seasonal. This can lead to a backlog of items you no longer need, thus limiting the amount of storage space available.

 

Reducing customer satisfaction

Delivering on your promises and maintaining adequate product stock is key to keeping your customers happy with your brand. Frequent shipping delays or constant out-of-stock inventory can lead to a loss of market share.

 

Leave your freight to the professionals – TJ China Freight minimises the risk for you.

 

/ By TJ China Freight / International • Logistic • Moving • sea freight forwarder • Shipping

4 Differences Between Freight Forwarding and Shipping Agency

The logistics industry is closely linked, and the knowledge of freight transportation is something that every logistics person needs to understand. If you can master the entire industry chain, it will be like a godsend for your future development. In the shipping business, we often hear about freight forwarding and shipping agency, and TJ CHINA FREIGHT will introduce them to you.

Shipping agency, that is, the unit that acts as an agent for business related to ships, and its scope of work includes handling water diversion, quarantine, tugboat, berthing, loading and unloading, materials, certificates, etc. The shipping agent is responsible for the ship business, handles the ship import and export procedures, coordinates the ship and port departments to ensure the smooth progress of loading and unloading, and completes the ship’s entrusted matters, such as replacement of crew, materials, food supplies, ship voyage repairs, etc. Sometimes the ship will also entrust the shipping agent to sign the bill of lading.

Freight forwarding is a freight forwarder, not the actual carrier of the shipping company. Freight forwarding, logistics (third party), and freight companies are essentially the same. A freight forwarder is different from a shipping agent. The shipping agent can handle booking, signing, changing the order, and releasing containers on behalf of the shipping company, which are functions that the freight forwarder does not have.

Here are some differences between freight forwarding and shipping agency in detail:

  1. Different definitions

Freight forwarding: The full name is freight forwarding. Refers to the entrustment of the owner to complete a certain link in the import and export logistics transportation of goods or a link related to this. Common freight forwarding work includes import and export by air, import customs clearance, import declaration and so on.

Shipping Agency: The full name is Shipping Agency. It refers to the formalities and coordination work related to the ship business, and ultimately ensures the smooth progress of cargo loading and unloading. Common shipping agency work includes: quarantine, towing, loading and unloading cargo, signing bills of lading, etc.

  1. Different responsibilities

The freight forwarder is essentially the same as the third-party logistics. It is not the actual carrier of the shipping company, but the consignor of the cargo owner, helping the cargo owner to handle the connection and communication of the cargo in the import and export logistics. The shipping agency mainly provides a series of specific services for ships and shipping companies.

  1. Different service objects

Freight Forwarder: Serving the vast number of foreign trade, factories and cargo owner friends, it is the link between the cargo owner and the carrier.

Shipping Agency: Serving the shipping company, it is a bridge between the shipping company or the carrier and the port.

  1. Others

Freight forwarding: generally divided into first-level freight forwarding and second-level freight forwarding. The first-level freight forwarder can directly book space with the shipping company, but it is not necessarily qualified to book space, and the second-level freight forwarder is not necessarily worse than the first-level freight forwarder. It depends on the qualification and ability of the freight forwarding company. Not all freight forwarders are omnipotent, and not all freight forwarders have the same scope of work.

Shipping agency: The LCL booking is made by the freight forwarding company, and the shipping company generally does not accept LCL, so the LCL bill of lading is generally not the shipping company’s bill of lading.

Generally speaking, the shipping agent is not the same as the freight forwarding agent. The freight forwarding agent may be the shipping agent, and the shipping agent must be the freight forwarding agent. The choice of the freight forwarding agent mainly depends on its service. After the service is the price, so the freight forwarder with good cost performance is the first choice! TJ China Freight hopes to provide you with satisfactory service and a more cost-effective choice!

/ By TJ China Freight / Cargo • International • Logistic • Shipping • Transport

2023 | A Guide to Common Shipping Documents in International Trade

International trade is a responsible affair and different countries correspond to different regulations and require different relevant documents. The choice of shipping method corresponds to different materials, so below is a list of a few of the most commonly used shipping documents that should give you an idea of what documents are required to ship your goods or personal effects.

Commercial invoices

A commercial invoice is a document presented by the seller containing the name, quantity and price of the goods. A commercial invoice is effectively a note or invoice from the seller to the buyer describing the agreement between the parties on the terms of sale and purchase of the goods.

The commercial invoice is mainly used for import and export of goods between countries. It is mandatory in international trade. The commercial form of the invoice is used for customs clearance and collection of duties, and some countries require the original invoice for customs purposes.

It also records the goods being transported, the place from or to which they are being shipped and the names of the parties or businesses involved in the transport of the goods.

Bill of Lading (B/L)

A BOL has a lot of information. The B/L must have the name of the consignor and consignee, the origin, the destination and the quantity of goods. It is one of the most important documents you will care about when shipping internationally.

There are two forms of bill of lading. A non-negotiable bill of lading is a registered bill of lading, also known as a non-negotiable bill of lading.

In this case, the goods recorded on the bill of lading can only be picked up by the specific consignee on the bill of lading, in other words, the carrier can only deliver the goods at the port to the consignee named on the bill of lading for unloading.

A bearer bill of lading is negotiable – the carrier delivers the goods to the person holding the bill of lading. As a shipper or customer, you should always have a copy of the bill of lading because you prove that you own or have the right to claim the consignment.

A bill of lading is a written document provided by the carrier, usually signed by the shipping company’s transport department, certifying the carrier’s acceptance of the particular goods received in the form of cargo and its responsibility to deliver the goods to their destination. destination or to the named consignee.

Insurance document

An insurance policy is a certificate of cover issued by an underwriter who has underwritten insurance. This is the insurance of the goods purchased at the port of export prior to shipment. This document will be the basis of your claim if these goods are lost, stolen or damaged in transit.

Packing List

A packing list is a document detailing the contents of a shipment. As a supplementary document, it sets out details of the packing matters agreed between the buyer and seller in the letter of credit (or contract) so that foreign buyers and customs can check the destination of the goods when they arrive in port.

Usually, the commercial invoice includes the relevant contents, but when explicitly required by the L/C, the packing list must be produced strictly in accordance with the L/C.

Certificate of Origin

A certificate of origin is a document issued by the relevant government agency of the exporting country to prove the origin or place of manufacture of the goods. It is mainly used by the customs of the importing country to implement differential tariffs, import duty rates, import quotas, etc. according to different national policies.

Importers require exporters to provide certificates of origin, which are available in various forms. The most widely used are Certificate of Origin and GSP Certificate of Origin, which are commonly used in countries or regions where customs invoices or consular invoices do not need to be provided.

If you are importing from China, the certificate of origin is issued by the Chinese government’s customs department.

Air Waybill

This shipping document is issued by the air carrier or its agent. It is the carrier’s receipt of the goods and is the contract of carriage between the shipper and the carrier, proving that the carrier has received the goods you have listed in the AWB and that the air waybill is also non-negotiable.

It is also your proof that the carrier is responsible for the removal of your goods to the named destination.

Import Licence

Some countries require importers to obtain a prior licence for the import of certain goods. Otherwise, they cannot engage in this business.

These countries limit the amount of imports for the sake of homeland protection. So foreign companies have to apply for an import licence in order to import some goods.

Relevant Dangerous Goods Certificates

For certain goods you must prepare a Dangerous Goods Certificate. If the goods you are transporting are dangerous goods, you will need to use a Dangerous Goods Note, also known as a DGN.

The DRG will give details of what dangerous goods are, what risks may be involved in transporting them and how to transport them efficiently and safely. For example, if you are transporting lithium batteries, you will need an MSDS.

Our advice

Knowing the correct way to prepare these documents is very specific and must be done properly, otherwise even minor errors in the documents will be enough to keep your goods in customs for a long time.

Worse still, you will have to pay fines or penalties. To avoid this, it is a good idea to have your international shipping provider or customs broker assist you with all documentation requirements.

In addition, you need to know which documents are relevant to the laws of the country you are importing or exporting to, the goods and the mode of transport. For example, sea freight and air freight have different documentation requirements.

When you need to import certain goods from China, you should choose a professional China freight forwarder to hedge all the risks for you, a professional doing a professional job to achieve twice the result with half the effort. TJ China freight is a good choice for you.

/ By TJ China Freight / International • Logistic • Moving • Shipping • Transport

Shipping from China to USA: Everything You Should Know

Ways to ship from China to US

  1. International commercial express

International commercial express refers to the express and logistics business carried out between two or more countries (or regions). After the international express shipment arrives at the destination country, it needs to be delivered in the destination country before the express shipment can be delivered to the final destination. International express parcel delivery is fast and the service is excellent, but the price is relatively high. Common logistics carriers include UPS, DHL Express, FedEx, etc.

  1. Air freight

Air freight refers to a mode of transportation that uses aircraft as a means of transportation for cross-border transportation of goods.

  1. Sea transportation is a way of using ships to transport goods between ports in different countries and regions through sea lanes, including FCL and LCL.

How to choose FCL or LCL?

Depends on the volume of the consignment to be shipped. The minimum container type of a standard ocean freight container is 20 feet. If the volume of the consigned goods is less than 20cbm, it is recommended to use LCL transportation; if it is larger than 20cbm, use FCL transportation.

How much does it cost to ship from China to US?

Different goods, different routes, the corresponding international express freight is usually not the same. The price of sensitive goods (liquid, powder, liquid, food, medicine, F brand, etc.) will be higher than that of general goods, and sea freight will be cheaper than air freight.

International express charges

  1. The weight of an international express package is divided into actual weight and volume weight. The international express company will use the larger of the two weights as the billing weight.
  2. Calculation of the volume weight of DHL, TNT, UPS and FedEx (Federal) four major international express delivery (length*width*height/5000); calculation method of volume weight of air or ocean special line package: (length x width x height/6000), Relatively speaking, the price of the special line with double clearance and tax package will be more cost-effective, and it is a more cost-effective mode of transportation

At this point, you’re likely wondering how long packages from China take to arrive in the US. In general, shipping by air is much faster than shipping by sea. With all the supply chain blockages due to COVID-19, it’s become increasingly common to see delays in shipping.

When you import goods from China, you must prepare for the Chinese New Year shutdown. However, you should also be aware of other Chinese holidays, here is the full calendar of holidays and observances in China.

1. Express shipping

Express shipping usually takes 4 to 7 days. If your product has a high-profit margin, you might want to use this option to get your product on the shelves as quickly as possible. Here the average shipping times for express shipping to the US. depending on the carrier. EMS takes 3 to 16 days, DHL takes 1 to 4 days, FedEx takes 1 to 5 days, and UPS takes 1 to 5 days as well.

2. Air Freight

Air Freight is quite like express freight. However, your regular air freight shipment won’t be a priority because you did not pay the extra fees. There is a wide range in shipping times with air freight. Anywhere between 7 and 15 days.

3. Sea Freight

Lately, we’ve seen numerous port closures in China due to the coronavirus. This has had a domino effect on all aspects of shipping, but it has harmed sea freight the most. Nowadays, Sea freight to the west coast of US is 15+ days. Sea freight to the east coast is going to be about 30+ days. Get your business a professional China freight forwarder to book space for your goods to make sure it will not be affected by season, holiday or other events.

In case you want to ship sea freight to the east coast, you might be better off receiving your goods from a port on the west coast and sending them to your destination by truck or by rail.

/ By TJ China Freight / China Freight News • International • Logistic • sea freight forwarder • Shipping

How Can Find Professional Freight Forwarders in China?

How can overseas buyers find professional forwarding services in China? Based on China’s complete industrial chain, overseas buyers can quickly find the materials or goods they want in China, and they are well-equipped with high quality and low price. After the goods are purchased, they need to be shipped back by international logistics. At this time, we need to cooperate with the freight forwarding company.

In particular, professional freight forwarders can rely on professional industry experience and services to help us save time and effort to complete commodity procurement. But there are many freight forwarding companies in China, how can we cooperate with a professional company? If the overseas purchaser is in China, he can find a reliable freight forwarder through online search + door-to-door visit. If the overseas purchaser is in a foreign country, he can only learn about it through the Internet and choose a freight forwarder.

How can overseas buyers find professional freight forwarders in China?

  1. People in China

Overseas buyers in China can search for freight forwarders by entering keywords through the browser. I believe everyone is good at this. After finding several freight forwarders, we can use some methods to filter out some freight forwarders that we think are unreliable. For example, low-quality advertisements, poor official or no official website, etc., can basically be ruled out.

After finding several freight forwarders, you can visit them to learn about the company’s scale, facilities and equipment, and efficiency, and you can get lower transportation prices based on your own cargo volume advantages. In this way, we can kill two birds with one stone, not only can we find reliable freight forwarders, but we can also enjoy lower delivery prices.

  1. People are abroad

When people are abroad, it is more complicated, and the rate of misjudgment will be higher, but we can reduce the risk of selection in some ways. Similarly, we need to screen some companies that we think are more reliable on the Internet, and then we need to understand the reliability of the company through multiple aspects.

Including enterprise scale, industry experience, service team, facilities and equipment, service capabilities, Internet word-of-mouth, after-sales service, etc. Below, we will introduce how to judge these aspects and their functions.

Enterprise scale: Due to the inherent reasons of capital chain or immature operation, small enterprises have a high probability of bad freight forwarders and unscrupulous freight forwarders. Therefore, we need to choose freight forwarders with a certain scale. Too big is not good, too big freight forwarding companies mainly focus on big customers, and do not take care of small and medium-sized customers in place.

Service team: A perfect service team can provide all kinds of perfect and professional logistics services. From the perspective of the freight forwarding industry, the company has at least six basic teams: customer service, business, documentary, operation, warehouse management, and parcel collection. Some companies have other service teams, such as the operation team, IT team, bill making/posting team, etc. of Taijia Logistics.

Facilities and equipment: Facilities and equipment are closely related to logistics services. In terms of hardware, including trailers, sorting equipment, site facilities and office equipment, everyone needs to understand. In terms of software, it mainly depends on whether the enterprise has its own logistics management system. With a logistics management system, it can directly place orders online and handle the corresponding logistics business.

Service ability: Everyone needs to judge from the service ability of each logistics service team, such as the customer service team’s answering efficiency, service attitude, processing efficiency, logistics problem-solving ability, etc.

Internet word-of-mouth: In the Internet age, everyone can express their voice on the Internet, so we can find the recent evaluation of the company from the Internet, so as to provide a basis for our judgment in choosing a freight forwarding company.

After-sales service: Find out whether the company has perfect after-sales service and whether it can compensate according to industry standards. In addition, for more expensive goods, whether to sign another compensation agreement is also very critical.

How can overseas buyers find a professional freight forwarder in China? The above two situations you have encountered will introduce how to find a professional freight forwarder in China. TJ CHINA FREIGHT has been focusing on freight forwarding for eleven years. It is a well-known logistics service company headquartered in Shenzhen. It can provide comprehensive and high-quality transnational logistics services for domestic and foreign customers.

/ By TJ China Freight / China Freight News • International • Logistic • sea freight forwarder

Analysis of Factors Influencing the Maritime Market to 2023

Compared to previous years, the second half of the year is the peak season for the freight market, as the end of the year is the peak season for sales and many retailers stock up well in advance for the big day.

Earlier this year, many expected this period to put additional pressure on ships and container space due to the typical surge in freight volumes. However, this surge did not happen in June as expected and July got off to a weaker start than many in the industry had thought. This means that – as of the date of publication – there is available container space and sea freight rates on some trade routes have even started to fall.

While the past few years have made it very clear that the market can change at any time, there are several potential reasons for lower-than-expected freight volumes. However, there are other factors to be aware of when planning upcoming shipments. Importers should work with their logistics providers to discuss the current situation and plan accordingly.

What is affecting China sea shipping market?

Although shipping space is currently not as tight as it has been in recent months, importers need to understand why this is the case and how the market is likely to be affected in the coming months.

Russia-Ukraine war  

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine could lead to delays for vessels in the future. Changes in consumer demand may also lead to changes in European freight volumes as the situation develops.

Port backlogs

As the global pandemic begins, the Port of Long Beach is making headlines with a record number of ships waiting to unload containers. This backlog has led many importers and their logistics partners to ship their cargo through other US ports, primarily on the East Coast. Those East Coast ports are now experiencing delays while ships are moving more smoothly through West Coast ports (although volumes are still high).

Rebalancing the normal flow of containers may take some time and could lead to other problems if the volume of cargo increases further.

China’s blockade

Blockades may occur with little warning as China has taken strict measures to prevent Covid levels from rising. When these measures come into effect, temporary factory closures, reduced shipments from factories to ports and lower factory productivity due to worker sickness could all lead to lower export volumes. Such reductions may make it easier to find space, but as we saw last year, prolonged or frequent blockades can lead to containers being stalled at ports and shipping companies may issue significant stoppages to help offset costs.

Reduced demand for household goods

Cargo on the TBED (Trans-Pacific Eastbound) trade lane consists mainly of household goods such as furniture and decorative items. With inflation on the rise, many shops dealing with backlogs and people spending less on goods, there does not seem to be as much demand for these goods as in recent years. This may be one reason why there is currently more available ship space than experts are predicting for this time of year. However, if demand picks up, capacity could be tight again.

There are many factors affecting the transport industry, but these are the main ones, so let’s hope that these next problems are alleviated.

/ By TJ China Freight / China Freight News • International • Logistic • Shipping • Transport

Things You May Be Interested In About Amazon FBA

What does Amazon FBA refer to?

  1. The full name of Amazon FBA is (Fulfillment by amazon), which literally means fulfillment by Amazon. In fact, this service launched by Amazon is very simple, that is, the seller will prepare the goods in advance to the warehouses built by Amazon around the world. When a seller has an order , Amazon performs follow-up work such as packaging, labeling, shipping, and customer service on behalf of the seller.
  2. That is to say: after a foreign buyer places an order, if the goods are shipped in China, the timeliness will be very poor, and the buyer may not receive the goods for more than a week. In order to improve the service quality and level, you can use the FBA freight forwarderservice provided by Amazon, and according to the sales forecast, first ship the goods to foreign countries in large quantities by sea, air or international express, and then enter the Amazon FBA warehouse. In this way, once a foreign buyer places an order, it can be shipped directly from the FBA warehouse. For example, after an American buyer places an order, the goods will be sent directly from the American FBA warehouse. This is equivalent to the domestic express delivery in the United States, and the timeliness and quality are improved promote!
  3.  “FBA first journey”. FBA first journey refers to domestic shipments (by sea, air, international express… …) Until the goods enter the Amazon FBA warehouse, the period of logistics and transportation that can be put on the shelves for sale, as well as a series of related businesses such as customs clearance and tax payment.Amazon fba

(1) Sending the goods to Amazon, that is, the first step of FBA sellers is usually the only step that needs to be operated by themselves when doing FBA. Sending the goods from their own warehouse to Amazon’s warehouse requires labeling and other operations.

(2) Amazon Warehouse Commodities. After the goods arrive at the Amazon warehouse destination, the seller needs to register the goods with Amazon and store them in the Amazon warehouse for short-term storage.

(3) Amazon picking and packaging. When the seller receives the customer’s order, Amazon will sort out the seller’s goods from the inventory according to the order and pack them, waiting for delivery.

(4) Products delivered by Amazon Amazon will be responsible for the delivery of products from the FBA warehouse, and will also be responsible for the consumer’s return/exchange activity requirements.

Should you choose a freight forwarder from China or the country of your destination?

Regardless of the mode of transportation from China to the country of your destination, it is always best to choose a freight agent from China because the Chinese freight forwarder has the advantages of language and geography, becoming the ideal choice for overseas transportation. This will make the shipping process faster, will save you time, and the shipping price will be cheaper than your country’s shipping agent. In the shipping process, you will also need a Chinese warehouse for storage and preparation.

An experienced Chinese freight forwarder will have these abilities: he will be fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese; it will have a thorough knowledge of the Chinese business culture, experience in managing Chinese suppliers, category and sourcing process experience, quality control experience, audit experience, and logistics experience. Local forwarders (from the country of your destination) will often have to contact another agent in China to handle the picking, preparation, storage, and customs clearance, which will lead to higher costs and time.

/ By TJ China Freight / Cargo • Delivery • Logistic • Moving • sea freight forwarder • Shipping • Transport

Guide to the Rules for Importing Dangerous Goods From China to the USA | 2023

The transportation of dangerous goods always requires high requirements, after all, its chemical nature is more specific and those who do not understand it can easily fall into danger, therefore the United States has specifically enacted the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act.

  1. The Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (HMTA) has been implemented in order to counteract the risks to survival, property and the surrounding environment.

The US Department of Transportation regulates the entry of dangerous goods. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, hazardous materials destined for the United States or in transit within the United States must be checked for follow-up policies.

– The name of the hazardous material on the consignment note, bill of lading or manifest must be a detailed chemical and technical name, not a generic name.

– Shippers should provide full information on emergency handling of destructive cargo to the US Port Authority in advance through the service, i.e. Dangerous Goods Safety Data Card, or provide emergency handling instructions to the US Department of Transportation.

– The shipper’s emergency telephone number must be stated on the consignment note, bill of lading and manifest. And there must be a person on duty 24 hours a day, regardless of holidays, available to answer enquiries from the US side.

– There are a number of factors that apply to shipping from China to the USA using containers: the maximum weight of a container shipment is 38,000 pounds for 20 feet; the maximum weight for 40 feet is 42,000 pounds. The contents must be well padded and strapped; damaged goods inside need to be marked with visible symptoms and markings. The same applies to the outer surface of the carton.

New York and Los Angeles are ports that export more dangerous goods to the USA. Other towns to visit more often are Chicago and Boston. This is a complex and specialist technique and guidelines or guidance must be followed at every step.

  1. Dangerous goods considerations in road transport

Road transport is inevitable in the whole technique of transporting goods. We all know that it is usually the trucks that carry the goods to their final destination. On this road, there are several key points if you want to ensure the protection of dangerous goods.

  • Loading and unloading. It is important that handlers take care to protect themselves and follow strict handling practices. As I said above, most dangerous goods must be protected from any impact or influence to avoid explosion.
  • Parking. Cars or vehicles carrying dangerous goods are prohibited from being parked in general public places, including colleges and scenic areas.
  • Cleaning. Cars or vans that have been used to transport dangerous goods must be well wiped down and disinfected after unloading.
  • Packaging. Prior to shipment, packaging should be carried out in a safe manner, taking into account the nature of the risk item, the distance to be transported, street conditions, etc. Packaging should be strong and rigid, with clean, standardized, problem-free identifiable markings on the packaging.

It is important to understand the regulations related to the transportation of dangerous goods and to strictly follow the relevant regulations. At the same time, if you hire a good Chinese freight forwarder – tj china freight will get twice the result with half the effort