china has the second largest economy in the world after the united states and a population of 1.3 billion people. If you want to expand your eCommerce business, then China is a valuable market to pursue.
With a rapidly growing middle class that continues to spend more money on products exported to the US each year, you will see plenty of growth opportunities if you start marketing your products to Chinese customers.
but how do you prepare your e-commerce company to ship to china? With more rules and regulations in place than most other countries, shipping to china from the usa. uu. It can be time-consuming, error-prone, and expensive, especially if you run a small to medium-sized eCommerce business.
in this u.s. shipping guide. uu. To China, you’ll learn about shipping options, rules, transit times, and services that can help you expand your e-commerce business in China.
4 US carriers shipping to China
there are many carriers that can ship to china from usa. uu. We recommend working with usps, ups, fedex and dhl because they are reliable and can send your packages to china in a matter of days. Below, we break down the price and transit times for these 4 carriers when shipping a package to China.
Note: These are general options for consumer shipping orders. To find out what Shipbob offers when shipping to other countries like China, request a quote here.
Exact shipbob rates for customers will vary, as we charge a “full cost of fulfillment” which includes picking, packing, and shipping, among other factors.
*note: only usps offers flat rates for shipments from the united states to china. All other prices were calculated using the respective carrier’s price calculators for a 2kg package as of December 2019. Exact prices are subject to change.
1. USPS
If you want to save money on shipping and delivery time isn’t a high priority for your customers, USPS is a great option for shipping. Unlike other carriers, you only have to pay a flat rate based on the class of mail and the weight of the package. Package delivery is also convenient, as you can drop off packages at a drop box or visit a post office.
However, one of the main disadvantages of using USPS for Canadian shipping is that packages are transferred to China Post once they arrive in China. this means the tracking number provided by usps will no longer work. this may add some extra delivery days due to customs clearance.
international options
- express international priority mail
- international priority mail
- first class international service
when should you ship with usps
You want the lowest cost and fast turnaround time is not a high priority.
2. ups and downs
ups is a good option for shipping to china because they can receive their packages within 3-5 business days. With one of the largest logistics networks in China, they will pick up your packages from their warehouse in the United States and deliver them to China within a few days.
Unlike USPS, packages are tracked from pickup to delivery through the UPS tracking system. you don’t have to worry that any package will be transferred to china post.
Please note that UPS may be a more expensive option if you are shipping packages over 10 pounds.
international options
- accelerated worldwide
- global savings
when should you send with oops
- you want tracking
- you want faster delivery
3. fedex
Fedex is another excellent option for shipping to China due to its extensive logistics network. They can pick up packages in the US and deliver them to Canada overnight or within a few days.
Because of their strong competition with UPS, shipping prices can be quite competitive, which means more money saved for your eCommerce business. They also provide electronic trade documents that can help streamline the documentation process for international shipments.
fedex can be expensive if you ship heavy items over 10lbs. If your customers don’t expect fast deliveries, USPS might be a more cost-effective option for you.
international options
- international priority
- international economy
when should you ship with fedex
- you want tracking
- you want faster delivery
4. dhl
dhl is considered the leading carrier for overseas shipping and a great choice for shipping to china. their rates are a bit cheaper than ups or fedex and they offer the same delivery windows. If you want to ship to China, consider DHL as one of your first options when checking shipping prices.
when should you ship with dhl
if you ship packages abroad, dhl is a great option.
handling times, customs and other delays in china
Compared to other international countries, China has more regulations for products imported from other countries. Due to this, the delivery of your products could be delayed by a few days or weeks, depending on handling times and customs controls.
handling times and customs
handling times can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, depending on the specific airport. Beijing airport is incredibly busy and it can take longer to sort packages. while a smaller, more urban airport may be faster.
location-based delays
china is a giant country and has provinces far away from the center of beijing. If you have a client in a rural province, we suggest you budget more time for transportation. When shipping to China, be sure to inform customers that deliveries may be delayed and do your best to notify them in advance.
local festivals
Local festivals in China, such as Chinese New Year, have a great impact on the lives of Chinese people. Weeks off may be taken due to the celebrations, and that means some carriers will not be able to deliver.
government regulations
Chinese government regulations change from time to time, so be sure to check frequently what is allowed and what is not, or else you could be seriously delayed.
shipping rates in china
Import taxes into China have decreased in recent years, which is great news for American businesses. China has a tariff rate of 9.3% and can also impose a VAT tax of between 10% and 16%. this is in line with most other countries.
an easier way to ship to china
If shipping to china sounds complicated, then we have good news: you can make shipping to china easier by working with a 3pl to make the shipping process easier. how is that?
Fast growing e-commerce businesses use 3pls as shipbob to turn shipping and warehousing into revenue generators. With a 3pl, they store your inventory, fulfill your e-commerce orders, offer substantial discounts on shipping, provide an easier infrastructure for customs and tax forms, and connect you with other international partners.
So, with 3PL fulfillment logistics for packages going to China, you won’t have to worry about picking and packing orders, managing a warehouse, labor, training, and more. Your 3pl handles all of that for you, so you can focus on other areas of your eCommerce business.
this is why you should let shipbob take care of your shipping to china:
outsource shipping to Chinese customers
Learning the rules of shipping to China takes a long time. it can be complicated and a simple mistake could result in many orders not being delivered, costing you time, money and lowering customer satisfaction.
shipbob offers great discount shipping services for shipping to china. we ship orders from the usa uu. to locations in China, all while providing order updates and tracking numbers. You can track each order from the shipbob dashboard, without having to do any of the work yourself.
save time and money
Working with shipbob, you won’t need to manage expensive warehouses, complicated logistics operations, or hire and train labor.
Working with shipbob turns logistics and warehousing into a revenue generator because you can increase sales and offer the shipping options, transit times and delivery speeds that customers want. Do you want to offer an Amazon-like experience? shipbob makes it happen.
shipbob also handles order fulfillment. You don’t have to pack boxes, wait for packages to be picked up, or spend time searching and building warehouse space. working with shipbob gives you time to focus on other growth areas like marketing, customer service, and product development.
work with shipping and fulfillment experts
international trade is complicated. You don’t have time to become a certified expert in all aspects of warehousing and logistics, and hiring the right team can take months.
That’s why shipbob is here: we have warehousing and logistics professionals who know and stay up-to-date with the latest trends and complexities in the industry, so you don’t have to.
by working with shipbob as your logistics team, you gain years of experience with a team that knows how to ship your packages to china. Plus, we have locations all over the world.
conclusion
ship to canada from usa uu. It doesn’t have to be a hassle. It can be complicated, but working with shipping experts makes the process easier than ever. At shipbob, we have helped many e-commerce companies expand their international shipping options to help grow their businesses. start sending your orders to china with shipbob. Fill out the form below to speak with a compliance expert today.