Introduction
Shipping is often the surprise line item on a first China order. Buyers who quote the unit price forget freight; buyers who quote freight forget destination charges. The best defence is understanding the modes and getting an all-in quote before ordering.
This article covers the four main modes, their typical use cases, and the cost structure.
The Four Shipping Modes
1. Sea Freight
The default mode for most orders. Ships in a shared container (LCL — less than container load) or a dedicated container (FCL — full container load).
- Transit time: 25–45 days port-to-port, depending on route
- Cost: Lowest per unit for medium and large volumes
- Best for: Orders of 0.5 CBM or more, non-urgent goods
FCL becomes cheaper than LCL when the shipment fills roughly 12–15 CBM or more (thresholds vary by route).
2. Air Freight
Ships as cargo on scheduled airline flights. Handled by freight forwarders, not couriers.
- Transit time: 3–7 days airport-to-airport
- Cost: 4–8× sea freight per kg
- Best for: Urgent orders, high-value low-volume goods, seasonal deadlines
3. Express Courier (DHL, FedEx, UPS)
Door-to-door service for small shipments.
- Transit time: 3–5 days door-to-door
- Cost: Highest per kg, but includes customs clearance and delivery
- Best for: Samples, small parcels under 30–50 kg, initial testing shipments
4. Rail (China–Europe)
Rail service from China to European destinations.
- Transit time: 15–20 days
- Cost: Between sea and air, closer to sea
- Best for: European destinations where sea is too slow and air too expensive
What The Total Cost Actually Includes
An “$800 shipping quote” from a forwarder rarely covers everything. A complete cost view includes:
- Origin charges (pickup from factory, port handling, documentation)
- Main freight (sea, air, or rail leg)
- Destination charges (port fees, customs clearance, delivery)
- Duties and taxes at destination
- Any special charges (fumigation, insurance, remote area surcharge)
Ask forwarders for an all-in quote to a specific destination address. Compare like-for-like.
Choosing By Incoterm
The Incoterm on the purchase order determines who arranges which part.
- EXW — buyer arranges everything from factory
- FOB — supplier delivers to Chinese port; buyer takes over there
- CIF — supplier ships to destination port; buyer handles clearance and delivery
- DDP — supplier handles the entire chain including duties
Most experienced importers use FOB or CIF and appoint their own forwarder. EXW gives maximum control but requires local pickup coordination. DDP is simplest for the buyer but least transparent on cost.
Chinese New Year And Peak Season
Two windows disrupt normal shipping:
- Chinese New Year (late January or February): factories closed 2–4 weeks; shipping capacity tight for 2 weeks before and after
- Peak season (August–October): pre-Christmas volume tightens capacity and raises rates
Plan around these if delivery dates are firm.
FAQ
Should I use my forwarder or the supplier’s forwarder? An independent forwarder is generally more accountable to the buyer than one appointed by the supplier. For first orders, either works — for repeat volume, a dedicated forwarder relationship pays off.
Is shipping insurance worth it? For any shipment worth more than a few thousand dollars, yes. Insurance is typically 0.2–0.5% of shipment value.
How do I compare quotes fairly? Ask each forwarder for the same origin, destination, mode, and Incoterm — with all-in charges to the final delivery point.
Get Shipping Set Up Alongside Your Sourcing
Shipping and sourcing are separate services but they work best when coordinated. If you would like Hansen to run both, start a project.