Sea freight and air freight specialists from all major Chinese origins to the UK
China accounts for around 13% of total UK goods imports, making it the single largest source country by volume.
The range of goods is vast: electronics, clothing & textiles, furniture, machinery, toys, automotive components and consumer goods of every kind originate from Chinese factories and industrial zones.
The UK-China trade relationship is well established, with regular ocean freight services connecting Chinese ports to Felixstowe, London Gateway, Southampton and Grangemouth. Transit Times on these routes vary depending on origin port and the carrier used.
Air freight from China to the UK takes 4 to 7 days via air cargo services operating through Guangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing and Shenzhen airports, with services arriving to London Heathrow, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow.
Best for large, heavy or high volume shipments. Around 30-45 days depending on the origin port. Most cost effective per unit.
Best for urgent, high value or lightweight cargo. Around 4-7 days depending on origin airport. Higher cost per kg.
Fully managed door to door services, from the Chinese factory to your UK delivery address. Customs clearance included.
Our team has handled China - UK freight shipments for 10+ years. Talk to us before you book.
Sea freight is the most cost effective way to move goods in volume from China. We operate both FCL (Full Container Load) and LCL (Less than Container Load) services from all major Chinese ports.
An FCL shipment gives you sole use of a container. Your goods are packed at origin, sealed and not handled again until they reach the UK. This is the right choice when your cargo fills (or nearly fills) a 20ft or 40ft container. FCL rates are fixed per container, so unit costs fall as volume grows.
| Container Type | Internal Capacity |
| 20FT Standard | Approx. 29-30 Cubic Metres, 25 Tonnes cargo weight | 40FT Standard | Approx. 67 Cubic Metes, 25 Tonnes cargo weight | 40FT High Cube | Approx. 76 Cubic Metres, 25 Tonnes cargo weight |
LCL, sometimes called groupage, is the cost effective solution for shipments that do not fill a full container. Your cargo is consolidated with other importers’ goods at a Chinese consolidation warehouse, shipping together and de-consolidated at the UK port warehouse. You pay only for the space your goods occupy, measured in cubic metres (CBM/M3).
LCL is ideal for shipments from around 1 cubic metres up to approximately 15 cubic metres, after which FCL typically can become the better value option. Transit Times on LCL services are slightly longer than FCL, due to the consolidation and de-consolidation process.
When speed is the priority, air freight from China to the UK delivers in 4 to 7 days.
Typical use cases include urgent stock replenishment, samples, high value electronics and time sensitive seasonal goods.
Air freight is charged either by actual gross weight (kilos) or volumetric weight, whichever is greater. The industry standard volumetric formula is Length (cms) x Width (cms) x Height (cms) / 6000.
We arrange air freight from all major Chinese cargo airports, including Guangzhou Baiyun, Shanghai Pudong and Shenzhen Bao’an, routing into London, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow.
Our Shenzhen partner office gives us direct access to Southern China’s manufacturing heartland, covering the Pearl River Delta region including Guangzhou, Foshan and Dongguan. For central and northern China, we work with trusted co-loaders operating out of Shanghai, Ningbo, Qingdao, Tianjin/Xingang, Xiamen and more.
| Port | Key Manufacturing Regions Served |
| Shenzhen / Yantian | Electronics, Garments, Consumer Goods | Guangzhou / Nansha | Automotive Parts, Furniture, Ceramics | Shanghai | Machinery, Chemicals, Textiles, Industrial Goods | Ningbo | Clothing, Plastics, Machinery, Automotive | Qingdao | Tyres, Textiles, Electronics, Seafood | Tianjin | Machinery, Metals, Chemicals | Xiamen | Stone, Sportswear, Electronic Components |
All goods imported from China into the UK must pass through UK Customs. As your freight forwarder, we handle the full customs clearance process on your behalf.
Import duty rates on goods from China vary by commodity code (HS code). Most goods also attract UK import VAT at 20%. VAT registered businesses can typically reclaim import VAT through their VAT return.
Anti-dumping duties apply to certain categories of Chinese goods, including some steel products, ceramic tiles and solar panels – we will advise you if your goods are affected.
The UK Global Tariff provides a searchable database of UK import duty rates. We can advise on the correct commodity code for your goods and calculate the likely landed cost before you commit to an order.
The Incoterm on your purchase order defines who is responsible for freight, insurance and customs at each stage of the journey.
The most common terms used when importing from China are set out below.
| Incoterm | Responsibility |
| EXW (Ex-Works) | You are responsible for everything from the factory door. Maximum control, maximum responsibility. | FOB (Free On Board) | Your supplier delivers to the named Chinese port and clears Chinese export customs. You are responsible from the moment cargo is loaded onto the vessel. | CIF (Cost Insurance & Freight) | Your supplier pays the freight and insurance to the UK port of destination. You handle UK customs and onward delivery. Be aware: CIF gives your supplier control of the freight, which may not result in the best rate and can "potentially" leave your business exposed to excessive charges. | DAP (Delivered At Place) | Your supplier delivers to a named UK address. You remain responsible for UK import customs and duty fees. | DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) | Your supplier handles everything including UK duty and VAT. Convenient, but you lose visibility on costs and compliance. |
For most regular importers, FOB is the preferred term. It gives you control of the freight from the moment the goods are loaded in China, allowing you to choose your own freight forwarder and manage costs and service effectively.
Shipping from China to the UK involves several stages. Here is what to expect when you work with Far East Shipping.
| Step | Overview |
| 1. Quote & Booking | You provide us with the cargo details (dimensions, weight, origin and destination). We provide a landed quote covering freight, customs clearance and UK delivery charges. Once accepted, we issue a booking confirmation. | 2. China Collection / Delivery To Port Warehouse | Our Chinese partner arranges the collection of your goods from the Chinese factory or provides details of the consolidation warehouse, to where your supplier needs to deliver the cargo too. | 3. Export Clearance | Chinese export customs formalities are completed. Note that it is important to make sure your supplier has the required export licence to confirm they have permissions to export from China. This is a requirement and cannot be avoided. | 4. Sea or Air Transit | Your shipment travels from China to the UK. We provide regular status updates throughout the transit. | 5. UK Arrival & Customs | We lodge your import entry with HM Revenue & Customs, any import Duty and/or VAT is paid to HMRC. The cargo is released and UK delivery arranged. | 6. UK Delivery | Your goods are delivered to your nominated UK address by our haulage partners. We deliver nationwide. |
Complete the form below and our team will respond within 2 business hours.
Sea freight from China to the UK takes approximately 28 to 42 days, depending on the origin port and UK port of discharge. Shipping from Shenzhen or Shanghai to the ports of Felixstowe or Southampton usually fall within this range.
Air freight from China to the UK takes 4 to 7 days under normal conditions. Both timelines begin from the date your cargo is loaded, not from the date you place an order.
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Request an import shipping quote from China to the UK today. We aim to respond to all enquiries within 2 business hours.