Shipping Costs
Two quotes on the same cargo can sit forty per cent apart with neither being wrong. The gap is almost always in what the number covers, not in the freight rate.
Shipping Costs — what decides the number
Two quotes on the same cargo can sit forty per cent apart with neither being wrong. The gap is almost always in what the number covers, not in the freight rate.
Begin with the weight basis, because that is where the quiet differences live. Air divides volume in cubic centimetres by 6000. Express couriers divide by 5000. Ocean LCL charges the greater of one cubic metre or 1,000 kg. The same cartons therefore produce three different billable quantities. Normalise the quantity first; compare rates second.
Then work out which destination charges are inside the figure. Terminal handling, CFS and handling on LCL, chassis and fuel surcharges, liftgate, residential delivery, the customs entry, duty and import VAT are all routinely quoted separately, and on a small shipment any one of them can be a large slice of the total. 'All-in DDP to door' and 'to port' are not comparable numbers even when the currency and the weight line up.
Finally, take validity seriously. Spot ocean rates on Asia–Europe and the transpacific can double or halve inside a quarter, and air moves weekly in peak. Seven to fourteen days is a normal window; anything older is a record of history rather than an offer. And when you compare, compare landed cost per sellable unit rather than per kilogram — a cheaper per-kilo rate on a bulky packing spec loses to a dearer one on a tight spec more often than not.
Key figures at a glance
| Air chargeable weight | Greater of gross kg or (L × W × H cm ÷ 6000) |
|---|---|
| Express chargeable weight | Greater of gross kg or (L × W × H cm ÷ 5000) |
| Ocean LCL basis | Greater of 1 CBM or 1,000 kg |
| Typical quote validity | 7–14 days on spot rates |
| Peak seasons | Pre-Chinese New Year · Golden Week (1–7 Oct) · Q4 (Sep–Nov) |
| Frequently excluded | Destination THC · CFS · chassis · liftgate · residential delivery · duty · import VAT |
| Surcharges to ask about | Fuel (BAF/FAF), currency, peak season, congestion |
| Right comparison unit | Landed cost per sellable unit, not per kilogram |
Standard industry references (Incoterms 2020, IATA volumetric divisors, ISO container internal dimensions, SOLAS Chapter VI, ISPM 15). Rates, surcharges and free time are commercial terms and vary by carrier, lane and season — confirm them on your own quotation.
Where these shipments leave from
Our bookings originate at the Chinese gateways below. Which one your cargo uses depends on where the factory sits, the mode and the space available that week.
Port of Shanghai
Yangshan and Waigaoqiao terminals; the highest-frequency gateway for Europe and North America.
31.2304° N 121.4737° E
Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan
Yangtze Delta alternative to Shanghai, often with shorter yard queues at peak.
29.8683° N 121.5440° E
Port of Shenzhen — Yantian
Primary South China gateway for Pearl River Delta factories.
22.5850° N 114.2700° E
Guangzhou — Nansha
Strong on Africa, Middle East and Southeast Asia services.
22.7700° N 113.6000° E
Guangzhou Baiyun International
Largest South China freighter base; the default for Pearl River Delta air cargo.
23.3924° N 113.2988° E
Shenzhen Bao'an International
Electronics and battery-capable channels close to the Shenzhen supply base.
22.6393° N 113.8108° E
Shanghai Pudong International
China's busiest cargo airport; widest long-haul network.
31.1443° N 121.8083° E
Xi'an International Port
Highest block-train frequency to Europe.
34.3416° N 108.9398° E
Chengdu International Railway Port
Western China gateway; strong Poland and Germany services.
30.5728° N 104.0668° E
Shipping Costs
3 postsFrequently asked
Why are two freight quotes for the same shipment so different?
Usually because they cover different scopes. Check the weight basis (6000 vs 5000 divisor, or revenue ton for LCL), whether destination handling and last-mile delivery are included, and whether duty and import VAT are inside the number. Once those match, the underlying rates are normally close.
How long is a China freight quote valid?
Typically seven to fourteen days for spot rates. Ocean spot rates can move sharply within a quarter and air rates move weekly in peak season, so an older quote should be re-confirmed before you commit to a supplier price.
Does shipping cost less if I reduce the weight of my cartons?
Only if you are being billed on weight. If the shipment is billed on volume — which is common for air freight and LCL — reducing carton dimensions saves money and shaving kilograms does not. Work out which basis applies first.
When are China freight rates at their highest?
In the weeks before Chinese New Year, during Golden Week in early October, and through the September-to-November pre-Christmas peak. Booking earlier in those windows matters more than negotiating the rate.