In the global logistics industry, transportation from China to the United States is a complex and huge task. Choosing the right transportation company is important to ensure the timely and safe arrival of goods. This article will introduce the best freight forwarder from China to the United States in detail to help you optimize your transportation plan.
Learn more: Top 10 Freight Forwarders in China in 2025
What is a Freight Forwarder
A freight forwarder is a service organization that helps cargo owners handle cargo transportation in international trade. Freight forwarding companies are usually responsible for organizing the transportation of goods from the place of shipment to the destination.
Providing comprehensive logistics services such as international freight, domestic transportation, warehousing, customs declaration, and distribution, the forwarding company is not only a bridge for cargo transportation, but also provides customers with professional advice on cost savings and improved transportation efficiency.
Why Choose Freight Forwarding Services from China to USA
Choosing a professional freight forwarding company to handle transportation services from China to the United States can provide companies with the following key advantages:
- Optimize transportation routes and methods: Professional freight forwarding companies understand major global transportation routes and can choose the most suitable transportation method according to customer needs.
- Save costs: With strong supply chain management capabilities, through batch transportation and cooperation with multiple transportation companies, they can get more competitive prices for customers.
- Reduce the burden: Handle complex procedures such as customs declaration and tax payment for customers, greatly simplifying the transportation process
- Deal with emergencies: During the transportation process, if you encounter weather, transportation delays or other problems, the freight forwarding company can respond quickly with its experience and resources to ensure the safety and timely delivery of the goods.
Shipping from China to USA
Depending on the type of goods, urgency and budget requirements, the transportation plan will also be different.
Sea Freight
Sea Freight is the most common and cost-effective international transportation method, suitable for bulk goods or goods that are not in urgent need. The advantage of sea transportation is that the price is relatively low, but the transportation time is longer. It takes 20-40 days from China to the United States, and the time difference between the east and west coasts is large. There are mainly two types of transportation services: FCl and LCL.
- Less than container load(LCL): Your goods will share space with other goods in the same container to save transportation costs.
- Full container load(FCL): The goods will fill the entire container, usually 20ft or 40ft. It is sealed from the origin to the destination to ensure safety.
Air Freight
Air freight is the fastest mode of transportation. There are frequent flights from China to the United States, which can be flexibly scheduled. It is suitable for small quantities and high-value goods, especially those that need to be delivered as soon as possible.
Door-to-Door Service
Door-to-Door is the most worry-free option. The transportation company will take care of everything from pickup to delivery, including customs formalities. This service gives you peace of mind and convenience, but the cost may be slightly higher.
Cost of Shipping from China to USA
The cost of shipping from China to the United States varies depending on several factors
- Mode of transportation: Different modes of transportation result in different costs.
- Cargo Weight and Volume: The larger of the actual weight and the volumetric weight (usually calculated by the size of the goods) will be used as the billing standard.
- Destination: There may be different costs for shipping from different ports in China (such as Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou) to different ports in the United States (such as Los Angeles, New York, Chicago).
- Tariffs and Insurance: After shipping to the United States, tariffs, import taxes, customs clearance fees, etc. may be involved. If you choose to purchase shipping insurance, the cost will also increase.
- Additional fees: including port fees, destination handling fees, storage fees, etc., depending on the carrier and mode of transportation.
The following is a reference for the cost of shipping containers from China to the United States:
| POL (Port of China) | POL (Port of USA) | 20ft Container Cost | 40ft Container Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | Los Angeles | $2050-$3000 | $3200-$4500 |
| Shenzhen | Los Angeles | $2000-$2900 | $3150-$4650 |
| Ningbo | Los Angeles | $2000-$3000 | $3350-$4750 |
| Shanghai | Long Beach | $2050-$2950 | $3250-$4550 |
| Shenzhen | Long Beach | $2150-$3000 | $3150-$4600 |
| Ningbo | Long Beach | $2000-$2850 | $3200-$4500 |
| Shanghai | New York | $3000-$3800 | $4050-$5550 |
| Shenzhen | New York | $3050-$3900 | $4350-$5600 |
| Ningbo | New York | $3050-$4000 | $4200-$5650 |
| Shanghai | Savannah | $3050-$3900 | $4100-$5600 |
| Shenzhen | Savannah | $3050-$3850 | $4100-$5750 |
| Ningbo | Savannah | $3050-$3900 | $4300-$5850 |
| Shanghai | Houston | $2850-$3700 | $4100-$5650 |
| Shenzhen | Houston | $2950-$3900 | $4050-$5650 |
| Ningbo | Houston | $2800-$3900 | $4050-$5650 |
You may also be interested in: Cost of Shipping 20ft and 40ft Containers from China to USA
How to Choose Freight Forwarder from China to USA?
To choose the most reliable freight forwarder, you need to consider the following points:
Company reputation and experience
Choose a freight forwarder with many years of experience and a good reputation. You can check the customer reviews, cases, and reputation in the industry on its website.
Service scope and capabilities
Understand whether the freight forwarder’s services cover all your needs, such as air transportation, sea transportation, warehousing, customs clearance, etc. Comprehensive services can ensure that your goods are protected from departure to arrival.
Transportation network and partners
Good freight forwarders usually have a wide international transportation network and reliable partners to ensure that your goods are transported smoothly. You can find out which internationally renowned shipping companies and airlines they cooperate with.
Transparent quotations
Avoid choosing freight forwarders with too low quotations, as there may be hidden fees in the later stage. It is more reliable to choose companies with transparent quotations and comprehensive services.
Things to Note When Working with Freight Forwarder
- Clear contract terms: Make sure to sign a clear transportation contract with the freight forwarder, specifying details such as transportation methods, fees, responsibilities, insurance, etc. to avoid disputes later.
- Communication and coordination: Maintain close communication with the freight forwarder, follow up on the transportation progress regularly, and ensure that problems are discovered and resolved in a timely manner.
- Insurance options: Consider purchasing cargo transportation insurance based on the value of the goods and transportation risks to ensure the safety of the goods during transportation.
- Focus on compliance: Make sure the goods comply with U.S. import regulations to avoid fines or tax surcharges caused by violations.
The logistics and transportation process from China to the United States is cumbersome and complicated. It is crucial to choose a professional and reliable freight forwarding company. With the help of the freight forwarder, you can optimize transportation efficiency and costs and ensure the smooth arrival of the goods.