What Is Sea Freight from China?
Sea freight (ocean freight) moves cargo in sealed steel containers aboard container ships from Chinese ports to destinations worldwide. It is priced by container (FCL) or by cubic meter (LCL), not by weight like air freight. The five main export gateways are Shanghai, Shenzhen/Yantian, Ningbo, Qingdao and Guangzhou. Standard container types are the 20GP, 40GP and 40HQ; refrigerated (reefer), open-top and flat-rack variants exist for special cargo.
2026 Sea Freight Rates & Transit Times by Route
Rates move weekly with bunker fuel, capacity and season. The table below shows indicative 2026 port-to-port ranges for general cargo, excluding origin THC, destination THC, duty and last-mile delivery.
| Route (China β) | LCL ($/CBM) | FCL 20GP ($) | FCL 40HQ ($) | Transit (port-to-port) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA West Coast (LA / Long Beach) | $40 β $75 | $1,800 β $3,200 | $2,800 β $4,600 | 12 β 18 days |
| USA East Coast (NY / NJ) | $60 β $110 | $2,800 β $4,500 | $4,200 β $6,500 | 28 β 38 days |
| EU (Rotterdam / Hamburg) | $50 β $90 | $2,200 β $3,800 | $3,400 β $5,500 | 28 β 38 days |
| UK (Felixstowe / Southampton) | $55 β $95 | $2,400 β $4,000 | $3,600 β $5,800 | 32 β 42 days |
| Australia (Sydney / Melbourne) | $45 β $80 | $1,900 β $3,300 | $2,900 β $4,800 | 18 β 25 days |
| GCC (Jebel Ali / Riyadh) | $40 β $70 | $1,500 β $2,700 | $2,400 β $4,000 | 16 β 22 days |
| Latin America (Santos / Manzanillo) | $90 β $160 | $3,200 β $5,500 | $4,800 β $7,800 | 35 β 50 days |
| Africa (Lagos / Durban) | $80 β $140 | $2,800 β $4,800 | $4,200 β $7,000 | 30 β 45 days |
For door-to-door landed cost, add origin THC + trucking ($150β$400), destination THC + customs + delivery ($300β$900), plus duty by HS code. Compare this against DDP shipping which bundles everything into one per-CBM or per-kg price.
LCL vs FCL: Which Should You Book?
Your decision hinges on volume (CBM) and weight. LCL consolidates your cargo with other shippers' in one container; FCL gives you the whole container.
| Factor | LCL (Less than Container Load) | FCL (Full Container Load) |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing unit | Per CBM (min 1 CBM) | Per container (flat rate) |
| Ideal volume | 1 β 15 CBM | 15+ CBM |
| Per-CBM cost | $40 β $160 + fees | Lower once volume > ~15 CBM |
| Transit | 3 β 7 days slower (consolidation) | Direct, fastest sea option |
| Damage risk | Higher (multiple handlings) | Lower (sealed, one handling) |
| Minimum weight rule | 1 CBM = 1,000 kg (whichever greater) | Container payload limit applies |
Rule of thumb: below 1 CBM, express courier or air is usually cheaper; 1β15 CBM = LCL; above 15 CBM, price out both β FCL often wins on a per-unit basis and reduces damage. Many buyers use China warehousing & consolidation to combine multiple supplier orders into one FCL.
Container Types: 20GP, 40GP, 40HQ
| Type | Internal (LΓWΓH m) | Capacity (CBM) | Payload (kg) | Typical Goods |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20GP | 5.90 Γ 2.35 Γ 2.39 | ~33 CBM | ~21,700 kg | Heavy goods: hardware, tools, ceramics, tiles |
| 40GP | 12.03 Γ 2.35 Γ 2.39 | ~67 CBM | ~26,500 kg | General cargo, mixed pallets |
| 40HQ | 12.03 Γ 2.35 Γ 2.69 | ~76 CBM | ~26,500 kg | Light, bulky goods: plush, apparel, home textiles |
Note the payload ceiling: a 20GP holds 33 CBM but only ~21.7 tons, so dense goods like ceramic tiles hit the weight limit long before the volume limit. Light, bulky goods fill a 40HQ's 76 CBM before its weight cap.
Incoterms for Sea Freight: FOB, CIF, DDP
The Incoterm decides who pays freight, insurance and duty, and where risk transfers.
- FOB (Free On Board) β supplier delivers the container onto the vessel at the China port; you pay ocean freight, insurance, duty and delivery. Most common for experienced buyers; you control the freight and can shop rates.
- CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight) β supplier pays freight and insurance to the destination port. Simpler but suppliers often mark up freight 10β25%; you still handle destination customs and duty.
- DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) β forwarder handles everything to your door, including duty and tax. Simplest for small buyers but the import is filed under the forwarder's EORI/account, so VAT is not recoverable in the EU unless you provide your own EORI. See FOB vs EXW vs DDP.
Worked Example: 2 CBM LCL Shanghai β Los Angeles vs 20GP FCL
Compare shipping 2 CBM of home goods (800 kg) from Shanghai to LA under DDP vs booking a full 20GP FCL.
| Line Item | LCL (2 CBM) | FCL 20GP (33 CBM cap.) |
|---|---|---|
| Ocean freight | 2 Γ $55 = $110 | $2,400 (flat) |
| Origin THC + docs | $120 | $250 |
| Consolidation / handling | $80 | β |
| Destination THC + customs | $180 | $350 |
| Duty (5% of $4,000 goods) | $200 | $200 |
| Last-mile delivery (LA) | $180 | $350 |
| Total DDP landed | $870 | $3,550 |
| Per-CBM landed | $435 / CBM | $108 / CBM (if full) |
At 2 CBM, LCL wins easily. But if you can fill 15+ CBM, the FCL per-CBM drops to ~$237 and keeps falling as you approach 33 CBM. This is why consolidation is so valuable β combining four 2 CBM orders into one 8 CBM LCL shipment cuts consolidation fees, and 15+ CBM flips the math to FCL.
Peak Season Surcharges & Demurrage
Two cost areas surprise new importers:
- Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) β shipping lines add $300β$800 per container roughly August through October, plus General Rate Increases (GRI). Book 2β3 weeks ahead and ship before mid-August to lock lower rates.
- Demurrage & Detention (D&D) β the port gives 3β7 free days after discharge. After that, demurrage runs $100β$250/day. Detention applies once the container leaves the port but isn't returned empty on time. Clear customs and return the container within the free window.
How Yeatru Handles Sea Freight from China
Yeatru Sourcing books sea freight weekly from Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen and Qingdao for Amazon FBA, wholesale and retail buyers. Our service includes:
- Rate comparison across 6+ carriers (Maersk, MSC, COSCO, Evergreen, ONE, Hapag-Lloyd) per shipment
- Factory pickup + consolidation in Yiwu/Shenzhen to reach FCL breakpoints
- China export customs clearance and destination DDP to US, EU, UK, AU, GCC, LATAM, Africa
- AQL 2.5 pre-shipment inspection before the container is sealed
- Container loading supervision with photo/video and real-time shipment tracking
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How much does sea freight from China cost?
In 2026, LCL from China to the US West Coast costs $40β$80/CBM, to the EU $50β$90/CBM. FCL 20GP to LA runs $1,800β$3,200, to Rotterdam $2,200β$3,800. DDP door-to-door adds $300β$900 for customs, duty and last-mile depending on HS code and destination.
2. How long does sea freight from China take?
Port-to-port: US West Coast 12β18 days, US East Coast 28β38 days, EU 28β38 days, UK 32β42 days, Australia 18β25 days. Door-to-door adds 3β7 days for inland + customs, so plan 18β45 days total.
3. LCL or FCL β which should I choose?
LCL is priced per CBM and works for 1β15 CBM. Once cargo exceeds ~15 CBM, an FCL 20GP (33 CBM capacity) is usually cheaper because LCL adds consolidation, handling and documentation fees of $30β$60/CBM. Above 67 CBM, book a 40HQ.
4. FOB vs CIF vs DDP β what's the difference?
FOB: supplier delivers to the China port, you pay freight + duty + delivery. CIF: supplier pays freight + insurance but often marks it up 10β25%. DDP: the forwarder handles everything to your door including duty and tax β simplest for small buyers but VAT is not recoverable in the EU unless you provide your own EORI. Compare all three via FOB vs EXW vs DDP.
5. Do sea freight rates rise in peak season?
Yes. Peak season surcharges (PSS) of $300β$800 per container and General Rate Increases (GRI) apply roughly August through October as retailers stock for the holidays. Booking 2β3 weeks ahead and shipping before mid-August avoids most PSS.
6. What are demurrage and detention?
Demurrage is charged by the shipping line when the container sits at the port beyond the free days (usually 3β7), at $100β$250/day. Detention is charged when you keep the container past the free return window after delivery. Clear customs fast and return the empty on time to avoid them.
Conclusion
Sea freight from China is the cheapest way to move bulk cargo β $0.50β$1.50/kg vs $4β$9/kg by air β but it takes 18β45 days door-to-door. The key to keeping it cheap is choosing the right mode (LCL under 15 CBM, FCL above), shipping from the nearest port, booking before the August peak season, and clearing customs fast to avoid demurrage. Always compare DDP, FOB and CIF quotes on total landed cost, not the headline freight number. Get a free sea-freight quote from Yeatru β we'll compare LCL vs FCL, quote DDP door-to-door, and consolidate your orders to hit the cheapest breakpoint.
