Sheet Metal Shipping from China
Export freight for sheet metal — packing specification, container loading, HS classification and clearance. Quoted EXW, FOB, CIF, CIP or delivered duty-paid.
Sheet Metal shipping from China is straightforward once the cargo is understood: this is freight that flat processed stock, heavy for its footprint and easy to distort, and the routing follows from that.
The pricing follows from it. Usually weight-limited. Coil and plate carry serious mass in a small footprint, so payload runs out early and the floor loading per square metre becomes the binding constraint rather than total gross.
A caution particular to this commodity. Handling damage at transhipment. Sheet bundles get forked from the wrong side and creased. Specify fork pockets or designated lifting points in the packing, and mark them clearly on the bundle.
On the compliance side the recurring item is straightforward to state and easy to leave too late: Material certificates; CE marking where the part is load-bearing or safety-critical. HS classification generally falls in chapter 73 / 82 / 83, though the exact heading depends on specification and should be confirmed against your own product before you rely on a duty estimate.
Freight reference — Sheet Metal
| Typical HS chapter | 73 / 82 / 83 |
|---|---|
| Cargo behaviour | Flat processed stock, heavy for its footprint and easy to distort |
| How it prices | Weight-limited |
| Usual service | Sea FCL |
| Main compliance step | Material certificates; CE marking where the part is load-bearing or safety-critical |
| 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
Full-length bearers under every stack — an unsupported overhang bows permanently over a four-week crossing. Interleave with paper where the sheet is coated or brushed; sheet-on-sheet movement scratches the surface even inside a strapped bundle.
Loading the container
On loading: Support the full footprint. Anything overhanging its bearers will deform under its own weight during a four-week transit, and coils must be chocked so they cannot rotate — a coil that starts rolling at sea will not stop.
Choosing the service
On routing: Sea FCL. Coated and mirror-finish material is worth loading into a clean, inspected container: rust bloom and condensation staining are cosmetic defects that still get the load rejected.
Where it usually goes wrong
Handling damage at transhipment. Sheet bundles get forked from the wrong side and creased. Specify fork pockets or designated lifting points in the packing, and mark them clearly on the bundle.
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 sheet metal as much as to any other general cargo on the same route.
Frequently asked questions
How is freight priced for sheet metal?
Usually weight-limited. Coil and plate carry serious mass in a small footprint, so payload runs out early and the floor loading per square metre becomes the binding constraint rather than total gross.
How should sheet metal be packed for export?
Full-length bearers under every stack — an unsupported overhang bows permanently over a four-week crossing. Interleave with paper where the sheet is coated or brushed; sheet-on-sheet movement scratches the surface even inside a strapped bundle.
Air or sea for sheet metal?
Sea FCL. Coated and mirror-finish material is worth loading into a clean, inspected container: rust bloom and condensation staining are cosmetic defects that still get the load rejected.
What customs paperwork does sheet metal need?
The step that most often holds a shipment is Material certificates; CE marking where the part is load-bearing or safety-critical. Classification normally falls in HS chapter 73 / 82 / 83, 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 sheet metal shipments?
Handling damage at transhipment. Sheet bundles get forked from the wrong side and creased. Specify fork pockets or designated lifting points in the packing, and mark them clearly on the bundle.
Is there anything specific to sheet metal we should know?
Get the specification onto the invoice in the same words the manufacturer uses. Generic descriptions on mixed industrial consignments are the single biggest trigger for customs inspection, and an inspection costs more in delay than accurate paperwork costs in effort.
Can you quote sheet metal 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.