Shipping from China to USA

1. Delivery ZIP code: it decides the coast and whether inland rail makes sense.
2. Importer setup: your own importer of record, bond and broker, or DDP.
3. Volume and deadline: these decide FCL, LCL, air or express.

Air is priced on the greater of actual and volumetric weight (cm ÷ 6,000). Air DDP to a US address typically takes 7–10 days door to door. Most cargo flies from Shanghai Pudong, Shenzhen or Hong Kong to Los Angeles, Chicago or New York; see air freight from China for weight-break rates.

Base ocean freight, port to port, excluding origin charges, US customs fees and inland delivery. Rates move every two weeks with carrier GRIs, so treat these as a baseline.

On top of freight, every formal ocean entry pays the Merchandise Processing Fee (0.3464% of cargo value) and the Harbor Maintenance Fee (0.125%), plus terminal handling, PierPass and Clean Truck Fund charges at Los Angeles and Long Beach. Battery-powered electronics add a hazmat surcharge and need an SDS and UN38.3 report.

Pro tip: peak season surcharges usually apply from August through November, so book holiday restock containers before August. On this lane, LCL and FCL costs usually meet around 13–15 CBM; from 13 CBM, ask for both quotes, as explained in our sea freight from China guide.

Under DDP the forwarder's partner handles US import clearance, duties and delivery to your address or an Amazon fulfilment centre. For FBA, labels, carton specs and the Carrier Central appointment are completed in China; see Amazon FBA shipping from China. Decide between DDP and your own importer before the supplier books pickup, because the ISF must name the importer.

Express suits parcels under about 100 kg. Since 29 August 2025, low-value China-origin parcels no longer enter under Section 321, so receivers pay duty at the door unless the shipment is booked duties paid.

Choose the gateway by the delivery ZIP code, not by the ocean rate alone.

1. West Coast: Los Angeles/Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle The shortest ocean leg and the most sailings. It fits California, Nevada, Arizona and Utah. In peak season, congestion can add 5–15 days before berthing.

2. East Coast: New York/New Jersey, Savannah, Charleston All-water through the Panama Canal, about two weeks longer. The rate is higher, but cargo for New York, Pennsylvania, Georgia or Florida avoids a cross-country truck or rail move.

3. Inland Rail (IPI): Chicago, Dallas The container discharges on the West Coast and continues by rail on one carrier booking. It costs less than trucking from the coast; waiting for a railcar is the most common delay.

A lower West Coast rate can end up costing more when the cargo then crosses the country by truck.

Multi-supplier LCL consolidated in Guangdong adds about 4–6 days at origin.

In simple words: door to door adds 3–7 days for pickup and port loading, 1–5 days for US customs release and 1–3 days for trucking. A CBP exam adds 3–10 days, and a missed ISF can hold the container in China for about a week.

1. ISF (10+2): must reach CBP at least 24 hours before loading in China; late or inaccurate filings can bring liquidated damages of up to US$5,000 per violation.
2. Customs bond: single-transaction or continuous, required for formal entries, which covers most commercial imports above US$2,500.
3. HTSUS code and extra duties: the code sets the rate, and many China-origin goods also carry Section 301 duties, some with anti-dumping or countervailing duties.
4. Matching documents: shipper, manufacturer, stuffing location and consignee must match across the ISF, invoice and packing list.

The full document list and US fees are on our customs brokerage page.

Sea for planned stock by coast, air for urgent cargo over 100 kg, express for small boxes, and DDP when you have no US importer setup. Most importers in the North America region use more than one.