Fashion Shipping from China
Export freight for fashion — packing specification, container loading, HS classification and clearance. Quoted EXW, FOB, CIF, CIP or delivered duty-paid.
Fashion shipping from China is straightforward once the cargo is understood: this is freight that season-critical stock where being late is worse than paying air freight, and the routing follows from that.
The pricing follows from it. Volume-limited in almost every case. Baled fabric compresses well and prices sensibly; hanging garments trade cube for presentation and cost noticeably more per unit shipped.
A caution particular to this commodity. Missing the window. A collection that lands after the drop date gets marked down immediately, which usually costs many times the air freight that would have saved it. Book air for the critical styles early rather than deciding when the vessel is already late.
On the compliance side the recurring item is straightforward to state and easy to leave too late: OEKO-TEX or REACH evidence, and origin documents for preferential duty. HS classification generally falls in chapter 50–63 / 64 / 42, though the exact heading depends on specification and should be confirmed against your own product before you rely on a duty estimate.
Freight reference — Fashion
| Typical HS chapter | 50–63 / 64 / 42 |
|---|---|
| Cargo behaviour | Season-critical stock where being late is worse than paying air freight |
| How it prices | Volume-limited |
| Usual service | Sea FCL, air in season |
| Main compliance step | OEKO-TEX or REACH evidence, and origin documents for preferential duty |
| 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
Pack by store allocation rather than by style where the buyer works to a drop calendar — pre-allocated cartons go straight through cross-dock without being opened. Mark cartons with the drop or delivery window so the warehouse can sequence them.
Loading the container
On loading: Keep bales clear of the container walls, where condensation forms first. Kraft or cardboard lining between cargo and wall is cheap and prevents most water staining.
Choosing the service
On routing: Sea FCL for replenishment volume; air for fashion where the season is the constraint and a missed window destroys the margin.
Where it usually goes wrong
Missing the window. A collection that lands after the drop date gets marked down immediately, which usually costs many times the air freight that would have saved it. Book air for the critical styles early rather than deciding when the vessel is already late.
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 fashion as much as to any other general cargo on the same route.
Frequently asked questions
How is freight priced for fashion?
Volume-limited in almost every case. Baled fabric compresses well and prices sensibly; hanging garments trade cube for presentation and cost noticeably more per unit shipped.
How should fashion be packed for export?
Pack by store allocation rather than by style where the buyer works to a drop calendar — pre-allocated cartons go straight through cross-dock without being opened. Mark cartons with the drop or delivery window so the warehouse can sequence them.
Air or sea for fashion?
Sea FCL for replenishment volume; air for fashion where the season is the constraint and a missed window destroys the margin.
What customs paperwork does fashion need?
The step that most often holds a shipment is OEKO-TEX or REACH evidence, and origin documents for preferential duty. Classification normally falls in HS chapter 50–63 / 64 / 42, 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 fashion shipments?
Missing the window. A collection that lands after the drop date gets marked down immediately, which usually costs many times the air freight that would have saved it. Book air for the critical styles early rather than deciding when the vessel is already late.
Is there anything specific to fashion we should know?
Made-up goods are duty-sensitive to fibre composition and origin, and the difference between two classifications can be several percentage points. Get the composition statement and origin evidence right at the invoice stage — correcting it afterwards means amending the entry.
Can you quote fashion 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.