When importing large quantities of goods from China, sea freight is an excellent shipping option for individuals and companies doing business around the world.
If you don’t have perishable or time-sensitive goods, you can consider the proper option that might reduce the cost. Using sea freight to ship products will take longer, but that will be the cheapest way.
This post is about sea freight from China, and if you are new, hopefully, this will help you. If you are proficient in this field, it can also enhance your understanding.
Why Sea Freight
As for a large number of goods, many people say that sea freight is the most reasonable and practical. This approach’s cost-effectiveness makes it the best choice for importers and suppliers. Two of the biggest benefits drive you to choose sea freight, which may be better than the other shipping options.
Sea Freight Is Cheap And Cost-effective
Compared to other modes of shipping, sea freight rates is much cheaper. They provide a cheap way for companies to ship various products. Companies must ensure they do not spend much money on shipping the goods they manufacture or import, thereby reducing loading costs.
Sea freight can save a lot of money, reduce shipping costs, maintain price competitiveness and provide them with advantages over competitors. However, sea freight is not the slowest method, and if you have a deadline, it is best to choose other modes of transport.
Sea Freight Can Ship Heavy Cargo and Larger Shipments
Obviously, ships can bring more weight and larger shipments than air and land. Shipping does not limit the range of products that can be transported through it. Basically, sea freight can ship any type of product, regardless of size, shape, type, weight, or material.
Companies are less willing to use air freight to import heavy goods such as automobiles, industrial parts, machinery, and other large items.
On the one hand, the narrow cabin door and plane cargo space limit the size of goods. On the one hand, shipping costs will be very high, so many companies do not consider it.
This is why commercial organizations choose to transport heavy goods by sea, and these restrictions are not a problem, ships can accommodate larger shipments, and the costs are usually still reasonable.
Types of Sea Freight
Various shipping vessels can accommodate bulk goods, liquids, and ordinary goods. The goods determine the type of transport. Some of the most basic types of services offered by shippers include:
RO-RO Transport – Vehicles loaded with cargo can roll up and down on the cargo ship. This type of international shipping is often referred to as RO/RO shipping.
Container Freight – It consists of a standard 20-foot or 40-foot container. It has two loading methods: LCL and FCL.
Tanker Freight – It is used for shipping goods in the form of liquids or gases, such as petrol, compressed natural gas, bulk liquids, etc.
Bulk Cargo Freight – These services are usually used to transport bulk cargo and single commodity goods, like ores, coal, grain, etc.
Container Shipping – FCL and LCL
But if you are involved in large-scale or bulk cargo transportation, you will need container shipping. Most modes of shipping currently dominate container shipping, and the importance of shipping containers in global trade is obvious. Through container shipping, commodities can be circulated in a wide range of the world.
Cargo containers are usually made of hard-steel materials in storage containers, durable, weather-resistant, and safe. And they have different sizes and can load different goods.
Most international container shipments are carried out in 20-ft or 40-ft containers. The container size is standardized, and the maximum load is described in the table below.
There are two main types of sea cargo, full container loading or less than container load.
FCL – Full Container Loading. When a shipper has enough goods to be transported to fill the entire container, it can be transported in full container. We can efficiently transport the goods using a standard container of 20 feet or 40 feet. The full container loading is the most suitable for oversized goods.
It is more reliable and safer than other methods.
LCL Less than Container Loading. Less than container loading will allow the shipping’s parcel to share space with other belongings to fill one or more containers. Even if you do not have enough freight to use full container loading, try LCL shipping, which is a cheaper option. Customers will also get the effect of full-load service like FCL, thereby helping them reduce costs.
Port Of Loading – Which To Choose?
As you know, China manufactures millions of products sold around the world. Many of these products were exported from Shenzhen, Shanghai, Ningbo, Xiamen, Tianjin, and Hong Kong ports to North America, Europe, Australia, and other destinations. There are also many manufacturers In China’s Pearl River Delta and the Yangtze River Delta.
All the major shipping carriers in the world have built their offices in Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Shanghai, the major seaports in China. We chose them as the port of loading because they offer not only cheap sea freight service from China, but also there are more shipping routes to the world.
Of all China’s ports, 16 large ports cover most imports and exports. As you can see from the map, China has a long coastline with many ports, and which one is suitable as the port of shipment?
Usually, it would help if you always chose the port that is closest to you or your suppliers. For example, if we ship a cargo container from Dongguan to Melbourne, it can be on board in Guangzhou port, Shenzhen, or Dongguan Port.
Once the container arrives at the port, the crane will unload them from the lorry and load them onto the ship. Once the container is loaded onto a container ship, vessels will sail to the port of destination.
How Long Will Sea Freight Take?
Compared with air freight, the delivery speed of sea freight is very low. Therefore, it takes more time to sail on the sea. Depending on the distance to the destination port, You can expect your goods to arrive from a few weeks to two months.
The delivery time of sea freight depends on distance and route. Some companies load cargo from ports in a variety of ways. Cargo freighters rarely directly sail to the destination, which means they must make several stopovers on the way to the final destination and make a deal when they dock, and the ship will have to wait a few days.
For example, shipping from Chinese ports to Australian ports usually takes 13-19 days, depending on shipping lines and destination port. If you need faster delivery, the best option is by air.
You can track the latest status through an online tracking system.
Maritime-related time terms:
ETA: Estimated Time of Arrival.
ETD: Estimated time of departure.
ETB: Estimated Time on Board.
Shipping Documents You Should Prepare
You prioritize and prepare proper documents for your imported goods for smooth delivery and customs clearance on sea freight cargo. Any items that Customs delay may lead to a poor experience.
You may find that your cargo is stuck in some illegal location in a port or destination country.
Like air cargo, when you ship the goods by vessel, the appropriate documents are used for customs clearance at the destination.
Detailed instructions on how to complete:
• Bill of Lading(BOL)
• Packing list, if available (Not mandatory).
• Certificate of origin.
• Documents required for export of departure ports, such as export declarations.
• Other documents required by destination Customs, such as quarantine certificates for goods.
• Export/import license(If necessary).
The list of documents listed above is ambiguous. The laws and import procedures decide the specific documents. Failure to provide these documents may result in international shipping delays.
Cargo Arrival: Clear Customs and Pick Up Your Goods
When a container arrives at the destination port, the recipient may need to pick up the goods at the port. To make clear customs, you need the original documents related to the goods. You may finish the process through a freight forwarder or customs broker. After clearing the customs, the receiving party must submit the B/L of the goods to the shipping company for confirmation. It will be trapped in the port until you complete all formalities and must pay port surcharges!
It is advisable to employ customs brokers to handle import declarations on behalf of importers. Customs brokers are experts in this process, and they should also be aware of the port’s customs requirements and help clean cargo through Customs in the shortest possible time.
The process of customs clearance should not have any discrepancies and errors. Conflict with the law means that the goods will be suspended for a while after the case is resolved. This will result in unnecessary delays and adversely affect the business.
Are You in A Inland Point or Non-Port City
Ports outside the basic port are called non-base ports, and transshipment to a non-basic port requires a barge. Inland points need to relay from railways or highways. Except for the basic port charges, sea freight is subject to extra transshipment or internal towing surcharge.
The basic port is the port where liner ships are docked regularly. Most of them are larger ports located with good equipment, and the cargo load is large and stable.
In Europe, shipping companies now provide multi-freight services to the major ports and inland points.
Learn more about door to door shipping.
Marine Cargo Insurance ensures your goods
In addition, sea freight services provide insurance for the transport of goods. Although this service is optional, many consignees are willing to buy it. If anything happens to the seaborne cargo, they can be compensated.
When you do business with a sea freight company, your cargo will be transported on board in a few days to months. There is no denying that maritime transport is a big business. Every day, many transactions are carried out on the delivery of goods for overseas trade, and the goods may be lost. While it happens, you need insurance coverage and do not want to suffer such losses.
In addition, insurance is usually based on the value of the goods, and goods with higher value need to be insured. Insurance premiums are an additional cost to the sea. The risk that the insurance premiums pose relative to the value of your goods is worth it.
In a word, freight insurance is a simple and affordable way to avoid unexpected and significant loss of goods.
How to Package for Sea Freight?
You must understand the international shipping requirements, especially when packing goods. You should be aware of the bad situations that can occur during the sea freight: wet, overweight, breakage and theft.
Generally, goods are packed in containers, in which fragile items are wrapped for added security. They are sometimes transported as bulk cargo, packed into a container with other goods, and stacked with different goods. During transport, the goods may come into violent contact with other goods. If the packaging is weak, it may damage the goods.
At the same time, overseas handling facilities and ports in various countries are uneven. The process of high automation of cargo operation is standardized. In the process of unloading, the goods may be discarded, pushed, rolled, or dragged.
Containers are tightly sealed and may dampen the cargo during the voyage. Moisture is still a concern, and your packaging should also be moisture-proof.
