Overview
Sea freight from China at a glance
Cost role
Lowest unit cost mode
Best when volume is stable
Products
FCL / LCL
Full container or shared space
Time
Weeks, not days
Door-to-door adds clearance + inland
Risk
Dwell after arrival
Demurrage/detention if free time is missed
FCL vs LCL
FCL vs LCL sea freight from China
FCL uses a dedicated container sealed for your cargo—better control, fewer co-loading handlings, usually the right call once volume approaches a full equipment economy.
LCL lets you pay for space in a shared container—useful for smaller shipments, but CFS handling and longer cycles often apply at both ends.
| FCL | LCL | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Full container for one shipper | Shared container |
| Typical fit | From ~15 CBM up, or when sealed control matters | About 0.5–12 CBM |
| Handling | Fewer intermediate touches | CFS stuff/strip events |
| Cost logic | Per container + locals | Per CBM + handling |
Break-even callout
Around 12–15 CBM, compare LCL all-in (including CFS) against a 20ft FCL. Above ~15 CBM, FCL often wins on cost and risk.
Rates
Sea freight rates from China: beyond the ocean line
A base ocean rate is not your landed freight cost. All-in design usually includes origin pickup/export handling, origin THC and documentation, ocean freight and surcharges, destination THC/locals, then clearance and delivery if door service is included.
Layer
Origin
Pickup, export customs, origin THC, docs
Layer
Ocean
Base freight, BAF / peak / emergency surcharges
Layer
Destination
THC, handling, documentation
Layer
After port
Clearance, delivery, storage if delayed
Tip
Ask for a dated all-in to the real delivery point—not only port-to-port.
Transit
Ocean transit time from China
| Region | Typical port-to-port planning band |
|---|---|
| Southeast Asia | about 3–10 days |
| Australia / New Zealand | about 12–22 days |
| US West Coast | about 14–22 days |
| US East Coast | about 25–35+ days |
| Northern Europe | about 25–40+ days |
| Middle East | about 15–25 days |
Door-to-door adds origin handling, destination dwell, customs, and inland. Build buffer into customer promises.
Containers
Container sizes for ocean freight from China
| Container | Approx. volume | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 20GP | ~28–33 CBM usable | denser or mid volume |
| 40GP | ~56–67 CBM usable | high volume |
| 40HQ | extra height vs 40GP | light, voluminous cargo |
Pallet planning helper
- • 20ft: often ~10 pallets single layer; up to ~20 if stacked (cargo allowing)
- • 40ft: often ~20 pallets single layer; up to ~40 if stacked
Confirm payload, door opening, and whether you need reefer, open top, or flat rack for non-standard cargo.
Process
How sea freight from China works
- 1
Collect
Pickup from supplier/warehouse; export-ready packing
- 2
Export
China export customs and documentation
- 3
Gate-in & load
Terminal gate-in, vessel loading
- 4
Ocean transit
Linehaul to destination port
- 5
Arrival
Discharge, destination charges, free-time clock
- 6
Clear & deliver
Import clearance, then door or depot delivery
Documents
Documents for sea freight from China
Ocean clearance and release depend on a clean document chain. Most delays blamed on “customs” start as data mismatches between the bill of lading, invoice, and packing list.
Bill of Lading (B/L)
The bill of lading is the core ocean transport document. It evidences receipt of goods, contract of carriage, and—depending on type—can affect how title and release work. Understand whether you need original B/L surrender, telex release, or express release for your sea freight from China lane, and who can take delivery at destination.
Commercial invoice
Used for customs value and commodity identity. Invoice data should match the packing list and B/L consignee logic. Mismatched values are a common reason for destination holds on container shipping from China.
Packing list
Details piece counts, marks, and weights. For LCL, it supports CFS check-in and outturn. For FCL, it supports seal integrity checks and inspection if customs selects the container.
Verified Gross Mass (VGM) / weight declaration
SOLAS VGM requirements mean the packed container’s verified gross mass must be submitted according to the carrier’s process before loading. Incorrect VGM handling can block loading even when commercial documents look fine.
Certificate of origin (if claimed)
Required when preferential duty programs or destination rules demand origin evidence. Not automatic for every FCL/LCL shipment.
Export licenses / inspection certificates (if required)
Product-specific. Confirm early for regulated categories so vessel cutoff is not missed.
Consistency rule
B/L package count, packing list, and invoice should reconcile. Most ocean delays blamed on “customs” start as data mismatches.
Incoterms
Documents and Incoterms for sea freight from China
| Term | Practical split |
|---|---|
| EXW | Buyer controls almost everything from factory |
| FOB | Seller to origin port/on board; buyer takes ocean + destination |
| CIF | Seller covers ocean + minimum insurance to destination port; buyer still faces import clearance and many locals |
| DDP | Delivery with duties/taxes only if quote scope is explicit |
Warning
Wrong Incoterm assumptions are a common source of surprise destination invoices (THC, delivery, duty).
Mode choice
When to choose sea vs air, rail, or express
Choose sea when
- ✓Volume and unit cost dominate
- ✓Cargo is dense or bulky
- ✓Planned replenishment
Choose another mode when
- →Must-arrive date is tight
- →High value per kg + urgency
- →Samples / small parcels
Origin execution
What happens before the container reaches the terminal
SIS collects from factories across Yantian (YICT), Nansha, Hong Kong, Ningbo and Port of Shanghai, inspects for damage and labelling including IMO SOLAS VGM readiness for FCL, and consolidates when multiple suppliers are involved — all before CY cutoff.
Incoterms
FCA vs FOB on container shipments
Incoterms 2020 prefers FCA for boxed cargo because risk transfers when the carrier takes custody at the terminal or depot. FOB “on board” remains the common L/C exception but creates ambiguity and extra cost exposure once the container is already in the carrier’s stack.
Cost example
Example only — 18 CBM Shenzhen to Los Angeles LCL
Example only, not a live quote. 18 CBM LCL Shenzhen to Los Angeles: - ocean + origin extras: $1,850 - destination THC / handling: $620 - duty stack (HTS + Section 301 + MPF/HMF): $1,240 All-in illustration: $3,710 Confirm HTS and current 301 rate before booking.
Destinations
Sea freight by destination
Related: DDP · Air · FCL vs LCL · Worldwide
Commercial decision
FCL or LCL: practical break-even
LCL is flexible for small volumes. It is not automatically cheaper.
Compare all-in cost when volume approaches about 12–15 CBM:
- LCL rate per CBM
- CFS / handling at origin and destination
- Longer cycle and more touchpoints
Above ~15 CBM, a 20ft FCL is often lower risk and better unit economics because cargo moves as one sealed unit.
Decision rule
Quote both options near the mid-teens CBM. Choose on all-in cost + damage/delay risk, not ocean line item alone.
Cost structure
What “shipping cost” actually includes
A usable number is built in layers:
- Origin — pickup, export docs, origin terminal/handling
- Main carriage — ocean / air / rail linehaul + fuel/peak surcharges
- Destination — terminal, handling, documentation
- Delivery — truck to door or FC (if scoped)
- Tax layer (only if DDP) — duty, VAT/GST as agreed
Ask for a dated all-in to the real delivery point.
Port-to-port rates are not door costs. “DDP” without tax logic is incomplete.
After arrival
After arrival: free time still matters
Ocean arrival is not the end of cost. Containers and cargo often have limited free time at terminal or depot. If documents, clearance, or pickup lag, demurrage/detention/storage can exceed the savings from a cheap ocean rate.
Operational rule
Align documents and delivery plan before vessel arrival—not after last free day.
Honest fit
When not to use sea freight from China
- ✕Hard launch or must-arrive date inside 2–3 weeks
- ✕High value per kg where delay cost exceeds ocean savings
- ✕Samples / small parcels better suited to express
- ✕You need sealed-unit control but stay on LCL past break-even without checking all-in
Planning bands
Transit planning bands (directional)
Planning bands are directional, not a guarantee. Always confirm a dated schedule for the actual origin, destination, and scope.
| Service / lane | Typical planning band |
|---|---|
| SE Asia port-to-port | often about 3–10 days |
| US West Coast port-to-port | often about 14–22 days |
| Northern Europe port-to-port | often about 25–40+ days |
| Door-to-door sea design | port band + clearance + inland — confirm dated schedule |
Guides
Related reading
- Types of maritime transport (2026)
Broader vessel and cargo modes behind China ocean freight programs.
Get a quote
Sea freight quote checklist
- ✓Origin city / port preference
- ✓FCL or LCL + CBM and weight
- ✓Commodity and packing type
- ✓Incoterm
- ✓Destination port or door city
- ✓Ready date
- ✓HS code if known
Dated all-in options · Response within 24 hours
FAQ