Ways to shipping freight from China to US
First, you should know the three main shipping methods for shipping from China to USA. Importers use these three methods to receive products made in China. Ranked by speed, the three options are: air, sea, express shipping.
Express shipping freight from China to US
Since express is the fastest option, it is also the most expensive option. The best express shipping companies are Ups, FedEx, TNT and DHL. Now, with express shipping, you can receive your package in less than five days.
Typically, importers use this option when they need to receive their shipments particularly quickly. For example, during the holidays, your bestsellers may be running out of stock. Therefore, you need to buy more of this product as soon as possible to take advantage of the high demand.
Advantage
This is the first choice during high demand periods such as holidays.
If you sell smaller, high-priced items, the express option will hardly affect your profit margins.
Shortcoming
Express shipping freight from China to US has many of the limitations of air shipping, which means you can only ship smaller items using this option.
You have to pay extra for shipping in such a short time.
Air shipping freight from China to US
If you don’t want to wait weeks for your shipment to cross the ocean from China to the US, air freight will cut the transit time down to just a few days, albeit at a much higher cost.
What are the advantages of air shipping freight from China to US?
Fast
It is capable of moving certain classes of goods from one continent to another in a short period of time.
Safety
Strict regulations and controls in the airport area benefit air cargo shippers. The cargo receiving area and terminal building are highly monitored and secured, limiting the risk of theft or damage. Additionally, handling is minimal and shipping times are reduced.
Service point
Even the most remote locations can be airlifted to the nearest airport and then serviced overland in less time.
Track
Most air cargo service providers offer online tracking that allows you to see the status of your shipment in real time from departure to arrival.
Packaging cost
Since the goods are transported in very light packages, the need for packaging materials and containers is reduced.
Sea shipping freight from China to US
Sea shipping freight from China to US(LCL): For smaller shipments, you can send ocean freight as LCL. In this case, your freight forwarder will consolidate it with the other shipper’s cargo and hire a carrier to transport it from China to the US in containers.
Sea shipping freight from China to US (FCL): If you ship enough quantity to fill a container, FCL freight service will save you money compared to LCL shipping. FCL means that your cargo will occupy the container alone. Additionally, you should be able to ship your shipments from China to the US faster without LCL/unboxing.
LCL Shipping to inland cities in the United States is one RT fee, 1cbm, = 363 kg. If there is one cubic meter of goods shipped to Austin, and the weight of the goods is 1500 kilograms, then the sea freight charge RT=1500÷363=4.13RT, instead of charging according to 77 US dollars per cubic meter, it needs to be charged according to 4.13*77=381.01 US dollars LCL freight.
Documents Required for shipping freight from China to US
In addition to the HTS code, you will need some other documents to clear your imported goods. Here is an overview of these:
Bill of lading
Document issued by the carrier. It certifies that the goods described have been delivered by the exporter. It is a document that determines the terms of the contract between the shipper and the transport company to confirm receipt of the goods. It represents the transport of goods between specified locations at a specified price as the most basic document in the transport of goods.
Packing list
An export packing list is a document completed by the shipper detailing the contents of the shipment, which must include weight (gross and net), dimensions, contents, the number of each package in the shipment, and any identifying features such as serial numbers. It can also be used to identify damaged or lost items; the buyer only pays duties on the goods actually received.
Commercial invoice
This is the invoice provided by your supplier in China when purchasing goods.
Certificate of Origin
This is a document used in international trade and traditionally indicates the country of origin of the goods being shipped, but the word “origin” in a Certificate of Origin (CO) does not indicate the country from which the goods were shipped, but the country to which they were shipped. Goods are actually manufactured. The purpose of the CO is to verify the country of origin of the goods being shipped.
