Sea Freight Cargo from China to the UAE

When it comes to shipping from China to the UAE, sea freight is the best way to import and export goods. However, for most businesses today, some of the reason why sea shipping has become the first choice is full container loading (FCL), low container loading (LCL) options and low prices.

For businesses that want to ship from China to the UAE, the COVID-19 pandemic has been disruptive and has caused delays for manufacturing and shipping today. Nevertheless, the production of goods in China has returned to normal, but the impact of the pandemic in the UAE has caused delays in ports and warehouses. In addition, the travel ban on entering the UAE has greatly reduced air freight capacity and making prices increase sharply and unstable. But China still ships to the UAE.

In this article, we will detail sea freight shipping from China to the UAE to help you improve your supply chain management.

 

Part 1: LCL and FCL Ocean Freight from China to the UAE

 

1.Shipping Type – FCL/LCL

When it comes to ocean shipping from China to the UAE, the type of shipping can be "full container loading (FCL)" or "less container loading (LCL)". FCL means that your goods are loaded into a fully loaded container. When you have a large amount of goods, the freight cost per unit will decrease. It is important to know that the FCL cost less, and it moves from container yard to container yard.

On the other hand, less container loading (LCL) means your goods and other importers’ goods are consolidated from the same loading port to the destination port. LCL is from container freight station to container freight station. In addition, tracking LCL cargo is very difficult, and the lost or misplaced and damaged goods is unlikely to occur with FCL than LCL.

 

2.Container Type – 20’GP/40’GP/40’HQ

There are three popular container types that her used today
• 20’GP = 20’DV = 20FT = 20′ = 20 feet general purpose
• 40’GP = 40’DV = 40FT = 40′ = 40 feet general purpose
• 40’HC = 40’HQ = 40 feet high cube
General-purpose commonly means Dry Container (DC). Sometimes if fluid goods are packed by a flexible container bag, it can also be delivered by standard DC.

In addition, the weight of goods carried in 20'GP is heavier than voluminous goods such as heavy metals. 40'GP is designated for voluminous cargoes and not heavy ones. 40'GP can carry furniture, heavy-duty car tires, etc. Although the sizes of 40'GP and 20'GP are different, they can carry the same maximum load. 40'GP and 20'GP can carry 27 to 28 tons of cargo in China.

The shipping rates for 40ft and 20ft containers are different. For example, a 40ft container is 1.5 times lesser than a 20ft container. In addition, in terms of cost, the price of 40'HQ and 40'GP containers are both the same - approximately over $100.

 

3.Packaging

Before shipping from China to the UAE, you must ensure that your goods are protected from the factory to the port warehouse. A common packaging tool used to stack goods is a pallet. A pallet allows you to make full use of the container space. When shipping, pallets should be packed tightly to your shipping container irrespective of whether you are shipping port-to-port or door-to-door.

Loading a 20 ft. container or 40 ft. container varies depending on the size and type of the pallet that was used. The internal dimensions of a pallet are 19’ 4” long x 7’ 9” wide x 7’ 10” tall (for a 20 ft. container) and 39’ 6” long x 7’ 9” wide x 7’ 10” tall (for a 40 ft. container).

However, the use of pallets to transport goods depends entirely on the market and the manufacturer. With this in mind, there are some factors that determine the number of pallets to be used for a container.

• Height of the Load: It is highly important to know the height of your cargo after it has been stacked onto the pallets. Knowing the loading height of your pallets the packaging of your goods.

• Weight of The Load: It is important to take note of the load and the weight limits. Also, the weight of the load weight must be measured for heavy pallet because the weight may decrease the number of pallets used on each container.

• Space of the container: The pallet arrangement in a 20 ft. or 40 ft. container must utilize the space in 3-dimensions. Additionally, the arrangement should also allow effective loading; at the same time, ensure that there are no damages to the product. Hence, your shipping assistant will help you on how to arrange your pallet.

• Unloading necessities: Unloading requirements is important when arranging pallets. You need to have your final recipients in mind as they might have difficulties when unloading and loading height may also be a limitation. Ensure you use the best pallet arrangement so that your customer can be able to unload the container.

It takes less than a month to complete a sea freight from China to the UAE. Your goods may experience lots of loading and unloading routines and pressures during transportation. Therefore, you must pack your goods well to ensure the utmost safety. In addition, make sure that your products are protected from stress, breakage, moisture, and theft.

 

4.LCL Rates

Before shipping, it is essential to always pay attention to ocean freight rate and have a clear understanding of the costs involved. Most LCL shipments are priced by volume rather than weight (except for heavy goods). In order to clearly understand ocean freight rate, you need to check insurance and terminal handling fees, customs brokerage, pick-up and delivery, routing fees, and container freight stations.

 

Part 2: China Ports of Origin and UAE Ports of Arrival

1. China Ports of Origin

Sea transportation starts from port to port. This means that the standard container rates for different ports are different. China is among the world’s top ports and more than half of these ports are located in the country. Here are China ports of origin.

 

1) Shanghai
This port in China is located at the brink of the Yangtze River delta. This area is also privileged to the most developed vicinities in China. The Shanghai port is made up of shallow water zones on the Huangpu and Yangtze rivers. It is also the main port of origin to import LCL and FCL ocean freight from factories in Jiangsu and Zhejiang.

Location: Shanghai Municipality, East Coast.

 

2) Dalian
The Dalian port is known as the second biggest container transhipment hub in China. This place is also a vital port of origin because it serves a primary export point for the North-eastern region of the country. Even though is the coal port, the container traffic in Dalian has improved since the great creation of the Liaoning Free-Trade Zone.
It is important to know that this port is now making use of the competitive advantage it has when it comes to intermodal transportation to partner with well-meaning officials to increase its railway network from China to Europe.

Location: Liaoning Province, North Coast.

 

3) Shenzhen
This port is the entryway between Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta. It is also a key port as it also links China’s southern vicinity to the outer world. The Qianhai-Shekou Free-Trade Zone offers better trading links with the markets abroad.

Location: Guangdong Province, South Coast.

 

4) Ningbo-Zhoushan
Ningbo-zhoushan is graced with the best natural conditions and big manufacturing industry. With plans to create a better intermodal transportation network, Ningbo has reached into the locality to west China; thus attracting lots of bigger volume of containers to the port.

Location: Zhejiang Province, East Coast.

 

5) Guangzhou
The Guangzhou is situated at the Pearl River Delta. It is important to know this area has played a vital role in China trades over the years. It is also a top international shipping hub. Guangzhou also offers additional origin ports for manufacturers, importers, and sea shippers.

Location: Guangdong Province, South Coast

 

6) Hong Kong
Hong Kong is a popular hinterland and it is a trans-shipment hub for cargoes. It is also focused on the exports and imports of goods in China. This area also offers more than 300 container-liner services weekly, and it also connects more than 400 countries globally.
Hong Kong has lots of prospects in becoming a top international shipment services hub.

Location: Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, South Coast.

 

7) Qingdao
The most important port in Northern China is Qingdao. This port is also an important part of the Bohai Bay port cluster. At the moment, Qingdao is becoming a vital hub for eCommerce in China.

Qingdao is also an important link to strategic countries such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and other European countries.

Location: Shangdong Province, East Coast

 

8) Tianjin
Tianjin is one of the biggest ports in China and it trails Qingdao port in the North of China. The shipping activities in the area remains steady and it has developed over the years. Tianjin has also developed its container business, and consolidated the scale of existing routes and international routes so far.

Location: Tianjin Municipality, North Coast

 

9) Xiamen
Xiamen is situated at the brink of the Jiulongjiang River and it has more than 60 shipping routes to over 50 countries.

Location: Fujian Province, South Coast

 

2. UAE Ports of Arrival

 

1) Jebel Ali port Dubai
Operated by DP World, Jebel Ali Port is the largest gateway hub in the Middle East region. It enables trade between the eastern and western markets: North Africa, South Asia and the Middle East. With a capacity to handle 19.3 million TEU (20-foot equivalent units), Jebel Ali is the world's ninth busiest port, the largest man-made harbour, and the biggest and by far the busiest port in the Middle-East. Owing to its multi-modular facilities it has been voted as the best seaport in the Middle East for 24 consecutive years.

 

2) Khalifa Port Abu Dhabi
Khalifa Port is the Abu Dhabi Ports' flagship, deepwater port built to accommodate the largest ships existing when it was built. It is a state-of-the art gateway to Abu Dhabi and handles all of the emirate’s container traffic. The transfer of container traffic from Zayed Port was completed in December 2012. Owned by Abu Dhabi Ports, the port handles general cargo, container, roll-on and roll-off (RoRo) as well as break-bulk activities.

 

3) Khalid port Sharjah
Sharjah is home to three of the finest deep water harbours in the United Arab Emirates. The location of the ports of Sharjah offers strategic advantage to ships calling at the ports. Sharjah is unique among the United Arab Emirates ports in that it has ports in both the coasts.
Port Khalid a multipurpose port located in the city of Sharjah serves as a vital entry point to the Industrial heart land of UAE.

 

Part3: Freight Cost – Ocean Rates

Ocean rates differ, but they involve base rates and extra charges. Ocean rates do not include customs clearance and port charges. It is necessary to note that international shipments are subjected to fees from the destination such as
• Destination country customs-related fee – that is duty and tax
• Destination port or terminal-handling charge – that is THC
• Destination agent service fee – that is D/O

1. Type

• The Rates on Full Container Load
The rates of a full container load depend on the destination port and the weight, type, and quantity of the container. For instance, it costs approximately USD4500 to ship a 40 ft. container from China to Jebel Ali in December 2020.

• The Rates on Low Container Load
The rates of a low container load depend on the destination port, the weight, volume or weight ratio and loading port. For instance, it cost roughly about $65/cbm to ship 5cbm lighting fixture from China to Dubai.

 

2. To-door rates

The door-to-door rate is determined by HS code, weight, volume, packaging, etc. when it comes to-door rates, you must also pay attention to the following costs when importing: insurance, loading port and destination fees, import customs clearance, customs duty & taxes and ocean freight charges.

In addition, door-to-door also means that the destination fees are pre-paid, and they all make up the arrival fee. You need to know that neither the basic shipping cost nor the product cost is the total cost. For example, a port-to-port cost does not include all destination costs, which may include customs or inspections, terminal fees, duties and taxes, insurance, etc.

Additionally, costs incurred by the destination may differ depending on the country (or destination), or the delivery agent.

 

3. Volatility

In the shipping industry, freight rates changes frequently. There are many factors that determine this volatility, including demand, capacity, market perceptions and seasonal effects. Except for the fact that you are constantly shipping a large number of containers, you may not be entitled to a price figure for more than 2 weeks.

Every week, there are frequent changes in the quotes for your shipments. Sometimes, if your manufacturer can end production 1 or 2 days earlier, you can save a lot of money. In a few weeks, the cost/rate of a 40'ft container may increase by more than $1,000. With this in mind, noting the exact cargo ready date is very important to know the precise quote.

Usually, the FCL freight rate is valid for up to 2 weeks and expires on the 15th and 30th of each month. LCL rates generally remain valid and only expire at the end of each month.

 

4. Season Conditions

Natural conditions, such as rain, storms, etc., usually affect the ocean freight rates. During the peak season in China, usually the month before the Lunar New Year and the third quarter of each year, the sea freight rate is usually high. During this time, goods made in China will be shipped during Halloween or Christmas.
During the peak season in China, the increase in ocean freight is due to lots of shipments waiting to be delivered. Therefore, it is very necessary to plan ahead accordingly, because there are many shipments during this period.

Note: Before requesting shipping charges, please make sure you have obtained the shipment information from the manufacturer. The shipment information will include the number of packages involved, the gross weight and dimensions of the packages, how many days to produce the goods, and the trade terms. The shipment information from the supplier/manufacturer will also help you on your shipment and your freight quote. In this way, you can estimate the total landed cost well.

 

Part 4: How Long – Transit Time (Trade Lanes and Transit Times)

It takes about 13 to 25 days to ship from China to the UAE. It can also be calculated based on estimated transit time. Shipping through the sea out of China occurs on a different schedule and there is only a rough estimate about this.
Door-to-door shipment from China to the UAE usually takes 25 to 35 days. Ocean transportation is a little bit longer, this is because ships move slower than airplanes. In addition, more container ships ships are now slowing down to save fuel. Additionally, port congestion, delays from customs, and bad weather conditions influence ocean freight negatively.

Sea freight has become the first choice for worldwide businesses. However, according to transportation requirements, speeding up freight can reduce transit time. In most cases, expedited sea freight competes with air freight time. Therefore, when shipping from China to the UAE, expedited shipping is the best choice. The following is a specific transit time from the specific port:

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

Note: When using ocean freights, it highly necessary that you plan your order as early as possible. You should plan your order for 3 months. You can also divide your shipment into two parts: first percentage (small portion) by air freight, the rest by sea.

 

Part 5: The Process with China Best Freight

The importing process from China can be very tasking especially for newbies. However, excessively long transportation time, high transportation cost fluctuations, regulatory fees, etc., can offset the expected profits from exports of goods from China to the UAE. Here is the process of China Best Freight.

• Know your right to import
When buying goods from abroad, you will become an importer. As an importer, DHL, UPS, FedEx and other courier services will takes care of delivering the package to the destination (if your goods are small). This will save you a lot of money and time.
Before importing from China to the UAE, you must know whether you have import right.
Note: There are many import regulations that apply to imported goods for commercial purposes. In addition, only the customs authorities can approve which goods are for personal use.

• Choose The Goods You Want to Import
When it comes to import from China, you must identify the goods you want to import. Trade companies make lots of profits by choosing the right goods to sell.

It's very important to get more information about the products you plan to import. In addition, obtain product samples and composition information so that you can learn more about the product. This information is necessary to determine the tariff classification (HS code). This code will be used to define the tariff rate applied to your product.

Note: Go with the product you like and passionate about. Also, choose a unique product and you can sell at a high price. Lastly, pick a product that you can ship in very large quantities.

• Know If the Goods You Want to Import Are Allowed in Your Country
Some goods aren’t allowed in a country and are prohibited. With that in mind, ensure if the goods you tend to import are allowed in your country and are dependent on any permit, restriction, or regulation.

You have to ensure the goods you want to import are compliant with the customs’ rules and regulations. Importing goods that aren’t compliant will cost you lots of money than normal and may attract fines and penalties. In the end, such goods become confiscated or damaged.

• Classify your goods and calculate the landed cost
It is important to verify the ten-digit traffic classification number on each product to be imported. This, together with the certificate of origin, determines the tariff rate to be paid before import. After this is done, you need to calculate the total landed cost.
The Fee on Board (FOB) means to get the product prices from the manufacturer, the shipping fees from China freight forwarder company, the customs clearance fees, duty and taxes, and land transportation costs to your destination.

• Get The Manufacturer in China and Place an Order
You need to contact the supplier in China and then place an order of the goods you want. Once you have chosen the supplier, ask for a P/I (Proforma Invoice or Quote Sheet) for your order to also have description and value per term. The P/I must also showcase the weight/dimensions.

Note: A Proforma Invoice or Quote Sheet is known as a non-binding document that helps to budget future purchases. This document does not create a legal obligation.

Moving forward, make sure your supplier agrees to the shipping FOB terms from the nearest port. Because this will help to reduce more fees and allow you to monitor your shipment. For instance, if you want to ship from China to the US, and the nearest shipping port is in Qingdao, then you have to ask for the FOB shipping terms in Qingdao.

Moving forward, make sure your supplier agrees to the shipping FOB terms from the nearest port in China. Because this will help reduce more costs and allow you to monitor your shipment. For example, if you want to ship from China to the UAE, and the nearest port of shipment is in Shenzhen, then you must inquire about FOB shipping terms in Shenzhen.

Please also note that transportation through the ocean is quite slow, which means you need to plan carefully. In addition to the delays in exporting goods by sea, documents, inland travel and customs clearance can take up to several weeks. Generally, we recommend that you place an order three months before the required goods arrive nearby.

Note: When you come across an offer, we don’t recommend that you ask for the lowest price for each purchase. When you come across goods cheaper than usual, it is recommended not to consider it. In addition, please make sure you figure out the product details and double check before buying.

• Organize Your Cargo Transport
One of the vital things you need to do when processing your China freight is to organize your cargo transport. It is important to keep in mind that there are lots of charges associated with shipping goods. You need to take these fees into account.

We recommend that you always consider there will be delays during the process of shipping your goods. Moreover, your goods may be detained by customs. So please make sure you plan accordingly. Don't always expect your goods to leave the port immediately after they have been manufactured. It takes at least one to two days for your goods to leave the manufacturing warehouse to the port or loading.

Also, choose a reliable shipping agent or a freight forwarding partner. A good freight forwarding partner will guarantee better operations, manageable costs, and good cash flow.

• Container Tracking and Tracing
As stated earlier, your shipments might experience a delay, probably due to bad weather or port congestion. Hence, it is needful to always track ETA of your shipment, so that you can get prepared for any uncertainty. Tracking your shipment means that you know where your shipment is located so that you can prepare accordingly.

Before tracking the container, you need to know when the ship will move the container, the booking and the document number. You can find all the information on the Bill of Landing issued to you.

The container number usually have three-letters Owner Code, a Product Group Code, six-digits Serial Number and a check digit.

Note: Some carriers send you an email once your goods arrive, you can make use of that. Also, pay your supplier as early as possible; don’t wait till the last few days to process your payments.

• Obtaining Your Shipment
When your shipments arrive, it is essential to arrange with your Customs broker to clear your goods through customs. If all goes well, you have the right to clear your shipments.

Your broker may notify you if your goods have arrived and this notification will be done within 5 days or less. There are lots of documents that you need to feel with Customs before your shipment arrives at the destination port.

Then you are to file entry documents to the Customs and procure payments of any duties or fees. Once that is done, you can now pick up your containers from the port.

Customs handle consignments in the following ways: First of all, they go through the paperwork and determine which duties to apply, then they ask for the duties/fees to be paid, once that is done, they ask for the confirmation of payment to release your consignments immediately.

It is important to know that unless something goes wrong, the ocean freight will usually be cleared within one to two days. Also, please note that you may encounter random inspection, which may take more than a week.

In addition, customs clearance includes preparation and submission of documents to authorities. However, in this process, you must seek the assistance of a customs broker. The customs broker will ensure that your customs clearance is smooth and avoid annoying fees.

Note: When your consignment leaves China, it is important to prepare your shipping document as early as possible to avoid further delays. The documents needed to clear your goods are Bill of Landing, invoice, packaging list, Certificate of Origin, and other specific documents.

The paperwork is usually provided by the supplier. After getting them, it is necessary to check and inspect them very well to ensure every information stated there are accurate and complete to avoid delays. After carefully checking the paperwork, you can go ahead to submit it to your customs broker. Once your customs broker has also checked, be prepared to start paying any fees to customs.

 

Part 6: What China Best Freight can do for you

China Best Freight is always committed to exceeding your expectations and ensuring the correct implementation of the correct supply chain solutions to ensure that the consignee receives the best service at a lower cost. China Best Freight enables goods to be transported to their final destination. It can also help manufacturing companies, wholesalers and retailers to get goods from China very easily.

Here are the things China Best freight can do for you:

• China best freight allows a worldwide delivery of goods and services to port or CFS or to-door of your choice.
• It is fast, easy and accurate.
• There is always a competitive ocean freight rate on all consignments.
• China best freight allows an easy online tracking and pre-email alert of anything has changed. This pre-email alert will enable you to track and trace your goods without stress.
• China best freight ensures consignments depart every seven days or less.
• All china Fee On Board ports is available.

During the process of China Best freight, here are some things you need to do:

• A quote form will be given to you by the sea freight services in China which you need to fill and submit. You will get a reply with twelve hours and also come to terms with the agreement.
• A booking form will also be given which you or your supplier need to fill.
• Once everything has been checked, we will go ahead to book the space from the carrier.
• Ask your supplier to arrange inland delivery to the port
• Your shipping cost is paid by the sea freight as agreed.
It is necessary to take note that China best freight can also help take care of your consignments and keep you up-to-date until you have received it. Additionally, China best freight make use of the best shipment services to ensure importers get a very fair price.

China Best Freight can also help you deliver your consignments to Amazon FBA warehouses (such as DXB3) in Dubai . From there, Amazon will be responsible for managing the distribution and storage process. When shipping overseas, Amazon cannot be the consignee of your goods. When shipping to the Amazon FBA warehouse, you need to comply with certain rules, such as labeling your goods. China Best Freight can ship your goods to Amazon.
It is important to always let the freight forwarder process your delivery as quickly as possible, so you can focus on other activities without worrying about how the consignment will arrive. If you are not familiar with transportation, you can also manage the transportation yourself through a freight forwarder.

China best freight offers more services such as warehousing, Customs clearance, kitting, and many more. Once you have agreed to go with China best freight as your forwarder, all you have to do is to sit back, relax, and wait for your shipment to get to your doorstep

It is up to you to choose what you want: if you need a forwarder to manage your shipments or you want to manage it yourself. You can use a local forwarder to help through this process. Local forwarders can help you in different ways – not the logistics process – they can help you when it comes to supply chain management.

 

Conclusion

Every detail you encounter when shipping goods will have a negative and positive impact on your business. Time, experience and freight forwarding are essential to understand every situation you may encounter. As an importer, the more knowledge you gain, the better decisions you make.

A local freight forwarder (like China Best freight) is highly essential because they have the skill set to deal with suppliers in China and finding the best shipping solution to get your goods delivered to your doorstep.

In this article, we have made things clear to you on sea freight from China to the UAE, and we hope it is usefull for you to import from China. Feel free to contact us if you need more information. We will be happy to get in touch with you.