The answer starts with understanding how big the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is—and how that affects shipping times from different ports.
How big is China? It covers an area of 9,597,000,000 square kilometers. This is almost 42 times the size of the UK (242,495 sq km). Also, with the crow (or China’s national bird, the red-crowned crane) flying, the distance between China’s major industrial areas is equally impressive. For example, it starts from Tianjin in the north and ends at Shenzhen Port in the south, with a total length of 1869 kilometers. The sea voyage between the two ports, circumnavigating the coast and passing through the busy waters of the Yellow Sea and East China Sea, is 3,176 kilometers in length! That’s before your container ship continues 11,000 nautical miles to Southampton or Felixstowe.
How long does it take to ship from China to the UK?
Shipping from China to the UK can take up to six weeks (or 42 days) depending on the distance and type of product. However, most of the time is spent waiting for packages at the port. For most countries, the costs associated with international logistics are rising every year with little return in terms of efficiency or speed. The best way to reduce these costs is through the automation of warehouses and distribution centers. This has helped increase waiting times for shipping between countries, and the UK and China appear to be working together to make their shipping methods more efficient.
ocean freight
From Guangzhou, Shenzhen or Hong Kong to the UK, the sea journey usually takes three to four weeks. You can easily add another two weeks for door-to-door shipping, depending on the exact origin within the port of arrival in the People’s Republic of China and the United Kingdom.
From Shanghai or Ningbo, about halfway up the coast of China, add another week for door-to-door shipping. For ports in northern China, such as Qingdao or Tianjin/Xingang (serving Beijing), you really should allow up to eight weeks from door to door.
South China (Guangzhou/Shenzhen) to UK by sea
It takes 21 to 25 days on the water and 7 to 14 days for the process in both countries. So the total shipping time is about 6 weeks.
Central China (Shanghai/Ningbo) to UK by sea
It takes 26 to 31 days on the water and another 7 or 14 days in the process in both countries. So the total shipping time is about 7 weeks.
North China (Qingdao/Tianjin/Xingang) to UK by sea
It takes 31 to 36 days on the water and another 7 or 14 days in the process in both countries. So the total shipping time is about 8 weeks.
August 23, 2021 news categories. information
Chinese shipping is becoming an important part of the global economy and shipping industry. As one of the largest shipping industries in the world, it is also the most competitive and challenging market. China’s economy has been growing steadily for decades, so the country has a very large and diverse export market, largely driven by consumers seeking more affordable goods and better quality products to improve their living standards . This has resulted in China becoming a major country for trade.
Meanwhile, the UK has been the main shipping destination for Chinese companies exporting goods to Europe, North America and the rest of Asia. With China taking on a greater economic role in global trade, it is important for UK companies to understand how to handle imports from the Chinese market.
How long does it take to ship from China to the UK?
Shipping from China to the UK can take up to six weeks (or 42 days) depending on the distance and type of product. However, most of the time is spent waiting for packages at the port. For most countries, the costs associated with international logistics are rising every year with little return in terms of efficiency or speed. The best way to reduce these costs is through the automation of warehouses and distribution centers. This has helped increase waiting times for shipping between countries, and the UK and China appear to be working together to make their shipping methods more efficient.
Why does it take so long to ship from China?
When it comes to shipping, China is not just a country, but an entire region that includes multiple countries. As more consumers shop online and more companies need to ship goods to international markets, China’s package volumes are already overwhelmed. This slows international shipments because they cannot handle all traffic passing through their borders, causing delays in the arrival and exportation of goods to and from other countries as well.
One solution some companies use is to outsource their shipping needs overseas. This saves the business time and money by avoiding delays and having a better chance of getting the product by the desired date.
Air freight from China to UK
A substantially similar online tool exists for aircraft (Flightradar24). However, this is less useful as the flight time from China is much shorter than the sea voyage. It’s also harder to determine which flight your cargo is on.
It’s more useful to know if the value, weight and urgency of your delivery justifies air, port-to-port transit time (about 3-8 days) and door-to-door transit time (about 6-16 days) than Container ships are much faster. However, if you want cheap shipping from China to your UK destination, air freight may not be your best option…
China to UK land transport (rail)
In 2017, with the start of weekly service from China to the UK on the Yiwu-London railway line, we gained the option of freight transport from China to the UK.
From Yiwu in East China to Bajin in East London, the typical travel time is around 18 days (door-to-door time is longer). This attempt to revive the Silk Road from China and Europe took far less time than shipping. What’s more, it has no cost of shipping goods halfway around the world.
How long does it take for UK customs to clear customs from China?
If you are planning to order from China, you may be wondering how long it will take for UK customs to clear your package. The process can take up to five to six weeks.
The time it takes for UK customs depends on the contents of the package. For example, if there are no projects that require a license, the process may only take two weeks. However, if some items in the package require you to not have a license or permit, it can take anywhere from six months to five years. This process is always changing to suit the needs of both countries. So UK Customs may be able to process packages between five days or six weeks, depending on the circumstances.
