China has been known as the factory of the world for a substantial period. An ample amount of goods from distinct regions of the country belonging to a variety of industries are exported daily. If you are willing to import something from China, then you must look at some of the necessary aspects of freight forwarding from China.
In this guide, you will be able to gain information about modes of freight forwarding for the UK & Australia and their legal requirements. Along with that, you will be able to note important things about freight forwarder for shipping from China to Australia and the UK. Let’s begin with understanding the right mode of shipping you must choose.
Which Mode of Freight Forwarding You Should Choose?
While planning to import from China, you must have once thought of “how long does it take to ship from China to Australia?”.
General speaking, there are two modes of freight forwarding, the Sea or the Air. It is known that the UK and Australia are quite far away from China, thus choosing the right freight forwarding mode is of importance. The right mode of shipping from a trusted freight forwarder for shipping from China to the UK and Australia would help you save costs and minimize the risk associated with shipping accidents.
Sea Freight
China is around 7,470 kilometers away from Australia, while the UK is 7,799 kilometers away. So, if you are still pondering over how long does it take to ship from China to Australia or UK, then the answer according to the sea freight is going to be approximately 2 weeks for Australia and 25 to 30 days for the UK. There cannot be a definite time as in the case of sea freight the duration of the transit depends upon the ports you have selected on both the ends.
Coming to the rates associated with sea freights, you need to know that it also varies as per the port. There can be multiple factors, which affect this cost. The exact cost involved can be shared only by your freight forwarder for China to Australia or UK.
In terms of commodity goods, sea freight by a professional freight forwarder for China to Australia is highly recommended. The safety of the goods is always a concern, however correct shipping insurance can always help you minimize the losses. One of the most interesting aspects of sea freight mode is that your freight forwarder will handle all the logistics work. The main things under logistics work for sea freight include
- Cargo Clearance
- Document Verification
- Handling the loading
& unloading procedures.
Despite variation in the pricing as per ports, sea freight is certainly one of the cost-effective options you can choose.
Air Freight
Airfreight network is one of the best options when it comes to urgent transfers. No matter, which country you are sending it, be it Australia or UK, air freight is certainly fast than sea freight. If you are willing to get an answer for how long does it take to ship from China to UK or Australia, the answer through an Airfreight would be maxed 10 days. As the air freight forwarders take the shortest routes, your commodity is going to reach its destination quite early.
The cost involved is certainly higher as compared to sea freight, but the risk of items getting damaged is lower. However, insurance is certainly important, which you can get it done by your freight forwarder in China. The cost involved will be certainly different for both countries, as they have variation in the process of documentation. Also, if compared with sea freight, Airfreight increases the amount of official work at the time of arrival of goods.
Your freight forwarder has to undergo various custom clearance requirements along with important documentation. If your freight forwarder chooses the right airport, then you can save some money for getting your cargo in the UK.
What are the Legal Procedures?
The most tiring aspect of shipping goods from one country to another is the documentation and legal compliances. These legal procedures include taxation, custom clearance, and various other types of documentation. Let’s check them according to specific country requirements.
1. Legal Requirements in the UK
One of the most significant aspects of shipping in the UK is filling the UK duty and VAT. These are the import charges, which every importer has to pay. Along with the payment, there is some documentation also, which you need to handle carefully if you are not willing to increase the time of “how long does it take to ship from China to UK”.
The amount of UK duty and VAT is sometimes higher than the total cost involved in the process of freight forwarding. However, if you are covered under the a duty relief scheme, then you can skip it. A payment you need to do while clearing the customs would include an invoice, which will be paid along with UK duty and VAT. Your freight forwarder for China to UK will help you calculate the cost of UK duty and VAT; however, it is not usually involved in the quote they give you.
2. Legal Requirements in Australia
Shipping goods to Australia requires a lot more focus on getting authorization from the Australian government. In order to get the authorization, you need to submit various documents including bill of lading, commercial invoice, arrival notice, customs bond, commodity-specific documentation, import license, MSDS documents in case of dangerous goods, and certificate of origin. Other than these documents, Australia’s Cbp regularly conducts physical examinations to ensure the safety of imports made in the country.
How to Choose the Right Freight Forwarder from China to Australia & UK?
Well, there are various things, which you can consider while choosing the right freight forwarder from China, however, some of the points are listed below:
- A credible source: There can be some fraudster in the Chinese markets, so you need to stay cautious while choosing the right freight provider. To ensure the credibility of a freight provider, check their website.
- Fluent Communication: You must have clear communication with your freight forwarder, so kindly check if the company has employees with fluent English.
- Experience To Handle Various Types Of Freight: You also need to ensure that the freight forwarder has experience in forwarding freight because that will ensure he has enough warehouses in different cities.
- Offers Inclusive Services: You must check if the freight forwarder you have chosen provides adequate services to complete the overall process of freight forwarding without any hassle. These services could be custom clearance, goods pickup, supervision, loading, and product classification among others.
With this basic yet significant information, you can start planning your import activities. How long does it take to ship from China to UK or any other part of the world depends highly on the freight forwarder you choose? So, make the right decision by assessing your freight forwarding requirements and choosing the accurate freight forwarder. China freight is one of the trusted freights forwarding companies, which can help you analyze the needs of your business and make the right decision.