Ship To China From The UK
Does your business send parcels to China? Perhaps you manufacture goods to sell goods online with customers located in China. Maybe you buy car parts, machinery or merchandise from suppliers in Chinese cities such as, Shanghai, Beijing and Shenzhen to sell in the UK. Whatever your business, the UK has an excellent trade relationship with China and World Options can help you find great courier services that meet the demand of your business.
The question is, which courier or shipping supplier can provide your business with the best rates and get the shipments to its required destination with minimum hassle?
Instead of being restricted to one carrier we can offer a choice of multiple carriers in one online shipping portal.
With World Options businesses can ship goods to China using a choice of FedEx, UPS, DHL, TNT through the World Options online shipping portal.
Simply enter the shipment weight, dimensions, and destination to view multiple prices from all the above carriers in seconds.
Prohibited and Restricted Items
Certain products are completely restricted from entering China, you should check the full list to ensure the items you intend to ship are not prohibited. Detailed information can be found on the Chinese customs’ website, we have also extracted some key points below.
International Courier Services To China
UPS International Services
-
Express Saver — by 12 pm (1-5 business day)
DHL
-
Express Worldwide — time-sensitive delivery by the end of the next working day
FedEx International Services
-
International Priority
In addition to the general advice for shipping around the world, businesses should be aware of the following facts when it comes to shipping to China:
TNT International Services
- Express – Global
- Express – Economy
Catalogue Of Goods Prohibited From Import To China
There are five ‘batches’ of products that are included within China’s catalogue of goods prohibited from import. The contents vary from niche items such as rhinoceros horns to everyday goods including microwaves, air conditioners, and wired phones. The full list can be found on the customs website.
Chinese Ideology
Any documents or media deemed to undermine Chinese ideology is banned from entering the country. This can be anything that the Chinese government believes to be illegal on these grounds – from books that undermine ideology to videos deemed offensive – and such items will be destroyed, so you should ensure that any products you are considering shipping do not risk falling into this category.
Commonly Banned Items
- Aerosols
- Animals
- Dairy
- Fresh food
- Fur
- Ivory
- Money
- Perfumes
- Seeds
- Tobacco
- Plants
Contentious Items
It is possible to import the following goods to China but there are strict rules around exactly how these are shipped and they require specific checks, licences and permissions. You should speak to your World Options account manager if any of your products fall under the below categories:
- Bamboo
- Cane
- Electronics
- Food items
- Rattan
- Wood
Services Available In The World Options Portal
Customs Clearance For China
The Chinese customs process is strict and goods can take time to clear, so you should factor this into your shipping plans and when communicating expected delivery dates with the end user. A commercial invoice is required for every parcel and this must include a detailed description of the contents, where it was manufactured and the value.
The fee for customs clearance is typically 20-30% of the value of the goods and all items must have a designated tariff code. To find out the tariff code of your particular item visit the UK government website.
Importing Food Into China
Food is one of the items that is strictly regulated when it comes to imports, as mentioned above. Every shipment of food into China must be registered with the Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) department, which checks food shipments upon entry. Following the rules outlined below should minimise the amount of time these checks take:
- All ingredients must be listed on the food label
- The item must have a shelf life exceeding six months
- Food must not have been tampered with in any way
- Food must be contained in its original packaging
Testimonials
Join over 3,000 Customers
We recently had the opportunity to attend a demo session with Antonia Holden, and it was incredibly insightful.…
Very good service. The quick comparison between all the major couriers is very useful, and Chet and the…
So far I have had a good experience with using World Option for a couple of years now.…
Been using word options for years , 10/10 service , competitive rates , professional , easy to use…
We have been using World Options for a few years now and I cannot recommend them highly enough!…
Having worked with World Options for several years, I have no qualms about highly recommending the conscientious service…
The personal help and assistance, regardless of final mile carrier, is very good and much appreciated.
Steve from the Weymouth franchise has been fantastic, always there to help, nothing too much trouble. I’m really…
Great service and support from world options. Great service and support from world options and clear instructions shared…
We work very closely with Tom Kennedy at World Options and have been using them for all of…
Amazing service. I’ve been using World Options for 7 years. excellent broker. excellent service. wonderful account manager Antonia.…
I have been helped with our shipping for 8 years by Simon Douglas and Iain Hesketh. These guys…
We have been working together for years, always give the best advice, great rates and how great it…
Been working with Stephen at Weymouth Franchise for a few years and wouldn’t look elsewhere. Always available on…
Since employing World Options Ltd. I have had the most amazing service in 25 years of exporting books…
Stephen Hingley has been managing all my logistics for almost 2years. His passion for the industry shows in…
We’ve been working with World Options for years now, and their service has been nothing short of exceptional.…
Great service, much better than dealing directly with couriers when things go wrong. Alex is a star and…
Anthony S, our rep at World Options is great! We’ve been working for quite some time and I…
Worked with a certain courier on and off for the past two years, and whilst their prices were…