Shipping from China to the USA
The busiest ocean freight lane in the world — and one of the most complex right now, with formal customs entry required on every shipment. Here's how it actually works.
- Modes available FCL · LCL · Air
- Typical ocean transit 14–35 days
- Typical air transit 3–7 days
Main gateways
Where your cargo actually enters the country depends on the destination coast and the sailing schedule.
Los Angeles & Long Beach
The largest container gateway in the country and the fastest, most frequent route for China-origin cargo — the default choice for most FCL and LCL shipments.
Oakland
A Northern California alternative to San Pedro Bay, useful when it better matches your inland destination or sailing schedule.
Savannah
The fastest-growing major East Coast gateway, a strong option for cargo headed to the Southeast or Midwest without a West Coast transload.
New York / New Jersey
The largest East Coast port, well suited to cargo destined for the Northeast corridor.
Air Freight typically routes through major hub airports such as LAX, ORD or JFK, depending on your destination and carrier schedules.
Choosing a mode for this lane
FCL
The standard choice once volume passes roughly 15 CBM. Direct, sealed, and the most predictable option on this route.
FCL Shipping →LCL
Share a container and pay only for the space you use — the right call for smaller or occasional shipments to the US.
LCL Shipping →Air Freight
Days instead of weeks, for urgent restocks, high-value goods, or time-sensitive Amazon FBA replenishment.
Air Freight →Documents & customs entry
Every shipment into the US now requires a formal or informal customs entry — there is no longer a duty-free threshold for low-value packages. Typical documents we prepare or collect for a shipment include:
- Commercial invoice & packing list
- Bill of lading or air waybill
- Importer Security Filing (ISF / "10+2") for ocean shipments, filed before the vessel departs China
- HTS classification for your goods, used to determine applicable duty
- Any product-specific permits (FDA, FCC, CPSC, etc. depending on your goods)
On duties and tariffs: US import duty rates on goods from China have changed several times in recent years and remain subject to ongoing regulatory and legal proceedings — including the removal of the duty-free de minimis threshold for low-value shipments. Because rates depend on your product's HTS classification and can change with little notice, we don't publish specific duty percentages here. We calculate current, applicable duties for your actual goods as part of every quote, so tell us what you're shipping and we'll give you an accurate landed cost.
Shipping inventory into Amazon's US warehouses
If your cargo is headed to Amazon fulfillment centers, we handle labeling, carton marking and FBA-compliant documentation alongside your FCL, LCL or Air booking, and can split shipments across multiple US warehouses.
Common questions
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Which port should my cargo use?
Most shipments route through Los Angeles / Long Beach for speed and sailing frequency. We'll recommend a West or East Coast gateway based on your final destination and required transit time.
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Do I need a customs broker?
Yes — every commercial shipment into the US requires a formal customs entry. We coordinate this as part of your booking so you don't need to arrange a broker separately.
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Is de minimis (duty-free under $800) still available?
No. Duty-free treatment for low-value shipments from China was removed, and every shipment now requires a customs entry with applicable duty paid regardless of value. We factor this into every quote.
Ready to ship to the USA?
Tell us your cargo, volume and destination and we'll put together an accurate quote — duties included.