Planning a shipment to United States
A delivery in California and one in the US interior can need very different inland plans. Compare a West Coast gateway with the total onward distance instead of choosing on sailing time alone.
Express, air or sea?
DHL, FedEx and UPS options can suit eligible parcels; air freight can suit larger urgent replenishments. For planned volume, compare LCL shared-container shipping with FCL dedicated space. Ask for a like-for-like comparison to the same receiving address.
Gateway examples
Sea gateways to discuss: Los Angeles / Long Beach, New York / New Jersey, Savannah. Air gateways to discuss: Los Angeles (LAX), Chicago (ORD), New York (JFK). These are planning examples, not a promise of direct departures or available capacity. The booking routing is selected for your actual shipment.
Customs & shipping documents
For a US shipment, identify the importer and check the applicable entry requirements with the broker before cargo leaves China. Duties and trade measures depend on the product and current rules; a freight quote should not be treated as a tariff ruling. Prepare a commercial invoice, packing list and consignee details. Your broker may also need specifications, origin information or additional product documents. No universal duty rate is applied on this page.
Door-to-door, DDP & receiving
If your stock is going to Amazon, use the assigned fulfillment center address and separate the delivery date from Amazon inventory check-in. Door-to-door services and DDP availability are checked for the cargo and destination. Confirm who acts as importer, which import charges are included and what unloading services are required.
Transit planning & cost factors
Compare cargo-ready date, origin collection, departure arrangements, clearance and final delivery as separate milestones. The international transport leg alone does not establish the date your goods will be available. Weight, external dimensions, routing, cargo type and destination services determine the quote.
How to arrange your shipment
Send your supplier city, product details, packed dimensions, gross weight, destination postcode and target date. We review practical methods with you, confirm the selected scope and coordinate the agreed collection, freight and delivery stages.
Useful reference
Check the source for current instructions applicable to your shipment.