Sea freight shipping from China — container warehouse

Sea Freight from China

Ocean Freight from China —
FCL & LCL. Door-to-Door.

Move large volumes from South China to North America, Europe, and Oceania at the lowest cost per unit. FCL and LCL options, DDP and DDU incoterms, with full customs clearance and inland delivery handled end-to-end.

Get a Quote → See Routes & Transit Times

FCL & LCL

Full and partial container options

DDP & DDU

Flexible incoterm options

14–35 days

Transit times by destination

US · UK · EU · AU

Primary destination markets

FCL vs. LCL — Which Do You Need?

Both options depart from South China ports. The right choice depends on your shipment volume and frequency.

FCL — Full Container Load

Your cargo fills the entire container

With FCL, you book a 20ft or 40ft container exclusively. Your goods are the only cargo inside — no co-loading with other shippers. This gives you better rates per cubic meter at larger volumes, faster port processing, and reduced damage risk.

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Best for shipments above 15–20 CBM or a full pallet load

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Lowest cost per cubic meter at volume

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Faster port processing — no consolidation delays

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20ft container (~25–28 CBM) or 40ft container (~55–58 CBM)

LCL — Less than Container Load

Pay only for the space you use

With LCL, your cargo is consolidated with other shippers' goods into a shared container. You pay per cubic meter (CBM) or per weight ton, whichever is higher. This makes LCL economical for smaller shipments that don't justify a full container.

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Best for shipments under 15 CBM

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No minimum volume — we accept from 1 CBM

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More frequent departures than FCL for small volumes

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Ideal for regular, smaller restocks

Routes & Transit Times

All shipments depart from Shenzhen (Yantian / Shekou) or Guangzhou (Nansha). Transit times are port-to-port estimates.

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North America

Los Angeles / Long Beach 14–18 days
Seattle / Tacoma 14–17 days
New York / Newark 28–35 days
Savannah 28–32 days
Vancouver / Toronto 16–20 days

US CBP compliant. ISF filing included. DDP & DDU available.

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Europe

Felixstowe (UK) 25–32 days
Southampton (UK) 26–33 days
Hamburg (Germany) 26–33 days
Rotterdam (Netherlands) 25–32 days
Le Havre (France) 27–34 days

UK (HMRC) and EU (VAT, customs) operated as separate channels post-Brexit.

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Oceania

Sydney 20–25 days
Melbourne 21–26 days
Brisbane 22–27 days
Auckland (NZ) 22–28 days

ABF biosecurity compliant. GST and MPI documentation handled.

* Transit times are estimates from port of loading. Door-to-door delivery adds 3–7 business days for customs clearance and inland transport.

Incoterms: DDP vs. DDU

Choose how much responsibility Rayfill takes on beyond the port of origin.

DDP — Delivered Duty Paid

We handle everything to your door

Rayfill covers all costs: ocean freight, destination port handling, customs clearance, import duties and taxes, and inland delivery to your warehouse or Amazon FC. You receive a single all-in price, no surprise charges.

Best for: sellers who want hands-off logistics and a predictable total landed cost.

DDU — Delivered Duty Unpaid

You handle customs at the destination

Rayfill manages ocean freight and delivers to the destination port. You (or your customs broker) handle import clearance, duty payment, and inland delivery from the port. Rayfill provides all export documentation and commercial invoices.

Best for: sellers with an established customs broker who prefer to manage duties and taxes themselves.

Sea Freight FAQ

What is the difference between FCL and LCL?
FCL (Full Container Load) means your cargo fills an entire 20ft or 40ft container. LCL (Less than Container Load) means your cargo shares a container with other shippers — you pay per CBM (cubic meter) or weight ton, whichever is higher. FCL is cheaper per CBM at higher volumes; LCL is more economical for shipments under 15 CBM.
How long does sea freight from China take?
Port-to-port transit times: US West Coast (14–18 days), US East Coast (28–35 days), UK (25–32 days), Germany (26–33 days), Australia (20–28 days). Door-to-door times add 3–7 business days for customs clearance and local delivery at the destination.
Does Rayfill handle customs clearance?
Yes, under DDP terms. Rayfill manages customs clearance through licensed customs brokers in the US, UK, EU, and Australia. This includes duty calculation and payment, import compliance, and documentation. Under DDU terms, we provide all export documents for you or your broker to use.
Can Rayfill ship directly to Amazon FCs by sea?
Yes. Many of our clients combine FBA prep (labeling, poly bagging, carton marking) at our warehouse with direct sea freight to the destination Amazon FC. We handle both the prep and the freight in a single workflow — one point of contact, one warehouse, direct delivery to the FC.
What is the minimum shipment size for sea freight?
There is no minimum. For LCL, we accept from 1 CBM, though very small shipments may be more cost-effective via air parcel or hybrid shipping. For FCL, the minimum is one 20ft container. We'll advise on the best option based on your volume and destination during the quoting process.
How do I get a sea freight quote?
Send us your details via the contact form: origin (city or factory in China), destination port or address, estimated volume (CBM) or weight, commodity type, and preferred incoterm (DDP or DDU). We provide a detailed all-in quote within 24 hours.

Related Services

Hybrid Shipping

Sea freight pricing with last-mile doorstep delivery. Up to 40% cheaper than express for regular e-commerce orders.

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FBA Prep

Combine sea freight with FBA prep at our warehouse. Goods are prepped and shipped directly to your Amazon FC.

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Air Small Parcel

When sea freight is too slow — fast, trackable air parcel delivery for time-sensitive restocks.

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Get a Sea Freight Quote

Tell us your cargo, destination, and volume — we'll respond with an all-in quote within 24 hours.

Get a Quote →