KR
1. Three Ways to Import from China — Parcel Forwarding vs. Freight Forwarding vs. Direct Courier
The right method depends on cargo volume and purpose. For B2B business imports, freight forwarding is almost always the better choice on both cost and customs grounds.
| Method | Best For | Importer Type | Cost Structure | FTA Tariff Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parcel forwarding agent | 1-5 boxes, small quantity | Individual (simplified clearance) | Agent fee + freight (itemized separately) | Not available |
| Freight forwarding (LCL/FCL) | 0.5+ CBM, medium-large volume | Business (formal import declaration) | All-in quote available | Available with a CO |
| Direct courier | Small quantity, urgent cargo | Individuals and businesses | DHL/FedEx freight rates | Not available |
💡 B2B volume exceeding the personal customs clearance limit (approx. $150) requires a formal business import declaration. Routing through a parcel-forwarding agent makes it hard to confirm HS codes or handle origin labeling, and you won't be eligible for FTA tariff benefits either.
2. Major Chinese Export Ports — Lead Times and Strengths by Port
Your optimal departure port depends on where your factory is located. Compare lead time against each port's strengths below.
| Departure Port | Manufacturing Hub | Sea Transit to Incheon | Total Lead Time | Strong Categories |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🚢 Shanghai | Yangtze River Delta manufacturing, Yiwu | 2-3 days | 7-10 days | Apparel, household goods, general merchandise |
| 🚢 Ningbo | Zhejiang Province, near Yiwu | 2-3 days | 7-10 days | Textiles, apparel, consumer goods |
| 🚢 Shenzhen | Guangdong Province, IT industrial zone | 4-5 days | 10-14 days | Electronics/IT components, semiconductor materials |
| 🚢 Guangzhou | Pearl River Delta | 4-5 days | 10-14 days | Furniture, household goods, toys |
| 🚢 Qingdao | Shandong Province | 1-2 days | 5-8 days | Chemicals, tires, machinery |
| 🚢 Weihai | Northern Shandong Province | Next-day ferry | 3-5 days | Small-lot cargo, urgent shipments |
| 🚢 Dalian | Northeast China | 1-2 days | 5-7 days | Heavy industry, machinery, raw materials |
3. The 7-Step China Import Process
Just give us your factory location — your forwarder handles most of the 7 steps below.
01
Choose a forwarder & confirm the All-in quote
Provide item, CBM, and origin point, and get a total cost quote covering freight through customs clearance and inland delivery.
Request pre-shipment confirmation of HS code and clearance feasibility
Check whether your item qualifies for Korea-China FTA
02
Factory pickup — handled by a local partner
Your forwarder's local partner in China picks up cargo from the factory or warehouse and moves it to the CFS warehouse.
EXW terms: pickup directly from the factory door
FOB terms: factory delivers to the designated port, forwarder takes over from there
03
Origin labeling & document check
Before departure, check for missing or incorrect origin labeling. If you need an FTA CO, this is when you apply for it.
04
Loading — CFS consolidation, then container loading
LCL cargo is consolidated with other shippers' freight; FCL is loaded into a dedicated container, then the vessel departs.
05
Ocean transit — arrival at Incheon Port
A B/L (Bill of Lading) is issued, and cargo arrives at Incheon Port within 2-5 days depending on the departure port.
06
Import customs clearance
A customs broker files the import declaration. If documents check out, clearance completes within 1-2 days.
Items with separate requirements (KC certification, MFDS approval, etc.) take longer
Submitting an FTA CO applies tariff savings
07
Inland transportation & final delivery
Delivered to the designated address after clearance. Release within the free bonded-warehouse period (7 days with Tosome) means no extra storage fee.
4. LCL vs. FCL — Choosing the Right Method for China Imports
Even for the same China import, the optimal method depends on your volume. See our LCL Import Guide and FCL Import Guide for more detail.
| Category | LCL (Consolidated) | FCL (Dedicated Container) |
|---|---|---|
| Best volume | 0.1-15 CBM | 15+ CBM (20ft/40ft) |
| Freight basis | Per CBM | Per container |
| Lead time | Includes CFS wait — can add 2-5 days | Fixed to sailing schedule, relatively faster |
| Cost profile | Better for small volume, adds CFS charges | Better for large volume, no CFS fee |
5. FTA Tariff Benefits & Common Clearance Blockers
Using the Korea-China FTA, submitting a Certificate of Origin (CO) alone can bring your tariff down to anywhere from 0% to a few percent. HS code errors, missing origin labeling, and lack of KC certification are the most common causes of delay or return shipment during China import clearance. See our China Import Customs Clearance Guide for the full CO process and top 5 clearance blockers.
6. Tosome Logis China Import Service
Just tell us your factory's location — Tosome handles everything from pickup to your door.
Tosome Logis China Import Forwarding Terms
🌏Pickup anywhere in China — Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Weihai, Changsha, Yiwu, Qingdao, Dalian, all covered
📦All-in quote — freight, CFS warehouse fees, D/O fee, customs clearance, and inland transportation all included. No add-on charges mid-shipment
🏭Free local warehousing in China — no separate charge for storage between pickup and loading
🚢7 days free bonded storage in Korea — no warehouse fee if released within 7 days of arrival
🔍Pre-shipment HS code & import requirement checks — eliminates clearance-failure risk after arrival
📘Korea-China FTA CO issuance support — realize tariff savings
🚚Side-by-side comparison of LCL, FCL, and air options
7. Frequently Asked Questions
The right method depends on volume. (1) Small lots (1-5 boxes): a parcel-forwarding agent or direct courier. (2) Small-to-medium volume (0.5-15 CBM): LCL sea freight forwarding. (3) Large volume (15+ CBM): FCL container forwarding. For B2B business imports, forwarding is almost always more cost- and customs-efficient.
The basic documents are a B/L, Commercial Invoice, Packing List, and HS code. A Certificate of Origin (CO) is added when claiming Korea-China FTA benefits. Depending on the item, you may also need a KC certificate or MFDS approval — confirm these before shipping.
From departure port: about 7-10 days from Shanghai/Ningbo, 10-14 days from Shenzhen/Guangzhou, 5-8 days from Qingdao, and about 3-5 days from Weihai (covering factory pickup through final delivery).
Have your Chinese exporter (factory) issue a Certificate of Origin (CO) and submit it at the time of import declaration to apply the agreed tariff rate. Your forwarder can help coordinate CO issuance. Confirm FTA eligibility for your item before shipping.
Yes. Alibaba.com typically ships under FOB or EXW terms, handing cargo directly to a forwarder. 1688 is handled by your forwarder's local partner in China, who takes care of pickup. All you need to provide is the factory location.
Beyond the base ocean freight, charges like CFS warehouse fees, D/O fees, THC, customs clearance fees, and inland transportation are sometimes billed separately. Always ask your forwarder for an "All-in quote" covering total cost, and confirm whether anything not explicitly listed is included.
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