Your Best Freight Forwarder For Shipping Container From China To UK

Shipping Container From China To UK | A Complete FAQ Guide

Introduction

For so many years, China and UK have had a relationship of imports and exports through sea lines.

Many sea lines have been shipping containers from other countries for so long.

Sometimes, the cost of container from China to UK can be high, sometimes it can be low.

If you need any information about shipping container from China to UK, you can have them here.

This FAQ guide will teach you everything about containers, how they work, and how you can use containers to ship your products from China to UK.

Table Of Contents

1. What Is The Procedure For Shipping Container From China To UK?
2. What Are The Sizes Of Containers That Ships From China To UK?
3. What Are The Methods For Shipping Container From China To UK?
4. What Are The Container Rates From China To UK?
5. What Are The Routes For Shipping Container From China To UK?
6. Why Do Container Shipping Rates From China To UK Fluctuate So Much?
7. Is The 20ft Container Shipping Cost From China to UK Always Remain The Same?
8. What Are The Documents You Need To Send Your Products Via Container From China To UK?
9. When Is The Best Time To Reduce Your Cost Of Shipping Container From China To UK?
10. How Do You Calculate A 20ft Container Shipping Cost From China To UK?
11. Can You Make Insurance On Container Prices From China To UK?
12. What Types Of Payments Are Required Before Shipping Container From China To UK?
13. What Are The Prohibited Items That Can Not Be Shipped By Containers From China To UK?
14. Which Are The Major Ports That You Can Use For Shipping Container From China To UK?
15. What Are The Differences Between FCL And LCL Shipping Container From China To UK?
16. What Procedures Can You Follow To Reduce The Cost Of Shipping 40ft Container From China To UK?
17. Does Shipping Container From China To UK Need Any Types Of Maintenance?
18. What Is The Weight Of The Shipping Container From China To UK?
19. Do Containers Have Any Types Of Ventilations When You Ship The Products From China To UK?
20. Can The Shipping Container From China To UK Be Affected By Condensation?
21. Can You Use An A Grade Container From China To UK To Ship Your Goods?
22. Does The Container From China To UK Need To Go Through Customs?

1. What Is The Procedure For Shipping Container From China To UK?

Shipping container from China to UK can be costly and a headache if you do not know the proper ways and systems.

You can follow up with some easy steps and can get your goods at a cheap container rate from China to UK.

Here are some steps you can follow for shipping container from China to UK:

• First, your supplier will load your goods in a container and send them to the port.

• When your shipments reach one of the ports in China, they will go through customs clearance over there before loading.
• When the customs clearance is finished, your goods will be filled from the container to a vessel by your freight forwarder.
• When all the procedures and your goods are filled, they will ship to UK via sea freight with different routes.
  There are some routes that you can choose for shipping container from China to UK.
  The goods can also be shipped via rail freight too as China and UK are connected by rail too.
• After your goods reach the port, they will go through the customs clearance where you need your papers, along with customs duties, tariffs, VATs, etc.
• When all the procedures are done in customs, you can either receive your goods by yourself or take help from a freight forwarder to send them to your destination.

You have to pay an extra charge if you are looking for a door to door delivery of course.

This is the whole procedure for shipping container from China to UK of yours.

Sometimes, many freight forwarding companies can charge more than what you should pay to them.

That is where HART Worldwide Logistics Limited comes to save your money and time!

We can reduce the cost of shipping container from China to UK that you will be surprised.

So, for shipping container from China to UK, you can always visit HART.

2. What Are The Sizes Of Containers That Ships From China To UK?

There are several types of containers you will get when you ship.

Some of them are dry storage containers, flat rack containers, open-top containers, double doors containers, insulated or thermal containers, etc.

But for shipping container from China to UK, we will find some sizes like 20ft containers, 40ft containers, and 40ft HQ containers.

They have their dimensions and loading capabilities different when shipping container from China to UK.

Both containers have two types of dimensions, an exterior dimension, and an interior dimension.

The exterior 20ft container dimensions can be on average –

Length – 20ft

Width – 8ft

Height – 8ft 6inches

The internal volume of a 20ft container can be around 30-33 CBM(Cubic Metres).

On a contrary, a 40ft containers exterior dimensions can be-

Length – 40ft

Width – 8ft

Height – 8ft 6 inches

The internal volume of a 40ft container can be around 60-65 CBM.

Also, the 40ft HQ container has almost the same size as a 40ft container but the height will be 1ft taller, which is 9ft 6 inches.

You will see them when shipping container from China to UK.

Also, it should be mentioned that the cost of shipping 40ft container from China to UK can be different from 20ft.

Here is a link is given below for you to understand the dimensions and sizes of a container-

3. What Are The Methods For Shipping Container From China To UK?

There are two methods for shipping container from China to UK.

One is called FCL shipping, another is known as LCL shipping.

They have a lot of differences between their shipping methods.

FCL Shipping

An FCL container shipping, also known as the full container loading method, actually fills the whole container which will be bought by you when you will be shipping products.

You can use either a 20ft container or a 40ft container.

You should remember that paying the total cost of shipping 40ft container from China to UK, even for 20ft is mandatory too.

As you will provide the whole cost of container from China to UK, you can fill the whole container with your products too.

As soon as your products are filled up, they will sail for the destination.

LCL Shipping

LCL (Less than a Container Loading) describes shipping a part of a container by your goods.

Other individuals or companies can also put their loadings with your ones.

In this method of shipping container from China to UK, the cost is calculated per CBM.

Also, you can use either 20ft or 40ft containers for shipping your products from China to UK.

In this method, the ship does not sail as soon as your products are filled up.

It waits for other individual’s products to fill up too, then starts a shipping container from China to UK.

4. What Are The Container Rates From China To UK?

As there are two ways, the container shipping rates from China to UK can differ a lot.

Also, the sizes of the containers matter too when it comes to pricing.

Normally, a 20ft container shipping cost from China to UK can be on average 550 USD to 900 USD.

If you are doing FCL shipping, you have to pay the whole amount by yourself.

The cost of shipping 40ft container from China to UK can be around 1,000 USD to 1,500 USD.

The cost is not fixed, because every month it can change.

Suppose, you want to learn about the 20ft container China to UK cost.

The cost of 20ft container from China to UK depends on market conditions, the usage of it, and the grade.

The cost of shipping 20ft container from China to UK can change because the container rates change.

So, the cost of shipping 20ft container from China to UK will never be the same.

 If you are shipping in the off-peak season, you can save a lot in the cost of 20ft container from China to UK.

If the cost of shipping 40ft container from China to UK is 1,200 USD in a month, in another month, it can be around 1,400 USD.

Certainly, these cost differences actually depend on a lot of things.

They are like your shipping routes, ports, the size of your container, the supplies, and demands for different seasons.

But, for the LCL shipping method, the charges can be different.

For the cost of a 20ft or the cost of shipping a 40ft container from China to UK, LCL shipping cost can be around 600 USD to 650 USD for per CBM.

5. What Are The Routes For Shipping Container From China To UK?

There are some major routes for shipping container from China to UK.

You can ship via a traditional maritime route which will let your cost of container from China to UK the same.

This route runs through the South China Sea, the Malacca Strait, and Suez Canal.

It takes around 30-40 days on this route and the cost of container from China to UK remains the same.

There is another new route named North Sea Route, that connects China and UK via sea.

It takes a bit of a long in this route for shipping containers from China to UK.

This reason, the cost of container from China to UK can be a bit higher than other routes when sea shipping.

6. Why Do Container Shipping Rates From China To UK Fluctuate So Much?

As the shipping container from China to UK is a commodity, you can not find the shipping rates fixed.

It is controlled totally based on the market demands.

There are several aspects that make the fluctuation in the cost of shipping container from China to UK.

The ports that are adjacent to the cities and hubs will lower container rates from China to UK.

But, the inland and remote locations can make the cost of shipping container from China to UK more.

7. Is The 20ft Container Shipping Cost From China to UK Always Remain The Same?

The cost of shipping 20ft container from China to UK does not remain the same.

It totally depends on the market condition on how much a 20ft container from China to UK will cost.

Sometimes, the cost can be higher, sometimes, the cost can be lower.

Also, the 20ft container shipping cost from China to UK depends on various factors.

If you are going for the long port destination, then the cost of shipping 20ft container from China to UK can change too.

Also, there can be a new or used 20ft container too that people use.

There are also some ranked ones that can change a 20ft container China to UK cost.

For buying a IICL container, the 20ft container China to UK cost can be a bit high.

For buying an A graded container, the cost of 20ft container from China to UK can change too.

A new 20ft container shipping cost from China to UK can be higher than a used one.

So, the cost of a 20ft container from China to UK can not be the same and is quite impossible.

8. What Are The Documents You Need To Send Your Products Via Container From China To UK?

There are several documents that you need when you are shipping container from China to UK.

Here are some of the most important documents that are needed for your shipping-

Bill Of Lading

You can get either non-negotiable or negotiable which is known as the shipper’s order bill of lading.

Commercial Invoice

A commercial invoice is a paper of bills that lists the goods that have been passed from the seller to the buyer..

You need this to evaluate the costs of your goods when shipping container from China to UK.

This is a very important document that you should preserve.

Certificate Of Origin

If you are a resident of UK, you know how important the certificate of origin is.

Not every country’s customs ask for these documents but some countries do.

It is a signed document that shows the original location of the imported items.

Even if your commercial invoice has the same information, a certificate of origin is required.

Insurance Certificate

An insurance certificate is an assurance of coverage for the loss or damaged container when shipping.

The paper covers how much the freight forwarding company has to pay for the damaged goods.

The link below can help you to visually learn the shipping documentation needed to clear customs-

9. When Is The Best Time To Reduce Your Cost Of Shipping Container From China To UK?

Normally, the market conditions can be rough on business days.

The cost of a shipping container from China to UK remains high and it can sometimes not be affordable for small businesses.

Do not worry anymore, because there are times when you can reduce the cost of container from China to UK a lot.

There are some peak seasons when the container shipping rates from China to UK remain very low.

Here are the seasons included for understanding and enjoying the low cost of shipping container from China to UK-

• Chinese New Year – It happens in late January or early February.

At this time of the year, factories remain shut down which causes price spikes.

• Golden Week – It occurs in the first week of October.
  For the long week festival, the container prices from China to UK spike.
• Dragon Boat Festival – It occurs at the exact dates which are followed by the lunar calendar, mostly in June.
  At this festival, the businesses remain close for three days, which causes delays.
• Holiday Shopping Season – For shipping container from China to UK, from July to October, prices rise at a turtle pace over a period of months.

These are the perfect times to make your small businesses go high by saving money when shipping container from China to UK.

Also, you can have a look at HART Worldwide Logistics Limited for a low cost of shipping container from China to UK.

We research the market condition and ship your goods in containers from China to UK with a minimal cost that will surely satisfy you.

If you want to move your products by shipping container from China to UK, just ask us.

10. How Do You Calculate A 20ft Container Shipping Cost From China To UK?

If you are going for FCL shipping, a 20ft container shipping cost from China to UK is dependent on the capacity it can load.

The price for the FCL shipping remains the same even if you max up the 20ft container.

When calculating the shipping cost of 20ft container from China to UK under the LCL shipping method, there is a way to calculate your total shipping cost.

Figure out your weight in tonnes of volume in cubic meters of your total shipping goods.

Multiply the base rate with either weight or volume whichever is higher.

LCL shipping Cost (in CBM) = Weight or Volume x Base rate

This is how you calculate the LCL 20ft container shipping cost from China to UK.

11. Can You Make Insurance On Container Prices From China To UK?

Yes, you can make insurance on the container prices from China to UK.

Insurance is a way of an arrangement where a freight forwarding company will undertake to provide compensation for any damage that occurred in your container while shipping.

You can make insurance if you have any delicate items inside your container.

The insurance can also change the shipping container from China to UK cost.

If any of your properties get damaged during the freight forwarding, then the freight forwarding company is responsible for the compensation of the specific shipment.

But, you should also remember that, if the shipment is damaged from before or for the supplier’s fault, the freight forwarding company will not be liable for the compensation.

12. What Types Of Payments Are Required Before Shipping Container From China To UK?

For retail container sales, you need to provide the shipper with the total sales price including delivery charge.

You also have to pay all the associated fees or taxes before shipping container from China to UK cost.

Pretty normal to pay them because when your products will go through customs you will pay them eventually..

So, you can pay them first to your reliable freight forwarder and they can take the rest by themselves.

13. What Are The Prohibited Items That Can Not Be Shipped By Containers From China To UK?

When you are shipping container from China to UK, there are certain goods you can not bring.

The EU (European Union) has strictly prohibited these items to pass into UK.

Some of the prohibited items that you are not allowed to ship via container from China to UK are given below-

• Controlled drugs
• Weapons that are offensive like flick knives
• Pepper spray and CS gas that is for self-defense
• Rough diamonds
• Endangered animals and plants
• Indecent and obscene materials, etc.

Remember, if you bring the goods even knowing they are prohibited in UK, your goods will be seized and sent back to the supplier.

14. Which Are The Major Ports That You Can Use For Shipping Container From China To UK?

When it comes to ports for shipping containers from China to UK, you will find a lot of them.

Some of the major ports for shipping container from China to UK are –

Port Of Origin	Port Of Destination
Shekou	Felixstowe
Qingdao	Felixstowe
Tianjin	Southampton

15. What Are The Differences Between FCL And LCL Shipping Container From China To UK?

The FCL shipping and LCL shipping container from China to UK cost has a lot of differences between them.

Here are some major differences between FCL and LCL shipping given below-

FCL Shipping	LCL Shipping
FCL shipping is a kind of shipping method where your whole container gets loaded by only your goods	In the LCL shipping method, a part of the container is filled with your goods. Other parts can be filled with other people’s goods too.
You can load as much as you want until you max the whole container out	You can not load as much as you want of a container when you are shipping via LCL
When loading into a container, there is no extra work to do.	Your goods may get mixed up with other people’s goods too sometimes.
FCL is ideal for bulk items and large volumes of products.	LCL shipping allows maintaining smaller and adaptable product inventory.

16. What Procedures Can You Follow To Reduce The Cost Of Shipping 40ft Container From China To UK?

Normally, the cost of shipping 40ft container from China to UK can be the same as normal.

But if you are thinking about reducing it, there are some tips to follow for you-

Consolidating Goods For Shipping

You can try to consolidate all your goods that can reduce around 20% upmost in the cost of shipping 40ft container from China to UK.

Gather all your smaller shipments to form a large shipment and ship them together from China to UK.

Some freight forwarders may have problems while consolidating goods, where HART Worldwide Logistics Limited is here to help.

We can easily consolidate your goods and ship them together to reduce your cost of shipping 40ft container from China to UK.

HART also helps to reduce the damage risks to the minimum so that you can relax and not worry about that part.

Package Your Products Wisely

Try to design the packaging of your product for container efficiency.

This way you can load more products and can reduce the cost of shipping 40ft container from China to UK.

It is very easy to reduce product volume, be smart and reduce the amount of support packaging in the container.

Go For FCL Shipping Container From China To UK

The FCL shipping method is the money saving method for container shipping from China to UK..

Because when you do FCL shipping, you can ship products in bulk which will reduce your cost of shipping 40ft container from China to UK a lot.

Ship In The Off-Peak Season

As you have learned before about the festivals, ship your products in bulk in that time to reduce the costs.

Many small businesses try to do this to reduce the cost of shipping 40ft container from China to UK.

Develop Relationships With Freight Forwarders

The better your relationship with the freight forwarder, the more offers you can get from them.

Try to make reliable freight forwarders so that you can get a lot of inner facilities from them.

You can try these methods to reduce the cost of shipping 40ft container from China to UK.

17. Does Shipping Container From China To UK Need Any Types Of Maintenance?

It is a little maintenance that a shipping container from China to UK need.

If the containers go straight to secure storage use, they will require less maintenance than the used containers.

For utilizing a new container, you can expect to benefit from it for around 50-years because the steel of a new container deteriorates slowly.

But you should look for the door hinges, they should be under maintenance.

Use grease and oil every year to use the hinges and locking bars easily for shipping container from China to UK.

Even the door seals can last at least 10 years while deteriorating.

For the used containers, you can follow up the same way to use them to the fullest potential.

18. What Is The Weight Of The Shipping Container From China To UK?

The weight of a shipping container from China to UK can be measured in many ways.

You can calculate the cost of shipping container from China to UK by measuring the weight of it.

Two types of weights you will find when you calculate the shipping container from China to UK cost.

One is the tare weight, which is calculated without the contents.

This weight is only about the container.

Another weight is the gross weight, where the shipment weight is included too.

Here are the weights of the 20ft and the 40ft container given below-

	Tare Weight	Gross Weight
20ft container	4,500 pounds	55,000 pounds
40ft container	8,500 pounds	67,000 pounds

These weights help to figure out the 40ft and the 20ft container China to UK cost.

19. Do Containers Have Any Types Of Ventilations When You Ship The Products From China To UK?

Yes, containers have their ventilation for the product’s environment.

You can find vents on the upper portion of a container manufactured.

The vents help a shipping container from China to UK make it more prone to condensation in a cold or wet environment.

You should check the ventilation if they are opened or not.

The ventilations also keep the fresh products into their top quality.

20. Can The Shipping Container From China To UK Be Affected By Condensation?

Yes, a shipping container from China to UK can be affected by condensation.

The condensation occurs when the walls of the container get freezy than normal air in a container.

If this type of scene occurs in your container, the moisture will fall out of vapor and liquid form and will be seen in the walls and the roofs.

That is the reason why the ventilation system is very important to be seen.

Always keep a check in your ventilation system if it is properly functioning or not.

21. Can You Use An A Grade Container From China To UK To Ship Your Goods?

Before you learn to use an A grade shipping container from China to UK csot, you should learn what an A grade container is.

A container can be said “A Grade” if they are used in a decent shape, which can be compared to a wind and watertight(WWT) container.

The containers have no holes, including the intact floors, clean interior, and functioning door seals.

One problem you can face is that they can have rust, dents, and dings.

The cost of shipping container from China to UK of an A grade is quite similar to a used one.

So, you can use these types of containers to shipping your goods.

22. Does The Container From China To UK Need To Go Through Customs?

Yes, the container from China to UK needs to go through the customs of UK.

Without customs clearance, you can not let your container inside the UK region.

When going through customs, you have to show the documents, while paying the customs duties, and VATs.

If you try to avoid customs clearance, you have to say goodbye to your shipments which will go back to your supplier.

Final Words

Hope this FAQ guide has helped you about the containers, the cost of shipping container from China to UK.

You should always bear this in mind, the container prices from China to UK can change a lot.

Be smart, and look for offers to get the best container rates from China to UK.

For a reliable freight forwarder, HART will be the best choice.

We can provide you with the best quotations and offers for your concerns.