Base rate + BAF
The ocean base freight plus Bunker Adjustment (BAF) — fuel-driven and revised quarterly by carriers. The largest single line item on a container quote.
Sea freight · China → USA
Sea freight from China to the USA — FCL & LCL, cleared through any US port.
Weekly sailings from Yantian, Shekou, Shanghai, and Ningbo to LA, Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle, New York, and Savannah. ISF & AMS filed in-house, all-in pricing, delivery to door or Amazon FBA.
13–18days, West Coast (FCL)
28–35days, East Coast (Panama)
Weeklysailings, all alliances
ISF · AMSfiled in-house, 24h pre-load
The corridor at a glance
What you're shipping into when you book China → USA sea freight.
Origin ports · China
6 main gateways
Yantian (Shenzhen)ShekouNansha (GZ)ShanghaiNingboQingdao
Destination ports · USA
West & East Coast
Los AngelesLong BeachOaklandSeattleNew York / NJSavannah
Frequency
Multiple sailings / week
FCL weeklyLCL consolidation weeklyCut-off locked per sailing
Carriers we book
All major alliances
MaerskMSCCMA CGMCOSCOONEHapag-LloydEvergreenZIM
Container sizes
20' · 40' · 40HQ · 45HQ
FCL — full containerLCL — consolidatedReefer / OOG on request
Incoterms supported
FOB · EXW · CIF · DAP · DDP
DDP — we pay duty + MPF + HMFFOB — you control the entry
Transit time · port to port
West Coast lands fast. East Coast goes via Panama.
Representative FCL port-to-port days from Shenzhen / Shanghai to major US ports. LCL consolidation adds roughly 5–8 days; transshipment or all-water routing adds time versus a direct sailing.
Fastest
FCL · port to port · days
010203035
Pricing factors
What moves a China → USA container rate.
Ocean rates are published base + surcharges, then reshaped by season and capacity. We quote all-in so the number you see is what you pay.
GRI & seasonality
Carriers file General Rate Increases around peak season (pre-Lunar New Year, summer, pre-Christmas). Booking ahead of a GRI window is the single biggest cost lever.
Container availability
Empty-container supply and blank sailings (carriers skipping a voyage) tighten capacity and push spot rates up. We book across all alliances to keep your box moving.
Port congestion & dwell
Vessel queues at LA/Long Beach or NY/NJ add days and demurrage. Routing through Oakland or Savannah, or off-peak berthing windows, sidesteps the worst dwell.
FCL vs LCL economics
Above ~12–15 CBM, a full container (FCL) usually beats consolidated (LCL) on both cost and transit. We price both in every quote so the break-even is visible.
DDP vs FOB — who pays duty
Under DDP we pay US duty, MPF (0.3464%), and HMF (0.125% sea). Under FOB/EXW you file the entry and pay CBP directly. DDP is simpler; FOB gives you customs control.
On this corridor
Beyond the ocean leg — the US-side work we handle.
DDP to the USA
Import duty, MPF, HMF, and customs clearance included. Your cargo arrives cleared — no CBP surprises on arrival.
Amazon FBA (US)
FNSKU labeling, compliant pallets, and direct-to-FC delivery to Amazon fulfilment centres across the US.
US customs brokerage
In-house CBP entry filing, HTS classification, ISF, and AMS — one team owns clearance start to finish.
Warehousing & transload
US-side devanning, transload, and onward trucking to door or DC — keep the supply chain moving past the port.
How it works
From booking to US delivery, in four moves.
01 — Book
Quote & book space
Share cargo and lane. You get an all-in FCL/LCL quote within 48 hours and we lock container space on the next fitting sailing.
02 — File
ISF + Bill of Lading
We file the ISF (10+2) at least 24 hours before loading, issue the B/L, and confirm sailing cut-off. Docs go to you the day they're filed.
03 — Sail
Ocean transit & track
Container sails. One tracking link covers vessel ETA, transshipment milestones, and berth — no six-portal juggling.
04 — Clear
CBP clearance & deliver
In-house CBP entry, duty/MPF/HMF, then drayage and last-mile — to your door, DC, or Amazon FBA centre.
Documents & compliance
The paperwork US Customs needs — and who files it.
US import clearance runs on a tight filing calendar. The ISF deadline is the one that bites: it must reach CBP 24 hours before the box is loaded at the China origin port. We file ISF and AMS ourselves so the deadline is never missed.
Full US import document guide| Document | Filed by | When |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial Invoice | Shipper | With B/L |
| Packing List | Shipper | With B/L |
| Bill of Lading (B/L) | Carrier / Prodoer | At sailing |
| ISF / 10+2 | Importer — Prodoer files | 24h before loading |
| AMS manifest | Carrier / NVOCC | 24–48h pre-sailing |
| HTS classification | Broker — Prodoer | At entry filing |
| CBP entry (7501) | Broker — Prodoer | On arrival |
| Certificate of Origin | Shipper / chamber | If preference claimed |
China → USA sea freight FAQ
The questions importers ask before the first container.
Transit days, container cost, ISF deadlines, FCL vs LCL, and Amazon FBA delivery. Don't see yours? An agent answers it in minutes.
How long does sea freight take from China to the USA?
Port to port, FCL runs about 13–18 days to the West Coast (Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle) and 28–35 days to the East Coast (New York, Savannah) via the Panama Canal. Add 5–8 days for LCL consolidation, origin pickup, and US customs + last-mile to get the full door-to-door picture.
How much does a 40ft container cost from China to the USA?
Spot rates swing with carrier GRIs, BAF, season, and capacity, so we don't publish a flat number. You'll get an all-in quote (base freight + BAF + origin + destination + ISF/AMS) within 48 hours. As a rule of thumb, West Coast ports run cheaper and faster than East Coast; booking ahead of a GRI window is the biggest lever.
What is ISF and when is it due?
ISF — Importer Security Filing, also called "10+2" — is the data set CBP requires before cargo loads at the foreign port. The deadline is 24 hours before vessel loading in China. Late or missed filings carry per-shipment penalties. We file ISF in-house as part of the booking, so the deadline is tracked automatically.
Should I ship FCL or LCL?
Roughly: below ~12–15 CBM, LCL (consolidated) is usually cheaper; above that, a full container (FCL) wins on both cost and transit and avoids consolidation handling. We price both in every quote so you see the break-even for your specific cargo and lane.
Can you deliver straight to Amazon FBA US warehouses?
Yes. Our Shenzhen and US teams apply FNSKU labels, build Amazon-compliant cartons and pallets, and deliver direct to US fulfilment centres. As an Amazon SPN-listed service provider, the prep workflow is audited against Amazon's receive requirements, so shipments aren't refused at the dock.
Do I pay US duty, and what are MPF and HMF?
Yes — US import duty is based on your product's HTS classification. On top of duty, sea imports pay MPF (Merchandise Processing Fee, 0.3464% with a min/max cap) and HMF (Harbor Maintenance Fee, 0.125% of value). Under DDP we pay all three; under FOB/DAP you (or your broker) pay them direct at entry.
Related corridors
Shipping the same cargo somewhere else?
Get an all-in China → USA sea-freight quote in 48 hours.
Tell us the cargo, origin port, and US destination. One agent replies with compared FCL and LCL rates, the exact sailing, and the ISF filing plan.