trade with china
Trade with China is a major part of our business. Our partners have offices at all main and many smaller ports, airports and railway hubs in China. This allows us to offer an efficient and cost effective service to you. Please contact us to discuss your projects in China. Whether they are large or small, we will strive to provide you with the best solution.
THE EXPORT PROCESS
When you receive an enquiry or an order from a customer in China, let us know the shipping terms, destination and the packing details (number of cases/cartons/pallets, dimensions and weight). Based on this information, we will advise available routings and costs.
RESTRICTIONS
Most items can be shipped without restriction but there a few commodities that need more attention
- ‘Dual use’ items (with a potential military use) – may require an export licence before they can be shipped.
- Hazardous goods – regulations can prevent their movement by passenger aircraft. Their nature or quantity may require that they will only be allowed on a freighter aircraft.
- Batteries – there are many regulations regarding the movement of batteries, implemented differently by various airlines and shipping lines.
We can provide our advice and deal with any potential issues related to shipping these commodities.
FORMS TO COMPLETE
For most shipments the paperwork required is the commercial invoice and packing list.
If your goods could be considered “dual use” (can be used for both civilian and military applications) an export license may be required. It is advisable to check with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills if a license is needed. You can check your goods’ status against the UK Strategic Export Control Lists www.gov.uk/government/
In case of any ambiguity, it is important to go through the procedure at BIS, as HM Customs can hold up shipments they suspect might need a license even after export customs clearance has been done. Having a letter from BIS stating that a license is not required will prevent or solve this.
FORMALITIES – CUSTOMS CLEARANCE FOR SHIPPING TO CHINA
METHODS OF TRANSPORT BETWEEN CHINA AND UK
However, rail transport has also become increasingly popular in recent years.
China has recently invested heavily in rail services to Europe to have an available alternative to sea transport. You can see in the picture below the extensive network. Please ask for schedules and pricing.
The choice of shipping method depends on the size of the cargo, urgency and budget.
Considerations are
- Air freight is more expensive than sea freight, except for small shipments where the reverse is true
- Sea freight is the most common method but for smaller shipments can be higher cost than by air due to the charging structure
- Transit time by air takes typically from one to five days depending on the connection (direct/non-direct)
- Transit time by sea varies from four to six weeks
- Rail is a good compromise between sea freight and air freight with a transit time (15-25 days) faster than sea and lower cost than air.
Here at Unipac, we have the knowledge and experience in getting goods to China efficiently and promptly. Let us know the details of your shipment and the delivery deadline, so that we can suggest the routing that meets your needs.