Wholesale Sea Shipping Rates: Exporters & Global Forwarding Architecture

Full Container Load (FCL) rates are priced per container unit (such as 20GP, 40GP, or 40HQ) based on origin terminal, destination port, carrier bunker adjustments (BAF), and peak season surcharges. In contrast, Less than Container Load (LCL) pricing is billed per Revenue Ton (w/m, where 1 CBM = 1,000 kg), factoring in consolidation, warehouse handling, and destination de-stuffing charges. Volume exporters shipping over 15–20 CBM typically achieve lower per-unit freight costs by booking a dedicated 20GP container.

Under DDP (Delivered Duty Paid), the exporter/forwarder assumes end-to-end liability, managing origin drayage, international ocean carriage, import customs processing, payment of destination duties/taxes, and final-mile delivery. The buyer receives the cargo with no unexpected fees. Under DDU (Delivered Duty Unpaid, or DAP), the freight forwarder delivers the cargo to the destination address, but the consignee remains legally responsible for processing customs clearance and paying local duties and taxes. DDP is standard for Amazon FBA cross-border sellers, while DDU serves established corporate importers with existing customs brokerages.

Port-to-port ocean transit from Shanghai or Shenzhen to the US West Coast (Los Angeles/Long Beach) runs approximately 12–16 days on express liner strings, reaching 18–22 days for standard loops. US East Coast sailings through the Panama Canal require 28–35 days. Shipments to European base ports (Rotterdam, Hamburg, Antwerp) run roughly 28–35 days via the Suez Canal route (or 40–45 days when rerouted via the Cape of Good Hope). Door-to-door DDP services require an additional 4–8 business days for customs clearance, off-dock transloading, and domestic truck or rail delivery.

We operate certified dangerous goods (DG) consolidation channels. Shippers must supply an up-to-date Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), UN38.3 test report, and transport safety certifications prior to container loading. Cargo containing magnets must undergo magnetic field inspection reports if air freighted, or follow standard IMDG maritime packaging rules when ocean freighted, ensuring full regulatory compliance with maritime border authorities.

Yes. We handle inter-provincial factory pickups to consolidate shipments at our primary coastal warehouse hubs in Shenzhen, Yiwu, and Shanghai. At these facilities, cargo undergoes SKU-level carton verification, palletizing, shrink-wrapping, Amazon FBA labeling, and single-container FCL consolidation, helping importers avoid multiple separate LCL port fees.

Standard ocean carrier liability is legally capped at low statutory thresholds (such as $500 per package under COGSA). Through our marine insurance brokerage solutions, we secure comprehensive all-risk coverage (Institute Cargo Clauses A), covering up to 110% of CIF invoice value against loss, theft, water ingress, and general average contributions, providing full financial protection throughout ocean transit.