There are three main shipping methods for ship from China to US:
Express shipping
Air transport
Ocean freight
Express delivery
Express is the fastest shipping methods for ship from China to US, it is also the most expensive option. 4 major international express delivery: DHL, UPS, Fedex, TNT. Under normal circumstances, it can be delivered in 2-4 working days, and in European and American countries, it usually takes 3 working days. However, the freight is more expensive, and the volume and weight of the product after packaging must be calculated, and the restrictions on consignment items are relatively strict.
Air transport
Air transport uses the airline’s aircraft as a vehicle, and the mode of operation is from airport to airport.
The difference between air freight from China to USA and express delivery is very simple, and the time limit can be seen. Air freight is not as urgent as express delivery, and the transportation time is about 2-5 days longer than express delivery.
Shipping companies will still use the same method of ship from China to US by air. Fortunately, you can get these services at no extra cost. For shipments weighing between 400 lbs and 1200 lbs, air freight is the most economical option.
The advantages of ship from China to US by air are fast, low damage rate, good safety, and large space span, but it is very uneconomical for sellers with heavy goods or large quantities. The price of air freight is almost 3-4 times that of sea freight. The larger the volume, the higher the cost for the seller.
Ocean freight
It takes 13~16 days to ship from China to US. This is the approximate time limit for the Clippers, and the time limit for ordinary ships will be longer. If you go to the east of the United States, the time limit may need to be 30-40 days. The seller can reserve enough time to deliver the goods to the destination in time according to the delivery situation.
Ship from China to US cost
Air transport fee
To put it simply, the logic of international air freight costs actually consists of three sections: the cost of the port of departure, the cost of the transportation segment, and the cost of the port of destination.
Port of departure fee: pick-up fee, port of departure operation fee, customs declaration fee, inspection fee, etc., which are mainly some expenses incurred by the port of departure. In addition to these fees there are:
1. Fuel surcharge (according to the airport, the destination price is different, it used to be 3.6, the highest was 4.8 last year. This price is adjusted by the airport)
2. Security check fee, airport operation fee, terminal fee (1.72/catties), air waybill fee.
The above is the composition of accounting fees of many airlines, mainly Hong Kong Airport. Because Hong Kong is a super-large free trade port, there are few restrictions, a wide range, and many cargo aircraft. There are currently 78 airlines.
Ocean freight cost
Since ship from China to US by sea is best suited for larger shipments, the ocean carrier will bill you per container. In April 2022, a 40-foot equivalent container shipped from China to the U.S. would typically cost $9,000-$10,000.
This may seem expensive, but if your shipment weighs more than 5,000kg, sea freight is by far the best option.
With ocean freight, you can reduce costs in a number of ways. For example, you can save money by choosing the right container type, port and insurance. Not to mention, sea freight from
China to USA is cheaper in off-season. It’s usually cheaper and faster to use full container loading, so keep that in mind. If you do not use a full container, you will need to pay extra for unloading the container at the port.
