Choosing the right shipping method from China is critical for maintaining healthy profit margins and ensuring timely delivery. Freight costs and transit times vary significantly depending on whether you choose Sea Freight, Air Freight, or International Express.
To help B2B buyers and Amazon sellers streamline international transportation, this guide compares primary shipping channels and breaks down key customs clearing procedures.
1. Comparing Primary Shipping Channels from China
- Sea Freight (FCL / LCL): Best for heavy, bulk, or low-margin cargo. Full Container Load (FCL) offers the lowest per-unit cost for large orders, while Less than Container Load (LCL) allows smaller shipments to share container space. Average transit time: 25 to 40 days.
- Air Freight: Ideal for medium-weight cargo, seasonal inventory replenishment, or high-value items where speed is priority. Average transit time: 5 to 10 days.
- Express Couriers (DHL / FedEx / UPS): Best for small trial orders, product samples, or urgent lightweight goods. Includes door-to-door delivery with fast customs processing. Average transit time: 3 to 7 days.
2. Key Incoterms You Must Know
Understanding trade terms prevents unexpected freight charges and defines liability between buyer and supplier:
- EXW (Ex Works): The buyer assumes all responsibilities and costs from the moment goods leave the seller’s factory floor in China.
- FOB (Free on Board): The Chinese supplier covers local transport, export documentation, and port loading fees. The buyer takes over cost and liability once cargo is loaded onto the vessel. (Recommended for most B2B buyers)
- DDP (Delivered Duty Paid): The shipping provider handles end-to-end transport, export/import customs clearance, duties, and final delivery directly to your door or Amazon FBA warehouse.
3. Essential Documents for Customs Clearance
Missing or inaccurate customs documents cause port delays and unexpected storage fees. Always verify that your freight forwarder prepares:
- Commercial Invoice: Details product description, unit quantity, declared value, and HS codes.
- Packing List: Specifies gross weight, net weight, carton dimensions, and total unit count.
- Bill of Lading (B/L) or Air Waybill (AWB): Serves as official proof of cargo ownership and transportation contract.
4. Streamline Your China Logistics with Treysourcing
Navigating freight forwarders, customs declarations, duties, and Amazon FBA warehouse bookings can be complex.
At Treysourcing, we handle end-to-end supply chain logistics for international clients:
- Freight rate optimization across top sea, air, and express carriers.
- Complete customs compliance and documentation support.
- Direct door-to-door DDP shipping to private warehouses and Amazon FBA fulfillment centers worldwide.
Need a fast logistics quote for your upcoming shipment? Contact our logistics specialists today to get customized shipping options.