What Are the Advantages of Buying Products from China

Import from China Guide

For beginners who don’t know what to buy & sell, have 0 experience about importing from China, you can get all questions answered in this tutorial. (10 video courses included)

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Step 10.Shipping From China to USA.

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Goods can either be shipped via ocean or air. The following section will help you get aware of different shipping methods.

1.Ocean/Sea Freight Shipping to USA from China

When you hear someone say “shipping of goods”, you are most likely to assume that the products are being brought via sea.

And this is exactly what happens in the sea freight shipping method. The method in question has been widely regarded for over 20 years now.Having a freight forwarder bring your goods to you via sea is recommended in case the shipment volume is high.

Definition of Sea Freight Shipping: As the title suggests, the said type of shipping refers to the procedure in which materials, goods, merchandises and cargo are transported from one destination to other over the sea.

This method of shipping has been in practice for hundreds of years now. It’s safe to say that sea freight shipping has a positive impact on the global economy.

The procedure followed by a sea freight for shipping goods from China to USA: Basically, what happens is that the freight forwarder asks the shipper to confirm and provide certain details including the shipping method (FCL or LCL).

Intended Incoterms, essential documents, payment as well as the associated delivery methods. For an FCL method, the following process is followed:

Pickup -> Drayage -> Clearance & then Shipping

And the flow of an LCL shipping process is as follows:

Pickup -> Carry-in & Inspection -> Storage & Packing -> Custom Clearance and Shipping -> Unloading (Destination)

A preferred method of shipping from China to US: Many people and even you should opt for sea freight shipping, since the perks it offers are quite impressive.

The method in question is affordable and comes in handy in case the volume of shipment is significantly high (heavier than 150 kg). Although sea freight takes quite long to import from China to USA, it can get every type of product on board.

Container and Shipping Types: Containers are normally divided into three types i.e. 20’GP (20 feet general purpose), 40’GP (40 feet general purpose) and 40’HC (40 feet high cube).

20’GP is suitable for carrying heavy shipment, while the 40’GP type is more capable of transporting spacious goods, despite the maximum load capacity of both types being the same.

You can go for LCL (Less than Container Load) and have your shipment share space with other packages in the container. Or, you can pick FCL (Full Container Load) and have the entire container to yourself.

Deciding the right Packaging for Sea Freight Shipping: For stacking parcels and cartons, pallets are commonly used. You should hope for your pallets to be closely packed into the container.

Pallet Loading Height, Load Weight, Container Space and Unloading Requirements are essential factors that help in the selection of the right kind of pallet.

Moreover, as the shipment from China to USA can take around a month to arrive at the destination, it is important to ensure that the packaging is done in a way that the goods remain protected under all conditions.

2.Air Freight Shipping from China to USA

While this approach wasn’t quite common in the beginning, it amassed recognition over time. Now, countless products collectively weighing millions of tons are transported via air every year.

Definition of Air Freight Shipping: As per the title, this mode involves the use of an aircraft to transfer products from one place to another.

Both commercial as well as chartered airlines can be used for shipping goods, as long as the routes and destination allow the carrier to land or fly smoothly.

Why should you go for Air freight shipping? You should opt for this mode if you would like to have your cargo delivered in a relatively short amount of time.

It is an ideal method for carrying cargoes that are low in terms of volume and are taken from city to city. Additionally, marginal handling and improved security are other perks of using air freight.

Air Shipping Cargo: Suitable for shipping products that are prestigious (value-wise) or need to be delivered on an urgent basis. Such products include pharmaceuticals, perishables, electronics, jewelry etc.

Generally, two types of cargoes are used in air freight shipping. General Cargoes carry electronics, pharmaceuticals, jewelry and similar expensive items. Special Cargoes, on the other hand, are tasked with carrying perishable or hazardous items.

The special cargoes cannot be accommodated in every other airline. They have to be thoroughly inspected and make sure of certain requirements.

It should be noted that air freight shipping costs more than sea freight shipping. However, speed and other perks offered by the former are worth the extra price!

3.Courier Service Shipping from China to US

Definition of Courier Service: Offered by courier companies, this service involves the transportation of cargoes from one destination to another in the quickest possible time. If you want your ordered items to arrive from China to USA in days instead of weeks, choose this service!

The Courier Shipping Process from China to USA: You will be glad to find out that the process followed by major courier shipping services doesn’t require too much from your end. Although it is a bit expensive, these services handle everything from documentation to customs clearance. So, you don’t have to worry about the technicalities.

Courier providers offer door-to-door deliveries.

Major couriers in China: FedEx, DHL, UPS, TNT and China Post are among the most sought after courier companies for transporting cargoes from China to USA.

4.Shipping from China to USA: The Element of Time

Freight forwarders have to take numerous factors into account while shipping to US from China. A shipping mode that is cheap in cost will usually take more time to arrive at the destination.On the other hand, a comparatively expensive shipping mode will get the products shipped in lesser time. In the end, you have to decide for yourself the ideal way to get your goods delivered to you.

-Time taken by an Air Freight for shipping goods from China to USA

It’s pretty understandable that air freight is quite faster than sea freight. Still, the mode in question isn’t the fastest, thanks to some technical air freight operations. Courier service takes the cake when it comes to being the fastest service for shipping from China to USA.

East Coast: It can take a standard air freight between 4 and 5 days to ship products from China to the East Coast of America.

West Coast: It can take a standard air freight between 2 and 3 days to ship products from China to the West Coast of America.

-Time taken by a Sea Freight for shipping goods from China to USA

Sea Freight Shipping is a cost-friendly option for shipping goods in large volumes. However, it isn’t a quick mode of shipping and is in fact, the slowest.So, you should only go for this option if your ordered goods can stand the test of a couple of weeks’ time.

A.Recognized Chinese Ports

Shanghai Port: The city of Shanghai is situated at the tip of the Yangtze River delta. The Shanghai Port is accessible even by China’s inner provinces.

The availability of numerous manufacturing factories in the surrounding provinces makes this port one of the bests for shipping to USA from China.

Shenzhen Port: A highly essential port that not only serves as the gateway to Honk Kong, but also links China’s remote areas to the world.

Ningbo-Zhoushan Port: It is one of the busiest ports, not just in China but throughout the world. It handles millions of tons of cargoes on an annual basis.

Hong Kong Port: This port prioritizes China’s exports and imports. You will be surprised to know that the Honk Kong Port offers around 340 container liner services every week. Not only that, but it also links to nearly 470 destinations per week.

Guangzhou Port: This port doesn’t need any introduction. Situated in the Pearl River Delta, the port in question has been in use for trade purposes in China since the Silk Road trading.

Fast forward to the present day, the Guangzhou Port is now is all set to become a key port for global trading purposes.

Qingdao Port: A major player in Northern China, the Qingdao Port is the largest port in the country (capacity-wise) and is known for shipping goods that mostly fall under the automation, data and e-commerce umbrellas.

Tianjin: When it comes to capacity, Tianjin is only left behind by the Qingdao Port. As more and more domestic and international shipping routes get added, the shipping business of Tianjin is bound to experience a smooth growth.

Xiamen Port: This port connects to more than 50 countries. Xiamen is located in Jiulong River’s mouth and boasts more than 68 shipping routes.

Dalian Port: Situated in China’s most northern area, Dalian Port connects to over 160 countries in addition to being the largest port in North East China.

B.Recognized American Ports

Port of Los Angeles: It has a reserved spot in the top 20 busiest ports in the world (#19), with respect to container volume.

Long Beach Port: Situated close to the Port of Los Angeles, the Long Beach Port records yearly trades of around $180 billion. When it comes to container shipping from China to the west coast of USA, this port plays an active part.

New York & New Jersey Port: It is among the busiest ports on the Eastern seaboard. The reason behind it is that a large chunk of consumer trades in the world continue to happen through this port.

Georgia Ports: We are referring to North America’s two highly essential ports (Savannah and Brunswick). While the Port of Savannah features the largest single-terminal facility and the largest presence of import distribution centers on the USEC, the Port of Brunswick is widely known for being an ideal port for trading related to the auto industry.

Seattle-Tacoma: The Seattle and Tacoma ports in Washington are adamant on taking over as the top handlers of America’s international container volumes in the coming years.

Port of Virginia: It is smartly located and this is the reason behind its immense popularity. It shares connections with railway as well as partnerships with the Eastern seaboard’s other ports.

Port of Houston: This port boasts an immensely large area along with advanced equipment that makes it easier to unload containers.

South Carolina ports: Charleston and Georgetown are the two ports that can be found in South Carolina. The former has five public terminals and is known for handling motor vehicle shipments, containers and cruise ships.

Port of Oakland: It is responsible for handling around 99% of all container shipments that are either entering or exiting Northern California. It connects to two railways and has three container terminals.

Port of Miami: A highly important port, situated in Florida. It plays a major role in global trade and connects North and South America.

C.Sea freight shipping from China to USA: The Lead Time

It usually takes around 30-40 days for sea freight shipping to transport your products from China to USA. There are several factors that contribute to this extended amount of shipping time.

Some of these factors are custom delays, port congestion, varying weather, acknowledgement of necessary documentation etc.

-Time taken by Courier shipping for transporting goods from China to USA

Courier shipping is undoubtedly one of the fastest modes of shipping for bringing your goods from China to USA.

This service is a must-avail in case the cargo is packed with items that are either too expensive or need to be delivered as quickly as possible.

Average Courier Shipping Time from China to USA: DHL, FedEx and UPS are known for having the best average courier shipping times in this regard i.e. 3.5, 4.6 and 5 days respectively.EMS can take around 15.7 days, while Ali Express Standard Shipping can take close to 20.6 days to get your products to America from China.

China/Hong Kong Regular Post: Expect a very slow service if you have opted for Regular Post. However, you can utilize what many refer to as an “Express” service that can cut down a week from the standard delivery time.Generally, you will have to wait for around a week or two (if not more) before you can be notified that your ordered items have entered USA.

-Cost of Shipping from China to US

While importing from China lets you get a hold of premium quality goods at affordable prices, there are certain aspects you need to consider first. These aspects influence the total importation cost. Yes, we are referring to the shipping costs!

A.Composition of Sea Freight Cost

There are numerous factors that help determine the sea freight shipping cost. These factors include the cargo, shipment weight and size, shipment time as well as location and destination.

B.Air Freight Cost Composition

You should be aware by now that air freight shipping from China to USA can be quite expensive. However, it delivers goods at a fascinating pace.

Like sea freight, the cost of this mode of shipping is dependent on a number of factors as well such as Volume and Chargeable weight (the heavier number between dimensional weight and actual weight).

C.Import Tax, Custom Duty and Tariff

Import/export codes, tariff codes, customs codes or simply, HS Codes help in classifying goods via unique 6-10 digit classification numbers. The codes can be found on HS Tool.

Also, you will need the HTS-US (Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States) before you can calculate the custom duty and import tax.

-Tips for saving time while Shipping from China to USA

While it has been stated that air freight shipping is faster than ocean freight and that courier shipping is the fastest of all, there are some steps you can take to make sure that no delays occur because of you.

A.Preventing Time Delays In China

Even before your cargo is dispatched from China, you need to take care of some things. For starters, it’s always better to work with credible and experienced companies.

Companies with a firm reputation are aware of all the technicalities associated with the shipping process. This can contribute in hindering any sort of delays that can otherwise surface due to lack of awareness.

Also, you need to be fully aware of Chinese Holidays, as they have the potential to cause considerable shipment delays.

Chinese Holidays

B.Preventing Time Delays in USA

Even when your cargoes successfully reach USA, you can run into unexpected delays. To avoid those, always ensure that you have the required documents ready to submit upon the arrival of your goods.

Also, properly completing the Clearance paperwork can be a deciding factor when it comes to avoiding delays.

-Tips for Choosing the Right Freight Forwarder

There’s no doubt that you can choose from countless freight forwarders who can manage your cargo as it gets transported from China to USA.

However, not every forwarder is capable of doing your task. So, to make sure that the freight forwarder.

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Import from China Guide

For beginners who don’t know what to buy & sell, have 0 experience about importing from China, you can get all questions answered in this tutorial. (10 video courses included)

Start learning

Step 10. Choose the best shipping solution according to time & cost preference.

Home > How to import from China > Step 10

After completing the production, how to ship the products from China to you is the next important step, there are 6 common types of shipping methods:

Courier

Sea freight

Air freight

Railway freight for full container load

Sea/airfreight plus courier for eCommerce

Economic shipping for dropshipping (less than 2kg)

Courier for below 500kg

If the volume is below 500kg, you can choose courier, which is a service offered by big companies like FedEx, DHL, UPS, TNT. It only takes 5-7 days from China to the USA by courier, which is very fast.

The shipping costs vary from destination. Generally $6-7 per kilogram for shipping from China to North America and West of Europe. It’s cheaper to send to countries in Asia, and more expensive to other areas.

Air freight for above 500kg

In this case, you should choose air freight instead of courier. You need to provide related compliance certifications during the customs clearance process in the destination country. Although it is a bit more complicated than courier, you will save more by air freight than courier. That’s because the weight calculated by air freight is about 20% smaller than air courier.

For the same volume, the dimensional weight formula of air freight is length times width, times height, then divide 6,000, while for air courier this figure is 5,000. So if you’re shipping big-sized but light-weighted products, it’s about 34% cheaper to send by air freight.

Sea freight for over 2 CBM

Sea freight is a good option for these goods volumes. It’s about $100- $200/CBM to ship to areas near the west coast of the US, around $200-$300/CBM to areas adjacent to the east coast of the US and more than $300/CBM to the middle US. Generally, the total shipping cost of sea freight is about 85% lower than air courier.

During the international trade, with the increasing diversified need for shipping methods, apart from the above 3 ways, there are another three commonly used shipping ways, check my complete complete guide to learn more details.

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