“China Shipping Guide
Shipping is the largest shipping method for international import and export business. Competitive prices and a variety of options make ocean shipping the first choice for global trade. When it comes to shipping from China, businesses need experienced freight forwarders like our team at TJ China freight who are familiar with shipping for companies of all sizes and to many countries. As a freight forwarder in China, we hope that you will benefit from the knowledge and experience shared in this article.
Shipping from China: The Process of International Logistics
International logistics involves planning and managing the flow of goods in a company’s supply chain from procurement to customer purchase. Part of the process involves crossing at least one international border.
The following figure is a graphical representation of the whole process: NO-1 (insert picture)
trade term
Incoterms – a term for general terms of trade. There are four Incoterms when applied to purchasing goods from China. Each incoterms is assigned a code that relates to how far the supplier ships the goods.
The codes for these Incoterms are as follows:
EXW – Shipping to Factory/Manufacturer
FOB – Shipping to ports near China
CIF – Shipping to a port near your country
DAP/DDU – Transfer to your location code can be further divided into two categories:
EXW/FOB Category – Buyers can use your own freight forwarder and contact them directly for payment.
Other categories – Buyers use their own shipping company, which is subsidized by your company.
FCL or LCL by sea to China
You must choose between Full Container Load (FCL) or Less than Container Load (LCL) – LCL before completing the procedure for shipping to China. FCL will allow you to use only one container to store your cargo without sharing it. This is especially true if the cargo volume allows you to fill a 20-foot container or a 40-foot container, as each container can hold 10 or 21 standard US pallets, respectively. Standard US pallets are 47.24″” long x 39.37″” wide.
This way, you will make more use of your shipping costs as full container shipping starts to be more profitable when you are more than half full; moreover, if you want to avoid any damage or damage if you share the container with other traders or contamination, you will also benefit from a full case load.
In other cases, “”LCL”” — sharing a container — allows you to save on shipping costs in case you don’t need enough volume to fill a container, or you’re not concerned about the risks associated with sharing containers. This approach involves sharing the container with other cargo belonging to other traders, but you only pay for the space your cargo uses, saving you significantly on shipping costs.
In order to determine which shipment type is best for your business, you need to consider the packaging your shipment will require in transit, and if you choose LCL, is it better for your shipment to use a courier or decide if you can use the whole package? box. Major Ports Each port charges differently for FCL and LCL containers. The distribution of Chinese ports is as follows:
SHANGHAI – This major city is the most economically developed. From where it stands, it serves the inland provinces through river ports along the waterways that extend from it.
Shenzhen – This port has access to Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta, making it another important port in southern China.
Ningbo-Zhousan – This port serves both Ningbo, which has good links with central and western China, and Zhejiang, a wealthy manufacturing region.
HONG KONG – Hong Kong has rapidly expanded into a “”Far East International Shipping Services Hub””, with 340 weekly container liner services connecting around 470 destinations around the world.
Guangzhou – Historically an important trade center in China, the port is striving to become an international freight hub on the Maritime Silk Road. It is a port of choice for importers, exporters, 3PLs and ocean carriers with reduced port and berthing fees.
Qingdao – the most important port in northern China. It is adjacent to the Bohai Bay area it serves.
TIANJIN – The port’s capacity is second only to Qingdao Port in North China. The port’s container handling business is developing more domestic and international routes.
Xiamen – The port is located at the mouth of the Jiulong River, with more than 68 shipping routes, reaching more than 50 countries including Taiwan, Kaohsiung, etc.
Dalian – Located in the northernmost ice-free port in China, the port is the largest port in Northeast China, serving seaports in East Asia, North Asia and the Pacific coast.
Is ocean shipping always the cheapest option?
Which shipping method is suitable and choosing the right service often creates a lot of questions for customers.
Your package is equal to 1 cubic meter or even less? Would you like to know which shipping service is the most cost-effective option for your shipment?
In this case, it is important to note that the minimum weight/volume charged for LCL shipments is 1 cubic meter or 1 ton.
Many people tend to think that sea freight is always cheaper than air freight. But in practice, express freight tends to offer a more competitive solution for the smallest quantities.
In general, billable air shipments weighing less than 100kg are recommended, sometimes even 200kg for some destinations.
Sea packing
When choosing packaging materials, it is important to double-check the types of packaging available. You need to be aware of import restrictions, such as quarantine requirements in the destination country.
When you package your product for export, you need to consider the following factors:
damaged
weight
moisture and theft
How the product is packaged depends on the destination and shipping method. Your packaging needs to be designed in a way that it can withstand pressure and repeated handling. When packing by air, lighter packing materials must be used. Regular boxes with no logo or brand name must be used to avoid theft.
in conclusion
I hope I can clear the shipping issue from China. Please feel free to contact us and we will deal with it as soon as possible.”
