If you are an American cross-border seller, it is common for most of your suppliers to be located in China. If you need to ship from China to the US, so you must understand the process, including its cost, how long it takes.
There are three main methods for shipping from China to the US. Importers use these three methods to receive products made in China. Ranked by speed, the three options are:
Express shipping
air transport
ocean freight
How long is ship from China to the US by Express ?
Express shipping via an international courier company such as FedEx, UPS, DHL or TNT is the fastest and most reliable way to ship from China to the US.
If you need your product as soon as possible (less than 5 days), express is your best choice. However, it is also the most expensive way to ship small packages from China to the US.
How long is ship from China to the US by air ?
It usually takes about 7-10 days to ship from China to the United States DDP by air. Fast air freight DDU/DDP from China to USA takes about 2-7 days with direct flights;
Shipping from China to US airports takes about 2-5 days.
As a result, greater distances, complex customs clearance and flight delays increase delivery dates. When the customs declaration documents are complete and there is no risk of being detained by the customs, the air transport time will be shorter and will reach the destination smoothly as scheduled. In order to reduce the risk level, please provide complete documents; such as shipper’s name, false declared value, etc., should be filled in correctly.
How long is ship from China to the US by sea ?
Sea freight from China to the US is a good option. Especially if you’re shipping to a location on the US Pacific coast.
By sea you can choose FCL or LCL. FCL is an option when your container contains only your product. In contrast, when you share a container with someone else’s cargo, LCL is your choice.
Additionally, LCL may require you to wait for another shipping partner before the company ships your shipment, which can cause long delays for ship from China to the US.
In recent years, we have seen China shut down many ports due to the coronavirus. This affects all aspects of shipping, but it hurts the ocean the most. Shipping to the US West Coast is now 15+ days. Shipping to the east coast is about 30+ days.
Chinese Holidays May Affect Shipping Times
While all major Chinese ports are open 365 days a year, most factory workers and carriers are off on holidays and only a small number of workers are operating.
Below is a list of major Chinese holidays that can cause shipping delays.Since China uses the lunar calendar, the exact dates of these holidays vary from year to year.
Chinese New Year – end of January to mid-February – 2 weeks or more
Tomb Sweeping Festival- early April – 1-2 days
Chinese Labor Day – early May – 3-5 days
Dragon Boat Festival – early June – 3-4 days
National Day – Early October – 7 days
During these holidays, Chinese shipping is more or less closed.
