Share your lane details and we will send competitive FCL, LCL, or air freight rates for your specific route — along with transit time, customs requirements, and Section 301 guidance. Covering 40+ countries. Responses within 2 business hours on active lanes.
We coordinate three primary shipping modes from China to the United States. Your quote includes rates, transit windows, and compliance notes for each mode relevant to your cargo.
You book an entire 20-foot or 40-foot container. FCL works best for shipments above 15–18 CBM. You get dedicated space, lower per-unit rates at volume, and reduced cargo handling.
Your cargo shares container space with other shippers. LCL is cost-effective for shipments under 15 CBM. You pay only for the cubic meters you use.
Air freight moves cargo from Chinese airports to US gateways in 3–5 days. Best for high-value goods, time-sensitive shipments, or cargo that cannot tolerate 3–5 weeks of ocean transit.
Transit time depends on your origin port in China and your destination port in the USA. The table below shows typical door-to-port ocean transit windows by major route pair.
| Origin Port (China) | Destination Port (USA) | Typical Transit (FCL) | Via |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai (SHA/PVG) | Los Angeles / Long Beach | 14–18 days | Direct Transpacific |
| Ningbo (NGB) | Los Angeles / Long Beach | 14–18 days | Direct Transpacific |
| Shenzhen / Yantian (SZX) | Long Beach | 14–18 days | Direct Transpacific |
| Shanghai (SHA) | New York / New Jersey | 28–35 days | Panama Canal |
| Ningbo (NGB) | New York / New Jersey | 28–35 days | Panama Canal |
| Qingdao (TAO) | Houston | 22–28 days | Panama Canal / Gulf |
Transit times are typical market ranges and vary by carrier, season, and port congestion. Your quote will include carrier-specific schedules.
Los Angeles and Long Beach handle about 40% of all US containerized imports. They are the default choice for West Coast destinations and shorter transit. East Coast ports — primarily New York/New Jersey and Savannah — serve Midwest and East Coast final destinations better despite the longer ocean leg. For most importers in the eastern half of the US, the extra 10–15 days at sea is offset by shorter inland drayage and lower total landed cost.
The more detail you provide, the more accurate your rate will be. Here is what to have ready before you submit.
Importing from China involves specific trade policy obligations. Your quote includes guidance on applicable duties and filing requirements.
Section 301 tariffs apply to a wide range of goods imported from China under ongoing trade policy. Rates vary by HS code and product category. Your licensed customs broker partner will determine the correct tariff classification and calculate applicable duties at the time of entry filing.
We do not publish specific tariff rates here because they change with USTR actions and product exclusions. Your quote includes a customs pre-check for your HS code.
All customs brokerage services are delivered by licensed broker partners in our network. Suaid Global coordinates the workflow — your broker partner holds the CBP license and files the entry on your behalf.
From quote request to final delivery, here is how we move your cargo in five steps.
You submit your cargo details. We return lane-specific FCL, LCL, or air freight rates within 2 business hours. Once you accept, we lock the space with the carrier or consolidator and issue a booking confirmation.
Our origin partner in China arranges pickup from your supplier, confirms cargo dimensions and weight, and prepares export documentation — including packing list, commercial invoice, and export declaration (China Customs Form H2000).
Your licensed broker partner files the ISF at least 24 hours before vessel departure. The vessel departs and you receive a Bill of Lading. We send you sailing notifications and estimated arrival updates throughout the voyage.
Your broker partner files the formal CBP entry (Form 7501), pays applicable duties including Section 301, and obtains release from CBP. This typically takes 1–3 business days after vessel arrival, or faster with AMS pre-arrival processing.
After customs release, we arrange drayage from the port terminal to your warehouse, distribution center, or Amazon FBA facility. For LCL, cargo goes to a deconsolidation warehouse first, then final delivery.
Fast answers to what importers ask most often before requesting a quote for this lane.
You will receive a response within 2 business hours. We pull live rates from our partner carrier network for your specific origin port, destination, cargo type, and volume. Complex shipments (hazmat, project cargo, multi-modal) may take up to 4 hours for a full rate sheet.
Ocean FCL from Shanghai or Ningbo to Los Angeles takes 14–20 days. East Coast ports add 8–15 days via Panama Canal, giving you 22–35 days total. Air freight from major Chinese airports to US gateways takes 3–5 days. LCL adds 3–5 days for consolidation and deconsolidation versus FCL.
LCL is typically more cost-effective for shipments under 15–18 CBM. Above that volume, FCL in a 20-foot container usually gives you a lower total rate. We model both options in your quote so you can compare. Use our LCL rate calculator for a quick estimate before you submit.
Yes. Licensed customs broker partners in our network handle CBP entry preparation, HS code classification, and Section 301 tariff assessment. They determine the correct tariff column and calculate duties based on current USTR schedules. We coordinate the workflow — the licensed broker files directly with CBP on your behalf.
We coordinate shipments to Los Angeles, Long Beach, New York/New Jersey, Savannah, Houston, and Seattle. Your quote will recommend the best destination port based on your delivery ZIP code, cargo type, and cost preferences.
Yes. Our partner network includes origin agents in Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Qingdao, Tianjin, and other major manufacturing hubs. We coordinate door-to-port and door-to-door service. Just provide your supplier address and we handle pickup coordination.
Yes. ISF (Importer Security Filing, also called 10+2) is filed by licensed customs broker partners in our network. It is mandatory for all ocean imports into the USA and must be submitted at least 24 hours before the vessel departs China. Late or missing ISF carries a $5,000 CBP penalty per violation.
There is no minimum. We quote from 1 CBM via LCL consolidation all the way up to full container loads and project cargo. For very small shipments (under 50 kg, under 0.3 CBM), express courier or air express may be more cost-effective — mention this and we will include both options in your quote.
Guides, tools, and services to help you plan and execute this lane.
Full corridor overview — ports, transit times, tariffs, carrier options, and compliance checklist.
How LCL rates are structured, what drives cost on the Transpacific lane, and how to get accurate pricing.
Estimate your LCL freight cost before you request a quote. Instant results based on CBM and weight.
FCL and LCL ocean freight forwarding across all major global trade lanes.
ISF filing, CBP entry, Section 301 tariff assessment — partner-mediated licensed brokerage.
Consolidation schedules, cut-off dates, deconsolidation options, and typical LCL rates on this lane.
Submit your shipment details now. You will have a rate in your inbox within 2 business hours — with FCL, LCL, and air freight options for your lane.