Which Door-to-Door Shipping Option Is Best for Fast and Cost-Effective Delivery From China to Major Countries?

The transit time is for a quick comparison. In practice, it can be impacted by multiple factors, for example: peak season, geopolitical factors, port congestion, etc. For the exact transit time, please contact our service team. We will offer you a customized quotation in detail. 

Which International Express Couriers Do You Cooperate With?

DFH Logistics cooperates with three major international express couriers: DHL Express, FedEx Express, and UPS Worldwide. 

In general, if your destination is in Europe, DHL is your best choice. If your shipments are to the U.S., FedEx is a top choice. If your cargo is mainly heavy goods and business deliveries, we suggest UPS.

DHL Express

DHL Express has advantages in shipments from China to Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia. It has a wide global network and expertise in customs clearance. This makes it excellent for e-commerce restocking, samples, documents, and time-sensitive goods. 

Many of our customers select DHL when they need to transport goods to regions, including Germany, France, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, South Africa, and other countries. If you need to deliver small parcels with a stable transit schedule, DHL is a top option.

FedEx Express

FedEx Express is outstanding in China-US shipments. With an exceptionally strong air transport capacity, it offers a stable transit time in North America. This makes it ideal for shipments of electronics, medical equipment, high-value products, and urgent shipments. 

In practice, we choose FedEx to deliver American e-commerce goods and business deliveries. If you have high demands for fast tracking updates and reliable flight schedules, FedEx is an exceptional choice.

UPS Worldwide

UPS Worldwide has an edge in commercial logistics, heavy cargo, and business deliveries in the United States and Europe. It is perfect for shipments of large packages, industrial products, and B2B cargo. Many of our factories, warehouses, and business clients choose UPS for its stability in the transit process.

If your goods are over 21 kg, we recommend UPS as a stable solution for long-term supply chain transportation.

How Long Does Express Take?

The table below is for a quick reference. In practice, transit time is influenced by several factors. For example, in peak seasons, high cargo volumes and congestion may take an extra 1 to 2 days beyond standard schedules. If you are not sure how long it takes to ship to your destinations, please contact our service team for a detailed quotation.

What Documents Are Needed for International Express?

When you are shipping via international express couriers (such as DHL, FedEx, and UPS), the paperwork required is significantly simplified compared to sea freight and air freight. The express couriers clear customs on your behalf. They only need several precise documents to ensure your cargo undergoes smooth customs clearance without delay.

For common cargo, there are three core documents required: Air Waybill (AWB), Commercial Invoice (CI), and Packing List (PL). In this process, DFH Logistics will help you prepare the paperwork. You only need to provide us with related information.

Air Waybill (AWB)

An Air Waybill (AWB) is the tracking label. It is the official receipt between the sender and the express carrier.  It contains the unique tracking number, the contact information and addresses of both the sender and the receiver.

The AWB will be automatically generated when we book the shipment online through the express carrier’s system.

Commercial Invoice (CI)

The Commercial Invoice (CI) is the most essential document in customs clearance. The customs officials use it to determine the precise import duties and taxes.

Below are the must-include contents in the CI:

• Full legal names and addresses of both buyer and seller
• Detailed Cargo Description: Highly specific description. For example, instead of electronics, “smartphones with lithium batteries” is the correct form.
• HS Codes (Harmonized System Codes): The standard 6-to-10-digit tariff classification code for your specific product.
• Unit Value, Total Value, and Currency (such as USD and EUR)
• Incoterms: DAP/DDU/DDP

Packing List (PL)

Packing List (PL) records how your goods are physically packed and arranged in a detailed way. 

Below are the must-include contents in the PL:

• Number of cartons
• An itemized breakdown of what is inside each box 
• Net weight
• Gross weight
• Dimensions (Length*Width*Height)

The customs officials will use the Packing List(PL) to cross-reference the physical package against the values declared on your Commercial Invoice (CI).

What Additional Documents Are Required for Special Cargo?

If your cargo contains certain restricted goods, the customs will demand supplementary certifications before releasing your cargo. Here are the common types of special cargo and documents required.

Electronics and Battery Goods: SDS (MSDS)

If your electronics (such as phones, laptops, or smart devices) contain batteries, you are required to offer a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and a Dangerous Goods Declaration. In this way, you can prove your products are compliant with international air transit safety rules.

(Material Safety Data Sheet, or MSDS, is the old version of SDS.)

Branded Items: Authorization Letter

When shipping branded products with international trademarks, you must provide an official brand authorization letter to prove your goods are authentic.

Regulated Markets: Certificates of Origin (CO)

Some destination countries require Certificates of Origin (CO). This allows importers to obtain preferential tariff treatment under free trade agreements. In some cases, this is to comply with local trade compliance rules (such as the SONCAP/Form M process for Nigeria).

How Much Do International Express Shipments Cost?

The table below is only for a quick reference. The freight rate is affected by multiple factors, such as season and cargo type.  For a precise and detailed quotation, please contact us. Our service team will offer you a customized quotation instantly.

Why is International Express Customs Clearance Faster Than Air Freight?

There are 3 major factors that affect the customs clearance time.

Different Customs Channels

• International Express

International Express uses the Express Dedicated Channel. The customs allow express couriers to use simplified manifest-based customs declaration procedures. In this way, the customs system automatically filters and releases standard parcels instantly.

• Air Freight

Air Freight uses the General Cargo Channel. Customs performs standard inspections on each bulk shipment. This takes a long period of queueing.

Different Airport Ground Handling Speed

• International Express

The international express couriers have their own dedicated parking bays and automated sorting centers at the airport. After landing, the cargo directly enters the sorting lines. This process usually completes within 1 to 3 hours.

• Air Freight

After landing, the cargo is transferred to the public terminal of the airport. It commonly takes 4 to 8 hours to queue for unloading, tallying, and sorting.

Different Impact of Customs Inspections

• International Express

Each parcel has its own independent tracking number and is declared individually. If one parcel has issues, the customs only detain this item for inspection. Other packages will not be detained together.

• Air Freight

Multiple goods are commonly packed and declared on a single pallet. This means that if one of the goods is detained by the customs for inspection, the whole pallet of goods is held up.

Does Express Shipping have a Chargeable Minimum Weight Limit?

Yes. International Express has a low minimum weight of 0.5 kg. This makes international express an ideal logistics solution for small parcels, documents, samples, or high-value, lightweight goods. You don’t need to wait to accumulate a massive cargo load to meet the chargeable minimum weight in China. 

How to Calculate Chargeable Weight for Express Shipments?

The chargeable weight is the higher of the Actual Gross Weight and Volumetric Weight.

Volumetric Weight is measured based on the total volume of your cargo. 

Actual Gross Weight is the actual weight on a scale. 

Heavy and compact cargo commonly uses actual gross weight as the chargeable weight.

Large and lightweight cargo occupies more space than small cargo. In this case, the chargeable weight is the volumetric weight, instead of the actual gross weight. 

Formula of Volumetric Weight

Different express couriers (such as DHL, FedEx, UPS) may apply different volumetric conversion standards. The formula below is provided as a general industry reference.

Example: for a box of 50cm × 40cm × 40cm, its volumetric weight is 16kg.