Frequently Asked Questions

Send your origin city, destination, cargo description, total weight and dimensions through our quote form, and we reply with routing options and a transparent price. The more detail you give — carton counts, CBM and whether the goods are ready — the more accurate the quote. For urgent shipments you can also message us on WhatsApp. Start here: request a freight quote. If you only know the volume, estimate it first with the CBM calculator.

We need the pickup address or city in China, the destination country and postcode, the cargo description (and HS code if known), the number of cartons or pallets, gross weight, dimensions or CBM, and your preferred Incoterm (EXW, FOB, DDP and so on). Photos of the packaging and any battery, liquid or chemical content also help. With these details we can choose between air, ocean, rail or express and price the right option. See shipping cost for what drives the number.

There is no fixed minimum — small parcels can move by express or air, while larger loads use ocean LCL/FCL or rail. The best mode depends on your CBM, weight, budget and deadline rather than a hard threshold. Share the shipment details and we will match the most economical option; very small consignments are usually cheapest by courier. Compare modes on our services pages.

Yes — we can arrange pickup from your supplier's factory or warehouse in China and move the goods to our consolidation point before export. Provide the supplier address, contact, ready date and any loading restrictions. Pickup cost depends on location and volume, so it is quoted per shipment. If you prefer, your supplier can also deliver to the warehouse directly. Tell us the details in your quote request.

Yes. Goods from several Chinese suppliers can be received at a consolidation warehouse, checked, and combined into one shipment to reduce freight and simplify clearance. Send each supplier's address and ready dates so we can plan receipt and cut-off. Consolidation works best when all items are ready close together. See warehousing & consolidation for how it works.

Choose by balancing speed, volume and cost: express suits small, urgent parcels; air freight suits time-sensitive cargo of moderate size; sea freight (LCL or FCL) is the most economical for large or heavy loads; rail is a middle option for China–Europe. Compare your CBM, weight and deadline. Our air and ocean pages explain each, and shipping time shows typical transit.

FCL (full container load) means you book an entire container, which is faster and avoids sharing space. LCL (less than container load) means your cargo shares a container with other shippers and you pay for the space you use — economical for smaller volumes but with more handling and consolidation time. As a rule, LCL suits lower CBM and FCL becomes cheaper as volume grows. See FCL vs LCL.

Yes — door-to-door means we coordinate pickup in China, the main carriage, customs and final delivery to your address, so you deal with one provider. It is available on many lanes by air, ocean and express, subject to destination coverage and the nature of the goods. Confirm the exact address and access details in your quote. See door-to-door shipping.

Door-to-door describes the physical scope — collecting at origin and delivering to the final address. DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) is an Incoterm where the seller or forwarder also pays import duties and taxes, so the buyer receives cleared goods with nothing to pay on arrival. Door-to-door can be arranged under different Incoterms, including DDP or DAP. See DDP shipping and Incoterms explained.

Rail is a good middle choice for China–Europe and some Central Asian destinations when sea is too slow and air too expensive — typically for medium-to-large volumes with a flexible deadline. It is not available to every country, so coverage depends on the destination and the rail network. Share your route and we will confirm feasibility. See railway freight and the China–Europe rail guide.

Freight is built from the main carriage (by air, sea, rail or express), origin charges (pickup, export handling, documentation), destination charges, and any duties or taxes depending on the Incoterm. Air and express price on chargeable weight, ocean LCL on CBM or weight, and FCL per container. Fuel, season and capacity move rates. Estimate weight with the chargeable weight calculator and see shipping cost.

Chargeable weight is the figure carriers bill on: the greater of actual gross weight and volumetric weight. Volumetric weight = volume (CBM) × the carrier's factor (for example 1 CBM = 167 kg for air, or 1 CBM = 333 kg for some ocean LCL). Low-density cargo is often billed on volume rather than weight. Work it out with the chargeable weight calculator and read chargeable weight explained.

CBM (cubic metres) is length × width × height in metres, multiplied by the number of cartons. For each carton type, convert dimensions to metres, multiply, then add up all cartons. Keep units consistent and round carefully. Use the CBM calculator to total multiple carton sizes, and read what is CBM for worked examples.

Your quote states its scope explicitly — typically the main freight plus the origin and destination handling listed on it. Whether duties, taxes, insurance, pickup or final delivery are included depends on the Incoterm and the services you select. Always check the inclusions and exclusions before booking; anything not listed is quoted separately. Ask us to confirm the scope in your quote request.

Freight rates move with capacity, fuel and season, so a quote is valid for the period stated on it and can change if you book later. The price can also change if the cargo details change — weight, CBM, dimensions, commodity or destination. Confirm before you ship and tell us early if anything differs. We re-quote transparently rather than adding surprise fees. See shipping cost.

Transit depends on mode and destination: express is usually a few days, air freight about a week, sea freight several weeks, and rail roughly two to three weeks for Europe. Customs and inland delivery add time. Use our shipping time pages for typical ranges by country, and always confirm the schedule in your quote.

Port-to-port or airport-to-airport transit covers only the main carriage. Door-to-door timelines also include pickup, export and import clearance, and final delivery, so the total is longer than the sailing or flight alone. Always check what a quoted transit refers to. See shipping time for the different scopes and what each includes.

Common delays include cargo not ready on time, missing or inconsistent documents, customs inspections, port congestion, carrier schedule changes, weather and peak-season backlogs. Supplying complete and accurate documents and booking with realistic ready dates reduces risk. If something changes, tell us early so we can adjust routing. See the notes on our shipping time pages.

You receive a shipment reference with status updates at key milestones — pickup, departure, arrival and final delivery — across air, sea, rail and truck legs. Share the reference with us anytime for the latest position. Tracking granularity depends on the carrier and mode. Start your shipment with a quote request.

If cargo misses the booked cut-off, the shipment may roll to the next departure, which can change the schedule and sometimes the rate. Tell us as soon as you know so we can rebook or adjust. Keeping buffer time around your ready date avoids costly re-planning. Mention the ready date in your quote request.

Typically a commercial invoice, packing list, and the transport document (bill of lading or air waybill), plus an HS code. Some goods also need certificates, licences or dangerous-goods declarations. Requirements vary by destination and commodity, so confirm before shipping. See customs coordination and our customs clearance steps.

Responsibility depends on the Incoterm. Under DDP the seller or forwarder handles import clearance and duties; under DAP, FOB or EXW the buyer (or their broker) clears import. We coordinate clearance where our scope includes it and can guide you otherwise. Confirm who clears in your quote. See Incoterms explained.

Duties and taxes are included only when your quote is on DDP terms; on DAP, FOB, EXW and similar terms the importer pays them at destination. Rates depend on the destination country, the HS code and the declared value, and are set by local authorities. Check the Incoterm on your quote and budget for duty where it applies. See DDP shipping.

Many countries allow most goods without a special licence, but some products and some importers do require registration, a tax ID or a permit. Rules differ by country and commodity, so confirm the current requirement for your destination before shipping. We can flag common needs but cannot replace local legal advice. Ask in your quote request.

An HS (Harmonized System) code classifies your product for customs and determines duty. The importer or exporter is responsible for the correct code, often with their broker; we can help identify a likely code, but final classification should be confirmed by the responsible party. An accurate code avoids delays and duty surprises. See HS code basics and customs coordination.

Batteries can often ship, but they are regulated — lithium cells and packs need proper declarations (MSDS, UN38.3 where applicable) and carrier acceptance, and some are restricted by air. Not every carrier or route accepts every battery type, so we cannot guarantee carriage. Send the battery details and we will confirm what is possible. See air freight for handling notes.

Some liquids, powders and chemicals can ship, but many are regulated or restricted, and acceptance depends on the substance, packaging and carrier rules. You will usually need an MSDS and may need dangerous-goods handling. We cannot promise carriage of all such goods; send the details for review. See customs & insurance.

Yes — oversized, heavy and out-of-gauge cargo can be arranged, but it needs special equipment, routing and sometimes permits, so it is quoted case by case. Provide dimensions, weight, lifting points and any handling constraints. See project logistics for how we plan these shipments and build a realistic schedule.

Pack for transport, not just storage: use strong cartons or crates, protect edges, fill voids, and keep cartons within a manageable weight. Label cartons clearly and make sure the packing list matches what is inside. Good packing reduces damage and speeds handling. If you are unsure, describe your goods in a quote request and we will advise.

Solid-wood packing (pallets, crates and dunnage) is often subject to phytosanitary rules such as ISPM 15, which requires heat treatment or fumigation and a visible mark. Requirements vary by destination, so confirm before you pack. Processed wood and some alternatives are exempt. Ask us if your shipment uses solid-wood crates, and see customs coordination.

Yes — suppliers can deliver to a consolidation warehouse in China, where goods are received, checked and combined for export. Provide each supplier's details and ready dates so receipts line up. Storage terms and any charges depend on the volume and timing, so confirm them with us rather than assuming a fixed free period. See warehousing.

Yes — combining multiple suppliers into one shipment is standard consolidation and usually lowers freight and simplifies clearance. It works best when all goods are ready close together and can be packed compatibly. Send the supplier list and ready dates so we can plan. See consolidation for the process.

Yes — we can deliver to Amazon FBA centers, including carton labelling, FNSKU and appointment requirements, and DDP options where applicable. FBA rules are strict about labelling and carton limits, so share the shipment plan and the center code. See Amazon FBA shipping and our FBA shipping guide.

Yes — final delivery can go to a business or residential address, subject to the carrier's coverage and any access restrictions. Residential and remote deliveries can carry surcharges or need an appointment, so give the full address and access details in your quote. See door-to-door and the door-to-door guide.

Check the carton count and condition against the delivery document before signing, note any visible damage or shortage on the paperwork, and photograph the problems. Report issues promptly so a claim can be raised within the carrier's time limits. Keep the packaging until the case is resolved. Cargo insurance helps here — see insurance.

No — cargo insurance is not included unless your quote lists it. Carriers' standard liability is limited, so for valuable goods we recommend arranging all-risk cover based on the declared value. Ask us to add insurance to your quote. See customs & insurance and our cargo insurance guide.

To arrange cover we typically need the cargo description, declared value, packing, route, mode and shipment dates, plus the invoice. Insurers may ask about the commodity and any special risks. Cover is priced on the declared value and the chosen terms. Request it in your quote.

Note the damage on the delivery document before signing, photograph the cartons and contents, and keep the packaging. Report it to us promptly so a claim can be filed within the carrier's and insurer's time limits. The outcome depends on the cause and whether insurance was arranged. See insurance.

Customs can hold a shipment and request extra documents, such as certificates, a licence, or clarification of the value or HS code. Respond quickly with accurate paperwork to avoid storage or demurrage charges. We will relay the request and help where our scope covers clearance. Provide complete documents up front to reduce this risk — see customs coordination.

Sometimes — an address change may be possible before final delivery, but it can incur carrier fees or be refused once the shipment is in transit or already cleared. Tell us as early as possible with the new address and access details. Changes are subject to the carrier's rules. Start with a quote that has the correct address.