Shipping from China to Japan
Transferring goods to different parts of the world is of high value these days because of seeing world as a universal village. Shipping goods from China to Japan is one of the concerns which can be the best source of business for both of the countries without wasting time, energy and cost.
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Complete Guide to Shipping from China to Japan
Both China and Japan are two economies in Asia and tend to work together because of reasonable costs and services provided. In the past, these two countries were considered as rivals but recently they try to cooperate with each other to apply a Free Trade Agreement in the future. While there is not a special trade policy between them, a lot of goods are transferred between them to show their similar challenges and interests. Although this trade has some difficulties at first but it can be useful later. Paying attention to cost, time and customs can improve their economical values because these two countries are very famous due to their innovations in different fields and if they work together well, more achievements will be fulfilled. Following all these reasons, shipping from China to Japan has a high value around the world today.
It is usually a difficult task to start shipping, so the best suggestion is selecting an experienced freight forwarder to help you in this way. If not, it is better to ask the distributer to help you. There are some steps which are provided in a variety of Japanese shipping websites:
- Submit an import declaration, including the number, value and size of goods
- Goods are inspected by the Japanese customs office to be stored in the warehouse
- Taxes, including import and consumption, are paid. Also, other taxes may need to be paid depending on the type of the goods
- Goods are ready for customs clearance and then are moved to Japan
When all these steps are done correctly, the importer can make sure that all his or her goods will be delivered based on the desired plan.
Sea Freight from China to Japan
Japan, as the third-largest maritime power globally, boasts around 7,000 islands, facilitating smooth sea freight operations. Depending on the size of goods, businesses opt for either FCL (Full Container Load) or LCL (Less Container Load). Sea transport generally offers lower costs and enables the shipment of various products, from small items to large and heavy ones, making it highly advisable for importing furniture, vehicles, textiles, clothing, food and beverages, machineries, and heavy equipment into Japan.
Importers often choose FCL when more than half of the container will be filled or when they prefer not to share space with other goods. Thus, selecting FCL is cost-efficient and convenient. While sea freight may entail longer transit times, careful planning allows for timely delivery. Implementing a system to stay updated on progress mitigates delays, ensuring precise agreements between suppliers and importers. Additionally, freight costs may fluctuate seasonally, so obtaining quotes from freight forwarders beforehand prevents surprises.
Overall, sea freight from China to Japan typically adheres to fixed schedules with timely delivery, and various freight forwarders strive to offer competitive rates per cubic meter (CBM) or ton.
Shipping goods from China to Japan via sea freight is a common and cost-effective option for businesses.
Here’s an overview of the process:
Choose a Freight Forwarder:
Start by selecting a freight forwarder experienced in China-Japan routes. They’ll handle the logistics of your shipment, including documentation, customs clearance, and transportation.
Cargo Preparation:
Prepare your cargo for shipping, ensuring it’s properly packed and labeled according to international shipping standards. This includes securing goods in containers or pallets to prevent damage during transit.
Documentation:
Complete all necessary documentation, such as commercial invoices, packing lists, and a bill of lading. Your freight forwarder can assist with this process to ensure compliance with customs regulations in both China and Japan.
Booking:
Once your cargo is ready, book space on a container ship departing from a Chinese port to a Japanese port. The availability of shipping routes and schedules may vary, so it’s advisable to plan in advance.
Transit Time:
Sea freight from China to Japan typically takes around 5-10 days, depending on the ports of departure and arrival, as well as the chosen shipping route.
Customs Clearance:
Upon arrival in Japan, your cargo will undergo customs clearance. Your freight forwarder will manage this process, ensuring all required documents are submitted and any applicable duties or taxes are paid.
Final Delivery:
After customs clearance, your cargo will be transported to its final destination within Japan. This may involve additional inland transportation via truck or rail, depending on the location of the destination.
Tracking:
Throughout the shipping process, you can track the status of your cargo using the provided tracking number or through your freight forwarder’s online portal. This allows you to monitor its progress and anticipate any potential delays.
By following these steps and working with a reliable freight forwarder, you can successfully ship goods from China to Japan via sea freight.
When shipping goods from China to the USA via air freight, it’s crucial to consider various points:
- Choice of Airports: Several airports in China serve as crucial hubs for air freight to the USA.
- Cargo Handling Facilities: The selected airports boast state-of-the-art cargo handling facilities to ensure efficient processing.
- Flight Availability: Airlines operating between China and the USA offer regular and reliable flight schedules for cargo transportation.
- Customs Clearance: Streamlined customs procedures at both ends expedite the clearance process, reducing transit times.
- Cargo Security: Stringent security measures are in place to safeguard cargo during transit, ensuring its integrity upon arrival in the USA.
- Documentation: Proper documentation, including airway bills and customs declarations, is essential for smooth cargo handling and clearance.
- Special Handling Services: Additional services such as temperature-controlled transportation or hazardous materials handling are available for specialized cargo.
- Cost Considerations: While air freight may be faster, it’s essential to weigh the cost implications against the urgency of delivery.
- Tracking and Monitoring: Advanced tracking systems allow shippers to monitor their cargo’s location and status throughout the journey.
- Customer Support: Access to reliable customer support ensures prompt assistance in case of any issues or queries during the shipping process.
In conclusion, leveraging the efficiency and reliability of air freight services from China to the USA enables businesses to meet their shipping needs effectively and expediently.
Air freight from China to Japan
China and Japan are also connected by air. There are only six international airports located in Japan; so most flights from China should land in these places. Selecting air freight as the preferable shipment method depends on the budget. There is normally a direct flight from China to Japan every day and it will be expensive but it takes about 5 to 8 days, including export and import processes to deliver a package in Japan. Generally, if the goods are smaller than 2 CBM and 200 kg, air freight is the best option. Also, it can be considered when there is lack of time and the importer or exporter is in a hurry to receive or send the goods. Most products which are transported by air are test or samples of products, goods needed for exhibitions and the fragile ones. The other point which should be considered regarding to the airports is its cheaper storage fee but be aware to check this service if you need more time for storing goods. In general, main international airlines for air freight from China to Japan are responsible for this shipment which is usually popular because of competitive rates that freight forwarders offer to attract more customers.
Main Airports in China
In order to transfer air freights, airports are the necessary basis to achieve this goal. There are a lot of international cargo airports in China that five of them are listed below:
- Shanghai Airport: it is one of the busiest airports in the world and a lot of cargos are loaded and taken off in this airport.
- Beijing Airport: this airport transfers both cargos and passengers and is located near the capital city of China.
- Guangzhou Airport: there is a mixture of old and modern buildings in this airport which is under construction to develop it.
- Shenzhen Airport: the good point about this airport is its accessibility; it means it is possible to get these by ship, car or train.
- Chengdu Airport: it is an important airport in the western part of the country and facilitates most of the cargo shipments to different cities around the world.
Main Airports in Japan
Air freight from China to Japan is very popular but the number of international cargo airports in Japan is limited and three most famous ones are listed below:
- Narita International Airport: it is the largest airport situated 60 km east of Tokyo. This airport is accessible by different ways especially bus and train which depart from there fast.
- Kansai International Airport: it is a main airport in the western part of Japan and is situated 40 km southwest of Osaka. It is the nearest international airport to Kyoto.
- Chubu Centrair International Airport: it is located in the center of Japan, about 30 km south of Nagoya. It is easy to take a bus or train to go there.
Shipping from China to Japan Cost
International shopping costs are defined as the prices which should be paid to transfer goods from a country to another one and depends on some factors:
- Transportation method: air, sea, rail, and road
- Weight and volume of the cargo
- Type of the cargo: dry, fluid, general, dangerous, refrigerated
- Type of the shipment: FCL, LCL
It is advisable to ask a freight forwarder for freight forwarder from China to Japan because it is a complicated process especially for those who are the beginners. All in all, a freight forwarder can easily ask for the discount to ship goods and he or she knows the ropes to avoid wasting time and energy; and delivers goods at the destination on time. Therefore, there is not a stable shipping cost from China to Japan and you need to quote before starting the process depending on a variety of mentioned factors.
Sea Freight Cost
As the number of freight forwarders is a lot in China and different shipping companies offer different prices for sea freight from China to Japan, it is needed to find a trustworthy freight forwarder to do all necessary tasks with competitive rates without wasting time and having potential headaches. Sea freight can help you save your money for shipping. Although you need to wait longer for your goods to be delivered, less money is paid. In addition, if you try to plan your shipment in advance or in a bigger container, you will pay less. Some information related to sea freight from china to Japan is provided
Route | FOB Price | Minimum Order | Transit Time |
Guangzhou – Japan | $ 5 – 45 | 1 container | 1 – 15 days |
Shenzhen – Japan | $ 1 – 100 | 1 CBM | 20 – 25 days |
China – Japan | $ 200 | 1 20FT container | 30 – 40 days |
China – Japan | $ 500 | 1 piece | 20 – 25 days |
China – Japan | $ 1500 – 1800 | 20 pieces | 14 days |
Air Freight Cost
The price of fuel increases every year and fuel consumption of an airplane depends on its weight and distance. Therefore, the shipment cost is calculated based on the weight of cargos and the distance that an airplane should fly. This cost is more for charter services. It is usually more expensive to transfer goods in shorter distances because a long amount of time is spent on the ground and in the air for landing and taking off; so in order to save costs, it is better to transfer goods on road for shorter distances. There is some related information about air freight from China to Japan:
Route | FOB Price | Minimum Order | Transit Time |
Guangzhou – Japan | $ 5 – 45 | 1 container | 1 – 15 days |
Shenzhen – Japan | $ 1 – 100 | 1 CBM | 20 – 25 days |
China – Japan | $ 200 | 1 20FT container | 30 – 40 days |
China – Japan | $ 500 | 1 piece | 20 – 25 days28 |
China – Japan | $ 1500 – 1800 | 20 pieces | 14 days |
Express Cost
Express or courier shipping from China to Japan has different types; including DHL, UPS, EMS, FEDEX, and TNT which are door to door delivery. This service is really great for those parcels which are not very heavy and they have a high value. The weight of each parcel cannot be more than 2 kg. The post office or the shipping company gives you a tracking number to track the parcel from China to Japan in the website. There is not a specific time to deliver the package but it is about 3 to 7 days by express shipping. There are some websites that by entering exact destination, size and weight of the parcel; the costs are shown because they are inseparable. Express shipping is also expensive. All parcels cost fuel charges and insurance of €25 plus its own shipment cost. All in all, shipping costs is high which is because of the following reasons:
- An inappropriate method of shipment may be selected.
- FCL is selected when the weight and size of the cargo is small.
- A wrong comparison is done between Japanese market and international market’s logistics cost standards.
- A Japanese local freight forwarding company is selected for shipment.
Shipping from China to Japan Time
freight forwarder from China to Japan can be really easy if you try to counsel people who are professional in this field. In order to do this process, some steps will be followed:
- Consult a freight forwarder about your requirements to find the best shipping method based on the type and size of goods
- Transfer goods bought from different suppliers to the warehouse
- Pack all goods based on the needs and put special labels on them
- Transfer goods to the nearest seaport, airport or post office depending on their conditions
Generally, it takes about 6 to 10 days to transfer goods from China to Japan. It is about 3 days for doing the same job by air and it is usually about 3 to 7 days by the express method for freight forwarder from China to Japan.
Sea Freight Time
Japan has some basic ports such as; Tokyo, Nagoya, Yokohama, Osaka, Kobe, Moji, Hakata. There are also some partial ports which are more such as; Osamu, Niigata, Hiroshima, Chiba, Maizuru, Ube, Naojinjin, Iyo Mishima, Wakayama, Yokkaichi, Toyama New Port, Takamatsu, Imari, Dunhe, Matsuyama, Akita [16]. All these ports provide services for shipping to Japan, so the destination of sea freight is going to be one of the mentioned ports by sea freight. When sea freight from China to Japan is considered, the average transit time is varied from 6 to 10 days depending on the source and destination ports.
Air Freight Time
There are only five international airports in Japan which can be the destination of air freight from China to Japan which are named: Tokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport), Narita International Airport (Narita Airport), Chubu International Airport (Central Airport), Osaka International Airport (Idan Airport Osaka Airport) and Kansai International Airport (Kansai Airport). It is needed for a plane to move from China to Japan with a door to door service in 6 hours. If the express shipping is selected, the products will be delivered in 3 days. But this process takes about 8 days with regular air freights.
FAQ
There are a lot of questions asked in shipping from China to Japan. Two most important ones are listed:
- Required documents:
- Import permit in Japan: inform the exact value and quantity of goods
- The certificate of origin: showing documents to declare the originality of goods
- The bill of lading: giving information related to cargo and its payment process
- The customs duty payment
- The commercial invoice
- The packing lists
- Prohibited items:
- Dangerous materials: explosives, biohazard, chemicals, corrosive, flammable, poisonous
- Dangerous and illegal things: drugs, drug contraband, counterfeit, firearms, batteries, knife, tobacco, gambling
This question is one of the popular questions in shipping because time is really essential in business and people need to manage their plans based on the time in order to get the best services. The shipping method has a great role in time and cost estimation. It usually takes about 7 to 12 days by air while it is about 3 to 7 days by express shipping from China to Japan.
Sea freight from China to Japan is definitely the cheapest shipping method but you are required to pay attention to some points regarding to it. Firstly, this service is suitable if the suppliers who you are intended to buy goods are situated near Chinese ports. Secondly, sea freight is good when the goods are bigger than 2 CBM because if the goods are smaller, they cost you a lot of money. Thirdly, it takes a longer time in comparison with the other services; so if you are not in a hurry to deliver goods, it can be helpful. Generally, sea freight from China to Japan is considered as the cheapest, but longest, shipping method among all of the other methods [1].
There are some websites which are designed by shipping companies or the national post office to provide a tracking system. When the tracking number is entered, more details of your parcel and goods are shown and it is easy to track them online.
As shipment, especially shipping from China to Japan, is always in danger of accident, theft or storm, it is highly recommendable to insure the goods. Most shipping companies offer a variety of insurance services because they work with big insurers in their area to be able to cover your goods in every condition. If your goods are damaged, they are refunded which only costs 1% to 3% depending on the type of goods, transport and shipment cost. Therefore, selecting a supportive insurer can improve the security of the goods based on the specific insurance policy . The insurance cost will be calculated by this formula :
(goods’ value + freight value) * 1-3%
There are two types of the insurance for your goods. One of them is the transfer insurance which supports costs for non-delivery of goods but you need to remember that this insurance is not related to delays in goods delivery. It is recommendable for expensive goods. The other type of insurance is called marine cargo insurance which is used for sea, air and road transports. The goods are insured against any damages occurred due to loading or unloading, accident, climate, theft, piracy, and other problems. So this insurance is mostly suitable for international transports.