As part of the Belt and Road Initiative, logistics and transportation between China and the UK is an important part of global trade. Shipping time is the key to importing goods from China to the UK. A detailed understanding is conducive to goods trading. This article will introduce the timeliness of shipping from China to the UK.
Shipping from China to the UK
Before shipping goods from China to the UK, you should choose a mode of transportation based on your budget, urgency, and type of goods. The main modes of transportation are as follows:
Sea Freight
Sea Freight is suitable for bulk goods and price-sensitive goods. Although it is slower, sea transportation is usually less expensive and has a large capacity. There are mainly two services: FCL and LCL
- FCL (Full Container Load): Full container transportation means that a customer rents a full container to transport goods. It is suitable for bulk goods or customers with high requirements for transportation time.
- LCL (Less than Container Load): LCL transportation means that the goods of multiple customers are loaded together in one container, which is suitable for situations where the volume of goods is not enough to fill a container alone.
Air Freight
Applicable to goods with high timeliness requirements, such as perishable goods, high-value goods and urgent orders. Air freight has a higher price, but it has good timeliness and is not easy to be damaged.
Factors affecting of Shipping from China to the UK
The timeliness from China to the UK is determined by the mode of transportation, but it is also affected by the following factors:
- Seasonal factors: Seasonal factors such as holidays and peak seasons can affect the timeliness of transportation, especially in sea and air transportation.
- Weather factors: Weather changes may cause transportation delays, especially in air transportation. Weather conditions such as fog and blizzards may affect the on-time departure and arrival of flights.
- Types of goods and packaging: Certain goods such as dangerous goods, perishable items or bulk goods may increase processing time due to the need for special handling or packaging.
- Customs inspection and customs clearance: During the customs clearance process, if the goods require more inspections or incomplete documents, it will also cause delays in transportation timeliness.
- Port operation and congestion: The port operation efficiency of the destination port is also one of the factors affecting timeliness. If there is congestion at the destination port, it may cause unloading delays.
- Shipping companies and ship speed: The speed of different shipping companies and ships will also affect the shipping time. Some shipping companies offer express services, which may shorten the shipping time.
Sea Freight Time from China to the UK
Sea transportation is one of the most common international transportation methods. Goods depart from China and usually pass through Southeast Asia, the Indian Ocean, the Suez Canal, and finally arrive at the port of the UK. Usually, the shipping time is 30 to 40 days, and the specific time will vary according to the above factors.
| POL (port of loading) | POD (port of discharge) | Shipping time (days) |
|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | London | 30-38 days |
| Shenzhen | London | 32-40 days |
| Ningbo | London | 31-39 days |
| Shanghai | Southampton | 33-39 days |
| Shenzhen | Southampton | 31-40 days |
| Ningbo | Southampton | 30-38 days |
| Shanghai | Felixstowe | 30-39 days |
| Shenzhen | Felixstowe | 31-38 days |
| Ningbo | Felixstowe | 31-40 days |
| Shanghai | Liverpool | 33-40 days |
| Shenzhen | Liverpool | 30-39 days |
| Ningbo | Liverpool | 32-40 days |
Air Freight Time from China to the UK
Air transport is the fastest way of cross-border transportation and is suitable for goods that need to be delivered quickly. Air transport between China and the UK is usually achieved through direct flights. However, some goods may need to be transferred, and the transfer time and waiting time will affect the overall transportation time. It usually takes 4-7 days. The following is the detailed air transport time:
| Departure Airport (China) | Arrival Airport (Ireland) | Shipping time (days) |
| Shanghai Pudong | London Heathrow | 4-7 days |
| Guangzhou Baiyun | London Heathrow | 5-7 days |
| Beijing Capital | London Heathrow | 4-6 days |
| Shanghai Pudong | Manchester | 5-6 days |
| Guangzhou Baiyun | Manchester | 4-7 days |
| Beijing Capital | Manchester | 4-6 days |
| Shanghai Pudong | Birmingham | 4-7 days |
| Guangzhou Baiyun | Birmingham | 5-7 days |
| Beijing Capital | Birmingham | 4-6 days |
Shipping times from China to other parts of Europe:
Shipping Time from China to Ireland
How Long Does it Take to Ship from China to Germany?
How Long Does it Take to Ship from China to France
How Long Does it Take to Ship from China to Spain?
How to Optimize the Shipping Time from China to the UK
Optimizing shipping time is a crucial part of freight forwarding work, especially in international transportation, where time directly affects customer satisfaction and cost-effectiveness. Here are several strategies to optimize shipping time:
- Choose the right mode of transportation: Choose the right mode of transportation according to the urgency of the goods.
- Plan the transportation route reasonably: By choosing the best route provided by shipping companies, airlines or railway companies, unnecessary transfers, stops and delays can be reduced.
- Prepare customs clearance documents in advance: Make sure all required customs clearance documents and commercial invoices are complete and correct, which can reduce delays during customs clearance.
- Plan in advance: Plan the transportation plan in advance according to the urgency of the goods and the budget
- Avoid peak transportation: Try to avoid holidays or peak transportation periods to avoid delays in transportation time due to congestion at ports and airports.
- Work with an experienced freight forwarder: Choosing an experienced freight forwarder can help you avoid unnecessary delays during transportation and get timely information about transportation progress and possible delays.
Cost of Shipping 20ft and 40ft Containers from China to the UK
Shipping time from China to the UK also depends to some extent on the cost of shipping. Here are the container costs for shipping from China to the UK:
| POL (port of loading) | POD (port of discharge) | 20ft container cost | 40ft container cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | Southampton | $2050-$3350 | $3500-$5000 |
| Shenzhen | Southampton | $1900-$3500 | $3450-$4950 |
| Ningbo | Southampton | $2000-$3400 | $3650-$4850 |
| Shanghai | London | $1950-$2450 | $3350-$4800 |
| Shenzhen | London | $1900-$3300 | $3500-$5000 |
| Ningbo | London | $2050-$3650 | $3450-$5050 |
| Shanghai | Felixstowe | $1800-$3500 | $3650-$4850 |
| Shenzhen | Felixstowe | $1900-$3400 | $3500-$4800 |
| Ningbo | Felixstowe | $1850-$3350 | $3750-$4950 |
| Shanghai | Liverpool | $1950-$2450 | $3350-$4800 |
| Shenzhen | Liverpool | $1900-$3400 | $3650-$4850 |
| Ningbo | Liverpool | $2000-$3400 | $3500-$4800 |
What Should You Know Before Shipping from China to UK?
Get an EORI number for your shipments
An EORI number is a unique identifier required for customs purposes. It allows you to interact with customs authorities when shipping goods from China to UK. It usually starts with the country code of the issuing country.
For example, the EORI number for a business in the United Kingdom will begin with “GB” (Great Britain). You can apply for this number through the GOV.UK website.
Before shipping, you should ensure that your goods follow packaging standards and have clear labeling (with UKCA mark). Comply with customs regulations in China and the UK to prevent detain during customs clearance.
Moreover, you should also offer complete and accurate documents, including invoices, certificates, and permits(if needed), to avoid China to UK shipping time delays.
Know needed customs duties and taxes
Understand the applicable customs duties, VAT taxes, and tariffs for your goods. Different products may have varying import duty rates. You can check this article to learn how to calculate your specific tax rates.
When choosing the best time-efficiency plan, the key is to clarify the time efficiency requirements and budget of the goods, choose a professional freight forwarder to operate, optimize the transportation plan, and ensure the rapid arrival of the goods.