Shipping products from China to your country involves multiple options, each with different trade-offs in speed, cost, and reliability. Here’s everything you need to know.
Shipping Methods Compared
Express Courier (DHL, FedEx, UPS)
- Speed: 3-7 business days
- Cost: Highest per-kg rate
- Best for: Small packages, samples, urgent orders
- Door-to-door: Yes, includes customs clearance
Air Freight
- Speed: 7-14 days (including ground handling)
- Cost: Moderate
- Best for: Medium shipments (50-500 kg)
- Door-to-door: No — requires customs broker at destination
Sea Freight (LCL)
- Speed: 25-45 days
- Cost: Lowest per-unit for large volumes
- Best for: Bulk orders, heavy items
- Door-to-door: No — requires customs broker and inland transport
Sea Freight (FCL)
- Speed: 25-45 days
- Cost: Best for full container loads
- Best for: Very large shipments (20ft or 40ft container)
- Door-to-door: No — requires customs broker
What Affects Shipping Costs?
Shipping costs depend on:
- Weight and volume: Carriers charge by whichever is greater — actual weight or volumetric weight
- Destination country: Remote or less-served countries cost more
- Product type: Dangerous goods, batteries, or oversized items incur surcharges
- Customs duties: Vary by country and product category
- Insurance: Typically 1-3% of declared value
How Kango Simplifies Shipping
When you source through Kango, we handle the logistics:
- We compare rates across multiple carriers
- We select the optimal method based on your timeline and budget
- We handle all export documentation from China
- We provide tracking from our facility to your door
- We include basic insurance on every shipment
Customs and Duties
Every country has different import regulations. Generally:
- De minimis thresholds: Many countries allow duty-free imports below a certain value (e.g., $800 in the US)
- Product classification: Each product has an HS code that determines the duty rate
- Documentation: Commercial invoice, packing list, and airway bill or bill of lading are typically required
Kango helps ensure your shipment documentation is complete and accurate, reducing the risk of customs delays.
Estimated Transit Times by Destination
| Destination | Express | Air Freight | Sea Freight |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 3-5 days | 10-14 days | 25-35 days |
| United Kingdom | 3-5 days | 7-10 days | 30-35 days |
| European Union | 3-5 days | 7-10 days | 30-40 days |
| Australia | 4-6 days | 10-14 days | 20-25 days |
| Middle East | 4-6 days | 7-10 days | 20-30 days |
| Southeast Asia | 2-4 days | 5-7 days | 10-15 days |
Have questions about shipping a specific product? Contact us on WhatsApp and we’ll provide a customized shipping quote.