From the factory door to the first warehouse · Transit time is a planning input
China to US, EU and UK planning lanes
Use lane-level transit ranges to plan cash and stock, then confirm with a forwarder. Sea, rail, air and express trade cost against time differently on each destination.
Key facts
| Sea | Usually the cheapest per unit for volume; port-to-port transit plus origin and destination handling |
|---|---|
| Rail to Europe | A middle option on some lanes; availability and transit vary with routing |
| Air | Faster and priced per chargeable kilogram; suited to high-value or urgent stock |
| Express | Door-to-door and fast, with low weight limits and high per-kg cost |
| Destination rules | US duty from the first dollar; UK £135 relief; EU €150 customs threshold; each has separate VAT treatment |
| Official source | The forwarder's lane schedule and the destination customs authority |
Plan with ranges, not promises
Transit time varies with port congestion, blank sailings, customs inspection and the forwarder's consolidation schedule. Ask for a range and the assumptions behind it, then add buffer for receiving and put-away. A shipment that arrives on time but is not booked into the warehouse still delays sales.
For replenishment, compare the transit time with the reorder point. A slower but cheaper lane can be the right choice for stable sellers; a faster lane protects a launch or a promotion.
The destination changes the maths
The US charges duty from the first dollar for most goods; the UK has a £135 relief for consignments below the threshold, with different treatment for sales by overseas sellers; the EU applies a €150 customs duty threshold and VAT rules that depend on the seller's registration. These are not freight decisions, but they change the DDP price.
Check the current rules for the destination and the sales channel before quoting a delivered price. Use the landed-cost and de-minimis tools to see the difference.
Frequently asked questions
How long does sea freight from China take?
It depends on the lane, port pair, routing and congestion. Ask the forwarder for a current port-to-port range and add origin, destination and receiving time rather than relying on a fixed number.
Is rail to Europe always cheaper than air?
Often, but not always once surcharges and transit variability are counted. Compare the all-in cost per unit and the cash cycle for the specific lane.
Can I use express for a launch?
Yes for small, urgent quantities. Express has weight and size limits and a high per-kg cost, so it is usually a bridge rather than a repeatable first-mile mode.
Ask a compliance question
Free first answer by email. Tell us the destination, the product and the channel — we will point you to the rule and the official source. No obligation, no sales sequence.