How To Find A Reliable Freight Forwarder For Shipping From China To U.A.E (2021 Updated)

Part 1. How to find a reliable freight forwarder?

• Why do you need a freight forwarder, and what can they do for you?

Sometimes, it can be difficult to find a reliable business partner, and that is what freight forwarders are for. A freight forwarder is a reliable and experienced agent who will help you find solutions for shipping from China to U.A.E. If you don't have enough time and energy, experience, or just want to avoid all the troubles that this process may bring to you, such as paperwork or cross-checking problems in the transportation process, then having a freight forwarder will make a big difference. A reliable freight forwarder can help you save money and let you know where every cost is going without any hidden expenses, this is another advantage.

Freight forwarding is one of the best choices for international transportation, because it can save your time and energy by providing reliable transportation methods at reasonable prices.

A freight forwarder is considered to be an important asset in international transportation, because he is able to provide you with useful services that can help you to avoid troubles when you don't have experience in international transportation processes.

Working with an international freight forwarder from China to U.A.E is the best investment, because it helps you maximize your business predominantly by providing a logistics department for your supply chain, and it can also help you save money and precious time.

Freight forwarding companies usually organize warehousing and transportation for merchants on behalf of their shippers. They provide a wide range of services such as:

• Preparation of shipping & export documents;
• Tracking inland transportations;
• Booking cargo spaces;
• Warehousing;
• Freight consolidation;
• Negotiating the freight charges;
• Cargo insurance;
• Filing the insurance claims;
•  Customs clearance.

They are also responsible for customs documents, customs insurance, carrier documents, bills of lading, warehousing and payment methods.

Freight forwarders play a key role in freight shipping because they advise customers on important aspects of the supply chain. A freight forwarder usually transport according to their own bill of lading or air waybill (also called house bill of lading or house air waybill). The destination partner or agent provides deconsolidation, freight collection and document delivery services.

A freight forwarder organizesg the importing and exporting of your goods. For importing and exporting goods, finding and using a reliable freight forwarder will make your entire process less stressful, easier and faster.

In other words, if you want to save time and money while doing international transportation from China to U.A.E by air or sea, please consider using a local freight forwarder agent in China.

 

• Should you choose a freight forwarder from China or U.A.E?

Regardless of the mode of transportation from China to U.A.E, it is always best to choose a freight forwarder from China, because the Chinese freight forwarders has language and geographic advantages and become an ideal choice for overseas transporters.

During the entire shipping transportation, you will also need a local warehouse in China for storage and preparation. An experienced Chinese freight forwarder will have the following capabilities: he will speak fluent Mandarin and Cantonese; he will have a comprehensive understanding of China’s business culture, experience in managing Chinese suppliers, categories and procurement processes, quality control experience, audits Experience and logistics experience. If you choose a local freight forwarder (from U.A.E), he will probably need to contact another freight forwarder agent in China for the pick-up, preparation, storage and customs clearance, which will cause you to increase costs and waste time.

 

• How reliable is a freight forwarder?

Finding a reliable freight forwarder shipping agent for your shipping can be a hard task. Time, money, and the success of transportation from China to U.A.E are crucial. Usually, there are several questions you can ask the freight forwarder or yourself to assess whether he meets your transportation conditions or not:

a) Does the freight forwarder has a business license from the Chinese government? -Having a business license makes everything legal and transparent.

b) Does the freight forwarder has an official website and has a good ranking on Google? – On their website, you can find necessary information about their services and shipping fees. Not to mention that in today’s society, Google reviews are essential to any company that respects itself and cares about its customers.

c) Does the freight forwarder has a good insurance plan? – It is very important to have a good insurance plan, because if any damage occurs during transportation or warehousing storage, it will provide compensation for your goods.

d) Does the freight forwarder has a complete cargo tracking system for updating your cargo progress in real time? – It is important to find a freight partner who can provides cargo tracking, because you can view your shipping location and the cost of reaching the final destination in real time.

e) You can also ask them to provide the latest shipment record or bill of lading for your reference - The bill of lading contains all relevant details about the type, quantity, condition and destination of the shipment.

f) During the consultation process, did the representative of the freight forwarder response promptly with professional advice and explanation? – If you are convinced by their services, but you still have questions about the transportation process, it is best to try to ship with them for small goods. In this way, if anything goes wrong, you will not lose a lot of money.

 

Part 2. How many modes of transportation are there from China to U.A.E?

1. Sea freight from China to Abu Dhabi, Dubai, U.A.E

Sea shipping is the main mode of transportation for global import and export business from China to the U.A.E. It's advantages include low prices, high-volume loading, and full container load (FCL) or less than a container load (LCL) options, making it the first choice for most UAE importers.

Sea shipping starts at port "A" and ends at port "B", so you will need to understand the distribution of the origin ports and destination ports.

The location of the supplier is not important, because no matter where it is located in China, your goods will never be far away from a port. Listed below are the largest and most productive ports in China that can ship your goods to U.A.E:

China	U.A.E
Shenzhen	Jebel Ali Dubai
Guangzhou	khalifa port Abu Dhabi
Shanghai	Sharjah
Ningbo	Ajman
Qingdao	Umm Al Quwain
Tianjin	Ras Al Khaimah
Dalian	Fujairah
Xiamen

In China, there are several ports such as Dalian port, Shanghai port, Ningbo port, Shenzhen port, Tianjin port, Qingdao port, Xiamen port, Nansha port, and Hong Kong port, from which your shipping can leave to UAE.

In the UAE, there are several ports, Jebel Ali port Dubai, Khalifa port Abu Dhabi, Port Khalid of Sharjah, Ajman port, Umm Al Quwain port, Ras Al Khaimah port, Fujairah port.

• Shipment type – FCL/LCL

Less Than Container Load (LCL)
If the quantity of your cargo is small, package is not big, and the volume is less than 15 CBM, a freight forwarder usually help you ship the goods by LCL. When an importer does not have enough volume to fill a full container load, the LCL option enables them to ship smaller amounts of cargo. This means your cargo will be combined and loaded with that of others into a same container traveling to the same destination.

When LCL goods arrive at a port, they can be delivered by truck or by express companies, due to their small size and relative flexibility. LCLs uses CBMs (cubic meters) to calculate the dimensions of freight.

 

 

Full Container Load (FCL)
FCL refers to when the quantity of your goods is large enough to fill at least one full shipping container. In this case, shipping costs are calculated on an FCL basis. FCL shipments are loaded and sealed at the origin port in China by your supplier for freight forwarder, then shipped to your final destination in U.A.E.

We offer three types of containers-20 feet, 40 feet and 40 feet high cube container. The 20 feet container is designed to carry heavier weight, including minerals, metals, machinery, sugar, paper and cement. The 40 feet container is designed to carry voluminou goods rather than heavy cargo, such as furniture, steel pipes, lighting fixture, cotton and tobacco.

Note: Due to the large size of the FCL container, they may only be delivered by truck when they arrive at a port in UAE.

• Packaging

During sea transportation, your cargos may be stacked in a container for weeks, a month or more. They will travel from the factory, to the port warehouse, then to the discharge port, and to the unloading warehouse, and then finally arrive at your destination by truck. Since they have a long way to reach you, you need to pack them appropriately to protect them throughout the journey.

Your packaging should have – 5-layer inner carton, 5-layer outer carton, plastic wrapping on the outer carton, IPPC ISPM 15 standard pallets and shipping marks printed on the outer carton.

Common pallet size:

. For Europe standard – 1200*1000mm or 1200*800mm,
. For Australia standard – 1140*1140mm,
. For the U.S. standard – 40*48inches (1016*1219mm).

It is best to provide your shipper with clear packaging specifications, as they may make mistakes that can damage your goods. And it is better to provide them with graphical examples.

• How long does it take to ship from China to U.A.E?

Estimated transit time is the time between the estimated time of departure (ETD) from the origin port in China and the estimated time of arrival (ETA) at the destination port in UAE.

As a reference tool, we have compiled a time table estimating transit days from the major Chinese ports to several commonly used ports in UAE.

POL/POD	Jebel Ali Dubai	Khalifa Abu Dhabi	Khalid Sharjah	Ajman	Umm Al Quwain	Ras Al Khaimah	Fujairah
Guangzhou	14	17	18	20	20	20	20
Shenzhen	14	17	18	20	20	20	20
Shanghai	18	22	24	24	24	24	24
Ningbo	18	22	24	24	24	24	24
Qingdao	22	24	26	26	26	26	26
Xiamen	18	22	24	24	24	24	24
Tianjin	25	28	30	30	30	30	30

Transit time is subject to change at any time, and they can never be guaranteed by the carrier; it should be noted that cargo loading time at the loading port can take up to 5-7 days.

Sea transportation is a slow mode of transportation. You need to plan ahead and have enough room to deal with possible delays. In addition, most of Chinese manufacturers usually do not stock any products, they make them to order.

In other words, if you need to prepare goods for Christmas, you should plan ahead and place your order in August even earlier. We recommend that you place an order with your Chinese suppliers at least 3 months in advance.

• Freight cost overview

90% of the trade is carried out in accordance with the terms of FOB (free on board) and EXW (ex-works). Since CIF (cost, insurance, freight) and DAP (delivered at place) are executed by your seller, they are expensive in terms of time and expense. Therefore, you should choose FOB or EXW, and deliver the goods to professionals at the lowest price and in the fastest shipping time. Doing so can save you money and valuable time!

1. EXW represents only the product cost. You have to ship your own goods from your supplier's location to the origin port, and will not assisted.
EXW shipping cost = Local logistics cost in China + Chinese export cost + cost for sea freight from the origin port to a UAE port + UAE customs clearance cost + destination local logistics costs.

2. As FOB will not help you ship your goods, you will need to pay the following for sea freight:
FOB shipping cost = cost for sea freight from the Chinese loading port to a UAE port + UAE customs clearance cost + destination local logistics costs.

3. Other charges

• Customs clearance and documentation;
• Warehouse entry;
• Insurance.

 

• Track and trace – container tracking

Due to unforeseen events, including bad weather, port congestion and route changes, cargo sometimes arrive later than planned.

In order to provide the most accurate cargo location and its estimated time of arrival, we provide a cargo tracking system that allows you to fully prepare and notify all relevant parties. Knowing which shipping line is transporting your goods, as well as the container number, booking number, will help you track the container.

You can easily find all the information on your Bill of Lading. The booking number and B/L number are listed on the top right, and the container number is usually under the section of “Marks & Numbers.” then you can simply track the route of your container through your bl number on the shipping company’s official website, for example: https://www.msc.com/track-a-shipment

You can easily find all the information on the bill of lading. The booking number and bill of lading number are usually shown in the upper right corner, and the container number is usually under the "marks and numbers" section. Then you only need to track the route of the container through the booking number or bl number or container number on the official website of the shipping line, for example: https://elines.coscoshipping.com/ebusiness/

Upon entering your booking number, you can see the details of your container.

 

2. Air freight from China to UAE

First, you need to know the distribution of airports in the country of origin and destination.

These are the world’s largest and most productive air ports that can ship your cargo from China to Dubai and Abu Dhabi UAE: Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK), Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG), Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA), Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU), Hong Kong International Airport (HKG), Xi'an Xianyang International Airport (XIY), Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport (SZX), and Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN).

The main airports in UAE include: Dubai International Airport (DXB), Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH), Sharjah International Airport (SHJ)

You don't have to pay much attention to the supplier's geographic location, because no matter where he is loacted in China, your goods will never be too far from one of the airports listed above. These are the largest and most productive airports in the world that can transport your goods from China to UAE

• Air products

Air transportation is suitable for goods that need to be transported urgently, or for small quantities of goods (300-500 kg) with a higher unit price. Shipping time for air freight is calculated by the time required for booking shipping space, flight time, and local delivery time in UAE.

Compared with sea freight, the delivery time and price of air freight are more flexible, because you can choose direct transfer or charter services on different airline routes. Generally, experienced freight forwarders divide goods shipped from China to UAE into three categories:

 

1) Economic air transport: economical price, suitable for goods with low time requirements (no dangerous goods, oversized or temperature-controlled goods).
2) Standard air freight: reasonable price, shorter time.
3) Emergency shipping: speed priority, suitable for time sensitive goods (perishables).

 

• Air freight cost and weight calculation:

The air cargo price is different due to the different products.
The “standard air freight” market price range from Shanghai to Dubai is 3-5 USD/KG.
Of course, this does not include the cost of domestic and destination delivery. Other costs depend on your terms of trade. This part is the same as sea shipping.

The unit of calculation for air freight is kilograms (known as KG). There are two methods for calculating the chargeable weight of air freight cargo, one is to charge according to the actual weight of the package, and other is to charge according to the dimensional weight.
This method of calculating freight costs is similar to express. The difference is that for courier express the volume is divided by 5000, and for air freight the volume is divided by 6000.

Air transport dimensional weight calculation method:

Dimensional Weight = Length (cm) x Width (cm) x Height (cm)/6000
I will give you an example for foam with standard air transportation.
Let’s suppose you need to ship 1 piece of a large 100cm x 100cm x 100cm foam that weights 20KG. What will be its dimensional weight?

Let’s calculate.
Dimensional weight = 100 cm x 100 cm x 100 cm/6000=167 kg
So, you see, its dimensional weight is far larger than its actual weight.
Hence you will be charged for 167 kg.

For express transportation the formula is:
If your product package size is 50*50*50 cm and the actual weight is 10 kg, the express company will charge you 25 kg weight (50*50*50cm)/5000=25 kg) instead of the actual weight of 10 kg, if you want to ship this package from China to UAE.

You will find that packing your goods skillfully and minimizing its volume, it is often the key to saving money.

• Air cargo tracking

An air waybill (know as AWB) is a track-and-trace service. It is both a receipt and evidence of the contract of carriage issued by an international airline. In other words, it is a document of title to the goods. Each AWB is assigned a unique tracking number that can be found in the head section. This number can be entered onto an airline’s track-and-trace page to obtain updated information.
The AWB format is:
2 letter airline code – 123 (3 numbers as prefix) – 12345678 (several numbers).

Some airlines will provide the “email alert” service, which is a free service that will let you know when the goods are moved.

 

3. Express delivery from China to UAE

• Advantages of express delivery
Express delivery is the fastest and easiest mode of transportation from China to UAE, compared to sea or air freight. With the express option, fees for Dubai and other UAE cities will be a little bit different, and you don't have to worry about duty payments and customs clearance. You will also be able to track your goods at any time and plan accordingly.
Overall, we are working with the main courier express companies (DHL, FedEx, UPS, TNT, ARAMEX) closely to help you reduce costs, improve your services, minimize delays, and increase your business performance.

• Express service process

Here I introduce our company’s procedures.
1. Fill and submit the quote with your shipping information.
2. We respond within 12 hours.
3. If you don’t like our terms, we can discuss more until we come to an agreement.
4. We will book the space from the carrier after we have contacted your supplier and rechecked everything.
5. You won’t have to worry about the inland delivery to our warehouse. We will work with your supplier to arrange that.
6. We will communicate to you the chargeable weight.
7. You will pay the costs.
8. Your shipment will be delivered to the courier (DHL, FedEx, UPS, etc.)
9. Wait for your goods to be delivered to your door.

We will track your shipment and keep you updated until you receive your goods. Overall, we will help you reduce the costs, improve your services, minimize the delays, and raise your performance.

• Product types suitable for express delivery

All courier companies use air freight to transport goods, so the delivery time and price are also flexible, similar to air freight.
Several trusted, well-known courier companies regulate express deliveries, including FedEx, UPS, DHL, TNT.
Express shipping means urgent and faster delivery, with higher prices and rates than other forms of transportation. Also, the cost of express shipping may increase during the peak season and holidays, but it can drop dramatically in the off-season.

If you are looking for solutions for freight forwarding for shipping from China to UAE, using a Chinese freight forwarder is the best option, and can save you both time and money. They can find you an express company that will give you a reasonable price, as well as discounted prices that you won’t find on their official website.

• Economic delivery: the delivery time is 8-10 days, the price is economical, and this mode of transportation is suitable for goods with low time requirements (no dangerous goods, oversized, or temperature-controlled goods).
• Standard delivery: the delivery time is 3-7 days, reasonable price and shorter time.
• Emergency delivery: the delivery time is 2-3 days, speed priority, suitable for time sensitive goods (perishable goods).

Express delivery has many advantages. The unit price is usually higher than that of sea or air shipping, and will vary with your specific needs.

If want to send a sample, a small package, or a letter, express delivery is a simple, fast option.

 

• 7 tips from practical experiences

No matter how far around the world they are travelling always choose the most trusted courier express companies because this will guarantee that your documents, sample, or parcels are in good hands.
But as you know, different destinations and unlimited weight/volume data will make it harder for many basic rules to sum up. Here are a few tips:

1. First of all, find a courier agent who will help you find solutions for shipping from China to UAE. We hope it would be us! As you may know, the prepaid service is cheaper than the “collect” service. To save money on courier shipping, you should choose the prepaid service through an agent, which is the super VIP of the carrier.

2. DHL vs FedEx/TNT
. TNT is cheaper than DHL on any weight, but DHL is faster
• For documents, DHL is the best, just only 1 - 2 days to reach Dubai.
• Sometimes FedEx offers the lowest rate.

3. When shipping to Southeast Asia, FedEx is the king no matter the quantity (small shipment or larger shipment).

4. If you ship to Europe or Middle East, we recommend using TNT’s services.

5. In general, big businesses pick one carrier and stick with him because it has bigger discount on pricing. Small businesses and medium businesses tend to work with 2 or more carrier companies to maximize their costs.

6. The total length of the package should be less than 330 cm with the formula is: length + width*2 + height*2. Besides, the longest length is less than 220 cm. And for the best price offer, the weight should be less than 68 kg per package, as there will be orver-weight surcharge for package weighing more than 68kg.

7. Always take extra care of the packing quality and use reinforced cartons for your goods to keep them safe.

 

4. How can you make sure that your shipment is delivered on time?

Sometimes the delivery time can differ with one or two days, but in general it is always fixed, and no forwarder can offer faster shipping than others.

Here are the things listed below you can do to avoid getting your shipment delayed such as:

1. The declared customs value must match your commercial invoice and bill of lading. Always make sure that that information is correct

2. Make your orders based on the FOB terms, and make sure your supplier prepares all the China export clearance documents in time.

3. Don’t wait until the last day your goods are ready to ship. Ask your forwarder agent to contact your supplier a few days in advance.

4. Always ask you supplier, and be specific, to use high-quality packaging, to prevent your goods from being repacked before shipment.

5. In order for your shipping documents to be completed in time, always pay the balance and freight cost on time.

You can also consider splitting your shipping in two, if you are running late. One part (let’s say 20%) is delivered by air or express, while the rest (80%) is shipped by sea. Thus, you can stock up just one week after the production run is completed.

 

Part 3. Customs clearance in UAE

Once your cargo enters a UAE port or airport, you will face customs inspection and clearance procedures. This is a job that requires advance preparation and rich experience. The three things you must know are: document checklist, inspection process, and HS code and taxes.

 

• Documents to be prepared

You usualy need to submit these documents for the customs clearance: Bill of lading, commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin

• HS codes and taxes and VAT.

HS Codes (The 10-digit Harmonized Item Description Code) – This is the most important thing that all importers must know when importing goods. Almost every time you import an item, you need to know the HS code of the item. You can get this code from your Chinese supplier.

Taxes – After you confirmed your HS code, you can check your goods tariffs. Usualy the taxes rate is 5% of value and VAT is also 5% of value in UAE

 

• About customs inspection:

After the submission of a customs entry, the UAE Customs has the right to perform the goods inspection.
These inspections are done completely at random, but if this you first time importing goods into the country, your chances are higher for your goods to be examined by the customs authority.
If no legal or regulatory violations have been found, your shipment will be released. Any charges relating the inspection are billed to the importer of record directly or through your Customs Broker.

 

Part 4. E-commerce logistics

• Shipping to Amazon Dubai

With the continuous rise of e-commerce business, shipping from China to Amazon fba in Dubai has become very popular. But this process is not simple; every link is directly related to the profit of your Amazon business.

Of course, you can entrust your supplier to ship the goods directly to your Amazon address, which looks simple and convenient, but they will also have to contact a Chinese freight forwarder to transport your goods. The difference in the middle is also a large fee, and when you ask about the status of your goods, they often respond slowly.

In the following, we will mainly share what you should know when you choose to use freight forwarding, or what kind of requirements can you ask them.

1. Require picking-up or to consolidate your goods

To be as convenient as possible, your freight forwarder will contact your supplier to pick up the goods to their own warehouse and help you store them until needed. Even if your products are not at the same address, they will collect them separately and then send them to you in a unified package, which is a time-saving and labor-saving choice.

2. Check your goods - inspection
When starting an Amazon business, what matters is your reputation and undamaged products. When shipping from China to UAE, you need a freight forwarder to conduct a final inspection of your goods (in China). From checking the outer box to quantity, quality, even product pictures or other needs, all requirements can be met. Therefore, you need to keep a clear contact with the freight forwarder as much as possible to ensure that your products are delivered safely to the Amazon center in a timely manner.

3. Amazon preparation services, such as labeling
If you are a new e-commerce seller, then you need to rely on the extra services of your freight forwarder because Amazon products always have their own rules.
Freight forwarders usually have years of experience and will ensure that your products meet Amazon's requirements. And carry out these preparations in advance in the Chinese warehouse, such as FNSKU labeling, packaging, bubble wrap, etc., which will greatly save your cost.

4. Choose your shipping method.
You should choose the shipping method of your goods based on weight, size and delivery time.
When traveling to Amazon in Dubai, you should understand the pros and cons of each mode of transportation (air, sea, or express), or ask the freight forwarder to recommend it to you, so that you don't lose money and precious time.

Customs clearance and various documents may sound complicated, but as an Amazon seller, you should focus on improving your Amazon business. It is really the best choice to hand these shipping burdens to a reliable Chinese freight forwarder!

 

• Dropshipping

There are more and more goods imported from China. For global sellers, buying from China is more economical than other countries such as the United States or Europe (including shipping costs).

Buying goods from China and then selling them on eBay or Amazon platforms at higher prices has become a trend for global sellers.

China is the world’s largest export county and a trading partner of most Asian countries. No wonder foreign investors and growing start-ups are interested in droppshiping goods from China.
The dropshipping business module can help sellers reduce costs and increase profits, becoming more popular than before.
Recently, many entrepreneurs have chosen to cooperate with dropshipping websites in China.

If you are an e-commerce seller like Shopify, inventory and order management can take a lot of time. Then, the dropshipping service appeared, so you can work with an experienced professional freight forwarder from China.

Store goods (large or small) in the agent’s warehouse; they have their own system to interface with your e-commerce platform. Therefore, once your order is generated, the agent will immediately help you deliver the goods to the customer according to your needs. In order to speed up the process, logistics and customs clearance are included.

 

Part 5. Warehousing services

During shipping from China to UAE, you may need warehouse services. So what can warehouse services do for you?

 

• Why do you need warehousing services?

1. Central location storage space
Regardless of your reasons, it is a good choice to temporarily store the goods in a securely managed warehouse for a long or short term.
The warehousing service provides storage space in a central location for receiving, storing and distributing goods (usually). After the goods arrive at the final destination, the warehouse service provider will be responsible for handling the transfer of the goods. After the goods are transferred to the warehouse, the warehouse service provider will classify the goods and send them to a temporary address. When it’s time to ship the goods, each order will be retrieved, grouped, packaged and inspected before it is sent to a new destination.

2. One-piece delivery (e-commerce order fulfillment).
If you are an e-commerce seller (such as Shopify), you can choose to store your products in a warehouse. After the order is generated, the warehouse will directly help you ship to the customer based on your customer information. This can speed up your business.

3. Consolidating your products:
If you have suppliers in many different regions of China, you need to integrate all the goods into the warehouse, wait for all the goods to arrive, and then send them to you uniformly. This is a time and money saving option.

4. Amazon preparation and other customized services
First transport the goods to the freight forwarder's warehouse; they will perform basic carton inspection, pickup service, labeling, etc. for you, and customize your other needs, including Amazon's preparation service.

 

• Should you choose a Chinese or UAE warehouse?

Usually, freight forwarders have warehouse services in China and UAE. Choosing the country where the goods are stored or using warehouses in both countries at the same time depends on your actual situation. For example, when operating in China, warehouse and labor costs are relatively low; goods stored in Dubai UAE are easier to transfer.

Carrying out such operations in China can save a lot of costs and help you understand the condition of your cargo early. Freight forwarders usually have warehouse experience, so you don't have to worry too much.

 

Part 6. Do you need to buy cargo insurance?

Cargo insurance covers the loss or damage of goods during transportation and is applicable to any mode of transportation (air, sea or land). Even when freight forwarders, shipping companies, airlines and truck drivers do their best to take care of your cargo, losses and damage can occur.

 

1) What is cargo insurance?

is a type of insurance that covers or compensates the purchaser or seller of goods against damage or loss of goods.

 

2) When do you need cargo insurance?

Your goods still have a long way to go to reach the destination country. It is passed from hand to hand during the loading and unloading of trucks and containers, through ports and inspection locations, and transferring from one warehouse clerk to another warehouse clerk. Each step is necessary for your product to finally reach you, and passing your product through so many checkpoints and operators will increase the chance of damage.
We strongly recommend that you always applying cargo insurance to ensure the peace of mind you deserve and avoid the trouble of purchasing damaged cargo.

It usually covers damage caused by weather, natural disasters, cargo handling such as loading & unloading, piracy and other related risks.
We usually recommend additional cargo insurance to our customers, because it typically covers the external causes of cargo loss and damage.

Common triggers for cargo insurance include:

• Natural disaster
• Vehicle accidents
• Acts of war
• Piracy
• Cargo abandonment
• Customs rejection

When a insured event causes damage to your cargo, cargo insurance will pay you the amount insured, minus your deductible.

In addition, there are exceptions for freight and freight insurance policies. These policies and regulations eliminate certain risk guarantees.
Individual freight insurance policies usually do not include:

• Damages caused by your inadequate packing – If water seeps in your cargo and corrodes it, you are responsible for your cargo damage.
• Damages caused by faulty goods – If the carrier can show your product had a flaw that caused the damage, then they are not responsible for it.
• Certain types of freight (goods) – Hazardous materials, certain electronics,  other types of cargo may be excluded, depending on your insurer.
• Certain modes of transportation – While some freight insurance may exclude trucking, others may exclude cargo ship, freight trains, or airplanes.
• The insurance industry does not have a standard cargo insurance form, so exclusions and inclusions vary widely.

Always set aside time to understand the insurance you are using, and don’t hesitate to ask questions about your shipment.

 

Part 7. How to save money?

Now, using the above guidelines and information, you must choose the appropriate shipping method for your goods.
When transporting goods, freight costs are an important part of business expenses. Choosing the right transportation method for your cargo, understanding how freight moves in the supply chain and optimizing supply chain visibility will help you save money. To save more money, you also need to develop other business skills (described below); after all, transportation costs are a key factor in the transportation system.

 

• Do not leave your large shipment to the supplier

Unless there is no other choice, don’t leave the large shipment to the supplier, because the cost is mainly composed of logistics. Most sellers think this is the easiest and fastest thing and make mistakes, but leave the goods to the supplier.
Instead, the best way is to choose a shipping agent who is on his own side, because this is the only way to ensure control of the shipment. But please plan ahead, because sometimes during peak seasons, it is difficult to get a seat with shipping lines due to capacity issues.

 

• Plan ahead of time to avoid rush hours:

In international transportation, you must always plan the transportation in advance, because the delivery time of the goods is a key factor in determining the mode of transportation. In addition, knowing the timetable for Chinese holidays and important shipping deadlines and guidelines will save you time and money, because during those peak periods, the shipping prices will rise dramatically due to the shortages of factories and road workers and factory closures.

Generally, shipping costs will increase during the following periods:
- Lunar New Year - During this period, factories and facilities are closed, causing price spikes and delays;
– Golden Week – This week-long holiday exacerbates price spikes and delays during the holiday season;
– Dragon Boat Festival – This festival is usually closed for three days;
- Holiday shopping season - As businesses prepare for holiday shopping (October to December for air freight, July to October for ocean freight), prices rise steadily within a few months.
When transportation is relatively stable, prices will be more competitive - for example, every year after the Lunar New Year and March to April.

 

• Get a reliable logistics partner to work with.

We all know that sometimes it is difficult to find a reliable business partner.
Make sure that your logistics partners get the best prices from air lines, shipping lines and truck companies. Check if your logistics partner has multiple ocean carrier contracts available. If your logistics partner has multiple carrier options, then you will be more likely to get your cargo on board with the highest cost-effectiveness possible. If they have multiple carrier contracts, they can always find another option to transport your goods.

 

• Make sure you consolidate your cargo

It is very important to consolidate your goods, especially if you want to buy goods from different suppliers. Your Chinese shipping agent can provide a consolidation process at any port of departure, and can store and deliver goods from different suppliers to you together.

 

• Find a hybrid transportation solution

If the price of air freight is too high, but cannot be delivered by sea in time, you can cooperate with a freight forwarder. He can provide you with the option of multimodal transportation, combining air and sea transportation with other forms of ground transportation (truck, train or some other mode of transportation).

Multimodal transportation, also called combined transportation, refers to the transportation of goods using at least two different modes of transportation under a single contract. Legally speaking, the carrier is responsible for the entire transportation, and he does not have to own all the means of transportation. This mode of transportation may bring a certain cost to transshipment and loading and unloading, but it also has many advantages, such as concentrating responsibilities in one transportation operator, achieving economies of scale in transportation negotiations, using international transportation experience, and in the bureaucracy and commerce, making better use of available infrastructure and more efficient transportation methods, focusing on reducing costs and reducing indirect costs.

An experienced freight forwarder can usually find a way to achieve this goal in the communications. This hybrid approach can deliver the product within the right timeframe and reserve the budget for the delivery of the goods.

International transportation may be a complicated mode of serious transportation, or it may be an easy way to transport goods from point A to point B. Choosing the most cost-effective and timely transportation method is essential. It is recommended to explore various transportation methods with freight forwarders to ensure that the goods are delivered at the lowest total price.
We recommend that you find a reliable freight forwarder (shippping agent) to take care of your air/sea freight from China to UAE.

 

• Consider your packaging

Many companies choose to let their suppliers handle the packaging. In order to save money, you should ask the supplier if there is a way to improve this process to participate in the packaging process. Remember, when it comes to sea shipping, weight doesn't matter, but the space occupied by the cargo is important!

 

Part 8: Tips to save time

Shipping delays are a common problem. When your business is affected, it may cause you to waste time and cause money loss. In order to avoid this risk when carrying out international transportation from China to UAE by air, sea, please consider using a freight forwarder.
The following tips can also help you prepare for potential delays when planning your shipping:

International transportation may be a complicated mode of careful transportation, or it may be an easy way to transfer goods from point A to point B, so choosing the most cost-effective and timely transportation method is essential. It is recommended to explore various transportation methods with freight forwarders to ensure that the goods are transported at the lowest total price.

 

Avoiding time delays in China

1. Pay attention to Chinese holidays
As mentioned above, knowing China’s holiday schedule and important shipping deadlines and guidelines will save you time and money, because during those peak periods, shipping prices will rise sharply due to shortages of factory and road staff and factory closures,
This may cause your shipment to be delayed, but to avoid this, you should plan the shipment with your suppliers and shipping agent in advance.

2. Choose an experienced freight forwarder to cooperate with
Another common problem is that the laden containers can't be returned to the container yard of the port of origin on time, that can cause a delay.
Because each container has a deadline that must be prepared on board for departure, the product must be completed, packaged and loaded at the original port by that time. It is your best choice to cooperate with an experienced freight forwarder to find a solution for shipping from China to UAE to ensure that your goods will leave the port as scheduled.

 

Avoiding time delays upon arrival

Once your product arrives in UAE, you would think that the hard time has passed. However, their arrival is another point in the transportation process, if not handled properly, it may cost you valuable time and money. The information provided below can help you avoid any of the following unnecessary expenses:

1. Complete the customs clearance documents correctly
Time delay will always cost you money. The common reason for the time delay is the stop of the shipment during the customs clearance process. Therefore, it is very important to fill in the paperwork correctly. Choose your suppliers wisely, because they are the ones responsible for your cargo paperwork.
You can also ask them some questions to ensure that they have export experience to the Middle East. If the supplier you choose does not possess these qualities, it is best to contact an experienced freight forwarder who will help you find the best solution for shipping from China to UAE, including appropriate paperwork.

2. Prepare the requested documents
For most of the cargo to UAE, the requested documents for customs clearance are: Bill of lading or Air waybill, Certificate of Origin, Commercial Invoice, Packing List.

 

What we can do for you?

Chinabestreight.com (Supertrans Logistics) is an experienced and reputable Chinese freight forwarding company specializing in shipping from China to the Middle East, especially to the UAE.

We have a high reputation in terms of transportation, airlines and shipping lines connections and good customs reputation, and we are known for occupying the freight forwarding industry market by offering competitive prices and timely delivery capabilities.

We believe that the customer's revenue is our revenue. Building long-term relationships is the key to our business success. Our working principle is to put customers first, while upholding the main values of integrity, honesty and responsibility. Continuous learning and growth have enabled us to achieve special success in shipping from China to UAE and the entire international transportation sector.

Our experts are ready to start your worry-free shipping journey, click here for more information, quotes, and offers.