Freight Shipping from China to the USA

Shipping from China to the USA: A Comprehensive Guide

China is one of the world’s leading manufacturers, playing a crucial role in supplying goods to every corner of the globe. Common items such as clothing, electronics, and accessories are often shipped directly from China. It is rightly referred to as the ‘world’s factory.’ The United States, in turn, stands as one of the largest importers. Therefore, the process of freight shipping from China to the USA impacts the interests of a vast number of entrepreneurs. If you are among them, it is essential to understand the process and be aware of potential challenges.

Below, we will provide detailed information on all aspects that play a crucial role in the efficient import from China to the USA.

Shipping Options from China to the USA

There are three methods of international freight shipping from China to the USA: sea freight, air freight, and express shipping. Each of these methods has its advantages and characteristics. The choice will depend on your specific delivery needs. Let’s take a closer look at these methods.

Sea freight from China to the USA

Sea vessels can transport enormous volumes of cargo at once without significant restrictions on the type and dimensions of the goods. Therefore, sea freight is the most economical and cost-effective method of freight shipping from China to the USA.

However, it is also the slowest method of delivery. Sea freight from China to the USA can take anywhere from two weeks to two months, depending on the distance, route, schedule, and other factors. Therefore, if you plan sea freight, it is crucial to carefully plan your supply chain to avoid running out of stock between shipments.

When sea shipping from China to the USA is the best choice:
1) You need to deliver cargo weighing more than 300 kg.
2) You need to send items that are prohibited for air transportation.
3) The delivery time of the cargo is not critical for you.
4) You need to deliver cargo of non-standard size.

FCL и LCL shipping

Sea freight is carried out in containers, typically 20- or 40-foot containers, and you have two ways to utilize the space:

• FCL (Full Container Load): This method involves using an entire container or containers exclusively for your cargo. Since you pay for the entire container, make sure you have enough goods to fill it. This method is commonly used to ship freight from China to the USA with a volume exceeding 15 cubic meters.
• LCL (Less than Container Load): This method involves consolidating your cargo with others to fill a container. It is designed for shipping goods that are not large enough to fill an entire container. Typically used for shipping cargo less than 15 cubic meters.

If we compare, FCL is considered a more secure method. Your goods do not come into contact with other cargo, reducing the chances of damage or loss of part of the shipment.
Additionally, FCL provides greater flexibility in the delivery schedule. In the case of LCL, you are dependent on other shippers. At the departure point, you wait for the container to be filled, and at the destination, you wait for the goods to be sorted and separated. This takes extra time, and it’s important to consider when planning. On the other hand, LCL shipping is much cheaper than FCL. It’s an excellent way for economical delivery of smaller batches.

Sea shipping routes from China to the USA

The ocean freight from China to the US is carried out through two main routes: the Pacific route and the Atlantic route.
The Pacific route is used for shipping goods from China to the USA West Coast. It connects ports in Shanghai, Shenzhen, Ningbo, and Xiamen in China to ports in Los Angeles, Seattle, Oakland, and Portland. Shipping cargo along this route takes up to 1 month.
The Atlantic shipping route leads from China to the USA East Coast. Sea vessels travel from Chinese ports through the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans to ports in Miami, New York, and Savannah. This route takes up to two months.

Air freight from China to the USA

Air freight represents a kind of opposite to sea freight. Air freight from China to the USA is much faster but, as a result, more expensive. The faster the delivery, the higher the cost.
It’s also worth noting that airfreight is not as accessible as sea freight. Air transport has restrictions on the weight and type of goods that can be transported. Your goods must comply with international safety standards to be accepted on the plane.
Nevertheless, this method of delivery is becoming increasingly popular each year, thanks to its speed and reliability.

When to choose air cargo for shipping goods from China to the USA:
1) You need to receive the goods within one to two weeks.
2) Your goods are perishable.
3) Your cargo is valuable or fragile.
4) The weight of your cargo does not exceed 500 kg.

Shipping time

On average, air cargo from China to the USA takes between 3 to 6 days, but it can take slightly longer. This largely depends on the route. Sometimes, opting for a non-direct flight can be more cost-effective. While the delivery time may extend by a couple of days, it results in cost savings. Weather conditions and clearance procedures (delivery to the airport, customs processes, consolidation with other shipments, and sorting upon arrival) are also among the influencing factors.

Cost of air freight from China to the USA

The cost of airfreight from China to the USA depends on the airline, the season, the level of demand, and the delivery timeframe.
During holidays and peak seasons, delivery costs can be several times higher than in the off-season. For instance, if you normally pay around $3 per kg, during Christmas, it might be over $10. Similarly, shipping in the summer can be cheaper than in the winter.
Additionally, under identical conditions, prices may vary depending on the airline. The higher the level of competition on the route, the greater the potential range in prices.
And as mentioned earlier, the faster the delivery timeframe, the more expensive it will be.

Express shipping from China to the USA

Express shipping from China to the USA is the best option if you urgently need to receive your cargo, as transportation takes only 1-5 days. It is also a good method for shipping small parcels and cargo. Также это хороший способ для пересылки небольших посылок и грузов.
Express shipping is carried out by international courier services such as DHL, UPS, and FedEx on a door-to-door (D2D) basis. The courier service takes care of document preparation, customs clearance, logistics, and transportation to the destination. You only need to receive the cargo.
Such convenience comes with a corresponding price. On average, the cost of delivery is around $8 per kilogram.

When to choose express shipping from China to the USA:
1) Your goods are perishable.
2) You need to receive the cargo as soon as possible.
3) You need to transport a small volume of cargo.

D2D, DDP/DDU Shipping

There are several shipping options from China to the USA, depending on transportation conditions and the approach to customs clearance.

Door to door, Port to port, Door to port etc.

Door-to-Door, or D2D, is a convenient method for freight shipping from China to the USA. This approach ensures a complete logistics cycle, starting from the origin in China and concluding at the destination point in the USA. The primary advantage of D2D is that you won’t need to actively organize the transportation process. Logistics companies, such as Fulfillment-Box, handle all stages of delivery, including picking up the cargo, customs procedures, transportation through various modes, and delivery to the final address in the USA.
In addition to the full logistics cycle, there are also several options where the importer and exporter take responsibility for delivering the cargo to the point of departure and/or the destination point in the USA. These options include Port-to-Port, Port-to-Door, Door-to-Port, and, in the case of air delivery, Airport-to-Airport, Airport-to-Door, and Door-to-Airport.

DDP and DDU shipping

DDP and DDU are two fundamental types of commercial delivery terms that define the responsibility for paying customs duties and taxes during cargo delivery.
DDP (Delivery Duty Paid): Under the DDP terms, the supplier (exporter) is responsible for all expenses, including customs duties and taxes, associated with shipping the goods from China to the USA. This means that the customer will not have to pay additional customs fees upon receiving the cargo.

DDU (Delivery Duty Unpaid): In the case of DDU, conversely, the customer (importer) is responsible for paying all customs duties and taxes associated with shipping the goods from China to the USA. This means that the customer may incur additional expenses for customs duties upon receiving the cargo.

DAP (Duties At Place): Nowadays, instead of DDU, you can increasingly encounter the term DAP (Duties At Place). DAP is a new term that appeared in Incoterms in 2010 and denotes the same conditions as DDU. The term DDU has not been included in Incoterms since 2010, but this does not prevent its active use to this day.

The choice between DDP and DDU/DAP depends on the agreement between the supplier and the buyer. Understanding these terms will help determine who exactly bears the financial responsibilities for customs clearance and freight shipping from China to the USA.

How much does the shipping from China to the USA cost?

The shipping from China to the USA cost is typically determined by expenses related to loading and unloading, document processing, payment of duties, and various fees. Tariffs constantly fluctuate based on the season, fuel costs, carrier competition, and even geopolitical situations (such as the impact of Covid-19 on tariffs at one point).
Therefore, specifying exact figures is quite challenging. The calculation of shipping costs is done on an individual basis for each shipment. Only by providing the freight forwarder with accurate information about the cargo, point of origin, and destination can you determine the cost of shipping from China to the USA.
Sea freight is the most cost-effective, while air freight can be several times more expensive. Express shipping is the most expensive option.
If we talk about the average cost of shipping, the figures are as follows:

• Sea LCL shipping: $20-50 per cubic meter;
• Sea FCL shipping (20-foot container): approximately $1400 to $3000;
• Sea FCL shipping (40-foot container): approximately $1700 to $4000;
• Air freight: $5-7 per kilogram;
• Express shipping: $5-8 per kilogram.

What is the cheapest shipping from China to the US?

If we are talking exclusively about tariffs, the cheapest way to ship goods from China to the USA would be sea freight.
However, it is essential to consider the impact of shipping on your business. Sea freight takes a long time. If you have poorly planned your delivery schedule, you may incur losses that render all the savings meaningless. For example, the goods may be delayed, leading to lost sales. Alternatively, the goods may spoil during transit.

How much time does shipping from China to the USA take?

Depending on the shipping method and planned route, freight time from China to the US can take anywhere from 1 to 40-50 days.

• Sea shipping takes the longest time, typically around 40-50 days. The delivery time by sea is heavily dependent on the destination point. If you need to receive the cargo on the East Coast of the USA, delivery can take up to two months. Delivery to the West Coast of the USA will take less than one month.
• Air shipping is a relatively fast delivery method, taking from 2 to 15 days.
• Express shipping lives up to its name and takes only 1-3 days.

All figures are approximate and depend on various factors, including seasonality, current workload, distance, type, and weight of the cargo.

What is the best way to ship goods from China to the USA

There is no universal answer, of course. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be three different shipping methods. It all depends solely on your needs and capabilities.

To choose the right shipping method from China to the USA, you need to analyze the following:
1) What you are shipping (size of the cargo, fragility, shelf life);
2) Where you are shipping from and to (which routes are available for delivery);
3) When you need to receive the cargo (how much time you are willing to wait for the cargo).
If you have a very large volume of cargo, no urgent deadlines, and you want to save money, then the best option is sea freight.
If you need to receive the goods faster and the type of goods is allowed for air transport, then it is worth choosing air freight.
And if you need to get the cargo as quickly as possible, then choose express shipping.

How to ship from China directly to Amazon FBA warehouse

Shipping from China to Amazon FBA warehouse is a separate issue that is worth discussing. Direct shipping will allow you to save significantly, but at the same time, it carries a number of risks.
Amazon FBA has strict requirements for the quality, packaging, and labeling of goods. If something is wrong with the shipment, Amazon will either reject the goods or charge you for additional processing. In the case of shipping directly from China, you have no opportunity to personally inspect the shipment.
By using a middleman and a freight forwarder, you can make shipping from China to an USA Amazon FBA warehouse safe and avoid surprises.
Often, sellers ask manufacturers to prepare goods for Amazon FBA. In such cases, we recommend using the services of an inspector in China. They will inspect the goods before shipment and ensure that everything meets the standards.
Alternatively, you can use the services of a local Prep center, which will independently and effectively prepare your goods for shipment.
To ensure smooth delivery, it is advisable to choose the Door to Door DDP method to avoid any issues with receiving the cargo.

Fulfillment-Box’s warehouse in China provides services for inspecting and preparing goods for FBA. Our logistics specialists will assist you in building an optimal shipping route from China to the Amazon FBA warehouse. Thus, Fulfillment-Box becomes your universal comprehensive solution.

Services of Freight Forwarder from China to the USA

As you have already understood, freight shipping from China to the USA is a quite complex logistics process. Of course, you can figure it all out and handle logistics on your own. But it is much easier and more efficient to entrust this task to a freight forwarder.
In logistics, there are many pitfalls that no article or guide will tell you about. However, an experienced professional freight forwarder from China to the USA will be aware of them, taking care of all the organization and troubleshooting. This will help you save time and nerves.
You will be responsible for choosing the right service provider. Here are a few tips on what to pay attention to:
1) Communication. In logistics, many things can go off course. Therefore, it’s important for the freight forwarder to always be in touch. Analyze how communication with the company has been. If it has been difficult or unpleasant, it’s worth looking for another option.
2) Prices. Request quotes from several service providers and compare them to choose the optimal tariff.
3) Trust. Analyze reviews about the freight forwarder and decide if you trust them.