Shipping from China: Your Complete Guide
Shipping is often the second-largest cost after the product itself. Choosing the right shipping method can save 20-50% on logistics costs while meeting your delivery timeline.
Shipping Method Comparison
1. Sea Freight (FCL - Full Container Load)
Best for: Large orders (15+ cubic meters)
Transit time: China → US West Coast: 12-18 days, China → Europe: 25-35 days
Cost (2026): $2,500-5,000 per 40ft container
- Lowest cost per unit
- Best for heavy or bulky products
- Need to fill the container or consolidate
2. Sea Freight (LCL - Less than Container Load)
Best for: Small to medium orders (1-15 cubic meters)
Transit time: China → US: 18-25 days, China → Europe: 30-40 days
Cost: $80-200 per cubic meter
- Pay for space you use
- Consolidation with other shipments
- Slightly slower due to consolidation/deconsolidation
3. Air Freight
Best for: Urgent orders, high-value goods, perishables
Transit time: China → US: 3-7 days, China → Europe: 3-6 days
Cost: $4-8 per kg
- Fastest option for bulk shipments
- 10-15x more expensive than sea freight
- Weight and dimension restrictions
4. China-Europe Rail Freight
Best for: Medium-urgent shipments to Europe
Transit time: 15-18 days
Cost: $3,000-5,000 per container (competitive with sea freight for Europe)
- Faster than sea, cheaper than air
- Routes through Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus
- Some geopolitical risk (sanctions, border delays)
5. Express Courier (DHL, FedEx, UPS, TNT)
Best for: Samples, small packages, urgent documents
Transit time: 2-5 days worldwide
Cost: $20-80 per kg
- Door-to-door service
- Best tracking systems
- Excellent for product samples before bulk order
Key Factors to Consider
- Weight vs Volume — air freight charges by chargeable weight (actual or volumetric, whichever is higher)
- Incoterms — who pays for what (FOB, CIF, DDP, EXW)
- Insurance — typically 0.3-0.5% of shipment value
- Customs clearance — included or extra cost?
- Destination fees — terminal handling, documentation, delivery
Seasonal Shipping Considerations
- Pre-Chinese New Year (Jan-Feb): factories rush orders, shipping capacity tight, prices rise 20-40%
- Golden Week (Oct 1-7): factories closed, plan ahead
- Peak season (Aug-Oct): holiday inventory buildup, container shortages possible
- Low season (Feb-Apr): best rates and availability
Shipping with CSMG Supply Chain
We handle the entire logistics process — from factory pickup to your warehouse door. Our partners include major carriers with competitive rates.
Limited time: Get $100 FREE on your first order.
About CSMG Supply Chain: We are a professional China sourcing agent with 14+ years of banking expertise. We source any product from China, offer LC credit sales for qualified buyers, and provide end-to-end supply chain solutions.