💰 Current Freight Rates
| Weight / Volume | Rate (USD / KG) |
|---|---|
| 0-20 | USD 22.56 |
Trade Terms Explained — Who Pays for What
The rate above is quoted on one specific trade term. Change the term and you change how much of the journey to United Kingdom is already inside the price. The table below maps the eleven common Incoterms® against the twelve cost stages of a door-to-door shipment, so you can see exactly where our responsibility ends and yours begins.
- Seller — Cost and arrangement sit with the seller / shipper.
- Buyer — Cost and arrangement sit with the buyer / consignee.
- Negotiable — Not fixed by the rule — agree it in the contract.
| Term | 1 Loading on truck | 2 Export customs declaration | 3 Carriage to port of export | 4 Unloading at port of export | 5 Loading on vessel / aircraft | 6 Main carriage | 7 Cargo insurance | 8 Unloading at port of import | 9 Loading on truck at import | 10 Carriage to destination | 11 Import customs clearance | 12 Import duties & taxes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXW Ex Works | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck | Buyer Buyer — Export customs declaration | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to port of export | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of export | Buyer Buyer — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Buyer Buyer — Main carriage | Buyer Buyer — Cargo insurance | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| FCA Free Carrier | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to port of export | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of export | Buyer Buyer — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Buyer Buyer — Main carriage | Buyer Buyer — Cargo insurance | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| FAS Free Alongside Ship | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Buyer Buyer — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Buyer Buyer — Main carriage | Buyer Buyer — Cargo insurance | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| FOB Free On Board | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Buyer Buyer — Main carriage | Buyer Buyer — Cargo insurance | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| CFR Cost and Freight | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Seller Seller — Main carriage | Buyer Buyer — Cargo insurance | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| CIF Cost, Insurance and Freight | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Seller Seller — Main carriage | Seller Seller — Cargo insurance | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| CPT Carriage Paid To | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Seller Seller — Main carriage | Negotiable Negotiable — Cargo insurance | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of import | Seller Seller — Loading on truck at import | Seller Seller — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| CIP Carriage and Insurance Paid | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Seller Seller — Main carriage | Seller Seller — Cargo insurance | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of import | Seller Seller — Loading on truck at import | Seller Seller — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| DAT Delivered At Terminal (DPU) | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Seller Seller — Main carriage | Negotiable Negotiable — Cargo insurance | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of import | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| DAP Delivered At Place | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Seller Seller — Main carriage | Negotiable Negotiable — Cargo insurance | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of import | Seller Seller — Loading on truck at import | Seller Seller — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| DDP Delivered Duty Paid | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Seller Seller — Main carriage | Negotiable Negotiable — Cargo insurance | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of import | Seller Seller — Loading on truck at import | Seller Seller — Carriage to destination | Seller Seller — Import customs clearance | Seller Seller — Import duties & taxes |
EXW Ex Works
Buyer takes over at the seller's door and carries every cost from there. Lowest quoted price, highest buyer workload.
FCA Free Carrier
Seller clears the goods for export and hands them to the carrier the buyer nominated.
FAS Free Alongside Ship
Sea and inland waterway only. Seller delivers alongside the vessel; loading is on the buyer.
FOB Free On Board
Sea and inland waterway only. Risk passes once the goods are on board. The most common buying term.
CFR Cost and Freight
Seller pays the main carriage but carries no insurance obligation; risk still passes on loading.
CIF Cost, Insurance and Freight
As CFR, plus the seller must buy and pay for cargo insurance (minimum cover unless you agree more).
CPT Carriage Paid To
Any mode. Seller pays carriage through to the named destination; insurance is not obligatory.
CIP Carriage and Insurance Paid
As CPT, plus the seller must insure the cargo through to the named destination.
DAT Delivered At Terminal (DPU)
Seller delivers unloaded at the named terminal. Renamed DPU (Delivered at Place Unloaded) in Incoterms® 2020.
DAP Delivered At Place
Seller delivers to your address ready for unloading; import clearance and duty stay with the buyer.
DDP Delivered Duty Paid
Seller carries everything through to your door, duty and tax included. Highest quoted price, least buyer workload.
Two things worth flagging. Under CIF and CIP the seller is obliged to buy cargo insurance and pay the premium; under every other term insurance is optional, and we recommend buyers arrange their own cover so a loss or damage in transit is recoverable. And this table is a working summary for planning purposes — the binding definitions are the ones published by the International Chamber of Commerce in the Incoterms® rules, so confirm the exact term wording in your sales contract before you ship.
📋 Service Details
About This Service
International freight from China to United Kingdom via Small Parcel General Cargo. All duties and taxes included (DDP).
Related Shipping Pages for the UK
Comparing rates across weight brackets and modes helps you pick the right channel. Use these live rate pages to benchmark this duty-paid service against other channels for the same lane:
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ℹ️ Additional Information
Documentation Required
Commercial invoice, packing list, and accurate HS codes for all items.
Tracking & Customs Resources
Once your shipment is in transit you may want to verify status or look up official duty rates. The following third-party tools and government portals are often useful for shipments to the UK:
External resources are provided for reference and open in a new tab. Always confirm current rules with your customs broker before shipping.
📊 China to United Kingdom — Shipping Reference Data
| Main air gateways | LHR (Heathrow), STN (Stansted), EMA |
|---|---|
| Destination customs authority | HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) |
| De-minimis / duty-free threshold | GBP 135 |
| Import tax & duty regime | VAT 20%; duty 0–12% by commodity code |
| Local currency | GBP |
| Typical clearance / dwell time | 2–4 days |
| Peak / busy season | Sep–Nov |
| Conformity & certification | UKCA/CE marking for regulated goods |
Thresholds and duty bands are buyer-planning references, not formal customs rulings — confirm the exact HS-code rate for your goods before shipping.
🧰 Free 3D Loading Tools for This Air Route
This page covers a Air freight service from China to United Kingdom. Use the matching tool below to plan your cargo before requesting a quote.
3D Carton Packing Calculator
Before tendering this Small Parcel General Cargo shipment, check how many units really fit per carton — the 3D packing tool computes layers, rotation, and protective gaps for your exact product dimensions.
Open Packing Tool →✅ United Kingdom Air Freight Checklist
- Label every carton with destination, carton number, and total count (e.g. 3/12).
- Compare volumetric weight (L×W×H÷6000) with actual weight — the higher one is billed.
- Keep single cartons under 30 KG for air handling to United Kingdom to avoid overweight surcharges.
- Confirm whether the United Kingdom rate includes fuel and security surcharges or lists them separately.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Small Parcel General Cargo from China to United Kingdom take?
Air freight on this route runs about 5–10 business days door-to-door, plus roughly 2–4 days of clearance/dwell once it reaches the gateway. All times include customs clearance under DDP terms.
What duties and taxes apply when importing into United Kingdom?
Clearance is handled by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). The regime is: VAT 20%; duty 0–12% by commodity code, with a de-minimis position of GBP 135. Under DDP these are pre-paid, so nothing is collected on arrival.
Can you ship special cargo (batteries, branded goods) to United Kingdom?
Yes — battery cargo by air follows IATA PI966/PI967; we run certified battery channels via LHR (Heathrow), STN (Stansted), EMA. Brand-goods and DG paperwork are handled within the DDP service. Surcharges apply.
How is the shipping cost on this route calculated?
We compare actual gross weight against volumetric weight (L×W×H ÷ 6000) and charge the greater, rounded up to the next kilogram, then apply the per-KG rate shown in the table above.
Which ports or airports does this route use into United Kingdom?
Sea cargo to United Kingdom clears through Felixstowe, Southampton, London Gateway; air freight clears via LHR (Heathrow), STN (Stansted), EMA. We route through whichever gateway gives the fastest onward delivery to your address and build it into the DDP price.
What documents are required for customs clearance in United Kingdom?
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) typically requires a commercial invoice with HS codes, a packing list, the bill of lading/air waybill, a certificate of origin (may lower duty), and any product certification (UKCA/CE marking for regulated goods). We file these under DDP.
📈 Historical Price Records
All price updates are recorded here. Use the weekly tabs to browse older entries.
| Date | 0-20 |
|---|---|
| 2026-08-03Latest | USD 22.56 |
| 2026-07-30 | USD 22.55 |
| 2026-07-20 | USD 22.58 |
| 2026-07-17 | USD 22.51 |
| 2026-07-14 | USD 22.49 |
| 2026-07-07 | USD 22.47 |
| 2026-07-03 | USD 22.48 |
| 2026-07-02 | USD 22.47 |
| 2026-06-30 | USD 22.47 |
| 2026-06-23 | USD 22.47 |
| 2026-06-15 | USD 22.50 |
| 2026-06-08 | USD 22.50 |
| 2026-05-14 | USD 22.45 |
| 2025-12-29 | USD 22.45 |
Price Trend
⭐ Customer Reviews
What customers say about shipping to United Kingdom with us.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Consistently excellent for air parcels to the UK. We ship regularly to our London warehouse and this channel has been reliable across every single booking. HMRC customs is handled smoothly, delivery is punctual, and the DDP terms mean our receiving team never has to deal with any border formalities. The rate is competitive for the service level. Nothing to improve.
Good experience shipping general goods to Manchester. The parcel was collected, exported, and delivered within the quoted window with no drama. The declared value process was handled properly and there were no duty demands on arrival. One small gripe: we didn't receive a booking confirmation email for about three hours after payment, which was slightly nerve-wracking. Everything turned out fine though.
We used this route for a regular replenishment to United Kingdom. Updates were clear and practical. Tracking updates were not excessive, but they came when something important changed. Overall a reliable experience for repeat imports.
We used this route for a regular replenishment to United Kingdom. Very smooth process from booking to delivery. Tracking updates were not excessive, but they came when something important changed. Would use the same line again for general cargo.
Smooth DDP air shipment to Birmingham. This was a time-sensitive order and the team prioritised the booking accordingly. Customs was pre-filed and cleared without delays. Our client commented that the parcel arrived in better condition than goods from their previous supplier. We'll be moving more of our UK volume to this channel.
We tested this lane to United Kingdom with a mid-volume order. Updates were clear and practical. The booking process was straightforward and the team confirmed documents early. Would use the same line again for general cargo.
Booked another door-to-door shipment to United Kingdom through this team. Updates were clear and practical. Cartons arrived clean and labels were still readable on delivery. Overall a reliable experience for repeat imports.
This was a DDP shipment to United Kingdom for mixed cartons. Very smooth process from booking to delivery. Cartons arrived clean and labels were still readable on delivery. A practical option when we need predictable landed cost. Good landed-cost visibility from the start.
Booked another door-to-door shipment to United Kingdom through this team. Very smooth process from booking to delivery. The landed price stayed aligned with the quote, which helped our budgeting. A practical option when we need predictable landed cost.
This was a DDP shipment to United Kingdom for mixed cartons. Very smooth process from booking to delivery. Transit was close to the estimate and the destination delivery appointment was handled well. Better coordination than the forwarder we used before.
We tested this lane to United Kingdom with a mid-volume order. Updates were clear and practical. The booking process was straightforward and the team confirmed documents early. Would use the same line again for general cargo.
Booked another door-to-door shipment to United Kingdom through this team. Updates were clear and practical. Transit was close to the estimate and the destination delivery appointment was handled well. Overall a reliable experience for repeat imports. Everything landed as promised.
We used this route for a regular replenishment to United Kingdom. Very smooth process from booking to delivery. The landed price stayed aligned with the quote, which helped our budgeting. Would use the same line again for general cargo. Everything landed as promised.
We used this route for a regular replenishment to United Kingdom. Updates were clear and practical. Cartons arrived clean and labels were still readable on delivery. A practical option when we need predictable landed cost.
Used this service twice now for air freight. Both times the delivery was smooth and the pricing was transparent.
Booked another door-to-door shipment to United Kingdom through this team. Updates were clear and practical. Pickup from the supplier was arranged quickly and customs stayed under control. A practical option when we need predictable landed cost.
Efficient service for consolidation shipments. Would have appreciated more proactive updates during transit.
The DDP service is excellent — everything included in the quoted price. No additional fees upon arrival.
Mostly a smooth experience. There was a small delay at the origin port but the team communicated clearly and resolved it quickly.
Quick turnaround and great packaging. My goods arrived in perfect condition and ahead of the estimated delivery date.
Decent service but transit took about a week longer than quoted. Goods arrived undamaged which is the main thing.
Good service overall. The freight cost was competitive and the clearance process was handled well.
Shipping United Kingdom cargo by industry
This rate is for the lane. What decides whether the cargo arrives intact is the commodity — how it prices, how it must be packed and loaded, and which compliance step holds it at the border. These guides cover that per industry.
- Amazon FBA E-commerce & Retail Channels
- Metal Fabrication Metal Products & Industrial Components
- Cutting Tools Metal Products & Industrial Components
- Compressors General Machinery & Industrial Equipment
- Automated Storage Equipment Construction, Mining & Material Handling
- Electrical Cabinets New Energy, Power & Electrical
- Automotive Glass Automotive & Vehicles
- Doors & Windows Building Materials & Construction Products
- Paper Packaging Wood, Bamboo & Paper Products
- Packaging Materials Plastics, Rubber & Packaging
- Connectors Electronic Components & Semiconductors
- Consumer Electronics Consumer Electronics & Smart Devices
📞 Contact Us
Ready to ship? Our team responds within one business day. We also handle sourcing and purchasing.