Table of Contents
Packaging
To prevent damage to your shipment products, make a clear picture to the supplier about how you want your
product to be packed. If the product is not packed or wrapped correctly, it may cause a loss of the sales of your business before even starting selling. Make sure the material used in the packaging is not cheap and is wrapped in multiple layers before shipping.
Not discussing the packaging with the supplier and leaving it on the assumption that it is obvious for every supplier to know the packaging of your shipment correctly is not right.
Make sure to make clear the structure of the packaging before shipping from China.
Documentation
Having all the documentation clear at least a week before the shipment is the best way to avoid any delay. Make sure to check all the documents and send them to the agent a week before to make sure not to involve in any hurdles in the customs process quickly. You can email or send the documentation to the agent with a checklist known as a Bill of Lading, which includes the names of,
- Shipping company
- Buyer
- Products being shipped
- The volume of the product
- List of Incoterm used
- Exporting company name
A Bill of Lading is required when shipping from China and must always go with the shipped products for you to get your purchases quickly.
Freight forwarder
The process of shipping involves freight forwarders, who are crucial. Finding a freight forwarder is something that either you or your Chinese supplier must do. From picking up shipments at suppliers to arranging delivery to you, who functions as a broker, dealing with all transportation companies.
All logistics tasks and documentation procedures are handled by a freight forwarder. A few Chinese freight forwarders such as DocShipper would properly arrange for the transit of your shipment from the consignor to the port for shipping as well as the transportation of the shipment to the consignee's warehouse in the destination nation.
You need a freight forwarder who has expertise in delivering goods to and from China if you want to ensure that all of these calculations are completed successfully. Long-term relationships are very important to Chinese freight forwarders and even transportation businesses. Most likely, you'll receive greater offers.
Collection and Customs cleaning
The products must pass China customs inspection when they get to the loading port. It is your supplier's responsibility to give accurate information. To make sure the paperwork is accurate, your shipping agent must advocate on your behalf.
With customs, your shipping agent will cooperate. Any invoices must be paid in full right away with your shipping agent. At this point, they can take you captive and charge you. Set up a convenient time for you to accept delivery after you clear the shipment. If you didn't request that your shipment, be palletized, you will have to carefully unload the packages.
Methods Of Shipping From China
The are three primary shipping methods used by importers to receive products made in China for delivery to any location in the world. Each of these delivery options has unique benefits for your e-commerce business world, depending on the situation.
Express Shipping from China
For most experts, express shipping from China will be cheapest shipping mode from China of bringing shipments from China. Express shipping from China will deliver your product quickly and include an online tracking system. Depending on the weight, different courier services may have different benefits. Although they are more expensive than both standard and expedited delivery, they will deliver your order soon. These shipping options are available if you require your purchase right away.
Any faster cross-border shipping service that a shipment offers, usually by air, is referred to as international express shipping. Because express shipping is quicker and offers superior service, it costs more than normal shipping. When transporting products in Bulk, there are numerous benefits to choosing an international express delivery. Compared to other shipping choices, this quick, trustworthy approach has several clear benefits.
Express shipping is the best choice, in short, if you want the fastest option for shipment in only a few days. Even though they cost more than both standard and expedited delivery, they will deliver your order to you soon. This is the ideal shipping choice for you if you need your order right away.
Air Freight from China
Like Express Freight, Air Freight in which you didn't have to pay additional expenses, your standard air freight package
won't be treated as a priority. With air freight, there are many shipment times. 7 to 15 days, whichever is longer.
The fact that air freight is not expedited is the only thing that sets it apart from express shipping. The methods used by shipping businesses won't change. However, because you won't be in a rush, you won't have to spend more to get these services. For heavy shipments, air freight is the most cost-effective choice because it can be 30% to 40% less expensive than express. Fast shipping and affordable prices give you the advantages of both.
Sea Freight
Shipping goods from China through the ocean is a great choice because of the country's extensive network of top-notch seaports that are located along its coastline. You should be aware of the distinction between full-container loads and less-than-full-container loads when shipping products by sea. When your container contains simply your shipments, you send an FCL. When you share a container with someone else's products, on the other hand, you ship an LCL.
Moreover, LCL can ask you to wait for a different shipping partner before the business ships your products, which can result in a protracted delay. Approximately 249 million and 33 million TEUs worth of shipments were transported through China's seaports and inland ports in 2021, respectively.
Sea freight has far lower shipping prices than express options, but it also moves a lot more slowly. At ports, there's a chance that you'll run into communications issues and other backlogs.
