Want to order goods but don't know how to deliver them? Below you can check what method is the best for you.
When purchasing products from China, an importer must take various factors into account. Your shipment should arrive at its destination safely, promptly, and at a reasonable freight rate.
The ideal shipping choice for you will entirely depend on your particular situation, but we hope the information below will provide you some useful tips on what to take into account when delivering your items to your home country.
Post, Courier,Air, Rail or Sea?
As with other businesses, cost cannot be the only concern, but it is frequently the main one. We're all in this together, and we make decisions that benefit both our clients and ourselves by saving or earning money.
Freight costs and transit times might vary significantly depending on the logistics strategy used. Therefore, it is always important to choose the approach that will be the most economical. 1. Regular Post
This refers to standard, everyday China Post (EMS), which delivery time might range from two to five weeks. For tiny shipments like samples and packages, if you don't mind waiting, this is the most affordable choice. Online tracking and tracing is possible, however the data cannot be timely updated.
Most of the time, we do not advise doing it this way - even though it is very cot-effective it is not secure as well. Finding lost packages is challenging.
2. Express delivery
The majority of newcomers will find that using a courier service for transportation is the best option. DHL, UPS, and FedEx are three frequently utilized courier services in China.
You can track packages online and receive quick deliveries with a courier service. The majority of courier shipments arrive worldwide in about 2–5 working days.
FedEx/TNT is recommended for sending a courier to North and South America, Southeast Asia, and Africa.
DHL - Southeast Asia, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.
UPS - North America
*Different couriers may offer different benefits depending on the weight.
3. Air freight
If the weight of the sourced goods is too heavy for couriers, such as 250kg, air shipment may be the best option. Costs for air freight will be significantly lower than for courier services.
This method is appropriate for light cargo with tight deadlines or tighter security controls. Depending on the airline's schedule, transit times can range from 2 to 10 days, which is not too bad.
When the goods arrive at the destination airport, extra work is required. Unlike with courier services, you have to handle paperwork and customs clearance on your own, which may seem difficult to many beginners. Of course, you can always hire a customs broker or a trucking firm to complete these tasks at a reasonable price.
4. Rail delivery
Sea freight takes 30-50 days to arrive in European countries, which is an extremely long time. Although air courier and air freight take less than a week, the cost is 5-8 times that of sea freight.
So, the railway freight arrives, striking a good balance between shipping time and cost. The railway is ideal for countries in Eastern Europe and Western Asia that do not have access to seaports.
Shipping time can range from 15 to 30 days (depending on destination) and costs slightly more than sea freight, but not significantly more.
The main disadvantage of railway freight is the limited number of countries accessible via the China-Europe railway routes.
5. Sea freight
Transport by sea takes a long time but can carry a large amount of goods, lowering costs. The variety of cargo that can be shipped is also a significant advantage of this mode. Which is why it is a popular and widely used form of transportation in logistics. Sea freight is usually used for quantity starting from 1-2 CBM.
Even though it takes a while longer to arrive, sea freight is still the best option if you can wait and plan ahead. It will likely take 3 to 60 days, depending on where you are.
Shipping by sea can be cost-effective, especially if you're willing to manage the logistics of getting the goods through customs on your own. In addition, this is the best way to handle large, bulky purchases.
Forwarding agent or handling everything on your own?
1. Doing everything internally.
This approach has only ever been used by large companies. They coordinate Customs Declarations on both sides and directly reserve space with shipping lines, airlines, and trucking firms (the exporting and the importing countries).
If you select this option, you will be required to follow up on your orders independently and to contact the carriers directly in order to obtain the important and relevant information that is essential to you. If a problem arises, you must resolve it to avoid incurring additional charges.
Time is the most valuable resource. Working directly with a carrier does not allow you to save time unless your company has a specialized department with professional teams.
2. Using a freight forwarder in your country.
This is what some importers choose to do, and it is the most practical choice.
Therefore, what occurs is that small and medium-sized businesses attempt to work with a freight forwarder of the appropriate size, who is focused in their business. Nevertheless, the majority of forwarders don't always have their own offices in China. They frequently employ local agents, and they charge a margin on top of the commission paid to the agent.
3. Working with a freight forwarder based in China.
This option is being selected by more and more importers.
The speed is the advantage. The forwarder can communicate frequently with your supplier and keep you updated on all matters. When an issue arises, your local partner will resolve it as soon as possible.
Sourceware is proficient at doing just that. Not only is speed important, but so are the best rates. In addition, we have agents in a number of countries who can handle customs clearance and inland delivery in your country.
Please contact us if you have any questions about shipping from China. We'll try to discover the best logistics for you by working together.
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