Consumer Electronics Shipping from China
Export freight for consumer electronics — packing specification, container loading, HS classification and clearance. Quoted EXW, FOB, CIF, CIP or delivered duty-paid.
Consumer Electronics shipping from China is straightforward once the cargo is understood: this is freight that high-value retail goods that are almost always dangerous goods as well, and the routing follows from that.
The pricing follows from it. Almost always volumetric on air freight — the cargo is light for its footprint. Value density is high enough that insurance and security handling are a meaningful share of the landed cost.
A caution particular to this commodity. The battery inside. Nearly every device in this category contains a lithium cell, which puts the consignment under PI967 by air or the IMDG equivalent by sea. Shippers who treat it as ordinary retail stock get the shipment offloaded and the booking cancelled.
On the compliance side the recurring item is straightforward to state and easy to leave too late: CE, FCC, RoHS and RED; a declaration for any embedded lithium cell. HS classification generally falls in chapter 85, though the exact heading depends on specification and should be confirmed against your own product before you rely on a duty estimate.
Freight reference — Consumer Electronics
| Typical HS chapter | 85 |
|---|---|
| Cargo behaviour | High-value retail goods that are almost always dangerous goods as well |
| How it prices | Volumetric on air |
| Usual service | Air |
| Main compliance step | CE, FCC, RoHS and RED; a declaration for any embedded lithium cell |
| Trade terms available | EXW, FOB, CIF, CIP, DAP or delivered duty-paid |
HS chapters are indicative. The binding classification depends on your exact specification — confirm the heading before relying on a duty estimate.
Packing and protection
Anti-static inner packaging, sealed retail cartons inside plain outer shippers, and no branding on the outside of the master carton. Palletise into unit loads and seal with numbered security seals — this is the most pilfered category in the container trades.
Loading the container
On loading: Palletise and shrink-wrap into unit loads so nothing can be opened without it being obvious. Where the value justifies it, seal with numbered security seals and photograph them.
Choosing the service
On routing: Air is the default: transit exposure is short, humidity risk low, and the freight cost is small against the goods value. Sea FCL for high-volume consumer runs where the schedule allows.
Where it usually goes wrong
The battery inside. Nearly every device in this category contains a lithium cell, which puts the consignment under PI967 by air or the IMDG equivalent by sea. Shippers who treat it as ordinary retail stock get the shipment offloaded and the booking cancelled.
Live rates on lanes that carry this cargo
Published per-kilo and per-CBM rates from China, updated from carrier feeds. Rates are lane-based rather than commodity-based, so these apply to consumer electronics as much as to any other general cargo on the same route.
Frequently asked questions
How is freight priced for consumer electronics?
Almost always volumetric on air freight — the cargo is light for its footprint. Value density is high enough that insurance and security handling are a meaningful share of the landed cost.
How should consumer electronics be packed for export?
Anti-static inner packaging, sealed retail cartons inside plain outer shippers, and no branding on the outside of the master carton. Palletise into unit loads and seal with numbered security seals — this is the most pilfered category in the container trades.
Air or sea for consumer electronics?
Air is the default: transit exposure is short, humidity risk low, and the freight cost is small against the goods value. Sea FCL for high-volume consumer runs where the schedule allows.
What customs paperwork does consumer electronics need?
The step that most often holds a shipment is CE, FCC, RoHS and RED; a declaration for any embedded lithium cell. Classification normally falls in HS chapter 85, but the exact heading depends on your specification — send the product details and we will confirm the code and the duty position for the destination before you commit.
What goes wrong most often with consumer electronics shipments?
The battery inside. Nearly every device in this category contains a lithium cell, which puts the consignment under PI967 by air or the IMDG equivalent by sea. Shippers who treat it as ordinary retail stock get the shipment offloaded and the booking cancelled.
Is there anything specific to consumer electronics we should know?
Almost all of this category ships with a lithium cell inside, which makes it dangerous goods under PI967 or the sea equivalent even though it looks like ordinary retail stock. Declare it — an undeclared battery is the most common reason these consignments get offloaded.
Can you quote consumer electronics on FOB or CIF rather than duty-paid?
Yes. We quote EXW, FOB, CIF, CIP, DAP and delivered duty-paid on this cargo. The term decides how much of the journey is already inside the price — the trade-terms table on any of our rate pages sets out exactly who carries which cost at each stage.