Service 04

Logistics & Fulfillment

Consolidation, export clearance, freight and final delivery on FOB, CIF or DDP terms — with the HS code, duty and transit time settled before the goods leave the factory.

FOB/CIF/DDP

Incoterms

4 modes

Sea, air, rail, express

1 hub

Shenzhen warehouse

Quick answer

Getting goods out of China is a documentation exercise as much as a transport one. CHINAISPP collects from multiple factories into a Shenzhen warehouse, confirms the HS code and duty treatment, prepares export documents, books sea, air, rail or express freight, and delivers on FOB, CIF or DDP terms. Consolidating several suppliers into one consignment usually costs less than three separate bookings, and gives you one document set instead of three.

Why the HS code comes before the freight quote

The freight rate is the number buyers ask about and the HS code is the number that decides what the shipment actually costs. A misclassified product can attract a different duty rate, lose a preferential treatment, or be held at destination while a customs broker argues the point. Reclassifying after arrival is slow, expensive and sometimes impossible, which is why the code is settled at quotation rather than at booking.

Consolidation is the second lever. Three suppliers shipping separately means three export declarations, three sets of documents and three freight minimums. Delivered to one warehouse, inspected there, and shipped as a single consignment, the same goods often travel for materially less and arrive with one document set. The trade-off is a few days of warehouse dwell time, which is usually worth it below container volume.

Mode selection follows value density rather than preference. Under roughly 100 kg and one cubic metre, express couriers are hard to beat despite the rate. Between that and a full container, LCL sea freight is the default, with air freight reserved for launches, replenishment gaps and anything where the cost of a stock-out exceeds the freight difference. Above 15 cubic metres, a full container is almost always cheaper than the LCL equivalent.

DDP deserves its own warning. Delivering duty paid is convenient and it hides the duty inside one invoice, which is fine when the rate is known and less fine when it is not, because the forwarder has to price the risk. Where the duty rate is uncertain, FOB or CIF with your own broker keeps the calculation visible. We quote both so the difference is a decision rather than a surprise.

What this service includes

From factory collection to final delivery, with the document set assembled as part of the service rather than billed as an extra.

Factory collection

Pickup from one or several suppliers, with carton counts checked against the packing list on arrival at the warehouse.

Warehouse consolidation

Goods held, inspected where required, and consolidated into one consignment with a single set of export documents.

HS classification

Product classified and the duty rate confirmed before the freight is booked, with the reasoning documented.

Export documentation

Commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, and any certificate the destination requires.

Freight booking

Sea LCL or FCL, air, rail to Europe, or express courier, selected on value density and deadline.

Marketplace prep

FNSKU labelling, poly bagging, bundle assembly and carton marking for marketplace inbound requirements.

Modes, transit times and when each makes sense

Transit times are port to port and exclude production. Door-to-door adds roughly a week for customs and final delivery.

Mode	Typical transit	Best for	Watch out for
Express courier	3–7 days	Samples, under 100 kg, urgent spares	Rates scale steeply with weight; battery goods need documentation
Air freight	7–12 days	Launches, replenishment gaps, high value density	Chargeable weight uses volumetric rules, not just kilos
Sea LCL	25–40 days	1–15 cubic metres, mixed supplier loads	Consolidation dwell time; cargo handled more than FCL
Sea FCL	20–35 days	Above 15 cubic metres or full container loads	Drayage and demurrage if documents are late
Rail to Europe	18–25 days	Time-sensitive cargo where air is too expensive	Route availability and schedule changes

How a shipment is arranged

The document set drives the schedule. Late documents cost more than late goods, because demurrage accrues whether or not you can clear the cargo.

1

Classify and quote

HS code and duty confirmed, then freight quoted on the real dimensions and weights rather than an estimate.
2

Collect and consolidate

Goods picked up from each supplier, counted in, and staged for one consignment with carton marks recorded.
3

Export clearance

Declaration filed, documents checked against the commercial invoice before the container is sealed.
4

Freight and tracking

Booked, tracked, and reported at departure, transhipment and arrival with the documents released in time to clear.
5

Delivery and proof

Final delivery arranged, with proof of delivery and a document archive you can hand to your accountant.

Where this fits

This service is one of four we provide. The product lines it is usually bought with are below.

All Services Overview of the four sourcing services Supplier Sourcing & Verification Service Procurement & Order Management Service Quality Inspection & Compliance Service Consumer & Household Goods Product line Procurement & Order Management Service

Frequently asked questions

Should I choose FOB, CIF or DDP?

FOB if you have your own freight forwarder and want control of the route; CIF if you prefer one invoice to the destination port and do not mind the forwarder choosing the service; DDP if you want the goods delivered with duty paid and no customs involvement. DDP is the simplest and the least transparent, because the duty is bundled into the rate.

Can you consolidate goods from several suppliers?

Yes, and it is usually the cheapest option below container volume. Each supplier delivers to our Shenzhen warehouse, the cartons are counted and checked in, and the consignment ships as one. You get one set of export documents instead of one per factory, and one freight minimum instead of three.

Who pays the import duty?

On FOB and CIF terms, you do, through your customs broker at destination. On DDP terms we do, which is why the duty rate has to be established before the quote rather than after. For US-bound shipments the importer of record also has to be identified, and that entity carries the compliance obligation.

How is the HS code decided?

By the product, its material and its function, following the harmonised system rules of interpretation. Similar-looking products can classify differently because of a material or a function, and the difference can be several points of duty. We document the reasoning so your broker can review it rather than inheriting an unexplained number.

Can you prepare goods for Amazon FBA?

Yes: FNSKU labels, poly bags with the suffocation warning, bundle assembly, carton weight and size limits, and the carton label format your shipment plan expects. Prep is done at the warehouse before consolidation, so cartons arrive at the fulfilment centre already compliant.

What documents do I receive for customs clearance?

Commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading or airway bill, certificate of origin where applicable, and the test or inspection reports relevant to your product. For regulated categories, additional certificates may be needed and we confirm which ones at quotation rather than at the port.

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