China to the USA shipping rates refer to the price for transporting goods from China to the United States, and often vary based on the type of shipping service and current market conditions. While managing the shipping process and shipping costs for your business or personal shipments can be difficult, it’s a lot easier with a freight forwarder like Twings Supply. We bring over 20 years of experience to the table to help ensure your shipment goes from A to B safely with minimal impact on your bottom line.
Key Takeaways
- Air freight shipment rates from China to the U.S. can range from $6.7 to $12 per cubic meter, whereas ocean shipping rates can range from $48 to $70 per cubic meter.
- Postal parcel shipping rates range from a few dollars to several hundred, depending on the size of the package you’re planning to ship.
- In addition to base shipping costs, you can expect to pay import duties, documentation charges, handling fees, as well as tariff costs when shipping from China to the U.S.
- These prices can be affected by political policies, economic fluctuations, environmental issues, as well as the distance traveled.
What are Current China to the USA Shipping Rates?
The current shipping rate from China to the U.S. ranges from $6.7 to $12 per cubic meter for air freight shipping and around $48 to $70 per cubic meter for ocean freight shipping. However, this can heavily depend on the time of year, the route your freighter is taking from China to the U.S. (port to port, airport to airport, transshipment points), and the economic policies in place.
To illustrate how drastically rates can change in a short space of time, consider 2021. In 2021, average container freight shipping from China to North East America increased by 323% compared to its 2019 average level according to the Bank for International Settlements due to the Covid-19 pandemic. These prices have yet to fully return to pre-pandemic levels.
We’ve outlined the approximate range of current air freight costs from China as well as sea freight from China to the USA below.
Air Freight Costs
| Weight (in Kg) | Air Freight Option | Rate per Kg (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Air Freight | $6.7 to $12 |
| 0.5 to 5.5 | Air Express Freight | $4.65 to $17.36 |
| 6 to 11 | Air Express Freight | $8.82 to $14.73 |
| 21 to 70 | Air Express Freight | $7 to $7.5 |
| Over 70 | Air Express Freight | $6.7 to $7.2 |
Air freight offers the fastest shipping from China to the USA at the expense of a higher price point for consumers. You can use a calculator to find how much your shipment will cost, simply by taking the weight of your package (in kg) and multiplying it by the rate per kg for that weight:
19.7 kg (Weight) x $8.82 (Air Express Freight Rate)
= $172,75*
*This calculation does not take into account the cost of any documentation you require for U.S. customs and other variable costs. The rates used are an example and not indicative of what you may pay for air freight shipping.
How Long does Air Freight Take to Transport Shipments from China to the U.S.?
Typically, air freight takes around 24 hours from China to the U.S. if you ship goods to major American airports like LAX, JFK, or ORD. It can take between 2 and 4 days if the air freight from China is flying through transit airports or transshipment points like MOR and MEM. If you are planning on express shipping from China using air freight, you can expect your shipment to take the most direct route whenever possible.
A few widely used airlines that fly between China and the U.S. are:
- China Southern Airlines (CZ)
- Air China (CA)
- Polar Air China (PO)
- Cargolux Airlines (CV)
- SF Airlines (O3)
- Kalitta Air (K4)
- Atlas Air (5Y)
What are the Components of Air Freight Costs?
Air freight costs are made up of several sub-costs that contribute to the overall price you have to pay to ship your goods from China to the USA. These include:
- Factory to airport delivery fees
- Export clearance fees
- U.S. Destination Airport Charges (DTHC)
- Truck freight charges
- Import duties
- Operational fees
Ocean Freight Costs
| Shipping Method | Shipping Cost from China to the USA |
|---|---|
| LCL (Less than Container Load) | $190 to $275 per cubic meter |
| FCL (Full Container Load) — 20-foot container | $4,000 to $6,000 |
| FCL (Full Container Load) — 40-foot container | $6,000 to $7,000+ |
Sea shipping from China offers an alternative option if you don’t need your shipment delivered in a rush. While it’s not the fastest shipping from China to the USA option, you can save on costs when shipping large quantities of goods through sea freight. Keep in mind that for FCLs you will be charged a flat rate regardless of whether you fill up the container or not — so be sure to take advantage of the storage ocean freight offers.
What can Increase Ocean Freight Shipping Costs?
Export costs, import costs, and customs examinations, among others, can increase ocean freight shipping costs. There are several additional fees and clearances that shippers frequently encounter when shipping goods from China to the USA. These can include:
- Export Costs: Port fees and export customs clearances that accrue when you transport goods out of China are one of the first additional costs you pay before you can transport your shipment. Booking fees, Terminal Handling Charges (THC), and Telex release fees are a few costs that you may consider evaluating before determining a budget for your ocean freight.
- Import Costs: Aside from transportation costs and export costs, import duties and fees also contribute to increasing how much you have to pay. These can come in the form of a Delivery Order fee (DO), as well as trucking fees, and chassis rent fees.
- Other Potential Fees: Other potential fees that may be incurred are Custom Exam and Demurrage Fees if the shipment is inspected. On occasion, port-specific fees at Eastern U.S. ports like Houston will require wharfage fees or Chassis Split Fees.
What’s the Difference between LCL and FCL Shipping?
The difference between LCL and FCL shipping is the shipment space you are purchasing. Shipping your goods in a FCL means that they’re sealed in a single container, while LCL goods are packed together with other shipments. Many companies and consumers can have their goods shipped together in a single container when shipped with LCL.
If you do decide to ship LCL, keep in mind that your goods will be consolidated at the origin port and then deconsolidated at the destination port thereafter.
Is LCL Shipping Cheaper than FCL Shipping?
While LCL shipping is generally cheaper than FCL shipping, there are still some key considerations you need to keep in mind. The total LCL cost includes not only the ocean freight transportation shipping rates, but also the export charges from China and import charges into the USA. Destination port fees are often quite expensive in particular.
Postal Parcel Costs
| Postal Parcel Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| China Post (under 2 kg) | $10 to $30 |
| EMS Service | $20 to $80 |
| FedEx International Priority | 21 kg to 70 kg: $7 to $7.5/kg Over 70 kg: $6.3 to $7/kg |
Posting your shipment is an alternative way to get your package from China to the U.S. It’s a cost-effective way to deliver small packages when you aren’t concerned about the expediency of your shipment. Parcel posting is typically used for low-priority shipments and can take weeks to arrive through a commercial or national postal service.
How are Postal Parcel Costs Calculated?
Postal parcel costs are calculated using chargeable weight. The chargeable weight is the higher between actual weight and volume weight. While actual weight is just the weight of your shipment in kilograms, volumetric weight requires additional calculations to work out:
Volumetric Weight = [Length (cm) x Width (cm) x Height (cm)]/5000
What are Other Costs I Can Expect to Pay When Shipping from China to the U.S.?
You can expect to pay customs, documentation fees, handling fees, delivery costs, and anti-dumping fees. You may also have to pay various hidden costs, such as seasonal surcharges and additional storage costs. These costs often need to be paid in addition to the shipping rate for your shipment, no matter the shipping option or whether you’ve chosen the fastest shipping from China to the U.S.
These additional costs can include:
| Customs and Import Duties | Documentation Charges |
|---|---|
| Base duty for shipments over $800 Section 301 tariffs (25–100% on specific goods) Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF): 0.3464% of cargo value Harbor Maintenance Fee (HMF): 0.125% of cargo value | Entry filing fees Customs clearance fees Documentation handling fees Electronic filing fees |
| Handling Fees | Door-to-Door Transportation Costs |
| Terminal handling charges Port handling fees Warehousing costs Loading and unloading fees | Factory-to-port transportation Port to final destination delivery Inland freight charges (e.g., FedEx) Last-mile delivery fees Residential charge |
| Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duties | Hidden Costs |
| There are hundreds of current AD/CVD orders against Chinese products. | Peak season surcharges Fuel surcharges Container detention fees Storage fees for delayed clearance Insurance costs |
Fuel Surcharges
You can find out the exact fuel surcharges for express freight services like FedEx on their shipping website. Fuel surcharges will change every week, so it’s important to keep up to date with current prices for international imports.
Additional Handling Surcharges
Additional handling surcharges can encompass several surcharges, including dimension-based surcharges that apply if the longest side, second-longest side, or girth exceed certain lengths. These dimensions are:
- Longest side > 48 inches
- Second-longest side > 30 inches
- Girth (Longest side + 2 × Second-longest side + 2 × Shortest side) > 105 inches
Surcharges can also be incurred for packaging-based mistakes, such as if the goods are not enclosed in their external packaging, are in cylindrical packaging, pose risks to the shipment, and several other conditions.
Oversized Surcharge
If your package meets any of the following conditions, it may be charged an oversized surcharge:
- 130 inches < Girth ≤ 165 inches
- 96 inches < Longest side ≤ 108 inches
Residential Charge and Delivery Surcharges
If your shipment is being delivered to a residential address, a residential fee may be applied by express freight services like FedEx. This can also apply to areas that are considered to be remote, ultra-remote, or designated remote areas.
What Affects China to U.S. Shipping Rates?
Numerous factors affect the shipping rates between China and the United States, including:
- Peak season fluctuations
- Container availability
- Regional carrier competition
- Fuel costs and surcharges
- Global events
- U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports
- Distance between ports
- Express vs. standard shipping options
- Holiday shopping periods
Economic fluctuations, changes in trade policy, and route-specific issues like blockages and delays can severely affect shipping rates and transit times. Moreover, various other micro factors can increase or decrease shipping between China and the USA.
Twings Supply | Your China Freight Forwarding Partner
Twings Supply is your reliable freight forwarder from China, with certifications including NVOCC license in China as well as a JCTRANS Network paid membership. Our guarantee is to provide you with exemplary team support every step of the way through your international shipping, helping you handle any hurdles that may come up. We pride ourselves on our transparency, with no hidden charges to help ensure cost-effective shipping.
A freight forwarder can significantly reduce the rates for shipping as well as expedite your freight transit times when possible. Contact us today to inquire about how our services can get your shipment from China to the U.S. quickly and cheaply.
Shipping from China to the USA Shipping Rate FAQs
Why is it so expensive to ship from China to the USA?
Shipping from China to the U.S. has become more expensive due to a spike in rates, with some estimates showing a 45 to 65% increase in rates compared to earlier in 2024. Political events like elections, trade tariffs, and other eco-political policies can also increase the shipping rates between China and the U.S. That’s why partnering with a freight forwarder is crucial to get better rates and shipping quotes.
What is the fastest way to ship from China to the USA?
The fastest way to ship from China to the USA is via air freight, which can deliver your shipment within 24 hours. This doesn’t account for transshipment detours and may be affected based on the closest airport, which can extend the time to 2 to 4 days instead. Air cargo has become increasingly popular for China to US shipments, driven by consumers who purchase goods through platforms like Shein, Temu, and TikTok.
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