“From China to Latvia – Simple Guide
Importing from China to Latvia is a multi-billion dollar industry. Every year, people buy thousands of products from China. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know to get started.
TJ chinafreight is big enough to handle any shipping job, but small enough for your needs. Our goal is to tailor transport solutions for all types of customers. Whether it’s sea freight, rail freight or air freight from China, we’re here to help you get started today.
Air Freight from China to Latvia:
The biggest advantage of air freight is its speed. Items leaving China can arrive in Latvia within 7-12 days. This is the best option for high-value items as they take less time in transit. However, with this speed, there are some tradeoffs.
Air freight is usually more expensive than rail or sea. It’s also better for small items, as airlines have weight and volume restrictions. Air freight also uses more fuel than alternatives, so if the carbon footprint is an issue for you and your company’s ethics, you’ll want to choose ocean or rail freight.
Keep in mind that air freight usually only involves delivering the goods to the airport in Latvia, not to the final destination of the inventory. Additional shipping facilities must be provided to deliver your shipment to its final destination. The exception is, of course, if you have arranged door-to-door shipping. As mentioned above, door-to-door delivery allows arranging the transportation of goods from the airport to the final destination, as well as customs clearance through Latvian customs.
Train Rail Freight from China to Latvia
Rail freight is a pleasant medium between sea and air. In general, rail freight is about half the price of air freight, but is about 40% faster than ocean freight, mitigating the major drawbacks of both. Using a faster method than sea freight allows you to reduce your inventory in Latvia because you can ship smaller quantities more frequently. This also allows you to tailor your inventory to your customers’ changing needs through smaller, faster, and more frequent shipments.
This method is versatile; it can transport pallets, cartons, crates, temperature-controlled items, frozen and fresh food, pharmaceuticals, and other items that require special care and handling. Rail freight can also handle products of all sizes.
However, rail freight has limitations. High value and dangerous goods cannot be shipped by rail freight, so you need to consider other options if these terms apply to your item.
Rail freight by train is divided into two types: Full Container Load (FCL) and Less than Container Load (LCL).
Full Container Loads (FCLs): These are shipments in which all items in a container are owned by one company. This is a good option when you’re shipping enough volume that you can fill the entire container yourself. This applies to bulk items and bulk products. This is the most cost-effective option if you’re filling the entire container.
LCL (LCL): Items from multiple shippers are packed into a single container. This is the way to go when you’re shipping too small a quantity to fill the entire container. This allows for smaller, more adaptable inventories.
Shipping from China to Latvia
Sea freight is the most common way to ship items from China to Latvia, mainly because of its versatility and reliability. While rail and air freight have restrictions on what they can carry, almost everything can be shipped by sea, including very large and heavy items (such as cars). The main disadvantage of sea freight is its timetable. Other shipping methods deliver within days, while ocean shipping takes weeks. Items typically take 35-50 days to reach their destination, depending on the type of shipment and specific departure and arrival ports.
Ocean freight operates under the same FCL and LCL container system as train rail freight. Consider container size when choosing shipping size and getting a price estimate, as prices for FCL and LCL are different. We can help with commercial invoices, customs clearance and insurance for your shipments.
How much is the shipping cost from China to Latvia?
Shipping from China to Latvia depends on:
The distance covered by the cargo ship: – The longer the distance, the higher the rate you pay for the cargo
Cargo Weight: – The heavier the cargo, the higher the rate you pay.
Type of cargo: – Different types of cargo will be charged different rates
The type of shipping you choose for your shipment: – Your shipment will be processed according to the amount you paid.
The same applies to air freight, although it is faster than sea freight.
In this case, you may pay more for the speed with which the product is delivered.
Note that the company shipping your shipment will charge different rates than other companies.
In general, the shipping cost from China to Latvia is uncertain and you may encounter variations.
The best way to solve this problem is to find a freight forwarder to handle all the shipping logistics.
He/she will calculate everything and give you a quote for your shipment by sea or air.
Latvia bans and restricts imports
The list of restricted and prohibited imports in Latvia is divided into three main categories:
List of toxic chemicals in the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction (CWC).
List of weapons, weapons and ammunition.
List of dual-use items.
Some commodities include acids, antiques, animal skins, biological products, corrosives, flammables, infectious substances, oxidants, poisons, and works of art. In addition to this, other commodities include radioactive materials, gemstones, seeds, tobacco, cosmetic paints, perfumes, graphite, gases and gas samples. The list also includes computer software, diplomatic mail, furs, food, ice blue, ice wet, ice dry and wine, haze.
Latvia does not allow the use of timber and logs from Liberia for poles, wood chips, fence posts, floor timber and bed sheets.
Customs Clearance Process in China
After the goods arrive at the freight forwarder, he will organize how the goods get on the ship.
Before that, he has to comply with the law, especially the Chinese customs department.
You can choose freight forwarders, shipping companies, and customs brokers to handle the customs clearance process.
This will involve providing the necessary paperwork such as commercial invoices, CIFs and packing lists.
All documents must clearly state the country name, such as “”People’s Republic of China””.
You can quickly go through customs clearance procedures at any customs in the country.
Should I choose a freight forwarder in China or Latvia?
When importing from China, it is always best to choose a freight forwarder in China, regardless of the shipping method. China freight forwarders are ideal for overseas shippers because it has language and geographical advantages, and you also need a warehouse for storage and preparation. An experienced Chinese freight forwarder will have the following competencies: Fluency in Mandarin and Cantonese, a thorough understanding of Chinese business culture, experience in managing Chinese suppliers, experience in category and procurement process, experience in quality control, experience in auditing, and experience in logistics. Local Freight forwarders (from Latvia) usually need to contact other forwarders in China to handle picking, preparation, storage and customs clearance.
TJ-chinafreight is your right choice, with more than 20 years of experienced staff adhering to the mission of “”we deliver faster, safer and easier””, to provide customers with high-quality, professional and fast logistics solutions.”
