Freight Forwarding And Customs Clearance From China
Logistics is a strategic lever, not an afterthought. Get it right and it is worth 15–30% of landed cost; get it wrong and the margin disappears before the container leaves the port.
Discuss This ServiceHow Freight Forwarding Works Step By Step
Mode selection
Sea FCL and LCL for volume, air for urgent and high-value goods, China–Europe rail as a middle option, express for samples and small parcels.
Incoterm structure
FOB gives you the carrier choice and the real freight rate. CIF and DDP shift work to us. EXW gives maximum control and maximum administration.
Consolidation
For orders under about 10 CBM, a weekly fixed-departure LCL programme is usually cheaper than waiting for a self-arranged consolidation to fill.
Documentation
One verified HS code used consistently across invoice, packing list and bill of lading. Mismatched codes are the leading cause of customs holds.
Customs clearance
Export clearance in China and import clearance at destination, including duties and taxes under DDP terms.
Last-mile delivery
Delivery to your door, your warehouse or your 3PL, with the domestic leg in China insured where the factory is inland.
What You Get Out Of It
- A landed cost you can quote from, not a freight rate you hope holds
- Documents that match each other and clear without a hold
- One invoice for the whole door-to-door movement under DDP
- Mode chosen against your calendar rather than the headline rate
Where This Service Applies
This service runs across every industry we source for. The checkpoints stay the same; what changes is which failure mode they are aimed at.
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What transit times should I plan for?
Sea freight 15–40 days depending on destination, air freight 3–7 days, China–Europe rail 12–18 days, and express 3–7 days.
When does FCL beat LCL?
Typically once cargo reaches 8–10 CBM, since a 20GP container gives roughly 28 CBM of usable space. Below about 5 CBM, LCL is normally right.
What is the LCL revenue-ton trap?
Most LCL quotes bill on revenue ton — 1 CBM or 1,000 kg, whichever is greater. Heavy, small cargo is billed on weight, not volume. Always check which applies.
What does DDP include?
Export clearance, freight, import clearance, duties and taxes, and last-mile delivery, as a single all-inclusive price.
Start With Freight Forwarding
Tell us where your current process is breaking and we will tell you which part of this we would run first.