importing from china what you need to know all
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A comprehensive guide to finding trusted Freight Forwarders while importing goods from China
Freight forwarders offer enormous benefits to companies that import
products from China. This is because the process of importing goods from
China is quite complicated. Moreover, it is a time-consuming process as
well.
If you are looking for an effective way of managing your imports from China,
then the best decision that you can ever take is by finding a freight
forwarder. They will effectively manage your imports.
The importance of freight forwarding should never be ruled out in
international trade. A freight forwarder manages the most crucial aspect
of the business which is to coordinate the transport of goods from the
source factory to your address.
Freight forwarders also manage the complex customs procedure, provide
warehousing facilities, package your goods and make sure that your goods
arrive at your chosen destination as soon as possible and in a secure way.
1. What do freight forwarders do?
2. Factors to consider while choosing a freight forwarder in China
3. Steps involved in the freight forwarding process
4. Chief responsibilities of a freight forwarder
5. What are the documents involved in the freight-forwarding process?
6. Step by step guide of the freight forwarding process
7. How many days does it take to ship from China to worldwide?
8. Freight charges from China
9. Why choose DFH Global Logistics?
What do freight forwarders do?
Freight forwarders manage all aspects of shipping your goods from China.
They are actually mediators between your business and the source factory
in China. They offer invaluable advice based on their experience involved
in cargo transportation.
A freight forwarding agent effortlessly manages all the operations of
transporting goods from China to any country in the world. They also
provide specialized services for transporting goods in an efficient and
stress-free way possible. There are numerous benefits of relying on
freight forwarding systems.
The process of transferring cargo to international destinations is quite
complicated. It seems even more complicated if you are not aware of the
procedures and trade guidelines laid down for transporting goods across
international borders. In such situations, relying on a reputed freight
forwarder will prove to be the best solution.
Freight forwarders have comprehensive knowledge of transporting goods
internationally. They are even aware of foreign trade laws and
restrictions. Several freight forwarders in China provide an extensive
package of logistics services.
Here are some reasons why you need to rely on freight forwarding agents
for managing your cargo.
Have the necessary expertise in managing the transportation of bulk
goods across international borders
Provide a schedule for all the tasks undertaken by them
Ensure that the goods arrive in good condition
Provide assistance in picking the best transportation mode possible
to your country
Manage all the documentation involved in international shipping
Have necessary expertise and experience in reacting quickly and in solving
any problems that may arise while shipping goods internationally
Factors to consider while choosing a freight
forwarder in China
Shipping goods internationally requires one to have in-depth knowledge
of all associated aspects of international trade, logistics, customs,
insurance, packaging, warehousing and a lot more. The employees working
with such companies need to have an understanding of the needs of
international clients.
It is not an easy task to pick the best freight forwarding agent when there
are plenty of options available. Not all of them are the best or offer
equal services. Hence, you need to take some time to pick a perfect trading
partner in China who would manage the secure shipping of your imported
goods.
1. Ability to communicate well
While teaming up with a freight forwarding agent in China, make sure to
check if they can communicate with you well. Clear communication is the
key to success in any business. If the agent cannot communicate with you
in basic English, then it would be really difficult to coordinate with
the team.
DFH Global Logistics is backed by a team of a dedicated and enthusiastic
team that believes in having honest communication with the clients. There
is a dedicated page on our website of all our team members. Clear
communication has been the foundation of our business activities for over
a decade serving in the industry.
2. Understanding of international trading terms
Apart from having good communication skills, freight forwarding agents
need to be aware of trading terms involved in international trade. These
are referred to as incoterms. We at DFH Global are very well aware of all
the trading incoterms that are primarily used in transporting goods from
China to other countries.
3. Legally registered or not
Formal registration hints of the dedication and integrity of any business.
If you are dealing with a registered freight forwarding agent, you can
defend your rights well in case of any dispute.
Those who are not regulated by any governing body wouldn’t take up the
responsibility if anything goes wrong. Therefore, while choosing a
freight forwarding company in China, make sure to confirm if they are a
legally registered company or not. Ask them about their credentials and
other certificates.
DFH Global is a legally registered company. We have the necessary license
from the concerned authorities to manage the international shipment of
goods.
4. Team up with a company with relevant experience
It is always best to rely on a freight forwarding company that has
experience in the services that they offer. Expertise helps a freight
forwarder in managing shipment issues such as dockworker strikes, customs
problems, warehousing limitations, cargo reroutes, port shutdowns and a
lot more.
DFH has over 10 years of experience in freight, customs brokerage,
warehousing, packaging, and transportation. We have an extensive network
of operations that enables us to meet all your logistics, shipping and
documentation needs.
5. An extensive network
A great freight forwarding agent has a full-fledged network of agents
worldwide. While choosing a freight forwarder, make sure that they have
connections in your destination country.
6. Impeccable customer support services
A reliable and established freight forwarder would certainly have a great,
responsive customer support team in place. Make sure to check the support
options provided. DFH has a dedicated support team managing the queries
from our international clients. We also provide a dedicated FAQ and guide
for providing detailed information about importing goods from China.
Steps involved in the freight forwarding process
Freight forwarding is a popular process of shipping goods internationally.
A freight forwarder is responsible for coordinating the shipment of goods
from one destination to another via air, road, and sea. The process is
not as easy as it seems to be. It involves complex procedures such as
customs clearance at both the destination and exit points.
A freight forwarder can help you with
Customs clearance
Packing
Storage in warehouse
Import and export paperwork
Insurance
Inventory management
Packaging
It involves a lot more than what has been mentioned in the list above.
Availing the service from a reliable and trusted freight forwarding agent
eases the burden on the buyer who is importing goods internationally. As
China is the leading manufacturer in the world, it has stringent rules
and regulations laid down for goods being imported from the country.
Chief responsibilities of a freight forwarder
A freight forwarder can help you pick the best methods and routes for
moving your shipment from China to your desired destination. A forwarding
agent is responsible for assisting the client in choosing the most
efficient transportation means based on the nature of the goods being
imported. They also need to pick a mode that can reach the buyer in the
shortest time frame possible from China.
A freight forwarder is responsible for carrying out in-depth research
while planning routes. For this to happen, they need to first communicate
with their clients appropriately. This will help them understand the
requirements of their customers and keep them into consideration while
planning the routes.
They take into account
Nature of goods being transported
The final destination is chosen
Specific customer requirements pertaining to the delivery time or
any other request
Packing and insurance
Customs documentation and other regulatory requirements
Any great freight forwarder needs to have stellar organizational skills.
They need to track a freight using all the advanced technologies possible
and via advanced software. They are required to maintain clear
communication throughout the process.
Is it profitable to choose freight forwarding services?
Yes. There are numerous benefits of choosing a freight forwarding service
while importing goods from China. Here are the reasons why you benefit
tremendously from relying on one.
Flexible international shipping operations
Whenever you rely on a freight forwarder, you can work out or change any
changes with them. An experienced freight forwarder would provide a wide
range of options. Hence, you can make changes anytime by notifying them.
This adds to the convenience of international shipping from China.
Versatility
An experienced freight forwarder knows how to quickly react to any
situation. They know how to solve any issue that may arise during the
shipment process. It could be rerouted sea freight shipments delays,
hassles from customs officials, bad weather or sudden changes in
regulations.
Cost-effectiveness
Freight forwarding agents help you save a lot of your money. This is
because they offer bulk freight solutions and this eventually cuts down
your shipping costs.
No need to face customs hassles
Freight forwarders are experts in dealing with customs regulations. The
procedures are complicated and require one to furnish all the documents
in the prescribed format. If you rely on a freight forwarder, you will
not have to deal with these complicated procedures. A freight forwarder
will manage it on your behalf.
Additional services
A freight forwarder offers additional services such as purchase tracking,
packaging, warehousing, inventory management, on-demand reporting and a
lot more. It is best to rely on a company that offers you additional
services that can ease your burden.
If you are looking for a trusted shipping partner from China who can manage
all the aspects of importing goods from China for you, then DFH Global
Logistics would be the best freight forwarder to rely on. Our dedicated
team has immense experience in managing all the processes involved in
international shipping. We will cater to your requests in no time as we
update you about each aspect of freight forwarding while managing your
consignments.
What are the documents involved in the
freight-forwarding process?
Freight forwarding involves a lot of documentation to be managed and
produced on demand whenever requested by the official. There is a
systematic procedure to be followed while shipping goods across
international borders.
Here are the most important documents that are commonly used in any
international freight shipment.
1. Export license
This is essential for exporting goods to other countries. Without a valid
license, a seller can't sell goods to buyers in other countries.
2. Packing list and declaration
A packing list includes all the information about the items being shipped
from China. It has detailed information about the quantity and nature of
goods being shipped. This helps customs officials in verifying the items
in the package. Moreover, it includes the weight and dimensions of each
package being shipped.
3. Commercial invoice
A seller in China will generate a commercial invoice whenever you purchase
goods from them. This clearly indicates the number of goods purchased and
the amount that you have paid. This document also lists information about
the buyer and the seller. An invoice is generated only after a sale has
been made. A copy of invoice has to be submitted to the customs officials
at both the port of departure and at the port of destination.
4. Certificate of origin
A certificate of origin consists of complete information about the origin
of the items being shipped. This is used to verify the origin of goods
at the destination port. It also helps with estimation of tariff.
5. Bill of lading
A bill of lading is one of the most crucial documents used while shipping
internationally. It is a certificate provided to the consignee by the
shipping company. This is more of a proof that the goods have been procured
from the warehouse of the seller and have been packed and boarded on a
container. This bill of lading also serves as evidence that the freight
forwarder in China has boarded the goods on the container. A bill of lading
also consists of the terms and conditions covered by the shipping
contract.
6. Insurance Certificate
Whenever you insure the goods that you are importing from China, you would
be provided with a certificate as a proof. This will assure compensation
in case the goods are lost or damaged while in transit.
Customs clearance is an integral element of international shipping. Goods
cannot gain entry into a country or exit any country without the approval
of customs officials. Hence, it is mandatory to take care of documentation
while transporting goods across international borders.
Your freight forwarder manages the complex documentation on your behalf.
These documents are verified by the customs officials for determining the
taxes and duties payable. DFH team has immense experience in managing
customs processes while shipping goods for our customers from China.
Step by step guide of the freight forwarding
process
Though there are numerous steps involved in shipping goods from China to
other nations, there are a few processes that are pretty common. This
section describes them in detail for better understanding.
Step 1: Picking goods from the factory/supplier
This step is also referred to as export haulage. It involves the movement
of goods from the factory or from the warehouse of the supplier to the
warehouse of freight forwarders that you have chosen. This is generally
done via a train or a truck. It depends upon the location of the supplier
and your freight forwarder.
Step 2: Inspection of goods
Once export hauling is done, the freight forwarder will carefully inspect
your goods. This is done to prepare them for departure. First, the quality,
quantity, and nature of the goods are determined. This helps in checking
the legal status of the goods that you are importing. If there is any issue,
then your freight forwarder can contact the supplier and have it fixed.
Also, if the supplier hasn’t packed the goods well, then your freight
forwarder can do it for preparing the goods for shipping.
Step 3: Export customs clearance
Before shipping the goods from China, it is essential to clear the customs.
Your freight forwarder will submit all the relevant documents to the
customs officials and take care of all the procedures. They need to submit
details about the quality, quantity, nature of the goods, source, and
destination.
Step 4: Shipment of goods
Once the customs officials clear the goods for shipment, your freight
forwarder will ship them based on the shipment mode chosen by you.
Step 5: Import customs clearance
This step is similar to step 3. The documents are verified once again by
the customs officials when the cargo arrives at the destination country.
The authorities check the goods based on the information furnished at the
port in China. A reliable freight forwarder manages the entire process
even before the cargo arrives at the destination port.
Step 6: Destination arrival and handling
Once the goods have been cleared by the customs officials at the
destination port, the freight forwarder collects all the documents and
also the goods. An appropriate arrangement is then made for the final
delivery of goods.
Step 7: Delivery to the recipient
This step is referred to as the import haulage. Here the freight forwarder
transports goods to the buyer and shares all the documents involved in
the process. The buyer can either manage the cargo from the destination
port on their own or request the freight forwarder to have it delivered
to the warehouse.
The process again involves choosing the most appropriate travel routes
and modes of transportation from the destination port to the warehouse
of the buyer.
How many days does it take to ship from China to
worldwide?
It depends on the shipment mode chosen by you. Sea freight is one of the
slowest means of transport. Airfreight is relatively quick. Airfreight
shipments from China can reach anywhere in the world within 15 days. In
airfreight shipments, much time goes into processing the documents and
getting customs approval.
If you choose sea freight shipment mode, then here is the estimated time
of arrival schedule to different nations from China. The estimated transit
time has been calculated based on the shipping route and distance between
China and the destination port.
Destination Shipping Time
Europe 25-27 days
USA and Canada 20-30 days. More than a month in some
cases
South America 30-45 days
Africa 30-45 days
India Due to close proximity, goods from
China get delivered within 15 days
Australia 15 days
South-east Asia 9 days
South Korea 4 days
There can be delays on certain occasions. There may be certain challenges
in international shipping. The common reasons for delays include
Bad weather adding to congestion at the ports
Holidays affecting the import schedules
Custom clearance issues
Multiple stops in the route taken by the vessel
Unavailability of space on the container on board
Freight charges from China
Freight rates are not fixed. The cost is dependent on various factors and
the shipment mode chosen by you. Air freight is expensive in comparison
to rail to sea freight. The cost of your shipment is dependent on various
parameters.
1. Cargo weight
The weight of the cargo affects the shipping cost considerably. In both
sea and air freight, the weight of the container is first measured. This
is done by measuring the mass of the container in which the goods are being
transported and also the height. Dimensions play a crucial role in
determining the cost of the shipment being shipped from China.
A scale is used for identifying the dimensions of the consignment. If the
goods are being shipped on pallets, then the cost is calculated depending
on the total load of the pallet.
2. Shipping destination
The distance between China and the country to which you are shipping the
goods affects freight rate as well. For instance, shipping from China to
Japan would cost less in comparison to shipping from China to any European
nation.
3. Kind of goods being shipped
Bulk cargo is expensive to ship in comparison to goods of smaller
dimensions and quantities. Hazardous goods and heavy machinery demand
more care and maintenance during transportation. It is expensive to handle
these goods.
You can contact the DFH team to receive a detailed freight cost breakup
over your shipment.
Freight insurance while shipping goods from China
Freight insurance covers an importer against any potential loss of goods
while the goods are in transit. Different kinds of shipping insurance are
available. This includes transport insurance, transit insurance, moving
insurance, cargo insurance, freight insurance and a lot more. All these
cover the goods against damage or loss while being transported from one
location to another.
It is essential to obtain freight insurance while shipping goods across
international borders. This will protect you against any loss or damage.
DFH takes care of freight insurance whenever you rely on us for your
shipment needs. The policy is dependent on the kind of mode chosen by you.
The cost of insurance is estimated by determining the value of goods being
shipped.
Why choose DFH Global Logistics?
DFH is a reliable freight forwarding company in China with over a decade
of experience. We have the necessary expertise and resources to provide
high competitive freight forwarding services worldwide. We provide
solutions pertaining to
Air/Ocean and rail freight
Door to door shipping
Import/export customs clearance
Warehousing services
We are devoted to offering reliable logistics experience and quality
services. We are a WCA member and hold an NVOCC license. We have been
serving customers in over 60 countries. We have branch offices in major
cities and near ports in China including Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xiamen and
Ningbo. We also offer free warehousing facility for 30 days.
Get in touch with us today to choose us as your freight forwarding agent!
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