How to Ship from China to the USA

Now Chinese manufacturing industry is becoming more and more developed. It known as “the World Factory”. Trade opportunities between Western and eastern giants are unlikely to diminish any time soon, in spite of shrinking supply chains and rising domestic production in the US.

When it comes to shipping from China to the US, freight cost and transit time are the two biggest problems on any supply chain manager’s mind. However, much has been written about sourcing from China, and little is known about the usefulness of shipping and air freight from China to the US

On this page, we aim to provide you with practical guidance suitable for use in any mode of transport. Do you want the first shipment from China to the United States to be shipped by air or do you want to simplify shipping? Anyway, there are a lot of things here that can help you move goods from the east to the 50 states more successfully.

Before we dive in, we know that everyone is looking at the coronavirus. Here’s a quick update:

Is China Shipping to the US Right Now?

For manufacturers who import products into the US, shipments from China to the United States are still operating. At this time, all modes of transport are operable, but speed and cost have been impacted significantly, depending on the mode of transportation.

For shippers from China to the US, the coronavirus has created a variety of other challenges including declined demand and potential delays at US ports and warehouses.Chinese product promotion has largely returned to normal, but the COVID-19's influence on the United States is creating a variety of other challenges, including declining demand and potential delays at American ports and warehouses.

In addition, restrictions on air travel within and within the United States have greatly reduced air cargo capacity, resulting in space constraints and price fluctuations.

Your best option is to work with a reputable China Freight Forwarder to minimize the impact on your business.

What are your options to Ship from China to the US?

Since it is not possible to import from China to the US by land, your only options are sea or air.If your supply chain requires fast shipping and you have the logistics budget, air freight may be the right choice for your business. Otherwise, you will need to choose the slower.But cheaper option of shipping your goods in containers from China to the US.

Otherwise, you will need to opt for the slower, but less expensive option, to send your commodities in a shipping container from China to the US as ocean freight.

Sea Freight

FCL and LCL services are slow but can bring great benefits. Therefore, our company provides customers with shipping products transshipped through containers. Transporting goods by container makes it possible for a carrier to transfer a large volume of goods for a small amount of money. Therefore, you will find a large number of shippers, handling bulk, choosing this freight forwarder service. This service is not only cost-effective, but also avoids delays in customs clearance.

When you ship from China to the US by Sea, the goods are kept in a crisp condition and you can deliver them under the best conditions. The usual container sizes are 20-foot, 40-foot and 45-foot cube containers. The 20 foot container can hold heavy items such as minerals, metals, heavy machinery, bagged sugar, paper and cement.

On the other hand, we use 40-foot containers to carry large quantities of goods, not heavier ones. These include furniture, steel pipes, paper scraps, cotton or tobacco. In addition, 45-foot cubic containers are used for similar purposes, such as carrying heavy and large quantities of goods.

Note: Due to the large size of FCL containers, you may have to arrive at the US port before the truck shipment. Therefore, your preparation is important for sea freight from China to USA.

Precautions for LCL Transport

LCL ocean freight will probably suit your needs if you’re shipping a small consignment—one that will not take up more than about half the space of a 20-foot container. You can also use LCL shipping with a larger load if your forwarder can consolidate into a 40-foot unit. However, it would make sense to weigh up the costs as compared with a full, 20-foot container load. You may find it cheaper, for instance, to send the bulk of your goods as a 20-foot FCL, with the remainder as an LCL.

Before you settle on a decision to use LCL shipping, it will pay to consider the following questions:

• Are your products suitable for transit in a container with other shippers’ freight?
• Are you able to live with the possibility of slightly longer transit times?
• Will your cargo stand up to the amount of handling involved in LCL shipping?
• Is your schedule flexible? LCL arrival times can change without warning.

If you answer “no” to any of the questions above, you might prefer to go with an FCL shipping service, even if your goods will not fill a container.

Precautions for FCL Transport

With FCL shipping, you don't have to worry too much about the weight and size of your goods. These factors will not affect the cost as long as your transport is not too large in length, width and height of the container. However, you will pay for the rental of the container, as well as shipping costs. So, if you can't fill a container, you may need some other good reason to choose FCL, as LCL may prove more economical.In general, FCL is a suitable shipping mode in the following cases:

• When you want your freight isolated, sealed, and secured in its container from origin to destination.
• When you can’t accept any delays or problems that might arise from other shippers’ issues, such as leakage, contamination, or customs discrepancies.
• When the container and its contents must undergo minimal handling, so mitigating against the risk of loss or damage to your freight
• When the shipment supplier and recipient have space and facilities to accommodate a full container for loading/unloading

Air Freight

At about $3 per kilo, standard air freight is the cheapest option for shipments between about 150 kilos and 500 kg. Very light shipments for their size might be charged on dimensional weight, rather than actual weight.

Air freight by far the fastest. Express air freight is a little more expensive. Freight rates can vary widely between freight forwarders and prices change regularly, so make sure you shop around. For larger shipments sizes and origin/destination pairs, LCL (less than container load) ocean freight costs might actually be cheaper than air freight costs – make sure you check it out! Nevertheless, it may be a necessity if your cargo:

• Must be delivered quickly to its recipient
• Is high-value and requires the tight security offered by airlines and airport operators
• Consists of products with a substantial profit margin
• Is perishable, fragile, or delicate
• Occupies no more than two or three pallets
• Is to be shipped between a supplier and consignee located close to airports and far from ocean ports.

Ocean Cargo Guide

How Long Does It Take to Ship Cargo by Sea From China to the US?

As noted above, the total transit time of ocean-going cargo from China to the United States depends on the specific starting point and port of destination used. The following example will tell you the actual time of carriage of goods by sea between different ports in China and the US:

• Guangzhou to Los Angeles – 26 days LCL
• Guangzhou to Miami – 38 days LCL
• Dalian to Los Angeles – 26 days LCL
• Shanghai to Atlanta – 29 days LCL, 34 days FCL
• Shanghai to Boston – 35 days LCL, 37 days FCL
• Shanghai to Charleston – 34 days LCL, 37 days FCL
• Shanghai to Chicago – 28 days LCL, 37 days FCL
• Shanghai to Houston – 33 days LCL, 39 days FCL
• Shanghai to Los Angeles – 22 days LCL and FCL
• Shanghai to Miami – 46 days LCL, 38 days FCL
• Shanghai to New York – 37 days LCL, 38 days FCL
• Shanghai to Seattle – 24 days LCL
• Shenzhen to Charleston – 40 days LCL
• Shenzhen to Chicago – 30 days LCL
• Shenzhen to Los Angeles – 23 days LCL, 19 days FCL
• Shenzhen to Miami – 44 days LCL
• Shenzhen to New York – 38 days LCL, 36 days FCL
• Shenzhen to San Francisco – 25 days LCL
• Huangpu to Miami or Charleston – 40 days LCL
• Huangpu to Los Angeles – 35 days LCL
• Huangpu to New York – 40 days LCL and FCL
• Jiangmen to Charleston – 42 days LCL
• Jiangmen to Los Angeles – 27 days LCL
• Jiangmen to Miami – 44 days LCL
• Ningbo to Chicago – 22 days LCL, 29 days FCL
• Ningbo to Houston – 34 days LCL, 36 days FCL
• Ningbo to Los Angeles – 17 days LCL, 13 days FCL
• Ningbo to New York – 23 days LCL, 35 days FCL
• Ningbo to Seattle – 17 days LCL, 23 days FCL
• Qingdao to Atlanta – 39 days LCL, 35 days FCL
• Qingdao to Chicago – 25 days LCL, 24 days FCL
• Qingdao to Houston – 37 days LCL, 36 days FCL
• Qingdao to Los Angeles – 24 days LCL
• Qingdao to New York – 40 days LCL, 36 days FCL
• Qingdao to Seattle – 20 days LCL
• Tianjin to Houston – 35 days LCL
• Tianjin to Miami – 42 days LCL
• Tianjin to Seattle – 35 days LCL, 36 days FCL
• Xiamen to Los Angeles – 20 days LCL
• Xiamen to New York – 34 days LCL
• Fuzhou to Houston – 23 days FCL
• Fuzhou to Los Angeles – 20 days FCL
• Lianyungang to Boston, Savannah or Oakland – 36 days FCL
• Ningbo to Oakland, Long Beach, Norfolk, Savannah, or Baltimore – 36 days FCL
• Shanghai to Baltimore – 36 days FCL
• Shanghai to Savannah – 29 days FCL
• Shanghai to Long Beach – 25 days FCL
• Shanghai to Tacoma – 36 days FCL
• Shekou to Los Angeles – 23 days FCL
• Shekou to New York – 36 days FCL
• Qingdao to Charleston – 35 days FCL
• Qingdao to Long Beach – 19 days FCL
• Qingdao to Oakland – 24 days FCL
• Xiamen to Charleston, Houston, Oakland, or Savannah – 36 days FCL

Cargo Ports of Origin in China

SHANGHAI

Port Facts:

• The port of Shanghai is one of the world’s most important for container shipping.
• Home to the largest automated container terminal on the planet.
• The Shanghai port complex is vast, comprising a deep water port and shallow-water zones.
• It’s an ideal port of origin if you are importing products from factories in Jiangsu and Zhejiang.

Owned By: Shanghai International Port Company Ltd.

Annual Container Volume: >40 million TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: CNSHA.

DALIAN

Port Facts:

• China's second-largest container transshipment hub.
• Serves primarily as an export point for the Northeastern region of the country.
• Container traffic has increased here since the nearby Liaoning Free Trade Zone was established.
• The most northerly ice-free port in China, located on the Yellow Sea.
• Provides 80 berths.

Owned By: Dalian Port Group Co., Ltd.

Annual Container Volume: >9 million TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: CNDLC.

NINGBO-ZHOUSHAN

Port Facts:

• Comprises five terminals (including a modern container terminal) and more than 300 berths.
• A high-volume gateway for exports from Zhejiang Province.
• Serves as a strategic overflow for the nearby Port of Shanghai.
• A $1.6 billion port expansion is planned, to include a significant increase in container capacity.

Owned By: Ningbo Zhoushan Port Co., Ltd.

Annual Container Volume: >26 million TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: CNNGB.

QINGDAO

Port Facts:

• This port has a steady throughput of container traffic, to and from some 700 world ports.
• The main port of export for Shandong Province, a powerhouse of Chinese industry.
• Among the ten busiest ports in the world.
• Situated on the Yellow Sea.
• There are two primary container terminals at Qingdao Port: the Qingdao Cosport International Container Terminal and the Qingdao Qianwan Container Terminal.

Owned By: Qingdao Port (Group) Co., Ltd.

Annual Container Volume: >18 million TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: CNTAO.

XIAMEN

Port Facts:

• Xiamen is a sprawling port, comprising nine container terminals and 74 berths.
• The leading Chinese port for service to and from Taiwan.
• Ranks as the eighth-largest container gateway in China.
• An origin and destination for 68 shipping routes to 50 countries, including the United States.
• The port stretches over 30 kilometers.
• A high-volume hub for global shipping.
• The port’s Haicang container facility is currently undergoing an upgrade that will allow it to receive larger container vessels.

Owned By: Xiamen Port Authority.

Annual Container Volume: >10 million TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: CNXMN.

OTHER PORTS IN CHINA

In addition to the five ports described above, Shipa Freight also operates ocean freight services to the USA from the following ports of origin in China:

• Shenzhen (Chiwan, Shekou, Yantian)
• Fuzhou
• Lianyungang
• Qinzhou
• Shantou
• Zhongshan
• Zhuhai
• Guangzhou (Huangpu, Nansha)
• Tianjin

Cargo Ports of Arrival in the US

LOS ANGELES

Port Facts:

• Around one-fifth of all cargo entering the United States arrives via the Port of Los Angeles.
• The USA’s premier trade gateway, with the nation’s highest throughput in tonnage and value.
• It is the largest port in the USA, covering nearly 70 kilometers of California coastline.
• Facilities include eight container terminals and more than 80 cranes.
• More businesses have their cargo arrive via Los Angeles than any other US port.
• Located in San Pedro Bay, near to Long Beach Port.
• Ranked as the USA’s number-one container port every year since 2000.

Owned By: City of Los Angeles.

Annual Container Volume: >9 million TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: USLAX.

LONG BEACH

Port Facts:

• A critical gateway for trade from China and the rest of Asia.
• Long Beach is located right alongside the Port of Los Angeles.
• More than a quarter of container traffic to and from the USA moves through LA and Long Beach.
• Ideal port of arrival for consignees based on the Western side of the USA.
• Long Beach is the USA’s second-largest container port.
• A colossal port occupying 40 kilometers of waterfront.
• Located three kilometers from downtown Long Beach.

Owned By: City of Long Beach.

Annual Container Volume: >8 million TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: USLGB.

SAVANNAH

Port Facts:

• The port of Savannah lies 30 kilometers from the ocean, on the Savannah River.
• A popular port of unloading for imports from China.
• Home to the largest and fastest-growing container terminal in North America.
• A logical choice for importers based in the Eastern States, and even those in the Midwest.
• Offers direct access to interstate highways.

Owned By: Georgia Ports Authority.

Annual Container Volume: >4 million TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: USSAV.

SEATTLE

Port Facts:

• A convenient arrival port for businesses in the Northwestern United States.
• A significant redevelopment of the port's Terminal 5 recently got underway.
• The upgrade will increase container capacity and enable larger ships to be accommodated.
• Facilities include one of the largest container terminals on the U.S. west coast.

Owned By: Northwest Seaport Alliance.

Annual Container Volume: >3.5 million TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: USSEA.

MIAMI

Port Facts:

• One of the biggest cargo ports in the USA.
• A convenient gateway for cargo from China bound for the Southeastern states.
• Port Miami is fondly known as the Cargo Gateway of the Americas.
• Situated on Dodge Island on the Miami River.
• More than 7.4 million tonnes of sea freight is processed here annually.
• Located 1,850 kilometers from the Panama Canal.
• The largest container port in Florida, and the ninth-largest in the US.
• One of the most popular ports for door-to-door ocean freight from China to US businesses.

Owned By: Multiple owners.

Annual Container Volume: >1 million TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: USMIA.

OTHER OCEAN FREIGHT PORTS IN THE UNITED STATES

Aside from the five ports described above, freight forwarders like Shipa Freight can also offer ocean freight services to the following US container ports:

• New York
• Houston
• San Francisco
• Oakland
• New Orleans
• Boston
• Baltimore
• Atlanta
• Charleston
• Norfolk
• Tacoma
• Port Everglades
• Mobile

Air Freight Guide

How Long Does It Take to Ship Cargo by Air From China to the US?

Typical transit times for air freight from China to the US range from two to eight days, as you can see from the following examples, which comprise routes from the freight company database:

• Guangzhou to Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles, or Chicago – 5 days
• Guangzhou to Miami – 6 days
• Beijing to Boston, New York or Atlanta – 6 days
• Beijing to Chicago or Cincinnati – 4 days
• Beijing to San Francisco, Dallas or Houston – 7 days
• Shanghai to Atlanta – 3 days
• Shanghai to Dallas, Boston or Cincinnati – 7 days
• Shanghai to Chicago, Miami, New York, or Los Angeles – 5 days
• Shanghai to Sacramento, Detroit or Houston – 6 days
• Shenzhen to Atlanta, Miami, or Dallas – 6 days
• Shenzhen to Chicago or Los Angeles – 5 days
• Shenzhen to Denver – 7 days
• Shenzhen to Houston – 2 days
• Zhengzhou or Beijing to Los Angeles – 5 days
• Chengdu to Los Angeles – 12 days
• Qingdao to New York, Houston or Chicago – 8 days
• Qingdao to Seattle or Los Angeles – 5 days
• Wuhan to New York – 8 days
• Xiamen to Atlanta or New York – 4 days
• Xiamen to Detroit or Houston – 7 days
• Xiamen to Los Angeles – 8 days

Airports of Origin in China

SHANGHAI PUDONG

Airport Facts:

• Pudong Airport is the world's third busiest air-cargo hub.
• The airport typically handles more than 3.5 million tonnes of cargo per year.
• A crucial air freight center for the East Asia region.
• Situated 30 kilometers east of Shanghai city center.
• Received the Best Air Freight Facility on the Planet accolade by Air Cargo World in 2019.
• At least 17 airlines operate freight services between Shanghai and airports in the United States, including 13 cargo-only operators.

USA Airports Served: Anchorage, Atlanta, Chicago, Memphis, Cincinnati, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Dallas, New York, Detroit, Seattle, Newark, Oakland, Washington DC.

Shanghai to USA Cargo-Only Operators: AirBridge Cargo, Air China Cargo, China Cargo Airlines, China Southern Cargo, Atlas Air, Kalitta Air, Polar Air Cargo, Southern Air, FedEx Express, Korean Air Cargo, National Airlines, Qantas Cargo, Suparna Airlines, UPS Airlines.

IATA Code: PVG.

BEIJING

Airport Facts:

• The airport belonging to China’s capital, Beijing, is another of the world’s busiest cargo airports.
• It sees a cargo throughput of more than 2 million tonnes annually.
• Located 32 km northeast of Beijing's city center.
• 13th-busiest airport in the world by cargo traffic.
• Handled two million tonnes of cargo in 2018.
• Air China Cargo provides freight-only services from here to four US destinations.
• American Airlines, Air China, Delta, United, and Hainan Airlines all fly passengers and freight to the USA from Beijing.

USA Airports Served: Anchorage, Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Jose, Houston, New York, Newark, Washington DC, Dallas, Detroit, Seattle, Las Vegas, San Francisco.

Beijing to USA Cargo-Only Operators: Air China Cargo.

IATA Code: PEK.

GUANGZHOU

Airport Facts:

• Guangzhou is China’s third busiest cargo airport, and the 17th busiest globally.
• Cargo throughput at Guangzhou was more than 1.8 million tonnes in 2018.
• It’s the primary airport in Guangdong province.
• Facilities include two terminals and three runways.
• China Southern flies a few passenger and freight routes between Guangzhou and airports in the United States, while also operating freight-only services to Chicago and Los Angeles.

USA Airports Served: Anchorage, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco.

Guangzhou to USA Cargo-Only Operators: China Southern Cargo.

IATA Code: CAN.

QINGDAO

Airport Facts:

• Situated 31 kilometers from central Qingdao in Shandong Province.
• As it’s surrounded by urban development, the existing airport has no room to expand.
• The existing airport will soon be replaced by the much larger Qingdao Jiaodong Airport, which has been under construction since - 2013 and is scheduled to open late in 2019.

USA Airports Served: Los Angeles, San Francisco.

Qingdao to USA Cargo-Only Operators: China Southern Cargo.

IATA Code: TAO.

WUHAN

Airport Facts:

• Wuhan Tianhe links Central China with cargo destinations around the world.
• The busiest airport overall in central China.
• Located 26 km from downtown Wuhan in Hubei Province.
• Comprises two runways and one terminal with a second under construction.
• Kalitta Air offers freight-only flights from Wuhan to Anchorage and Chicago.
• China Southern Airlines carry passengers and cargo to San Francisco and New York.
• Handles more than 220,000 tonnes of cargo annually.

USA Airports Served: Los Angeles, San Francisco.

Wuhan to USA Cargo-Only Operators: China Southern Cargo.

IATA Code: WUH.

OTHER AIRPORTS IN CHINA

In addition to Shanghai Pudong, Beijing, Guangzhou, Qingdao, and Wuhan, Shipa Freight also provides air freight forwarding services to the US from the following international airports in China:

• Xiamen
• Chengdu
• Shanghai Hongqiao
• Shenzen
• Zhengzhou
• Chongqing
• Dalian
• Tianjin

Airports of Arrival in the US

LOS ANGELES

Airport Facts:

• LAX, as it’s commonly known, is the 10th busiest cargo airport in the world (as of 2018).
• A perfect destination for international air freight from China to the Western United States.
• In 2018, more than two million tonnes of cargo passed through Los Angeles Airport's terminals.
• More than half of the cargo through LAX is transported in the holds of passenger airliners.
• Approximately 1,000 flights per day arrive or depart Los Angeles airport with cargo onboard.
• Most imports reaching the USA via LAX are inbound from China.
• Among the five busiest airports in the United States for both passenger and cargo traffic.
• Situated 30 kilometers southwest of Downtown Los Angeles.

Connected Airports in China: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Chengdu, Shenzhen, Zhengzhou.

China to Los Angeles Cargo-Only Operators: AirBridge Cargo Airlines, Air China Cargo, China Cargo Airlines, China Southern Cargo, National Airlines, Qantas Freight.

IATA Code: LAX.

MIAMI

Airport Facts:

• Miami International Airport handles more than two million tonnes of freight per year.
• Additionally, Miami trumps LAX, and all other US airports, for international freight volume.
• Ranked 15th among the busiest cargo airports in the world in 2018.
• Offers connections to more than 160 cities on four continents.
• No direct flights from Chinese airports.

Connected Airports in China: None.

China to Miami Cargo-Only Operators: None.

IATA Code: MIA.

CHICAGO

Airport Facts:

• Up to 15 wide-body cargo aircraft can unload simultaneously at Chicago O’Hare.
• The freight terminal covers an area of approximately 185,000 square meters.
• A full quarter of the freight that arrives here comes from China.
• The number-three airport for cargo in the USA.
• Handled over 1.8 million tons of freight in 2018.
• It can accommodate 15 wide-bodied cargo aircraft.
• You can fly your freight here with any of seven international carriers.
• Five cargo-only carriers operate flights to Chicago from airports in China.

Connected Airports in China: Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Zhengzhou.

China to Chicago Cargo-Only Operators: Air China Cargo, Cargolux, China Southern Cargo, Qantas Freight, Yangtze River Express.

IATA Code: ORD.

NEW YORK

Airport Facts:

• The number-one airport in the United States for cargo value.
• Sixth-busiest airport in the country.
• Situated 26 kilometers southeast of Manhattan.
• Stretches over a 21 square-kilometer area and has four runways.
• Offers several direct passenger and cargo flights from airports in China.
• Korean Air Cargo, Air China Cargo, and Qantas Freight operate cargo-only flights from China.
• The third busiest US gateway by the value of cargo handled, with only the ocean ports of Los Angeles and New York seeing a higher value in throughputs.

Connected Airports in China: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Wuhan, Chengdu.

China to New York Cargo-Only Operators: Korean Air Cargo, Air China Cargo, Qantas Freight.

IATA Code: JFK.

DALLAS/FORT WORTH

Airport Facts:

• Nowhere in the US is more than a four-hour flight from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
• It offers 1.8 million square meters of warehouse capacity.
• American Airlines and other operators fly between Dallas and some 190 stateside destinations.
• Freight operations are already moving close to 2,000 tonnes per day.
• The central hub for the USA's national flag carrier, American Airlines.
• Flights serve the airport from more than 190 US cities.

Connected Airports in China: Beijing, Shanghai.

China to Dallas Cargo-Only Operators: Air China Cargo, China Airlines Cargo, Qantas Freight.

IATA Code: DFW.

OTHER AIR FREIGHT DESTINATIONS IN THE USA

By shipping your imports from China by air to LAX, MIA, JFK, ORD, or DFW, you should be able to get them into your inventory quickly, if not as economically as with ocean freight. However, these are not the only international airports available for your goods. You can also ship your imports from China into the following destinations in the United States:

• Atlanta
• Cincinnati
• San Diego
• San Francisco
• Charlotte
• Denver
• El Paso
• Houston
• Philadelphia
• Seattle
• Cleveland
• Boston
• Detroit
• Sacramento

How much ship from China to US?

Freight costs make up a significant portion of the cost of importing from China to the United States. However, sea and air freight rates vary according to season, available capacity, fuel costs, and other commercial and environmental factors. Variations are frequent, so it is difficult to provide a general statement of costs. The nature of the freight and the size of the shipment also determine the rate you will pay. Therefore, asking forwarders for quotes is the only way to accurately assess freight costs from China to the US.

Nevertheless, it is possible to provide some general guidelines to help you compare the cost of different freight shipping modes.

For example, if you can fill a shipping container, an FCL service will save you the most money on transportation, as the cost-per-unit will be lower than LCL. That's because LCL shipping rates are calculated using a dimensional weight formula. In contrast, FCL is based on flat rates per container.

On the other hand, it’s rarely cost-effective to rent and transport a container that’s only partially filled. If your shipment only occupies two or three pallets, the cost of FCL shipping is likely to be prohibitive, and LCL shipping becomes a more attractive option.

Most shippers will not choose air freight—especially for large shipments—unless speed is essential for their supply chains. That said, it is possible to ship goods by air in smaller quantities at reasonable rates. An air freight shipment with a weight of around 100 kilograms can sometimes cost only a little more than sending the goods as ocean cargo.

If you plan to export a piece of goods that weighs less than 35kg, you are unlikely to find a freight forwarder to handle it. It's not feasible to transport such a small quantity by freight agreement. Instead, find an international Courier company that will arrange to have your goods airlifted at a reasonable price.

Customs Clearance in China and the US

Customs clearance for imports and exports can seem complicated, and in many cases, that's why. However, it is an unavoidable aspect of shipping and air traffic from China to the United States. Therefore, this is every supplier, consignee, intermediary organizations engaged in international trade must be prepared.

Your carrier will not take any responsibility for helping you with customs procedures. However, a freight forwarder will take care of them for a fee. Even so, there are some steps for which your business must retain responsibility. They include the provision of accurate information and the documents to accompany your freight.

Typically, you will need to ensure that the following documents accompany all your exports from China to the USA, as customs authorities in both countries will require them:

• 1.Commercial Invoice
• 2.Packing List
• 3.Certificate of Origin
• 4.Letter of Credit or other payment terms (depending on the contract between the parties involved)
• 5.Bill of Lading for ocean freight or Airway Bill for air freight (Your freight forwarder should provide this)

Not Planning for Chinese Holidays

Chinese Holidays can affect your available transportation route and time.In addition to these, it will also affect the following points:

• Increase the shipping cost
• Increase the price of the goods
• Suffer the quality of the products

China is known for its long holiday breaks. So it’s best to know when China celebrates their holidays to avoid delays in your production or shipments.

New Year’s Day – January 1st

Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) – 1st day in the lunar calendar

Qingming Festival (Tomb Sweeping) – April 4th or 5th

Labor Day (May Day) – May 1st

The Mid-Autumn Festival – 15th of the 8th month (Lunar Calendar)

National Day (Golden Week) – October 1st.