Shipping from China to USA – Complete guide
Introduction
It is a challenging process to transfer goods from China to the US due to its risks. There are some steps which need to be taken into account.
Firstly, you need to make sure of having a license, an importer number and sufficient knowledge about customs bond.
Second, the importer should select the products to be sold in his/her country.
Third, finding suppliers is also important which can be found online through wholesale websites in China or offline via trade shows or other trader’s suggestions.
Fourth, the importer should find the best way to ship products based on their weight, size, urgency and cost. After that the import clearance should be passed and customs duties should be paid. Finally, the cargo is delivered to warehouse and the importer checks to see if they need pre-approval before being sold in the market.
Shipping Routes from China to USA
China, located in Asia, can transfer cargos to the US through three paths; Pacific Lane, Atlantic Lane and Indian Lane. Cargos are delivered in a special part of the US by taking each path. The west of Latin America, the East Coast of the US and North America receive cargos transferred from Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Lanes. There are different ways for Shipping from China to USA. When a good shipping service is selected based on the needs and budget, a high amount of money will be saved which is beneficial both for buyer and seller. The first step to start this business is to get more information related to the process in order to make the decision well. Some popular shipping routes are sea freight, air freight, door to door, and express shipping.
Sea Freight
Most ports in the list of world’s top 10 ports are located in China. This point shows that China has the ability to attract a lot of international customers and makes the way easy for them to shop and ship a variety of goods. This method of shipping has some benefits.
Firstly, its price is reasonable and efficient in comparison with other methods.
Secondly, the transfer of big and heavy goods is possible which lets sellers transit them easily around the world. However, there is a disadvantage which is the slow speed of this method that makes the transfer impossible for fast and emergency deliveries. In order to decrease the high volume of work in one part of the US, every group of ports is divided into different sections; including, East Coast, West Coast and Gulf Coast.
Shipping Container from China to USA
When it is needed to know different types of shipping containers from China to USA, there are two types: Full Container Load (FCL) and Less than a Container Load (LCL). One of the factors which affect the shipping container costs is the season. More money can be saved if goods are transferred in the off-season rather the peak season. The other factor is the distance between the departure and destination ports. If they are nearer, they surely charge you less money.
Next factor is the container itself, depending on its type (20’GP, 40’GP, etc.). Totally, it should be considered that shipping container costs can be varied based on the insurance, the departure company and port, the destination company and port and transportation costs.
Air Freight
Air freight is every type of item which is carried by an airplane. It is more recommendable to use this service for goods from 250 to 500 kilograms. Its advantages outweigh disadvantages because air freight is secure and fast but it needs the seller or buyer to check the documents themselves.
When the cargo is at the departure airport, inspection will be done in a few hours. Finally, the cargo will leave the airport if customs procedures, inspection, cargo handling and warehousing continue well. Air freight from China to US facilitates the delivery when the goods are highly valuable or there is not a lot of time to receive goods by sea.
Door to Door
Door to door service is a direct transfer of items from seller to buyer without a lot of interruption which is also known as door to port, port to port or house to house. This service can be done by sea, road or air with more guarantees. Accordingly, the freight forwarding company picks up the shipping container and brings it to buyer’s warehouse.
Express Shipping from China to USA
Express shipping is well-known in China under the name of some companies such as DHL, FedEx, TNT and UPS based on the destination. This type of service delivers the goods from 2 to 5 days. In addition, it is easy to track the records.
When the goods are exported from China to USA, UPS and FedEx are reliable and cost-effective methods. Most of the goods ranging from a small sample to a valuable one are delivered through this method. Moreover, express shipping is really popular among online sellers because of its fast speed.
FAQ about Shipping from China to US
Time duration: it usually takes about 3 to 5 days for air freight which is more expensive but sea freight is cheaper and it is about 25, 27 and 30 days for shipping goods from China to Western Europe, Southern Europe and Northern Europe, respectively.
Shipping cost: it is calculated based on the goods’ net weight, volume of goods, delivery time and the exact destination. In general, the price is about $4 to $5 per kilogram for air freight which is more expensive than transferring by sea.
Shopping regulations in China: the best suggestion is to write all details of your preferred goods on a paper contract in China in order to take specified ones. Also, it is a good idea to have a quality check in the factory before shipping.
How to Get Shipping Quote from China to USA?
Most companies have an online system for calculating shipping costs and quotes because every item has a stable cost which is usually said on a per Cubic Meter (CBM) basis.
In order to avoid unexpected charges, it is advisable to ask for a total Under the Delivered Place (DAP) or Delivery Duty Unpaid (DDU) price according to the weight and volume of goods, departure and destination places and final delivery address.
When the goods are manufactures and packed, the final freight cost should be confirmed which means you have the opportunity to get an estimate [8]. To get a correct quotation price, some detailed information from Chinese supplier is needed:
* Name and volume of commodity and HS code
* Estimation of shipping time
* Delivery location
* Weight, volume and transfer method
* Trade mode
* Way of delivery: to port or to door
How Long Does It Take to Ship from China to USA?
Previously, it was about 6 to 8 months to get packages from China to the USA but now it is about 15 or 16 days. A noticeable factor is the type of materials.
If general products such as books and clothes are shipped, it usually takes about 3 to 6 days while it may take longer for sensitive products such as foods, drugs and cosmetics.
