We know that shipping from China while sitting in the United Kingdom is not easy; there are tons of stuff and hurdles like hiring someone to deliver cargo at the port, preparing documents, getting licenses, booking carriers, paying customs fees, etc. But, Don’t worry.

This blog will explain all shipment methods from China to the UK, like Sea, Air, Railway, Express, etc. We will compare their cost, delivery time, and pros & cons so you can choose the best one for yourself. Ultimately, we will also explain the customs clearance process and documentation requirements.

So, keep reading if you want to save both money & time for your business.

If you want to ship your goods from China to the UK but are unsure which ways are available and which ones will be best for you, don’t worry. We will explain all the 6-Shipping ways along with their advantages and disadvantages so you can choose one easily;

“As the name suggests, in Air fright, you hand over your parcel to an Airline, probably at an airport in China, and they will deliver it to a specified airport/address in your country.”

Airfreight is the second fastest and no 1-safest shipping method among all ways of shipment. It is ideal for valuable, fragile, and perishable cargo because it mitigates the risks of damage. You can deliver the goods to any airport in the UK.

Another benefit of air freight is that you can quickly track your consignment’s movement, allowing you to plan appropriately.

However, one of their main demerits is that their prices are very high, almost about 3 ~ 5 times higher than other modes of transportation.

It is critical to note that Air Freight rates are calculated based on chargeable weight and not only by gross weight, so even if your cargo is 1 Cubic meter but weighs like 100 kg, you will have to pay the air freight by chargeable weight 167 kg. In contrast, Sea freight ( LCL ) allows 500 kg for 1 Cubic meter size of the parcel. So, always choose Sea freight if your cargo weighs a lot.

“In Sea freight, you have to deliver your cargo at any Seaport in China, and they will deliver it at your desired seaport in the UK.”

In sea freight, door-to-door shipment is also available if you hire your services via a freight forwarder or a reliable sea shipping company. Sea Freight is the slowest shipping method, but on the cost scale, it is the 1-cheapest way.

It is critical to note that in Sea freight, cargo is delivered in Containers, and all shipping companies will give you 2-options when putting your shipment in a container.

a) LCL ( Less than Container Load ) option: In this choice, they will put your cargo in the same container as other people’s cargo, and you will only be charged for your occupied space. It is best if you have very few goods and don’t want to hire & pay for a full container. 

b) FCL ( Full Container Load ) option: In this choice, a separate container is dedicated to you, and you must pay for all. You can put anything in it, fill it, or leave it empty. Only your stuff will be in this container, so your packages are more secure, have fewer inspection chances, and have fewer delivery delays probability. FCL mode is best if your cargo is big enough to fill a whole container or is too precious.

“Express Freight includes all the Shipping Courier Companies like DHL, FedEx, UPS, etc. In this method, you will drop your parcel at the nearest shipping center, or they will pick it up from the seller’s address in China and deliver it to your doorstep in the UK. ”

The term Express means fast, and without a doubt, Express Freight is the number 1 fastest shipping method out there. They can ship any product anywhere in the world in a week.

The reasons why all Express Courirs are so quickest are;

• Work 24/7
• Dedicated workforce
• Own in-Land Vehicles/Ships/Aeroplanes.
• Dedicated Custom Agents at every port in every country
• Good connection with higher-up Govt. agents for quick inspections
• Have a lot of experience

However, Express Freight is also the no 1 Costliest form of shipping out there. They charge even way more than Air freight. They are suitable for small parcels like documents, sample products, or urgent cargo that need to deliver quickly.

“In Rail Freight, you have to book a place with a Railway company, deliver your cargo to them in China, and they will deliver it to a UK train station.”

The UK is undoubtedly isolated, separated by sea, but several undersea train tunnels link Europe to the UK. Railway Freight is faster ( almost two times ) than Sea freight and less costly than Air freight. The first Railway service from China to the UK started in 2017 from Yiwu to London.

Rail freight offers Less Container Load (LCL) and Full Container Load (FCL) shipping options.

Another benefit of shipping by rail is that you’ll enjoy quicker customs procedures. You’ll also explore flexible and multiple services, including customs declaration and inspection.

All the goods under transit are secure until arrival at your preferred destination. Once sealed and loaded on the train, parcels can’t be opened while still in transit. Train freight delays are rare but can happen when a train experiences an issue on the way or meet import custom exam.

“In Truck Freight, shipping companies deliver your cargo from China to the UK via motor vehicles.” 

They mainly offer door-to-door shipment, which takes only 14 – 18 days. Back in 2018, following the Chinese BRI ( Belt & Road Initiative Scheme ), many road routes were established, and when you ship cargo through these routes, the inspection is minimal, saving a lot of time.

In DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) shipping from China to the UK, the seller is responsible for all the delivery costs from China factory to the UK delivery address.

In this case, the China supplier takes full responsibility for the shipment before arriving at your UK destination.

Thankfully, working with a reliable freight forwarding company like Winsky Freight can hasten the delivery process by DDP. That way, your goods will arrive safely.

Whether you want to transport your cargo by air, sea, or rail, you can enjoy DDP shipping for all the shipping modes at Winsky Freight.

So, what advantages will you enjoy by opting for DDP shipping at Winsky Freight?

• Goods will arrive at your preferred destination (UK airport or seaport) fast
• DDP shipping at Winsky Freight is cheaper for all shipping methods
• Winsky Freight does the trickiest part of shipping (Customs clearance & Duty) on your behalf
• You can source goods from any Chinese supplier at affordable costs
• You’ll enjoy additional services like insurance and consolidation delivery

If you are looking to find out the exact routes your shipment will take via each shipment method so you can decide the best one that not only costs less but also is the fastest for you, then you can have a look below;

In Air Freight, Airplanes always take the direct route because they fly over land, so no matter the company, their country-to-country distance is almost the same. The only point that can affect the price is the choosing of Origin and destination Airport because of two reasons;

• Farther away airports will have more distance, so more in-flight time, fuel consumption, and higher delivery costs. 
• Some Airports are busier than others, so their rates are higher. 

The famous Airports that are used mainly by Airline Companies from China to the UK are;

In Sea Freight, Ships have to go around the land, so the price & delivery time of the shipment is greatly affected by the distance between the origin and the destination port.

China is called “the World’s Factory,” so it makes sense it has 34 major ports and 2000 minor ports. In contrast, there are only seven main ports in the UK. It is suggested to choose major ports with advanced machines for your shipment because they can load/unload, inspect, and process your cargo securely & faster than others.

Some famous ports which most people choose for their shipment from China to the UK are;

It is critical to note that the best sea shipping route depends from person to person, and the best route for you is the shortest distance from China to the UK and is also the nearest to your location.

Express Couriers have door-to-door service, and they choose their own Air and in-land routes based on the receiver and sender location. Their shipping routes vary from company to company, season to season, etc.

When choosing Express Couriers as your delivery partner, you don’t have to worry about routes because they will charge the same, no matter the route. All they can guarantee is shipment delivered on promised time.

Several Railway companies offer shipment from China to the UK. Still, there is only one direct railway track, called the “Yiwu-London Railway Line,” and all railway companies use this pathway.

The Yiwu-London Railway line is 12,000 km long and passes through several nations, such as;

• Yiwu, China > Kazakhstan > Russia > Belarus > Poland > Germany > Belgium > France > London, UK.

As there is a sea between France and the UK, the trains pass through the Channel Tunnel, an underground sea tunnel.

According to BRI ( Belt and Road Initiative ), China has several roads that pass through central Asia & Russia and go all the way to Europe & then to London.

Different Companies take different road routes according to their preferences. However, the leading Silk Road route that goes all the way to the end of Europe, like;

• Xian, China > Kyrgyzstan > Uzbekistan > Tajikistan > Iran > Turkey > Russia ( Moscow ) > Germany > Netherlands > United Kingdom.

This route is overwhelming, but it takes less time than the Yiwu-London Railway line, and it is most suggested in Peak Seasons when all containers are booked.

Various aspects can influence your overall shipment costs from China to the UK, such as;

• Peak Seasons
• Random Inspections
• Product Size & Weight
• Pick-up and delivery address distance
• Product-Specific Import & Export Taxes
• Origin & Destination Ports Service Speed
• Shipment method ( Air, Sea, Express, Railway, Road )
• Service Level ( Port-to-Port / Port-to-Door/ Door-to-Door )

Most aspects of the above reasons apply from person to person and season to season, so they can’t be predicted, such as product dimensions, custom taxes, delivery address, etc.

However, what we can tell is a rough idea of the shipping cost per kg of all shipment methods so you can estimate your shipping cost according to your products. The detailed cost information is given below;

How much you pay for air freight depends on the chargeable weight of your goods. If the volumetric weight is greater than the actual weight of your goods, then you’re charged with the volumetric weight, and vice versa.

Air freight is a fast shipping option, albeit more expensive than sea freight. However, if you’re shipping  goods weighing between 100 and 300 kg, then air freight is the most cost-effective option. Current air freight rates from China to the UK range from  $3 to $10 per kilogram, with a minimum charge of about $100 per shipment.

Air freight cost is significantly affected by different air carriers, the season and the total weight of cargo; the more shipments, the lower the prices per kg. Below are the air freight from China to the UK dated 27th, August, 2024 for your reference;

Standard Air freight per KG

Sea Freight is the cheapest form of delivery all over the world. As ships float in the ocean, they have to go around the land and take indirect routes to reach the destination port, and the far-away ports add more fuel & delivery days, which affects overall shipping costs significantly.

For example, Southampton port is near Felixstowe port in London, and a 20’ container from Ningbo ( China ) to Southampton ( London ) costs about $750, while to Felixstowe ( London ), it costs about $850.

If you ship via LCL mode, your cargo will be calculated based on CBM ( 1 cubic meter and its allowed weight is 500 kg ). Sea freight is only ideal for large cargo with heavyweights like  above 500 kg or volume above  2 CBM.

For CBM rates from China to the UK, you can see the chart below dated 27th-August, 2024 for you information;

Express courier services are the most expensive method of shipping goods to any country. Their fees are charged based on the package weight and dimensions, as well as the desired delivery time. China to UK shipping rates generally fall within a range of $5 to $10 per kilogram, without additional charges for customs clearance and other fees. If your goods are less than 200kg and you require urgent delivery, express shipping is the way to go.

Below are the Express freight from China to the UK dated 27-August, 2024 for your reference;

Express freight per KG Door to Door

Thanks to standard railways built from China to Europe, importers now have the option of shipping by rail from China to the UK. Importers like this mode of shipping because it strikes a perfect balance: it is way cheaper than air freight and much faster than sea freight.

In rail shipping, your goods are also shipped in containers. You can choose between LCL or FCL cargo. Rates fluctuate based on the route taken, but you should budget between $3000 and $5000 per container.

Below are the Rail freight from China to the UK dated 27-August, 2024 for your reference;

Railway freight per KG

Now, remember that all the costs above are just general estimates. The actual cost will depend on the individual shipment and the specific requirements. It’s always advisable to get a quote from a shipping company to accurately determine the cost of your shipment. Contact Winsky Freight for the best quote now.

Sea freight is the cheapest shipping among all other shipment methods;  but about four times slower than Air freight. So, only choose it if you are okay with a 1-2 month wait. You can see the chart below to compare all shipment method rates;

Well, choosing the cheapest shipping method from China to the UK is similar to choosing the best shipping method. It depends on your cargo weight, volume, and the required shipping time.

When dealing with samples or small shipments under 100kg, express courier is not only the ‘fastest’ but also the most cost-effective shipping option.

For shipments weighing between 100-300kg, air freight is the cheapest option. Many importers make the mistake of thinking LCL sea shipping is the best for goods within this range. However, they forget that sea freight includes additional fees like operation fees, terminal handling fees, destination port fees, etc., which raise the cost to be more expensive than air freight.

However, if you’re shipping larger goods exceeding 2 cubic meters or 300 kg, sea freight is the most budget-friendly option. So, depending on the type and size of your goods, you can find the cheapest way to ship from China to the UK.

In order to get the best possible balance between cost and delivery time, it is advisable to consult with a reliable and reputable freight forwarder like Winsky Freight. We have many ways to cut shipping costs for our clients while ensuring your goods arrive in the shortest time possible. Contact us to get a shipping quote for air or sea freight.

The shipping time from China to UK depends on many factors like; 

• Cargo volume
• Randon Inspections
• Peak Seasons lateness
• Custom Clearance Time
• Distance from Origin to Destination
• Natural Disasters like sea storms, cloud cover, rains, etc.
• Port Processing Speed: some ports are bigger, have advanced machines, and more workers.

However, we can provide you with an overview of the normal shipping duration from China to the UK. Understanding this will help you plan your shipping better.

Sea Freight Shipping Time From China to the UK

When using sea freight, the shipping time from the port in China to the port in the UK averages around 28 days. For instance, from the Shenzhen China port to Felixstowe, the ship cut-off time is every Thursday and Friday, and ship departure falls on Monday, with the port-to-port shipping taking 25 days. If you’re fast enough to let your shipment meet the cut-off time, then you can save at least one week in delivery time.

Air Freight Shipping Time From China to the UK

Air freight typically involves shipping from airport to airport, and it offers both direct and indirect shipping routes. Using a direct shipping route ensures a shorter shipping time, often arriving on the second day after airplane departure. Although the direct route is faster, it comes with a higher shipping cost.

Using the indirect shipping route extends the shipping time to about 5-10 days, depending on the chosen air carrier and shipping routes. However, it will save you money, so it is best to choose the indirect shipping route when urgency is not a priority.

Express Freight Shipping Time From China to the UK

Express shipping remains the fastest shipping method from China to the UK, with a delivery time of approximately 5 working days. Companies like FedEx and UPS provide express shipping services with Priority and Economic options.

If you choose Priority Service, then it is guaranteed that you’ll have shipping space once your goods are ready. Within 3-5 working days, your goods can arrive at your destination.

On the other hand, if you choose the Economic Service, you’ll have to wait for the shipping carrier to have available shipping space. This leads to a slightly longer shipping time of around 6-10 working days. While the economic service takes more time than the priority service, it is the cheaper option of the two.

The fastest shipment from China to the UK is provided by Express courier, which is only 3 – 7 days door-to-door delivery, while Air Freight is second in line, taking about 1 – 2 weeks.

However, these two are 3 ~ 5 times more costly than other methods. So, only choose these if your parcel is small or you need them urgently. For delivery time comparison, see the chart below;

The time your goods take to arrive in the UK and the shipping costs involved can directly impact your profit margins. Reducing the shipping time and costs can raise your profit.

How do you minimize costs and reduce shipping time from China to the UK?

Well, here are the tips and ideas to implement.

If you plan to ship your goods to the UK by sea due to its cost-effectiveness, they might take longer to reach the destination port in the United Kingdom.

Thankfully, booking a shipment in advance can reduce shipping expenses and time by eliminating delays.

Importing goods into the UK from China can be costly during peak seasons due to higher shipping prices.

So, consider shipping your goods in off-peak seasons to minimize costs.

Request quotes from several carriers or shipping companies to help you find the cheapest and most reliable carrier.

The good news is that Winsky Freight could select the best cost from different shipping carriers.

One of the reasons goods can be delayed is lengthy customs clearance procedures.

For that reason, getting your documents in order can help you save some time.

When you ship your cargo from China to the UK, the Chinese Govt will inspect everything, check the paperwork, and pay some taxes.

After that, your cargo is given to a Shipping Company, and when it reaches the destination country UK, both shipment & paperwork will be rechecked by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC); then customs agents charge your tariffs, and when you clear all fees, it will be given to you.

You can declare the imports yourself unless you don’t know how to do it. If you don’t have an idea, let a freight forwarder like Winsky Freight do it on your behalf.

If transporting the goods by DDP Sea or Rail freight from China to the UK, you don’t have to provide an Entry Summary Declaration to the UK customs.

The UK customs will release your goods when the UK custom broker pay all the duties and VAT in the United Kingdom.

The primary documents which the Chinese & UK governments will ask for are; 

• Chinese Govt. Export Declaration Document
• Commercial Invoice ( States Value of Products in USD )
• Packing list ( All Products with their HS Codes and Country of Origin details )
• Bill of Lading ( issued by a carrier with details about type, quantity, origin & destination of goods )
• Customs Invoice ( from seller or exporter )
• Import License ( filed by the importer in UK Govt. for some sensitive items like arms, hazardous materials, animals, food products, ammunition, etc. )
• More.

And it is critical to note that Custom duties depend on many factors, like; 

• Origin and Destination Country Laws
• Overall Cargo Cost
• Product Nature

However, if you want to find out the duties in advance, you can give the HS code and overall value of products to your country’s customs agents, who will tell you for a small fee. If you don’t want to pay fees, go to the UK Govt. official tariffs website, match your HS code to the rates, and calculate the rest yourself, which can be tricky.

The United Kingdom’s duties and taxes can directly impact your import costs. For that reason, you need to know the amount of money to pay to the UK as duties and taxes.

How do you determine the import duties and taxes to pay to the UK customs?

Once your goods reach the UK, you must pay the UK duty and VAT depending on the HS Code and cost of goods, respectively. You’ll make these payments at the destination port.

The HS Code classifies different goods for trade. That’s because various goods have varying duty percentages, ranging from 0-12 percent.

For example, if you import products worth $50,000, and the cargo gets taxed for duties at 10 percent, the duty amount will be $5,000.

For VAT, the tax is determined by the cost of imports and shipping the products. The standard VAT rate is usually 20 percent.

For instance, if the $5,000 shipment costs around $500 to reach the UK, you’ll pay 20 percent of $55,00 as the VAT, and that’s $1,100.

There are several ways you can monitor the status of your shipment from China to the UK, depending on the shipping method you’ve chosen.

• Express Freight Service:If you make use of an express freight service, such as DHL, UPS, or FedEx, you can simply visit their official websites and input your shipment tracking number. They will give you detailed updates about the current status of your shipment.
• Delivered Duty Paid (DDP):If you make use of DDP air or sea freight, then tracking is quite easy. Simply ask your freight forwarder for your shipment’s tracking number and the tracking website.
• Air Carrier:To track goods transported by air carriers, you’ll need to enter the tracking number written on your Air Waybill (AWB). Once you enter the shipment tracking number on the air carrier’s official website, you’ll get an up-to-date status of your shipment. Alternatively, you can make use of third-party platforms, like Track Trace, to check the real-time status of your goods.
• Sea Carrier:For shipments handled by sea carriers with port-to-port service, go to the sea carrier’s official website and type in the container number or courier’s tracking number. This will show you the current location of the container.

Another easy way to track goods during transit is by using the 17Track platform. This is one of the most efficient package tracking services, and it supports over 1500 carriers and 120+ airlines globally. You can use it for express, air, or sea freight shipment tracking.

If you’re still unsure about how the entire tracking process works, then contact your freight forwarder. They will provide you with all the necessary information, including the estimated arrival date.

Shipping goods from China might seem complicated, but it’s not when you understand the entire shipping process.

Here is how to ship goods from a Chinese supplier with Winsky Freight’s help.

Outsource goods directly from a Chinese supplier or producer rather than a middleman to increase your profit margin.

You can identify the Chinese suppliers on the internet, and that’s because most of them own websites to help potential customers order goods.

Once you’ve ordered goods from your preferred Chinese supplier, please give us the supplier’s details, including their physical address and contact information.

We’ll contact the supplier and arrange how to transport your goods to our warehouse for further processing and shipping arrangements.

Once your Chinese supplier has prepared the goods for shipping, Winsky Freight will contact them and request them to bring them to our warehouse.

If the supplier cannot deliver the goods to our warehouse, our dedicated team will pick them up and transport them to our warehouse.

At Winsky Freight, we understand the shipping logistics for goods that leave China for the United Kingdom, including the required documents.

Once we verify that the goods match your specifications, we’ll prepare all the documents needed for shipping to the United Kingdom, including customs clearance documents.

After arranging all the required documents, we’ll send the goods to your preferred seaport, airport, or train station in the United Kingdom.

Winsky Freight will send you a tracking number for your products leaving China for the UK. We’ll also send you the website link for tracking.

Freight Forwarders are agents who handle your Shipment & preparation of Documentation.”

Freight forwarders are not a necessity, but they not only help you cut down shipping costs and delivery days but also save you from a lot of headaches because they have;

✓ Available seats in Peak Seasons 

✓ Already booked Reasonable Price seats 

✓ Take care of all insurance claims in case of accidents or loss 

✓ Handles Picking of products from the seller, loading on the ship, etc. 

✓ Can even pay Customs fees and deliver your parcel at your Door-step 

✓ Have Customs Agents in every country for quick clearance with less or no bribery 

✓ Handle all the mind-hurting documentation collection and getting of licenses from Govt. 

✓ More.

You know that every shipping company has its rates, and they change from person to person, and beginners charge a lot extra. Moreover, if you have any missing documentation, you will be charged additional fees, and your cargo may hold up at the port for days until you get the required documentation from a Chinese seller/carrier, which is nearly impossible when you are sitting in the UK.

So, if you are importing from the UK, having your Freight Forwarders in China can help you get the lowest prices from the shipping companies. They can also collect every document within China, so you don’t have to face hold-ups.

In short, when you look at the overall shipping cost, you would have saved a lot of money even after paying Freight Forwarders’ fees.

Now that you’ve understood why you need a shipping agent to help you ship goods from China to the UK, you might wonder why Winsky Freight is the best freight forwarder.

Here are the reasons to outsource Winsky Freight’s freight forwarding services.

Competitive Shipping Prices 

As the best freight forwarder in China, Winsky guarantees competitive prices for goods leaving China for the United kingdom.

We provide affordable shipping rates for several types of goods to ensure that you get value for your money. Besides, the quotes have no hidden charges.

Free Warehousing Services

Are you worried about where you’ll temporarily store your goods when arranging for shipping from China into the United Kingdom?

You don’t need to worry anymore because Winsky Freight provides all its clients with free warehousing for 30 days. This will help you save money on warehousing.

Multiple Shipping Options

Winsky Freight can assist you whether you want to ship your goods by air, sea, rail, or express freight.

As the best in China, we can help you transport your goods to the United Kingdom using your preferred shipping mode.

If you are looking for the best delivery, we, Winsky Freight, can be your one-stop solution. No matter whether you want the fastest Air Freight, cheapest Sea Freight, or medium speed Railway/Road delivery, we can present all.

If you choose us, we can handle all your worries like picking the cargo from a seller, reasonable carrier booking, insurance, confusing documentation preparation, customs clearance, and delivering the shipment to your doorstep or any other place you want.

Contact us today to get the best shipping cost from China to the UK.