The top container manufacturers in China dominate the global container manufacturing industry. Read on to know who these companies are and why the entire shipping industry depends on them. Also, find out how you can buy shipping containers at the best price.
Shipping container manufacturers in China have a very important role in the global economy. They manufacture the majority of the containers that are responsible for transporting tonnes of cargo across the globe.
However, the global production of shipping containers has fallen significantly since 2022. This is due to the decrease in overall consumer demand and deflation in the Chinese economy. Moreover, the decrease in exports from China has led to a surplus of containers that threatens to overwhelm ports in China.
With the surplus of shipping containers in China, the container prices have also decreased — making it a perfect time to invest in shipping containers. The prices are low and containers are easily available.
On the Container xChange trading platform, we have 50,000+ containers available in 2500+ locations globally – including several cities in China. Our platform gives you access to vetted suppliers so you can easily buy, sell and lease containers globally.
Want to check out the prices and availability of containers in your location? Simply use the public search below, fill in your container requirements and location and browse through multiple offers from vetted sellers.
Why does the global shipping industry depend on container manufacturers in China?China is not only the largest exporter of goods but also dominates the global container manufacturing industry. In fact, around 85% of the world’s shipping containers are manufactured in China.
It’s actually economically viable for China to manufacture containers. These brand-new containers are loaded with cargo and shipped to the desired locations for sale and deliver the goods at the same time.
Once they reach their destination, these containers are referred to as one-trip containers. These containers are still new and have only made one trip to reach the buyer’s destination.
Before we look into the top manufacturers, let’s see how it became possible for China to become the top container manufacturer in the world.
We’re already aware that China is a major exporting hub. Goods from China are exported to the entire world. This makes it convenient for manufacturing companies to make and sell containers in China. It’s also cheaper and beneficial for shipping lines and shippers to buy containers in China to avoid the repositioning costs. New containers are loaded with cargo and shipped to the desired location easily.
However, exports from China have been falling since 2022. Exports to the US, one of China’s biggest buyers, fell 23.1% year-on-year. And The European Union also bought 20.6% less from China.
According to our August-edition of Where Are All the Containers report, China’s exports to the ASEAN bloc fell by 17% as well. Download our free report here to find out more about how this fall in exports could affect China.
Did you know that steel represents around 60% of the total cost of building a container? This means that even a minute increase in the price of steel can significantly increase the price of containers. The price of steel in China is lower than that of other countries. As a result, the cost of manufacturing containers is significantly lower in China than other countries. Another competitive advantage that China has is the low cost of labor.
Keeping in mind the global trade flow, manufacturers in China also don’t have to pay any repositioning costs because there’s a high demand for containers within China. As we have learnt, containers are either sold in China or shipped as one-trip containers and sold in other countries.
However, most manufacturers don’t sell containers directly to shipping companies. If you want to buy containers, you’ll have to connect with container suppliers. And this is exactly where Container xChange can help you.
We’re a container trading marketplace with 100% market visibility in 2500+ locations globally. All our members go through a vetting process so you can be sure that you’re working with trusted companies. We have no hidden costs and our price visibility option makes it easier for you to buy containers at your desired location and at the right price.
Interested to give it a try? Simply click the banner below to buy containers at the best prices in your location.
Top shipping container manufacturers in China
Here are some of the top container manufacturing companies in China.
Name Website Headquarters TEU Annual CapacityCIMC
http://www.cimc.com/en
Shenzhen, China
2 million
Cosco Shipping Development
https://lines.coscoshipping.com/home/
Shanghai, China
1.3 million
DFIC
https://www.dfichk.com/
Shanghai, China
1.2 million
CXIC
http://www.cxic.com/english/indexEn.do
Changzhou, China
900,000
SINGAMAS
https://www.singamas.com/
Shanghai, China
320,000
China Eastern Containers
http://www.cecontainers.com/aboutus.php
Shanghai, China
150,000
Now let’s take a look at these companies in detail.
CIMC (China International Marine Container Group CO., Ltd)China International Marine Container Group Co. Ltd has the capacity of producing 2 million TEUs annually. Based in Shenzhen, China, CIMC was founded in 1980 as a merger between China Merchants Group and East Asiatic Company. They provide all types and sizes of shipping containers, ranging from basic 20ft containers to modular container homes. CIMC’s extensive customers and sales network covers more than 100 countries and regions.
The company has also been hard hit by the sluggish maritime market, decline in container trade, and insufficient demand. In the first quarter of 2023, CIMC’s container manufacturing business experienced a year-on-year decline in production and sales volume. During this period, the cumulative sales volume of standard dry containers was only 82,500 TEU, a 76.69% decrease from last year! The sales volume of reefers and special containers also saw 62.54% and 13.37% year-on-year decrease respectively.
COSCO Shipping Development Co. LtdCOSCO Shipping Development Co. Ltd. is a subsidiary of China COSCO Shipping Corporation Limited. The company was established in 1997 with its head office in Shanghai. It focuses on container leasing and container manufacturing as its core business.
The company manufactures all kinds of shipping containers like standard containers, reefer containers, special containers and container houses. The company has an annual capacity of 1.30 million TEUs annually.
DFIC (Dong Fang International Containers)Dong Fang International Containers is a container manufacturing platform of China Cosco Shipping Corporation Limited and is directly under COSCO Shipping Development Co. Ltd. In 2019, COSCO Shipping Finance Holding Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of COSCO Shipping Group, wholly acquired the three core container manufacturing plants of Singamas Container Holdings Limited. Then fully entrusted the management to DFIC. Today, DFIC has the capacity to manufacture 1.2 million TEUs annually and has a head office in Shanghai.
CXIC (CXIC Group Containers Co. Ltd)The company was founded in 1996 in Changzhou, China. CXIC specializes in producing dry cargo containers, special containers and tank containers. The company exports 90% of its containers to over 40 countries in the world and has an annual capacity of 900,000 TEUs.
SINGAMAS (SINGAMAS Container Holdings Ltd.)SINGAMAS is yet another leading container manufacturer, operator of container depots and provider of logistics services. The company established its first factory in 1990 in Shanghai. SINGAMAS is now a leading producer of dry freight containers, tank containers, and other specialized boxes.
China Eastern ContainersChina Eastern Containers is a growing container manufacturing company in China. They have clients across the globe and also offer customized containers if required by their customers. The company is based in Shanghai and has an annual production capacity of 150,000 TEUs.
Now that you have an overview of top container manufacturers in China, let’s look at how you can buy shipping containers in China.
How to buy shipping containers in ChinaIt’s important to remember that container manufacturers are different from suppliers. Suppliers source quality containers from manufacturers. If you want to buy containers for your business, you’d need to get in touch with these container suppliers.
And one easy way to do this is through the Container xChange trading platform. On our platform, you can connect directly with 1500+ suppliers in 2500+ locations — including multiple cities in China. All our members go through a mandatory vetting process before joining the platform.
All you have to do is go to our container trading platform, type in your container requirements, and browse available offers. You can compare the prices of multiple offers at the same time to make sure you’re getting the best deal.
Once you find the offer you like, you can negotiate the price and terms directly with the supplier – right on the platform. Plus we don’t charge any commission on your container deals!
Want to check out container deals from vetted suppliers in your location? Click here to get started.
Shipping container prices in ChinaTo make the best container deals, it’s important to know the prices of shipping containers. Take a look at the table to get the average container prices of some common container types.
Average container prices in China
Container type Average price of New Cargo-worthy20ft container
$2,342
$1,096
40ft container
$3,282
$1,170
40ft HC container
$3,321
$1,815
Container prices keep changing and depend on a variety of factors. Read on to find out how you can access real-time container prices.
Get real-time shipping container prices in China for freeTo make sure you buy containers at best prices, it’s important to be aware about the container prices in your location. And one easy way to do this is through xChange Insights.
On Insights, you can access real-time container prices in 110+ locations globally, including several cities in China.
From the graph above, you can see that container prices in China have lowered significantly since 2022. This makes it a perfect time to invest in shipping containers for your business!
Insights allows you to see the price development over days, weeks, and months to determine the best time to buy or sell your equipment. Using this information you can make good deals even in a new market and maximize your profits.
And the best part is you can use Insights for free today. Simply click here to use Insights for free and see how you can maximize your profits!
Buy shipping containers from suppliers in China at best priceBuying containers through the traditional way requires a lot of steps. It starts with looking for container suppliers, vetting them, contacting them and going back and forth with the price negotiations through long emails.
What if we tell you there’s a way to avoid these steps? Well, that’s where Container xChange can help you. On our platform, you can look through multiple offers and choose the best one for your company. There are no hidden costs so you can be sure that you’ll buy containers at the right price. Read on to find out more on how xChange can help you.
We offer 100% transparency on our platform. We don’t charge any hidden fees or costs and everything is stated clearly before you sign a deal with your supplier. Moreover, container prices are visible to all our members for easy comparison.
All our members go through a mandatory vetting process before joining the platform. This ensures that you work with trusted companies and don’t have to spend your time doing a background check. Moreover, we have public profiles for all our members where you can check the rating of the supplier before buying a container from them
At xChange you can negotiate better shipping container prices with your suppliers. We have competitive rates on our platform so you can be sure that you’re getting your boxes at the market price (or even less).
Our customer success team will support you on all processes, from initial deals to scaling your business through xChange. We also verify release references with depots to avoid pick-up issues and ensure that you receive containers without any hassle.
So what are you waiting for? Simply click the banner below to talk to our experts and get a free demo for our trading platform today.
Shipping container manufacturers China: Common FAQ Who are the top shipping container manufacturers in China?Three companies dominate the shipping container manufacturing market in China which are CXIC, CIMC and Cosco Shipping Development Co. Ltd.
Why are most shipping container manufacturers based in China?Shipping container manufacturers in China get low costs of steel and labor, don’t have to pay any repositioning costs and get customers within their country due to the nature of global trade flow.
What is the price of 40ft shipping container in China?The average price of a 40ft cargo-worthy shipping container in China is $1,170. The price keeps changing and depends on a variety of factors like supply & demand, condition of the container and container type.
Sea freight, or ocean freight, is the main shipping method for global export & import business, especially concerning tonnage, as it manages approximately 80% of worldwide trade. Consequently, maritime shipping is central to globalization, with containerized shipping leading the way.
The global maritime transport network consists of several key gateways providing entry to significant production and consumption areas. Interconnecting these gateways are major hubs that serve as vital points for transshipment and connection between various maritime circulation systems.
When it comes to shipping from China, CFC has been proud in this freight forwarding industry for more than 20 years, and is good at providing ocean cargo services for small and medium companies as well as individuals all over the world.
As a top-rated China freight agent, we’d like to share our knowledge and experiences in this article, and hope all the information below can help you improve your supply chain management.
We are constantly updating this guide, make sure to come back and check the information you need from time to time. Besides, we can discuss more about your specific logistics requirement by submitting our quote form.
— Last updated Feb. 28, 2024
Let’s take one shipment process for example, from the supplier’s address to your designated address in your country, from the very beginning to the final end.
If you want to learn the whole import business, we suggest check this import guide ebook first.
If you have potential vendor, try the supplier verification check to avoid being scammed and suffered losses.
1. Which trade term should I choose with the seller?⇓
2. Will my shipment fill into a full container or not?⇓
3. If not a full container, can I also ship via sea?⇓
4. Major Ports in China?⇓
5. Major ocean carriers?⇓
6. How much should I pay for the shipping?⇓
7. How long should I expect my shipment arrival?⇓
8. How to track and trace my shipment?⇓
9. What should I do upon the shipment arrival?⇓
10. What CFC can do for me?⇓
These are four common terms of trade (aka incoterms) when buying from China. A product price is always quoted according to an Incoterm.
Basically how much of the shipping you pay the supplier to handle. Based on the incoterm you select, you can let the supplier handle the goods transportation to
In brief, it can be divided into 2 categories.
Commonly, you can find the term states clearly in the Proforma Invoice or Quote Sheet provided by the seller. If not, advise the seller to add into the papers to avoid any further confusion even dispute.
When you compare prices from several suppliers, make sure they are based on the same term. For example, A-seller quoted EXW $5/unit while B-seller quoted FOB $5.5/unit, it doesn’t mean the price from B-seller is not more competitive than A-seller.
* Most suppliers will quote EXW or FOB price at the beginning, and are flexible in providing different price based on different term upon your request.
If you are new to importing, and haven’t found the right forwarding agent, you’d better choose an incoterm that takes the cargo as far as possible, until you are definitely sure you can handle the rest.
But since you have us, we suggest you can select EXW or FOB, and let us assist you manage the transportation to your port or to your door.
Please note: Even to-door service, unlike parcel delivery companies (Fedex, UPS, etc.), common FTL/LTL carriers typically only provide dock-to-dock service or curbside delivery where the driver does not touch the freight. This is known as “Dock to Dock” or “Shipper Loads / Receiver Unloads”. So commercial dock or curbside delivery only. Residential or inside delivery means extra fees.
EXW or FOB?
Quite a few buyers seek advice from us about choosing EXW for the max control of the goods.
Generally yes, but it depends.
The difference between EXW/FOB is if the seller handle the internal trucking to the port, prepare customs documents, and pay local fees accordingly.
Pickup from anywhere in China mainland will be ok for us. But exporting customs clearance may be in trouble for some certain products, such as wooden furniture.
Since Commodity Inspection (a document issued by the Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau) is mandatory for a few goods, and it has to be done by the producer/manufacturer.
The best practice:
- If the shipment is just samples or small (under 150kgs and 1cbm), select EXW.
- If the shipment is to Amazon FBA warehouse, select EXW.
- Other cases, request the seller quote based on FOB AND list the FOB fees separately, then we can tell if it’s too much or reasonable.
Insurance?
Marine insurance is very cheap, rough US$50-US$100 based on the shipment invoice value.
There’s no reason not to have your consignment insured with a little additional money. It will cover the transportation damage, but please note it doesn’t cover any quantity or quality issue.
In the operational reality of modes and terminals, international trade is a series of physical flows that may not necessarily use the most direct path but the least cost path. Inland corridors where economies of scale are more effective shape the structure of freight flows and the selection of the port of exit.
On the maritime side, transshipment hubs have become strategic intermediary locations helping consolidate maritime flows and connecting different maritime circulation systems. In such a setting, the container has become the fundamental element facilitating transfers between modes and supporting international trade flows.
These three types are the most common ones used for container shipping.
* General purpose commonly means Dry Container (DC). Sometimes if fluid goods are packed by a flexible container bag, it can also be delivery by standard DC.
20’GP is designed to carry more weight than voluminous cargo.
Example – minerals, metals, machinery, etc. all of which are heavy goods.
40’GP is designed to carry voluminous cargo rather than heavy cargo.
Example – furniture, tyres, toys, etc. all of which are voluminous goods.
Though the volume of 40ft is twice than the 20ft, the max load of both is the same, no more than 27~28 ton in China, most cases under 20 ton. While you can load more than double the 20ft cargo volume into a 40ft, you cannot load double the 20ft cargo weight into a 40ft.
The ocean rates from China for a 40′ container is less than double of a 20′ container – you may take it as rough 1.5 times for easy reference. And the 40’HQ cost the same as the 40’GP, sometimes higher US$100~200.
In addition to the above three common containers, there are special types if your cargo is not so regular, such as Reefer Container, Open Top Container, Flat-Rack Container, Tank Container, etc.
No matter which type of the container is, you can find many useful data printed on the door, such as CNTR NO., MAX. GROSS, TARE, NET, CU.CAP…
You can buy just the quantity products you need, and forget about how much space it takes. But sometimes it may cost additional $1000 for the extra from the full container. This is not necessary in most cases.
You’d better request the quote based on the quantity you want, and let the seller also advise the weight/volume data.
FCL, full container load, which means your goods loading into a full container. You buy large quantity, and the freight cost per unit will be less. It’s from CY (container yard) to CY.
LCL, less than container load, which means your goods and other importers’ goods consolidating together from the same loading port to the same destination port. You buy the just right quantity suitable for your specific target market. It’s from CFS (container freight station) to CFS.
A FCL may load LCLs like this:
Packaging
Your cargo must be sufficiently protected, from the factory to a loading port warehouse, and stacked in a container for up to a month. Then to a discharge port warehouse, and finally on a truck to you.
A lot can happen in this time, and you need to be sure that your export packaging is up for the task.
Here’s the common pallet size.
You’d better provide the shipper with explicit and clear export packaging specifications. Do not leave anything to their interpretation, and provide graphical examples whenever possible.
LCL vs. Courier
A question for you. If your shipment is less than 1cbm, for example, 0.4cbm with 50kg, still LCL?
Please note the minimum billable weight/volume for LCL is 1 cbm or 1 ton.
You may think delivery via sea is always cheap. But in fact, courier such as DHL/UPS/FedEx is more competitive for this kind of small package. Generally speaking, it’s better to choose express courier than LCL for the billable weight of a shipment under 100kg, sometimes even 200kg for certain destination countries.
LCL rate = total ocean cost?
You may get the quote – ocean rate $40/cbm to your port. Please be cautious and try to have a clear thought first. Don’t take it for granted that that’s your freight cost. Actually, it’s just a small percentage of the total cost. Much more will be charged at the destination.
As you can imagine, loading a few LCL shipments into FCL before departure and unloading them after arrival, it takes quite a lot of time and efforts. Not only the physical in-out, but also complicated shipping documents. The unit LCL freight price should be higher than unit FCL.
You can choose FCL or LCL as you wish. But there’s a basic rule you should follow.
Why? Click here to dive into.
Sea shipping starts from a port and end at a port, which means a standard container rate or less than container rate is port-to-port.
A port is a designated structure where ships and other vessels are allowed to berth and dock.
In order to facilitate the swift entry and exit of vessels, various facilities are provided in this regard. This can include large container yards, exclusive port terminals, and other auxiliary facilities such as servicing, repair, and maintenance.
The world’s largest container ports underline the intricate relationships between export-oriented ports (e.g. Shanghai and Shenzhen), import-oriented ports (e.g. Los Angeles and Long Beach), and intermediary hubs (e.g. Singapore and Dubai).
The recent changes in containerized traffic reflect the shifting commercial dynamics in the global economy.
In this regard, most ports today primarily focus on goods transported through containers. The container traffic measured in TEUs is considered to be the reference for port traffic.
Among the world’s top ranked ports in 2022, more than half are located in China, actually 7 of 10. Here’s a rundown.
Ocean PortVolume 2022 (Million TEUs)Rank - ChinaRank - WorldwideShanghai47.311Ningbo-Zhoushan, Zhejiang33.3523Shenzhen30.0434Qingdao, Shandong25.6745Guangzhou, Guangdong24.8656Tianjin21.0268Hong Kong16.6710Xiamen, Fujian12.438Suzhou, Jiangsu9.089Beibu Gulf Port, Guangxi7.0210Rizhao, Shandong5.811Lianyungang, Jiangsu5.5712Yingkou, Liaoning513Dalian, Liaoning4.4614Yantai, Shandong4.1215Dongguan, Guangdong3.6116Fuzhou, Fujian3.4617Tangshan, Hebei3.3418Foshan, Guangdong3.2219Nanjing, Jiangsu3.2201. Shanghai
Location: Shanghai Municipality, East Coast
Website: www.portshanghai.com.cn
The Port of Shanghai was opened in 1842, and became the world’s busiest port in 2010 after overtaking the Port of Singapore. It has retained that position since then.
Shanghai became a prominent port owing to its geographical location near the confluence of the rivers Yangtze, Huangpu, and Qiantang. It enjoys the most economically developed hinterland in China, and can extend its reach further to the interior provinces via river ports along the thousands-mile-long waterway.
The port is essential for trade around the East Coast of China. There are innumerable factories of neighbouring Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces.
2. Shenzhen
Location: Guangdong Province, South Coast
Website: www.szport.net
This is the gateway to Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta, making it another key port as it connects China’s southern hinterland to the world.
Qianhai-Shekou Free Trade Zone, which covers entire west port area, provides more efficient customs clearance and better trade links with overseas markets.
3. Ningbo-Zhoushan
Location: Zhejiang Province, East Coast
Website: www.nbport.com.cn
The Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan is made up of the Beilun port (sea), Zhenhai port (estuary), and old Ningbo port (inland river), after the merger of the ports at Ningbo and Zhoushan in 2006.
Ningbo continues to be blessed by its superior hinterland and natural conditions, while Zhejiang is a wealthy region, which has a full-blown manufacturing industry.
Following efforts to build an efficient intermodal transport network, Ningbo has extended its reach further into the hinterland, to central and west China, bringing greater box volumes to the port.
4. Hong Kong
Location: Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, South Coast
Website: www.mardep.gov.hk
HK, as a transhipment harbour for cargoes mainly focused on China’s exports and imports, provides about 340 container liner services per week, connecting to around 470 destinations worldwide.
It’s on the way into an “international shipping service hub”, which has core competencies in the maritime services sector, including ship management, transportation brokerage, leasing and financing.
5. Guangzhou
Location: Guangdong Province, South Coast
Website: www.gzport.gov.cn
Located in the Pearl River Delta, Guangzhou has historically been a key centre of trade in China. It strives to make itself into a truly international shipping hub within the Maritime Silk Road component.
It provides additional origin port options for importers, exporters, third-party logistics companies and ocean carriers, as well as promoting the Nansha Port Area. Port fees and berthing fees will also be reduced by 2018 to attract more liners.
6. Qingdao
Location: Shangdong Province, East Coast
Website: www.qingdaoport.net
Qingdao is most important port in northern China and part of the vital Bohai Bay port cluster that serves this region. It is also going big on data, automation and e-commerce, in line with top global ports.
It’s the starting point for the first Qingdao-Central Asian international cargo train in July 2015, with the capability to link up with the countries of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and other strategic countries through to Europe.
7. Tianjin
Location: Tianjin Municipality, North Coast
Website: www.tianjinportdev.com
Tianjin is one of the largest and busiest ports in China, and second only to Qingdao port in capacity in northern China. The port’s container-handling business remained steady, additional domestic and international routes are developing.
It will accelerate the development of its container business, consolidate the scale of existing routes, develop new international routes with stable supply and explore new routes to emerging markets.
8. Xiamen
Location: Fujian Province, South Coast
Website: www.portxiamen.gov.cn
Xiamen sits in the mouth of the Jiulongjiang River and has over 68 shipping routes, shipping to over 50 countries and has strong links with Kaohsiung in Taiwan.
9. Dalian
Location: Liaoning Province, North Coast
Website: www.portdalian.com
The port of Dalian is the most northern ice free port and is the largest port in North East China with links to ports in over 160 countries. It also serves seaports in East Asia, North Asia and the Pacific Rim.
It has hopes of future benefits from China’s One Belt, One Road policy, by opening international container routes, and using multimodal transport systems. The group has also pursued aggressive marketing strategies to support the port.
It is looking to utilise its competitive advantage in intermodal transportation to collaborate with the relevant authorities to expand the railway network from China to Europe, thus linking up the maritime transportation of container.
You can use our resource page to monitor your shipment status at the loading port.
You don’t have to pay much attention on the geographical location of your potential vendor. No matter where your Chinese supplier located, your goods are never too far from one of the world’s largest and most productive ports ready to ship your goods out of China.
Whenever a ship doubles in size, its capacity triples. Larger ships can reduce crew, fuel, berthing, insurance and maintenance costs. For container shipping, ship scale effect has always been an important driving force for its capacity growth. Ship size is limited by the capacity of ports, harbours, channels and canals.
There are more than 100 thousand vessels totally, nearly 5,600 of them are containerships (data till 01-2024). Now the biggest container vessel has the capacity of more than 20,000 TEUs.
Here’s a table below showing the Top Big Players in Container Shipping (01-2024).
CarrierShort NameShareHeadquartersMediterranean Shg CoMSC19.8%SwitzerlandAPM-MaerskMSK14.6%DenmarkCMA CGM GroupCMA12.7%FranceCOSCO GroupCOSCO10.8%ChinaHapag-Lloyd AGHPL6.9%GermanyONE (Ocean Network Express)ONE6.3%JapanEvergreen Marine Corp.EMC5.8%Taiwan ChinaHyundai M.M.HMM2.8%South KoreaYang Ming Marine Transport Corp.YML2.5%Taiwan ChinaZim Integrated ShippingZIM2.2%IsraelWan Hai LinesWHL1.7%Taiwan ChinaPacific Int. LinePIL1.0%SingporeAnd a list of slogans.
CarrierSloganMSKYour promise. DeliveredMSCWhere the customer goes, MSC goesCOSCOWe Deliver ValueCMAA worldwide leading container shipping groupHPLYour cargo - our passionONEAs one，We canEMCGuarding Our Green EarthHamburg SüdPeople Passion PerformanceOOCLWe take it personallyAPLMoving Business ForwardYMLWe Deliver GOOD for LifeHMMWe Carry the FuturePILOur Promise, Your SatisfactionZIMGlobal Reach, Local TouchWHLWe Carry, We CareUSACClick Locally, Ship GloballyFind more about China shipping routes.
The carriers are more centralized than ever before. They have formed into 3 alliance:
The 20 largest carriers controlled 26% of the world slot capacity in 1980, 42% in 1992, 58% in 2003, 81% in 2013, and 90% in 2022. And three major alliances (2M, Ocean Alliance, and The Alliance) controlled 83% of container shipping capacity.
It’s almost impossible to negotiate a better price if you are a small or medium company. Simply choose the earliest available vessel after production ready, that should be all right.
The general ocean rate includes the base rate and surcharges, but NONE customs clearance and port charges at both sides, duty & taxes may occur, and other miscellaneous charges.
Please note that all international shipments are subject to destination charges:
1. Type
1.1 FCL rates
By the loading port, the destination port, the container type/weight/quantity.
For example: How much does it cost to ship a 40′ container to Australia?
It cost rough US$1,000 for shipping 1×40’GP from Qingdao port to Sydney port.
1.2 LCL rates
By the loading port, the destination port, the volume, the weight, the volume/weight ratio.
For example: How much does it cost to ship 10 cartons to Canada?
It cost rough US$65 per cbm for shipping 6cbm light goods from Shanghai port to Vancouver port.
1.3 To door rates
By HS Code/volume/weight/quantity/packaging/value/…
Also please note some related costs during an import process,
To-door means the destination charges and fees are prepaid.
All these fees make up the landed cost. Never assuming the basic shipping charges plus the products cost as your total cost.
For example, a port-to-port quote, EXCLUDE all destination charges, which may include: terminal fees, handling charges, customs clearance/inspection, duty and Tax (if applicable), delivery to your address, storage, insurance, etc.
Destination charges vary depending on a destination country, carrier and the delivery agent. Guiding the consignee in the complexity of cargo recovery procedures is responsibility of carrier’s destination agent/broker.
2. Change Frequency
The international shipping industry, and the freight rates within it, are always volatile.
There are plenty of variables that factor into it, including but not limited to capacity, demand, oil bunkers, market perceptions, seasonal behaviors, labor issues at ports, congestion, disruptions, and strength of economies.
Unless you have a rather large consistent quantity (10 plus containers per month) then you’ll not likely to get a quote for longer than two weeks.
It may vary every week. Sometimes, if your supplier could catch up the earlier route by finishing the production one or two days earlier, you can save quite a bit. The price for 1x40ft container may increase US$1200 in the next week schedule.
US$1200+? Yes, it happened.
So knowing the rough date your shipment ready is essential for requesting the exact quotation.
Generally, ocean FCL rates are generally valid for up to two weeks at a time (expiring on the 15th and 30th of each month). LCL rates may last a bit longer, usually expiring at the end of each month.
3. Season Impact
Seasons with rain, storm or snow may impact the in-and-out for trucks and vessels, but busy seasons for shipping don’t necessarily coordinate with any other typical seasons of the year.
Peak season for China exports, is typically the month before Chinese New Year (January), and the 3rd quarter of each year (From July to September) when many made-in-China products shipping for Back to School, Halloween and Christmas.
The freight cost will be relatively high at these times, because too much shipments waiting for delivery. You’d better plan accordingly as there is a finite number of containers and vessels available.
This is only a brief introduction. It’s so complicated to calculate the freight rates. You can learn more from here, or just leave it to the pros.
How many packages? Package weight and dimension? How many days for production? The trade term?
When you request the quote, you need to get the rough shipment data from your supplier first, including:
Even you have not make the decision to proceed to buy, you may still advise the seller to provide the rough data. After got the freight quotation from us, you can have a clear thought about the total landed cost.
The average speed of a ship is about 15 knots (1 knot = 1 nautical mile = 1,853 meters), or 28 kilometers per hour. In this case, a ship travels approximately 575 kilometers per day. The nearest ships can travel at 25 to 30 knots (45 to 55 kilometers per hour), but commercial ships rarely travel faster than 25 knots due to energy demands.
The main ship speed classes are:
Container ship speeds have peaked at an average of 20 to 25 knots, and increases in speed due to energy consumption are unlikely.
The slow-shipping practice emerged during the 2008-2009 financial crisis, when international trade and demand for container shipping fell sharply, while new capacity ordered during the boom was brought into service. In response, shipping lines have introduced slow and even super-slow services on several of their pendulum routes. This allows them to accommodate more ships with similar port call frequency.
Many shipping lines choose to sail slower to cope with rising bunker fuel prices (when the market peaks) and excess capacity (leaving more ships in slower service). Continued slow sailing practices may impact supply chain management, sea lanes and the use of transshipment centres.
While shipping lines prefer to consume the least amount of fuel by employing lower speeds, this advantage must be mitigated by longer shipping times and the allocation of more ships to maintain the same frequency of port calls.
Estimated Transit Time (ETT) is the time between the Estimated Time of Departure from origin (ETD) and the Estimated Time of Arrival at the destination (ETA).
As for sea cargo transportation out of China, there’s only a very rough idea showing below. You can find the schedule link of each carrier for reference.
RegionHow longUSA & Canada (West)20 daysUSA & Canada (Eest)30 daysWestern Europe25 daysNorthern Europe30 daysSouthern Europe27 daysAustralia15 daysIndia15 daysSoutheast Asia9 daysEastern Africa30 daysWestern Africa40 daysJapan3 daysSouth Korea4 daysSouth America (East)30 daysSouth America (West)45 daysPlease note that there maybe 5~10 days differences in practical transportation, vary from different loading port, different destination port, and different carriers.
Here’s an example showing each time cost for different ocean carriers from Qingdao Port China to Hamburg Port Germany.
Different carrierHow longBy EMC33 daysBy KLINE31 daysBy YML31 daysBy OOCL32 daysBy ANL30 daysBy MSC38 daysBy COSCO34 daysBy NYK32 daysBy WanHai34 daysBy CSCL31 daysBy CMA30 daysBy PIL33 daysBy CSAV37 daysBy UASC28 daysBy HPL32 daysETDs and ETAs are never guaranteed by the sea carrier and are subject to change at any time. Also keep in mind that it can take up to 7 days before the cargo is loaded at the loading port. The same thing is true at the destination port, 1 week or more for discharge and dispatch.
Container carriers’ reliability is not so dependable, and the global on-time performance percentage is rough 60%-80%. Click here to find your shipment transit time.
China-USA Fastest Shipping: Matson’s CLX & MAX
With Matson’s guaranteed expedited services:
The ocean transit from Shanghai to Long Beach is only 11-12 days. Not only the shortest time, but also:
Compared with traditional shipping, the price of Matson is indeed higher. But compared to international express delivery and air delivery, the price is very competitive.
Transportation by ocean is quite slow, which means you need to do some significant planning, and have generous margins for the possible delays. Besides, most manufacturers in China don’t stock any products, and only made-to-order.
So place your order as early as possible. We suggest 3 months in advance. For example. If you need your goods ready for the Christmas season, you’d better place your order in August or even earlier.
You can also split up your shipment into 2 parts: small percentage by air, rest by sea.
Sometimes your shipment is late than schedule. Maybe the bad weather, the port congestion, the routing change, etc. The schedule reliability is no better than 80% among the global lines.
Cargo tracking will let you well known the most accurate ETA, then you can get prepared and notify every party involved.
Container tracking means you are being aware of where your shipment is located, so you can prepare accordingly.
In order to track a container, you need to know which shipping line is transporting your cargo, and the container number, booking number or document number (any of them is usually good enough).
All the information you can easily find on your Bill of Lading. The booking number & B/L number are listed on the top right, and the container number is usually under the item of “Marks & Nos.”.
According to our practical experiences, the container number should be preferred. This number consists of three-letters Owner Code (prefix), one Product Group Code, six-digits Serial Number and a check digit. For example:
Where the Product Group Code, aka category identifier can be:
1. Quite a few carriers provide email alert when the goods moved. Take advantage of that.
2. You’d rather pay the balance to the supplier or pay the freight cost to the forwarder as early as possible, to release the shipment. Not wait till the last several days to process the payment. If there’s a payment problem, the additional warehousing and storage fees could go up by hundreds to thousands of dollars.
Goods may only be entered by their owner, purchaser, or a licensed customs broker designated by the buyer. Normally the consignee will be notified via an arrival notice within 5 days or less of port arrival, by the delivery agent listed on the B/L.
Several documents need to be filed with customs before your shipment arrives at port. Customs also require an earlier lodgment (ISF/AMS for the US, ACI for Canada, ENS for the Europe), for ocean freight only.
The consignee is then responsible to file entry documents to the customs, arrange for payment of any duties, taxes, and other fees. Finally it’s time to pick up and to-door delivery from the discharge port by yourself or through a trucking company.
Here’s how a customs official will process your shipment:
1. Inspect the paperwork.
2. Determine if duties apply.
3. Request duty payment.
4. Following confirmation of payment, release the shipment for pickup.
Unless there’s a problem, ocean freight is generally cleared within 1 or 2 days of the ship landing in port.
You might just get caught up in a random inspection/exam. Non-intrusive inspections are fairly quick, but an intensive exam could take more than a week. Non-intrusive inspections cost around $275 at major ports, but an intensive examination costs around $800, not including third-party transport and storage costs.
Clearance involves preparation and submission of papers required to the authority. It’s so complicated and you’d prefer find a customs broker for assistance. Smooth clearance can avoid further unnecessary detention and demurrage fees.
When your shipment departed from China, you’d better prepare the shipping documents as early as possible. Some of the documents involved in clearance are:
Most of the papers will be provided by the seller. After got them, check it first to make sure the information is complete and accurate. Then you can forward them to your customs broker, and get ready to pay any customs fees occur.
Our Mission is to always meet or exceed customers’ expectations by implementing supply chain solutions that provide customers with the least cost, best service logistics network.
CFC specializes in transportation management services for manufacturing companies, wholesalers, distributors and online sellers that receive products from China.
Process with CFC
Quote → Book → Pay, job done from your side. Let us do all the rest heavy job without disturbing you.
We’ll keep tracking your shipment and keep you updated till received. CFC uses our strong carrier relationships to help our clients keep their freight costs priced competitively.
You have a local freight partner, you have better control of your supply chain management with money saving.
Shipping to Amazon FBA Warehouse
Nowadays, more and more importers ship their products directly from the manufacturer in China, to an Amazon fulfilment center. From there, Amazon manage the storage and distribution.
Amazon can not be used as the consignee, importer of record or final address when shipping from overseas. They do nothing during the whole process except as the receiving place. You need to comply with their strict principles and rules.
We handle the shipping to Amazon quite often. You can rely on us if you are an Amazon seller.
A quick suggestion
Importer ExperienceIncotermsQuantityShipping ManagementNewCIF or DAPLCLSupplier or Freight ForwarderMediumCIF or FOBLCL or FCLSupplier or Freight ForwarderVeteranEXW or FOBLCL or FCLFreight ForwarderIf you are brand new, let the supplier handle the delivery as far as possible. Then you can focus on booming your business. Simple but costly.
If you have gained some experiences, then you can try to control your goods delivery through a forwarder by yourself. Simple and cheap.
It’s your choice. We suggest contact a good forwarding agent as early as possible, especially a local one with international shipping options, hopefully CFC. They can be helpful in many ways, not only the logistics process, but also supply chain management.
We hope we were able to make things clear for you. If you are looking for more information please let us know, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
CFC offer unique advantages and commitment that set us apart as your trusted partner in third-party logistics and supply chain excellence.
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