Shipping is a very important part of the foreign trade process. After you have completed a lot of preliminary work, the final transportation of the goods is often a very troublesome matter. This article will give you a preliminary understanding of what the cost of cargo transportation consists of and the approximate cost.
So, in this article, I will share the 7 main shipping methods and their estimated costs. After reading this, you can easily arrange shipping whether you use a supplier’s freight forwarder or your own. Anyway, this is a good guide.
Take shipping from China to the United States as an example, but it can be used as a reference for you.
Note: All shipping charges listed are regular prices. However, prices change very frequently. The latest price you get will change again in a few days, so it can only be used as a reference. The specific shipping cost needs to be calculated actually when shipping.
Express Shipping
Compared with sea or air freight, express is the easiest and fastest transportation method
You won’t have to bother about the custom clearances process. And whether you are getting the goods delivered to the east or the west of the United States, delivery fees will likely be the same. All you have to do is to find an express company that gives you a reasonable quote and waits for the goods to be delivered to your address.
About 95% of the product samples and high-value goods in small quantities are shipped by express. Besides, if you are online sellers who are in a hurry to restock, like Amazon sellers, express is highly suitable to you.
I recommend FedEx and UPS. Because generally, DHL’s customs clearance process is slower than that of FedEx and UPS and sometimes DHL’s shipping cost is also relatively higher.
China to the United States express cost
Whether it’s FedEx, UPS, or DHL, the official price is generally higher, because these courier companies give their agents (your suppliers, or freight forwarders) different discounts based on each agent’s annual shipments, usually 20% – 50% off, which further affects the price.
If your Chinese supplier does not often use FedEx to ship goods from China to the United States, he can find a discounted express agent and ask him to ship the goods to the United States. Therefore, you will get lower shipping costs.
In addition to the different discounts of various agents, the impact of seasons, the number of remaining vacancies on the plane, etc. will also affect the cost of express delivery. For example, prices may rise rapidly during peak seasons (such as the month before Christmas and Thanksgiving) and drop sharply during low seasons.
So shipping rates are quite erratic and may even change from week to week. You must ask your supplier or freight forwarder to provide you with real-time prices
The table below is the current approximate cost of express delivery from China to some areas by our freight forwarding company, converted according to the exchange rate of 1 US dollar equals 7.1 RMB，
| Religion | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| Country | Western Europe: Britain, France and Germany | Japan | Southeast Asia | Australia | USA | Canada | Western Europe: Switzerland, Denmark | South Africa, Eastern Europe | South America |
| Document 0.5kg | 80.00 | 60.00 | 60.00 | 80.00 | 80.00 | 80.00 | 80.00 | 70.00 | 120.00 |
| 1kg | 103.00 | 80.00 | 80.00 | 103.00 | 103.00 | 103.00 | 103.00 | 120.00 | 170.00 |
| sample 0.5kg | 85.00 | 60.00 | 70.00 | 90.00 | 80.00 | 90.00 | 90.00 | 110.00 | 150.00 |
| 1kg | 105.00 | 72.00 | 83.00 | 108.00 | 104.00 | 114.00 | 110.00 | 137.00 | 192.00 |
| 1.5kg | 125.00 | 84.00 | 96.00 | 126.00 | 128.00 | 138.00 | 130.00 | 164.00 | 234.00 |
| 2kg | 145.00 | 96.00 | 109.00 | 144.00 | 152.00 | 162.00 | 150.00 | 191.00 | 276.00 |
| 2.5kg | 165.00 | 108.00 | 122.00 | 162.00 | 176.00 | 186.00 | 170.00 | 218.00 | 318.00 |
| 3kg | 185.00 | 120.00 | 135.00 | 180.00 | 200.00 | 210.00 | 190.00 | 245.00 | 360.00 |
| 3.5kg | 205.00 | 132.00 | 148.00 | 198.00 | 224.00 | 234.00 | 210.00 | 272.00 | 402.00 |
| 4kg | 225.00 | 144.00 | 161.00 | 216.00 | 248.00 | 258.00 | 230.00 | 299.00 | 444.00 |
| 4.5kg | 245.00 | 156.00 | 174.00 | 234.00 | 272.00 | 282.00 | 250.00 | 326.00 | 486.00 |
| 5kg | 265.00 | 168.00 | 187.00 | 252.00 | 296.00 | 306.00 | 270.00 | 353.00 | 528.00 |
| 5.5kg | 285.00 | 180.00 | 200.00 | 270.00 | 320.00 | 330.00 | 290.00 | 380.00 | 570.00 |
| 6kg | 305.00 | 192.00 | 213.00 | 288.00 | 344.00 | 354.00 | 310.00 | 407.00 | 612.00 |
| 6.5kg | 325.00 | 204.00 | 226.00 | 306.00 | 368.00 | 378.00 | 330.00 | 434.00 | 654.00 |
| 7kg | 345.00 | 216.00 | 239.00 | 324.00 | 392.00 | 402.00 | 350.00 | 461.00 | 696.00 |
| 7.5kg | 365.00 | 228.00 | 252.00 | 342.00 | 416.00 | 426.00 | 370.00 | 488.00 | 738.00 |
| 8kg | 385.00 | 240.00 | 265.00 | 360.00 | 440.00 | 450.00 | 390.00 | 515.00 | 780.00 |
| 8.5kg | 405.00 | 252.00 | 278.00 | 378.00 | 464.00 | 474.00 | 410.00 | 542.00 | 822.00 |
| 9kg | 425.00 | 264.00 | 291.00 | 396.00 | 488.00 | 498.00 | 430.00 | 569.00 | 864.00 |
| 9.5kg | 445.00 | 276.00 | 304.00 | 414.00 | 512.00 | 522.00 | 450.00 | 596.00 | 906.00 |
| 10kg | 465.00 | 288.00 | 317.00 | 432.00 | 536.00 | 546.00 | 470.00 | 623.00 | 948.00 |
| 10.5kg | 485.00 | 300.00 | 330.00 | 450.00 | 560.00 | 570.00 | 490.00 | 650.00 | 990.00 |
| 11kg | 505.00 | 312.00 | 343.00 | 468.00 | 584.00 | 594.00 | 510.00 | 677.00 | 1032.00 |
| 11.5kg | 525.00 | 324.00 | 356.00 | 486.00 | 608.00 | 618.00 | 530.00 | 704.00 | 1074.00 |
| 12kg | 545.00 | 336.00 | 369.00 | 504.00 | 632.00 | 642.00 | 550.00 | 731.00 | 1116.00 |
| 12.5kg | 565.00 | 348.00 | 382.00 | 522.00 | 656.00 | 666.00 | 570.00 | 758.00 | 1158.00 |
| 13kg | 585.00 | 360.00 | 395.00 | 540.00 | 680.00 | 690.00 | 590.00 | 785.00 | 1200.00 |
| 13.5kg | 605.00 | 372.00 | 408.00 | 558.00 | 704.00 | 714.00 | 610.00 | 812.00 | 1242.00 |
| 14kg | 625.00 | 384.00 | 421.00 | 576.00 | 728.00 | 738.00 | 630.00 | 839.00 | 1284.00 |
| 14.5kg | 645.00 | 396.00 | 434.00 | 594.00 | 752.00 | 762.00 | 650.00 | 866.00 | 1326.00 |
| 15kg | 665.00 | 408.00 | 447.00 | 612.00 | 776.00 | 786.00 | 670.00 | 893.00 | 1368.00 |
| 15.5kg | 685.00 | 420.00 | 460.00 | 630.00 | 800.00 | 810.00 | 690.00 | 920.00 | 1410.00 |
| 16kg | 705.00 | 432.00 | 473.00 | 648.00 | 824.00 | 834.00 | 710.00 | 947.00 | 1452.00 |
| 16.5kg | 725.00 | 444.00 | 486.00 | 666.00 | 848.00 | 858.00 | 730.00 | 974.00 | 1494.00 |
| 17kg | 745.00 | 456.00 | 499.00 | 684.00 | 872.00 | 882.00 | 750.00 | 1001.00 | 1536.00 |
| 17.5kg | 765.00 | 468.00 | 512.00 | 702.00 | 896.00 | 906.00 | 770.00 | 1028.00 | 1578.00 |
| 18kg | 785.00 | 480.00 | 525.00 | 720.00 | 920.00 | 930.00 | 790.00 | 1055.00 | 1620.00 |
| 18.5kg | 805.00 | 492.00 | 538.00 | 738.00 | 944.00 | 954.00 | 810.00 | 1082.00 | 1662.00 |
| 19kg | 825.00 | 504.00 | 551.00 | 756.00 | 968.00 | 978.00 | 830.00 | 1109.00 | 1704.00 |
| 19.5kg | 845.00 | 516.00 | 564.00 | 774.00 | 992.00 | 1002.00 | 850.00 | 1136.00 | 1746.00 |
| 20kg | 865.00 | 528.00 | 577.00 | 792.00 | 1016.00 | 1026.00 | 870.00 | 1163.00 | 1788.00 |
NOTES:The express fee fluctuates from time to time, please contact your supplier to get the latest price when you want to ship the goods
Dimensional Weight VS Real Weight
To express, you should pay special attention to the charged weight. The express company will compare the dimensional weight with the real weight, and choose whichever is larger as charged weight to calculate the shipping cost. Dimensional weight is calculated by volume, which is Length(cm) x Width(cm) x Height(cm)/5000.
Now if you are going to ship a huge foam that is 100cm x100cm x 100cm, and weighs 20kg.
Dimensional weight = 100cm x 100cm x 100cm/5000 = 200kg. It is far larger than the real weight (20kg).
Therefore, the express will charge you 200kg, rather than 20kg, because the size of the package is large and will take up a lot of space.
As for customs duties, if the value of goods is less than $800, it is duty-free by FedEx. If more than $800, the courier company will pay for you first, then you pay it to the courier when you receive the goods.
The Differences between Air Freight and Express
Express delivery is quite simple and straight-forward, while air freight is a bit more complex and its import and export procedures are similar to traditional sea freight.
Usually, if your cargo is more than 500kg, air freight is cost-effective. While if your cargo is below 300kg, express shipping will be a better choice. But what if the cargo is between 300-500kg?
At this time, it’s impossible to exactly say which one is cheaper, because the prices of both are always changing in real-time. For example, FedEx is cheaper than air freight if the plane of FedEx has a lot of empty space left or when there are irregular discounts.
What Is All-Included Air Freight Cost to the US?
When you want to ship by air, whether you plan to consult a freight forwarder or let the supplier arrange it directly, you must ask about the price of the entire transportation process, covering the freight from the Chinese airport to your doorstep.
Sometimes, a freight forwarder or supplier will only entice you by quoting you the shipping cost from the China airport to the destination airport. This price seems very low, but it does not include customs clearance fees and domestic road fees, which need to be paid extra.
Sea Freight from China to the USA
If your shipment exceeds 2 CBM (cubic meters) you should consider shipping by sea. This is the most economical, complex and versatile way
The cargo shipped by sea freight is carried in containers. There are two types, LCL and FLC.
If the quantity of your goods is small and its volume is less than 15 CBM, the freight forwarder will help you ship your goods by LCL. It implies you have to share a container with other importers because your cargo load is less than a smallest container size.(20 GP)
LCL uses CBM (Cubic Meter) as the unit to calculate the freight. For example, if your product is 8 CBM, then the shipping fee = the price per CBM * 8CBM.
FCL is when your cargo is enough to fill one or more containers. In this case, the freight is calculated on the quantity of the whole container. For example, if your goods can fill 2 containers, then the shipping fee = the price of a full container * 2. Generally, it will be cheaper than LCL.
Furthermore, the container model is mainly divided into three types:
Full container load | 20”GP | 40”GP | 40”HQ |
| CBM contained | 28CBM | 58CBM | 68CBM |
SFUC—Sea Freight UPS Combined
Generally speaking, shipping time by sea is about 30-45 days. In addition to sea transportation time, local logistics in the destination country is also quite slow. There’s a faster and more economical way to ship than traditional ocean shipping, called Ocean Shipping UPS Combo
First, the goods are shipped via traditional sea freight to the port closest to the delivery address. UPS then takes care of local logistics. It means that the goods will be delivered to your address immediately after the goods arrive at the port. This will save you at least 10 days.
This is one of the main ways to ship directly from China to Amazon FBA because of its fast shipping time and efficient customs clearance.
Please note that shipping charges for this shipping method are per kilogram. Because after arriving at the port, unlike traditional ocean shipping that uses trucks to transport goods, UPS is responsible for delivery, while express delivery is calculated by kilogram.
AFUC—Air Freight UPS Combined
Air Freight UPS Combined means that your goods are first delivered by air freight and then UPS is responsible for the local delivery within the United States. It is cheaper than Express but won’t take much longer than the express. Express takes 3-5 working days, air freight takes 4-7, and AFUC takes 11-15.
Though AFUC is not a mainstream shipping method, if there is an urgent replenishment for Amazon FBA or other e-commerce platforms, AFUC can be considered as it’s more cost-effective than express and faster than sea freight.
Note：The above information is to let novices have a preliminary understanding of the type of freight and the components of the cost, so that you can choose what type of transportation you use. For the specific cost, you need to ask the supplier or freight forwarding company when the goods are shipped
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