Is there a minimum volume to work with you?

No. We handle everything from 1 CBM LCL shipments to multi-container projects. Many of our clients start with a trial LCL shipment and grow with us. What matters is that the shipment makes economic sense, and we tell you that upfront.

What's the difference between LCL and FCL?

FCL (Full Container Load) means you rent an entire 20 or 40-foot container just for your cargo. LCL (Less than Container Load) means your goods share a container with other importers and you only pay for the space used. Below around 15 CBM, LCL is usually more cost-effective. Above that, FCL wins on price and reduces cargo handling.

What does it really cost? Are there hidden charges?

It depends on the Incoterm agreed with your supplier. The real cost can include factory pickup, origin charges (THC, documentation), Chinese export clearance, international freight, import clearance at destination, local duties and taxes, and final delivery. Many forwarders only quote the freight and extra charges appear on arrival. We give you a full breakdown from the first quote.

What is an Incoterm and which one should I use?

Incoterms are international trade terms that define who pays what and who bears the risk at each stage. The most common when importing from China are EXW, FOB, CIF and DDP. For a first-time importer, FOB is usually the best balance: you control freight and insurance without handling China-side logistics. We advise you on which works best for your operation.

What documents does my supplier need to prepare?

The Chinese exporter needs: commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin and, in some cases, an export license. Certain products also require quality or phytosanitary certificates. If your supplier has limited export experience, we can guide them or handle the export process directly from China.

Can I track my shipment in real time?

Yes. From the moment your cargo leaves the factory we provide a tracking number. Sea freight: B/L number to track the vessel. Air freight: AWB for real-time tracking. Your account manager also keeps you proactively informed of any incidents or changes during transit.

How does customs clearance work?

Your goods go through customs twice: on departure from China (export) and on arrival in your country (import). You'll need a commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading or AWB. Depending on the product, additional certificates may be required (CE marking, phytosanitary, etc.). We handle the Chinese export clearance and coordinate with the local customs agent at destination.

Which Chinese port will my cargo ship from?

Not all goods leave from the nearest or best-known port. The choice depends on cost, available routes, the carrier, transit times and the exact factory location. For example, a factory in Yiwu usually ships via Ningbo-Zhoushan, one in Fujian may get better connections from Xiamen, and many in Guangdong operate through Shenzhen or Guangzhou. We analyse every shipment to choose the best combination of factory, port and carrier, instead of applying the same solution to all. We ship from China's main ports — Shanghai, Ningbo-Zhoushan, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Qingdao, Tianjin, Dalian, Xiamen, Hong Kong and Kaohsiung — to 40+ destination ports across 45+ countries.

Which carriers do you work with?

We work with the world's leading carriers: MSC, Maersk, CMA CGM, COSCO, Hapag-Lloyd, ONE, Evergreen, HMM, Yang Ming and ZIM, among others. But we're not tied to any of them: for each shipment we select the best option based on cost, transit time, space availability and service reliability. That independence is what lets us always recommend what's best for you, not whatever we're meant to sell.

How long does shipping from China take?

It depends on the mode and destination. As a reference for Europe: sea freight LCL/FCL 28-35 days, air freight 5-7 days, rail 18-25 days. Transit times vary for the Americas, Middle East or Oceania. Add customs clearance (1-5 days) and final delivery (1-3 days). Ask us for exact times on your route - we include them in every quote.

What if my goods arrive damaged or delayed?

That's why we recommend cargo insurance. International carrier liability limits are very low - under Hague-Visby for sea freight, coverage is barely ~$2/kg. The industry standard is the ICC clauses: ICC (A) is all-risk and the one we recommend by default. The typical premium is around 0.3-0.5% of the declared cargo value - a small cost compared to the risk.

Could my goods be classified as dangerous goods (DG)?

More often than you'd think. Many legal, everyday products travel as dangerous goods (DG): lithium batteries (phones, power banks, tools), paints and aerosols, perfumes and nail polish, cleaning products, inks, fertilisers or adhesives. What you see as 'a box of ink', the carrier may see as UN1210, IMDG Class 3 (flammable liquid) - some lines won't accept it, others require documentation, surcharges or specific routes. We review the safety data sheet (SDS/MSDS) before shipping to classify it correctly, choose the right carrier and avoid delays, rejections or extra costs. It's best to check before you buy. Regulations: IMDG (sea), IATA (air), ADR (road).

Incoterms made simple: FOB, EXW, CIF, DDP… which one when importing from China?

When you close an order with a Chinese supplier, sooner or later a code shows up: FOB, EXW, CIF, DDP…. These are the Incoterms, and although they sound like jargon, they decide something very concrete: who pays for each leg of the journey and who bears the risk if something goes wrong. Choosing well saves you money and nasty surprises. Here they are in plain terms.

Responsibility bar per Incoterm along the journey (factory, origin port, freight, destination port, your warehouse): with EXW the seller only hands over at the factory; FOB the seller covers up to loading on the vessel; CIF the seller pays freight and insurance to the destination port; DDP the seller handles everything up to your door. — How far the seller goes under each Incoterm. The further right, the more they handle (and the more your "landed" product costs).

What an Incoterm is (in one sentence)

An Incoterm (International Commercial Terms) is an international standard rule that defines, in a sale, how far the seller’s responsibility goes and where yours begins: who arranges and pays for transport, who clears customs, and at what point the risk over the goods transfers.

The key point is that the price your supplier quotes depends on the Incoterm. The same “€10,000” order doesn’t mean the same in EXW as in DDP: in one you pay €10,000 at the factory door and everything else is on you; in the other, those €10,000 already include transport and customs to your warehouse.

The four you’ll see most when importing from China

EXW (Ex Works)

The seller only makes the goods available at their factory. From there, everything is yours: inland transport in China, export clearance, freight, import customs and delivery. It gives full control, but also full responsibility —including Chinese export clearance, which is tricky for a foreigner.

FOB (Free On Board)

The seller takes the goods to the Chinese port and loads them on the vessel, export clearance included. Once on board, the freight, insurance and destination customs are yours. It’s the most common balance point: the supplier handles the Chinese side (which they know), and you control the international freight (where most of the cost sits).

CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight)

Like FOB, but the seller also pays the freight and basic insurance to the destination port. Watch two traps: (1) it only reaches the destination port, not your warehouse —import customs and last mile are still yours—; and (2) risk transfers before cost (goods travel at your risk from loading at origin, even though the seller pays the freight). Also, the minimum insurance CIF requires is basic.

DDP (Delivered Duty Paid)

The seller handles everything up to your door, including duties and VAT. It sounds convenient, but beware the supplier’s “cheap DDP”: if their agent gets stuck at customs in your country (which they don’t control well), the delay and the extra cost land on you.

Quick table: who does what

	Transport in China	Export clearance China	International freight	Import clearance destination
EXW	You	You	You	You
FOB	Seller	Seller	You	You
CIF	Seller	Seller	Seller	You
DDP	Seller	Seller	Seller	Seller

Which one suits me?

There’s no universally “best” Incoterm, but there is a practical recommendation for most importers:

FOB is usually the best balance. The supplier handles the Chinese side (inland transport and export clearance, which they master), and you control the international freight and import clearance with your forwarder —which is where the real price is decided and where you want control—.
EXW only if you have a very solid agent in China to handle export clearance; otherwise you’re making life hard.
CIF can work to start, but remember it doesn’t reach your door and the insurance is minimal (better to insure yourself with “all-risk” cover).
DDP is handy for samples or small orders, but for serious operations it takes away your control over customs in your own country.

Rule of thumb: the further right on the chart (DDP), the less you worry… but the less you control and the more the “landed” cost usually is. FOB keeps you at the wheel for the leg that matters.

Common Incoterm mistakes

Buying EXW without realising it and finding out you have to arrange even the Chinese export clearance.
Believing CIF reaches your warehouse. It only reaches the destination port; the rest is yours.
Trusting the supplier’s “all-included” DDP and getting stuck at destination customs.
Not looking at the total cost (landed cost). The Incoterm changes what the price includes; always compare the cost delivered to your warehouse, not the supplier’s bare number.

In short

The Incoterm defines who pays and who bears the risk on each leg, and changes the price of your order.
The four key ones when importing from China: EXW, FOB, CIF, DDP (from least to most handled by the seller).
For most, FOB is the best balance: the supplier handles China, you control freight and customs.

At EasyChinaShipping we advise you on which Incoterm suits each operation and handle the international leg and clearance. See our door-to-door shipping from China if you’d rather forget about it all, or how customs clearance works. Still torn between FOB and the rest? Tell us your case and we’ll tell you which works out best.