Bulk and Oversized Cargo Shipments from China: Features, Caveats and Solutions

How much does it cost to ship a container from China? A correct answer is that it depends on many important factors – both constants and variables. When it comes to the delivery of large cargo from China, there are several features, caveats, and solutions to consider:

Features:

Specialized Carriers: Container transportation of goods from China requires specialized carriers and equipment, such as flatbed trucks, low loaders, or even sea freight options for extremely large items. Delivery from China in a 20-foot container is a common solution for large and oversized items. It is a standard-sized intermodal container used for shipping goods by sea, rail, and truck having the following dimensions: External: 20 feet long, 8 feet wide, 8.5 feet high. Internal: Slightly smaller due to wall thickness. Capacity: Roughly 33 cubic meters or 1,170 cubic feet. Weight: Can hold up to about 28,210 kg (62,200 lbs) of cargo.
Customs and Permits: Oversized cargo may require special permits and customs clearance processes, which can vary depending on the destination and the nature of the freight transport from China.
Handling and Packaging: The handling and packaging of oversized cargo must be carefully researched and planned to ensure its safety, shock-proof, water-resistant properties and integrity during transit.
Route Planning: Sea logistics of oversized cargo from China requires meticulous planning to accommodate the size and weight of the cargo, cut transportation costs and consider expected height, weight, or width restrictions along the way.

Caveats:

Regulatory Compliance: Oversized cargo transportation is subject to strict regulations and compliance requirements, which need to be thoroughly understood and adhered to.

Solutions:

To Engage with Specialized Logistics Providers: Working with logistics providers experienced in handling oversized cargo can ensure a smooth and efficient delivery process.
To Seek Customs and Regulatory Expertise: Partnering with experts like Asia-West in customs clearance and regulatory compliance can help navigate the complexities of transporting oversized cargo.
To Apply Prudent Cargo Risk Management and Insurance: Implementing comprehensive risk management strategies and cargo insurance can mitigate the financial and operational risks associated with oversized cargo delivery.

By considering these features, caveats, and solutions, businesses can effectively navigate the transportation of oversized cargo from China, ensuring a successful and secure delivery process.

Role of Asia-West as Your Broker in an Oversized Cargo Shipment from China

Unlike delivery of ordinary consumer merchandise, delivery of large cargo from China requires certain additional important steps to consider. Apart from often time-consuming and complicated vessel identifying and booking, such customers will have to deal with complex shipping, financial and customs documentation, sometimes written in one of the local Chinese languages — such as Mandarin, Hakka, Cantonese, Central Min or one of dozen others — which is especially true when dealing with local logistics en-route to a seaport.

A customer would need to prepare all necessary documentation, including:

Commercial Invoice
Packing List
Bill of Lading (for sea freight) or Air Waybill (for air freight)
Certificate of Origin
Customs Declarations
Any required permits or licenses

Several essential considerations hint at why it is worth ordering from China using an experienced intermediary like Asia-West. Asia-West has a well-established network of local contacts, offers thorough research and booking of applicable vessels, uses extensively the Chinese languages — both oral and written — and has prolonged experience in organizing sea transportation from China. Turning to Asia-West instead of looking for suppliers directly from China while trying to cut on a broker cost, often turns out to be a great time- and money-saving idea.