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Before you import from China worldwide, you need to know how much the shipping quote will cost.
Getting an accurate shipping quote depends on many variables. If you get these wrong, your final cost could be far more than your original quote. It’s easy to run into unexpected bills and fees if you’re not careful.
Many times, you may receive various quotes stating what you’ll need to pay – but before you rush into thinking you’ve gotten a good deal, you need to understand the process of importing goods from China to the world. Once you understand import fees, how much they cost, and why, you can really see if you’re getting a good quote.
We try to make our freight quotes as simple as possible, but the following information is what you will need to get a quote:
Product Name
The weight and dimensions/volume of your shipment
Shipping terms provided by your supplier (FOB, EXW , etc.)
Port of loading (where the cargo comes from)
Where the goods are shipped to (destination port or your door location)
Do you plan to ship by air or sea?
Product ready date
Shipping costs are calculated by volume or weight (whichever is greater). That’s why we need to know the dimensions of your shipment in order to give you pricing.
For ocean freight: The industry uses the technical term “weight or measure”—often abbreviated to “w/m.” This means that 1.0 cubic meter (cbm) is equivalent to 1,000 kilograms. Rarely does weight matter, but if your shipment is 2.0 cbm and 2,500 kilograms, the weight is greater than the volume. If it’s 2.5 cbm and 2,000 kilograms, the volume is greater, so the ocean freight rate will depend on this.
Air freight: 1.0 cubic meter (cbm) is equivalent to 167 kg.
If your cargo is 2cbm and 200kg, the volumetric weight is 334kg. The volume is larger than the actual weight, so it will be charged according to the volumetric weight.
Or if you get L(cm), W(cm), H(cm), you can get a weight basis formula
For express delivery services such as DHL, FedEx, TNT, and UPS, 1 cbm is equivalent to 200 kg. Alternatively, you can use the follo
wing weight formula to calculate the volumetric weight.
Then compare the volumetric weight and actual weight, the larger the billable weight.
Shipping costs vary by port. This can be due to a variety of reasons, but it’s best to know which port your supplier uses so you know the exact shipping costs. If your supplier is based in Guangzhou, we typically ship from Guangzhou Port. It seems that shipping from Guangzhou to Shenzhen or other cities for self-collection may cost more than shipping by sea.
Moreover, port charges vary from port to port.
For air transportation, we also choose to ship from the airport near the factory, which can save local costs.
The reason for these massive peaks and valleys (increases and decreases in ocean freight rates) is the result of shipping lines using large General Rate Increases (GRIs) to artificially inflate rates. These are implemented by all shipping lines to prevent ocean freight rates from falling. Unfortunately, the number of containers being shipped is low enough to keep freight rates inflated, so shipping lines are forced to lower their rates again to win business.
Until interest rates get too low and the cycle continues.
The same goes for air freight, which means determining needs and requirements.
Airlines or shipping companies adjust prices based on demand and request status.
Normally, ocean freight rates are updated on the 1st and 15th of each month, so they are valid for about two weeks. Furthermore, air freight rates vary from week to week, and even from day to day during hot weather.
So we ask customers to check the product ready date so that we can send an accurate shipping quote.
The advantage of using a freight broker is access to a dedicated team of professionals who will assist you every step of the way. With E-Chain Logistics , you’ll have a support team that understands your business and shipping needs, from finding the right quote and generating the appropriate documentation to ensuring your shipment arrives safely.
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