International Transport & Logistics

International transport is not simply a matter of requesting the price of a container. The solution depends on the nature of the goods, their weight, volume, order value, required delivery time and country of destination.

A coherent logistics organisation seeks a balance between cost, speed and service level. For an importer, this assessment helps determine the landed cost of the product and protect its margin.

Sea, Air, Rail or Express Freight

Sea freight is generally suitable for bulky goods and shipments for which the required delivery time allows a more economical solution. Two main options are available: Full Container Load (FCL), with a container dedicated to the shipment concerned, and Less than Container Load (LCL), or consolidated sea freight, where several shippers share the space in the same container.

FCL is generally suitable when the volume justifies a full container or when dedicated management of the load is appropriate. LCL makes it possible to ship smaller quantities without booking a full container. The choice depends in particular on volume, weight, overall cost, handling constraints and project deadlines.

Air freight is faster and may be suitable for lightweight, urgent or high-value goods. Certain categories may be subject to specific packaging, labelling, declaration or safety requirements. The standards applicable to air cargo transport defined by IATA ↗ provide an international reference for the organisation and safety of these shipments.

Rail freight between China and Europe provides an intermediate solution between sea and air freight. Faster than sea freight and generally more economical than air freight, it can be suitable for certain projects depending on the destination, shipment volume, available rail connections and required transit time.

For small volumes, samples or certain urgent requirements, express shipping can simplify transportation when its cost remains consistent with the project.

Incoterms and Responsibilities

The choice of Incoterm helps determine certain costs and risks, the obligations of the seller and buyer, and the organisation of certain stages of the transaction. No Incoterm is systematically preferable: the choice depends on the transaction, the importer’s experience and the responsibilities that each party agrees to assume.

The Incoterms® rules published by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) ↗ provide the international reference for defining the respective obligations of the seller and buyer in a commercial transaction.

SINOROADLINK helps you understand the proposed Incoterm and coordinate the logistics stages agreed with suppliers. When discussions require more extensive preparation, our business support and translation service in China facilitates communication, meetings and negotiation.

Customs Clearance and Door-to-Door Delivery

An international shipment must be accompanied by documents suited to the goods and destination. Depending on the selected service, we can facilitate the preparation of the necessary logistics information and coordination with the professionals responsible for customs formalities.

A Door-to-Door solution can also be considered to organise the journey from the supplier to the agreed place of delivery. The exact responsibilities remain defined by the chosen commercial and transport terms.

Anticipating logistics from the sourcing stage in China helps prevent a product that is attractive to purchase from becoming too expensive once transported. Packaging, possible consolidation, freight mode, lead times, documents and final destination must be included in the profitability calculation before an important purchasing decision.

Supplier sourcing may also involve trade fairs in China. To prepare your meetings with manufacturers, read our guide to the Canton Fair and supplier sourcing in China.