Shipping from China to the UK
The UK has run its own independent customs regime since leaving the EU. Here's how a shipment from China actually gets cleared and delivered.
- Modes available FCL · LCL · Air
- Typical ocean transit 25–45 days
- Typical air transit 3–7 days
Main gateways
Most direct sailings from China call one of three UK container ports.
Felixstowe
The UK's largest container port and the default gateway for most direct China–UK sailings.
Southampton
A strong alternative to Felixstowe with regular direct Far East services and good inland links.
London Gateway
A newer deep-water port close to London, increasingly used for direct Far East calls.
Air Freight typically routes through Heathrow or East Midlands Airport, depending on your destination and carrier.
Choosing a mode for this lane
FCL
The standard choice once volume passes roughly 15 CBM. Direct, sealed, and the most predictable option into Felixstowe or Southampton.
FCL Shipping →LCL
Share a container and pay only for the space you use — the right call for smaller or occasional shipments to the UK.
LCL Shipping →Air Freight
Days instead of weeks, for urgent restocks, high-value goods, or time-sensitive Amazon UK replenishment.
Air Freight →EORI, VAT & documents
Since leaving the EU, the UK clears every commercial shipment through its own customs declaration service. To import, your business needs a GB EORI number and the following ready for each shipment:
- GB EORI number (required to clear customs at all)
- Commercial invoice & packing list
- Bill of lading or air waybill
- Correct commodity code (HS code) for your goods
- Any product-specific certificates (UKCA marking, etc.)
On duty and VAT: most goods face import duty of 0–12% depending on the commodity code, plus standard UK import VAT, currently 20%, charged on the value of goods plus duty plus freight. VAT-registered businesses can often defer this to their periodic VAT return through Postponed VAT Accounting rather than paying it upfront at the port. Because duty depends on your product's exact classification, we confirm the applicable rate as part of your quote.
Shipping inventory into Amazon UK warehouses
If your cargo is headed to Amazon UK fulfilment centres, we handle labelling, carton marking and FBA-compliant documentation alongside your FCL, LCL or Air booking.
Common questions
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Do I need a UK company to import from China?
You need a GB EORI number to clear customs, which any UK-registered business (or a UK-established importer of record) can obtain. We can advise on setting this up as part of your first shipment.
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Felixstowe or Southampton — which is better?
Felixstowe generally offers more frequent direct Far East sailings; Southampton can be faster to clear and better placed for some inland destinations. We'll route your cargo based on your delivery location and required transit time.
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Can I reclaim the import VAT?
If your business is VAT-registered in the UK, import VAT is generally recoverable through your VAT return, and can often be deferred using Postponed VAT Accounting rather than paid upfront.
Ready to ship to the UK?
Tell us your cargo, volume and destination and we'll put together an accurate quote — duty and VAT included.