FCL and LCL ocean freight from China, coordinated end to end — from export handling and container loading to the main sea leg and onward delivery.
Sea freight moves the large majority of world trade by volume, and China — the world’s biggest exporter — sits at the center of it. TJ China Logistics arranges ocean freight out of China for importers, wholesalers, and sourcing teams who want dependable sea transport rather than the speed premium of air. We coordinate the shipment end to end — export handling at origin, the main ocean leg with established carriers, and onward delivery — while the sailing schedule, vessel space, and customs decisions stay with the carrier and the relevant authorities. To scope a rate, the facts to confirm are your loading port, destination, cargo volume, and the Incoterm you want to ship under.
Sea freight is the most cost-effective mode for most non-urgent cargo moving in volume — consumer goods, furniture, machinery, packaged materials, and mixed pallet loads where a longer transit is acceptable in exchange for a much lower unit cost.
Tell us your deadline and volume and we will confirm the mode that actually fits.
A quick way to sanity-check the mode before you dig into ocean options.
| Factor | Sea freight | Air freight | Rail freight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Lowest per unit | Highest | Middle |
| Transit speed | Slowest | Fastest | Between sea and air |
| Best cargo volume | Medium to very large | Small, urgent, high-value | Medium |
| Typical use | Bulk replenishment, heavy or bulky goods | Deadlines, samples, perishables | China ↔ Europe / Central Asia |
As a rule of thumb, cargo approaching or above 15–20 CBM is usually more economical and lower-risk as a full container, while smaller volumes fit a shared container.
An entire container reserved for your cargo. Best from ~15–20 CBM up.
Share container space and pay for what you use.
| Service | Best for |
|---|---|
| RORO (Roll-on / Roll-off) | Vehicles, trucks, and wheeled or self-propelled machinery driven on and off the vessel. |
| Bulk shipping | Unpackaged commodities in volume — grain, ore, minerals — on specialized vessels. |
Need RORO or bulk? Tell us the cargo and we will confirm suitability and the right vessel.
FCL, LCL, RORO, and specialized cargo, shipped from China’s main ports to your door.
Standard container references to help you plan an FCL load. Usable capacity and payload vary with packing, cargo density, and carrier weight limits.
Heavy or dense cargo
General high-volume cargo
Bulky, light, volume cargo
| Type | Best for |
|---|---|
| Reefer | Temperature-controlled cargo — fruit, seafood, pharmaceuticals. |
| Open Top | Over-height cargo craned in from the top — tall machinery. |
| Flat Rack | Heavy, oversized, or irregular items — project cargo, vehicles. |
Good packing protects your goods at sea and keeps customs moving. A few basics go a long way.
| Pallet | Notes |
|---|---|
| Wooden | Common and economical; must meet ISPM 15 heat-treatment for export. |
| Plastic | Hygienic and reusable — good for food and pharma. |
| Standard sizes | 1200 × 1000 mm (EU) and 48 × 40 in (US) are the usual footprints. |
Ocean pricing is more than one number. Knowing the parts helps you compare quotes fairly and avoid surprises at destination.
The base rate for the lane, driven by container or CBM, route, and market conditions.
Export customs, terminal handling, and documentation at the China port.
Import terminal handling, customs, duties, and final delivery at the other end.
Fuel (BAF), currency (CAF), and peak-season or general rate increases (PSS / GRI).
FCL is priced by container; LCL is charged on the greater of volume or weight.
How far we coordinate — FOB vs DAP/DDP — shifts which charges sit on your invoice.
| Component | Indicative basis |
|---|---|
| Ocean freight | Per container (FCL) or per CBM / ton (LCL); moves with the market. |
| Origin & destination charges | Terminal handling, documentation, and delivery at each end. |
| Duties & taxes | Set by the destination country on the declared value. |
| Insurance | Typically around 0.3–0.5% of cargo value (optional, recommended). |
Indicative only — we quote current, itemized costs for your specific lane and cargo.
Combine orders from several suppliers into one container to cut per-unit cost.
A clear term (FOB, EXW…) avoids paying twice for the same leg.
Book ahead of holidays and Chinese New Year, when space and rates spike.
Not sure your cargo fits? Tell us what it is and we will confirm handling and any special requirements.
Packaged consumer goods, hardware, and mixed FAK shipments.
Stacked and shrink-wrapped pallets for stable handling.
Out-of-gauge cargo on flat rack or open top.
Temperature-controlled cargo in refrigerated containers.
Classified DG handled with the correct declarations.
Household and personal shipments from China.
Collection from your supplier and loading at our China warehouse.
Booking, documentation, and export declaration handling.
Space booked with the carrier; bill of lading and sailing updates.
Document handover; import brokerage arranged on request.
Onward trucking to the delivery address when door service is booked.
Ocean transit depends on the lane, routing, and season; the door-to-door cycle also includes export handling, clearance, and inland delivery. Use the ranges below as a planning guide — we confirm current transit for your exact lane at quote.
| Lane from China | Indicative transit |
|---|---|
| US West Coast | 14–18 days |
| US East Coast | 26–32 days |
| Northern Europe | 30–38 days |
| Mediterranean | 28–35 days |
| Middle East (Gulf) | 18–24 days |
| Australia | 16–22 days |
China has several of the world’s largest container ports. We load from the gateway closest to your supplier and best suited to your route.
| Port | Approx. annual TEU | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | ~49 million | World’s busiest container port; widest sailing options. |
| Ningbo-Zhoushan | ~35 million | High-volume East China port near the Yangtze Delta. |
| Shenzhen | ~30 million | Yantian & Shekou — South China electronics and consumer goods. |
| Qingdao | ~30 million | North China gateway for Shandong and northern suppliers. |
| Guangzhou | ~25 million | Nansha — Pearl River Delta manufacturing base. |
| Tianjin | ~22 million | Gateway to Beijing and northern China. |
| Hong Kong | ~14 million | Deep natural harbor with extensive global connectivity. |
Approximate recent annual throughput; figures move year to year.
Our role is to coordinate and document the shipment and hand each stage to the right party. We do not operate vessels or issue customs rulings; we manage the booking, paperwork, and communication around them.
| Stage | What we coordinate | Performed / approved by |
|---|---|---|
| Origin pickup | Collection, consolidation, container loading and supervision | Supplier readiness and accurate packing |
| Export clearance | Booking, documentation, export declaration handling | China customs; correct commercial documents |
| Main ocean leg | Space booking, bill of lading, sailing updates | Ocean carrier (schedule, space, transit) |
| Destination clearance | Document handover; import brokerage on request | Destination customs; importer of record; duties |
| Final delivery | Onward trucking when door service is booked | Consignee availability to receive |
Watch for demurrage and detention. Charges accrue when a container waits at the port or is held beyond the free time after arrival — usually because clearance, payment, or delivery is not ready. Confirm import documents and consignee availability before the vessel arrives. Free-time allowances vary by carrier and port.
We book space with major ocean carriers, including COSCO, Evergreen (EMC), and Yang Ming (YML). Loading is typically handled at major South China ports — Shenzhen (Yantian / Shekou), Guangzhou (Nansha), Ningbo, and Shanghai.
The term you ship under decides where the seller’s responsibility ends and yours begins. This is a simplified guide; the key difference for imports is who clears customs and pays duties at destination.
TJ can coordinate either side — we often handle origin export for your supplier and arrange the main leg and destination on your behalf. Not sure which term to use? Describe who should clear customs at destination and we will recommend one.
Accurate documents keep clearance moving and duty calculation correct. Your exact set depends on the product and destination.
Declared value, terms, and parties — the basis for duty.
Cartons, weights, and dimensions per shipment.
The carrier’s contract and title document for the cargo.
Where required for duty preference or import rules.
For regulated or dangerous goods, where applicable.
Marine cargo cover, when you insure the shipment.
Documents, carriers, customs, and delivery — handled by one point of contact.
Bundle these with your ocean shipment so the whole journey is handled by one team.
An itemized breakdown of base charges and local fees, so you can budget and compare.
Secure storage and multi-supplier consolidation so several orders ship as one.
Space with major lines including COSCO, Evergreen, and Yang Ming.
Status updates through the key milestones so you know where cargo stands.
Supervised loading and reinforcement guidance to reduce transit damage.
A responsive coordinator from booking through delivery.
| Challenge | How we reduce it |
|---|---|
| Delays & disruptions (weather, strikes, vessel issues) | Buffer planning, proactive rebooking, and status updates so you can react early. |
| Port congestion at busy gateways | Route via alternative ports (Ningbo, Qingdao) and schedule off-peak where possible. |
| Peak-season space and rate spikes | Book ahead of holidays and Chinese New Year; lock space earlier. |
| Customs or regulatory changes | Correct HS codes and complete documents; we track changing requirements. |
The code drives duty and clearance. A wrong code causes holds and reassessment.
Under-declaration risks penalties, delays, and re-inspection at destination.
Space tightens and rates rise before holidays — plan bookings ahead.
Have the broker and consignee ready before arrival to avoid demurrage.
Guard against moisture and stacking; mark cartons clearly for handling.
Carrier liability is limited by weight — marine cover protects the goods’ value.
As a rough guide, from about 2 CBM upward sea freight is usually worth considering. Below that, air freight can be similar in cost and much faster. Send your volume and we’ll tell you which is cheaper for your case.
Ocean transit depends on the destination port and routing, plus export handling, clearance, and inland delivery. As a guide, US West Coast runs about 14–18 days and Northern Europe about 30–38 days; we confirm a current range for your lane at quote.
Cargo approaching or above 15–20 CBM is usually more economical and lower-risk as FCL; smaller volumes fit LCL. Send your measurements and we will advise.
FCL is priced per container. LCL is charged on the greater of volume (CBM) or weight (per ton), so dense cargo may be rated by weight and light cargo by volume.
Two things: pick a port close to your supplier to cut inland trucking, and note that larger gateways often have more sailings and better rates. We’ll suggest the best fit once we know your supplier’s location.
FOB and CIF are port-to-port terms that leave import clearance and delivery to you; CIF adds main-leg freight and insurance arranged at origin. DAP and DDP are door terms where we coordinate more of the destination leg, and under DDP import duties are prepaid. See the Incoterms chart above.
We book with major ocean carriers such as COSCO, Evergreen (EMC), and Yang Ming (YML), choosing the line that best fits your lane, schedule, and budget.
Yes. We can receive goods from multiple China suppliers at our warehouse, consolidate them, and load one shipment — with free storage of up to 7–14 days.
We coordinate export handling at origin and can arrange import customs brokerage and marine cargo insurance on request. Duties and import taxes are set by the destination country and are the importer’s responsibility.