China → United Kingdom · FCL sea freight
FCL Shipping from China to the UK
Loaded under our supervision in Yiwu, booked to UK ports.
FCL shipping from China to the UK: we book full 20ft, 40ft and 40HQ containers from Ningbo or Shanghai to Felixstowe, Southampton and London Gateway. We handle the China side: loading, export documents and China customs declaration. Your UK importer or customs agent takes over at the port.… See more
02 / Route at a glance
China to the UK: Key Facts for FCL Shipping
FCL shipping from China to the UK runs from Yiwu through Ningbo or Shanghai to Felixstowe, Southampton and London Gateway. Sea transit is typically 28–38 days port to port, plus about a week on the China side before the ship sails.
- Sea transit
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28–38 days
Port to port, depending on the route. Add about 5–7 days on the China side before sailing.
- Containers
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20 · 40 · 40HQ
FCL is priced per container, not per kg. We book 20GP, 40GP and 40HQ containers.
- Indicative rate
-
US$2,070–2,530
For a 20ft container, as at October 2026. A 40ft runs US$3,150–3,850. Market ranges, not a quote.
- Quote validity
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2–3 weeks
Carrier rates move often, so every written quote has an expiry date. Confirm the sailing before you book.
What we handle, and what stays with you. We handle loading supervision, export documents, China customs declaration and container booking. Your UK importer or customs agent handles the GB EORI, the UK customs declaration (CDS), duty and import VAT, port charges and haulage. We do not offer air freight, DDP or door-to-door delivery.
03 / Ports & transit
FCL Shipping Routes to the UK
Typical sea transit from our China loading ports to the main UK container ports.
Ports of loading
Ningbo · Shanghai
China · CNNGB · CNSHA
-
FXTFelixstoweGBFXT
LocationSuffolk, East of England
28–38 days Port to port
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SOUSouthamptonGBSOU
LocationHampshire, South coast
28–38 days Port to port
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LGPLondon GatewayGBLGP
LocationThames estuary, Essex
28–38 days Port to port
Transit times are estimates. Confirm the actual sailing, discharge port and cut-off date when booking.
Routing
Which route will your ship take?
Carriers sail through the Suez Canal or around the Cape of Good Hope. The Cape route adds roughly one to two weeks. We confirm the routing on every quote.
Get an FCL quoteIllustrative, not to scale
04 / Understanding your quote
What Decides the Price of FCL Shipping from China to the UK?
FCL shipping is priced per container, not per kilo. Your final cost depends on the container, carrier, sailing week and China-side arrangements.
Indicative market rates, China to UK main ports
As at October 2026
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20ft container · about 33 m³
20GP indicative rate: US$2,070–2,530
Per container, ocean freight to the main UK ports.
Best for dense, heavy cargo
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40ft container · about 67 m³
40GP indicative rate: US$3,150–3,850
Per container, ocean freight to the main UK ports.
Best for volume and mixed goods
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40ft high cube · about 76 m³
40HQ indicative rate: US$3,150–3,850
Per container, ocean freight to the main UK ports. The 40HQ can carry a small uplift.
Best for light, bulky cargo
What moves the price: sailing week and carrier, route, destination port, cargo weight, peak season and trucking from Yiwu to the port. Market reference ranges, not a quote; rates can move sharply from month to month. Sources: Sino Shipping, ExFreight, October 2026.
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Destination port
The UK discharge port and the sailing route set the ocean freight rate for your shipment.
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Container and weight
Container size and cargo weight affect the shipment plan and applicable charges.
Cargo limit is roughly 26–28 tonnes per container.
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Carrier and sailing week
Freight rates change weekly. Peak-season demand, and routing via Suez or the Cape, can change the cost.
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Trucking from Yiwu
Trucking from Yiwu to the loading port (Ningbo or Shanghai) is listed separately in your quote.
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Terminal and cut-off
The assigned terminal and the last gate-in date can change your shipping plan.
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Quote validity
Every written quote states how long the offered price remains valid, usually two to three weeks.
05 / The shipping process
From Your Supplier to the Open Sea.
Follow your FCL shipment through six clear stages, from cargo details and loading inspection to sailing for the UK.
01 / 06
Your shipment journey
06 stages
Additional support
China export documentation
Explore our documentation service for your shipment.
06 / Shipping responsibilities
Al Fajar Handles China. Your Agent Handles the UK.
Our office is in Yiwu, Zhejiang. Your shipment is booked, documented and followed by our Yiwu team, and we check the loading before the container goes to the port. We cover the China side only, so you know who is responsible at each step.
Your shipment journey
- Our responsibility
- Your responsibility
- Factory pick-upChina
- Export clearanceChina customs
- HandoverVessel departs China port
- UK import clearanceCDS, via your agent
- DeliveryYour haulier
China-side operations
We Handle
We coordinate the key export activities in China.
- Pick-up and trucking to the port
- Loading check
- Export documents
- China customs declaration
- Container booking
Our responsibility
UK-side tasks
You Handle
You or your UK customs agent take over at the port.
- GB EORI and the UK customs declaration (CDS)
- Duty and import VAT
- UK port charges and haulage
- Delivery to your warehouse, with your UK agent
Your responsibility
Service boundaries
We Do Not Offer
- Air freight
- DDP delivery
- Door-to-door delivery
07 / UK import guide
UK Import Basics: EORI, Commodity Code and Postponed VAT
Your UK agent files the import declaration, but you need three things ready before the ship sails.
-
Needed first
GB EORI number
A UK importer needs an EORI number to make a customs declaration, or an agent who uses theirs. Apply on GOV.UK before you book.
- Free to apply, from HMRC
- Without it, the container cannot be cleared
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Sets the duty
Commodity code
The code for your goods sets the duty rate. Its first 6 digits are the international HS code, which we put on every China document.
1234567890 International HS codeUK digitsUK Trade Tariff · GOV.UK (opens in a new tab) -
Cash flow
Postponed VAT accounting
VAT-registered importers can declare and recover import VAT on the same VAT return. Your VAT number goes on the declaration.
- Import VAT declared on your VAT return
- Recovered on that same return
Two declarations
One shipment, two customs systems.
Goods are declared in China for export and in the UK for import, through HMRC's Customs Declaration Service (CDS). We file the China declaration from the same invoice and packing list your UK agent will use, so values, descriptions and codes match.
Get an FCL quoteChina · Export
China customs declaration
Filed by Al Fajar
Same invoice and packing list
- Values
- Descriptions
- Codes
United Kingdom · Import
HMRC Customs Declaration Service
Filed by you or your UK agent
Sources: GOV.UK, EORI · UK Trade Tariff · Postponed VAT accounting.
08 / Landed cost
Plan the UK Landed Cost of FCL Shipping from China
Your UK agent confirms the final figures. Duty is charged on the customs value (goods plus freight and insurance to the UK border) at the rate for your commodity code.
Worked example · illustrative
£20,000 of goods from China to the UK
- GoodsValue on your supplier's invoice £20,000
- Freight and insuranceTo the UK border £3,000
- Customs valueDuty is charged on this £23,000
- Duty at 4% (assumed)4% of £23,000. Your commodity code sets the real rate £920
- Import VAT at 20%20% of £23,920 (customs value plus duty) £4,784
Paid to UK customs
Duty and VAT together
£5,704
Illustrative figures. Duty rates differ by product; this example assumes 4%. VAT-registered importers can account for import VAT on their VAT return (postponed VAT accounting).
Sources: GOV.UK, ExFreight, WorldFirst. Duty rates differ by product; the example uses an assumed rate.
09 / Customs, documents and delays
China customs and delays for FCL shipping from China to the UK
Cargo cannot be loaded for export until the China export declaration is filed and released. We prepare and file it: see our China Customs Declaration and China Export Documentation services.
Documents we work with
5 documents- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- Sales contract
- Bill of lading
- Certificate of originOnly if your buyer or bank asks. The UK has no trade agreement with China, so it does not lower duty
Delays at Ningbo and Shanghai
Why
- Typhoon season (mainly July to October)
- Peak season
- Several vessels arriving together
What we do
- Book early
- Confirm the cut-off
- Prepare documents before the cargo is ready
If a sailing rolls, we tell you and move you to the next one.
Today's status
Check the carrier notice or the port authority. We do not publish live congestion numbers.
10 / FAQ
Questions buyers ask about FCL shipping from China to the UK
Straight answers on cost, transit time, UK ports, duty and VAT, and documents.
How much does it cost to ship a 20ft or 40ft container from China to the UK?
The price is per container and depends on the port, the carrier, the sailing week and the cargo weight. Rates change every week, so the indicative figures on this page are a guide, not a quote. Send the details and a written quote arrives within 24 hours, with ocean freight and China-side charges listed separately.
How long does shipping take from China to the UK?
Sea transit is about 28 to 38 days port to port to Felixstowe, Southampton and London Gateway. Allow about a week in China for pick-up, loading and export documents before the ship sails. Carriers sailing around the Cape of Good Hope instead of through the Suez Canal add roughly one to two weeks. Your quote shows the actual sailing and routing.
Which UK ports do you ship to?
We book to the main UK container ports: Felixstowe, Southampton and London Gateway. Choose by where your UK agent and delivery address are. Tell us your delivery location and we suggest the discharge port that fits it in your quote.
Should I ship from Ningbo or Shanghai?
Choose by supplier location and sailing dates. For Yiwu and Zhejiang cargo, Ningbo is usually closer, so the truck haul is shorter. Shanghai can offer more sailings, or suit factories nearer Shanghai. Send us your supplier city and we quote both ports so you can compare.
How much UK import duty and VAT will I pay?
Duty is charged on the customs value, and import VAT is normally 20% on top. The customs value is the goods plus freight and insurance to the UK border. Duty uses the rate for your commodity code, and VAT is charged on the customs value plus duty. China has no trade agreement with the UK, so there is no preferential rate. The worked example above shows the sums, and your UK agent confirms the final figures.
Do I need an EORI number to import into the UK?
Yes. A UK importer needs a GB EORI number to make a customs declaration, or an agent who uses theirs. It is free from HMRC on GOV.UK. Apply before you book, because without it the container cannot be cleared. VAT-registered importers also give their VAT number if they use postponed VAT accounting.
What documents do I need for a UK-bound FCL shipment?
You need a commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading, plus your GB EORI and a commodity code for each product line. Controlled goods may need licences or certificates. A certificate of origin is only needed if your buyer or bank asks, and it does not lower UK duty. We prepare the China export declaration from the same invoice and packing list your UK agent uses.
Does Al Fajar clear the container through UK customs?
No. Al Fajar handles the China side: loading, export documents and the China customs declaration. Your UK importer or customs agent files the import declaration through HMRC's Customs Declaration Service and takes over at the port. We give you the documents and sailing details so they can prepare in advance.
How long does China export customs clearance take?
Customs pre-clearance is normally finished 24 to 48 hours before departure, and document cut-offs fall at about the same time. Exact times depend on the terminal and the carrier. We file early so the container is released before cut-off, because late documents are a common reason to miss a sailing.
Do you ship by air from China to the UK?
No, Al Fajar ships FCL by sea only. When cargo can wait a few weeks, sea freight is normally far cheaper per unit than air. If you need air freight, ask an air-freight specialist. For full containers to the UK we book the space, handle the China side and send you the documents.
Ready to ship to the UK?
Get your FCL quote within 24 hours.
One team handles your container from the first quote to the sailing: booking, loading in Yiwu and China export documents.
- Send your detailsSupplier city, container size and UK port
- Get a written quoteOcean freight and China-side charges listed separately, truck or rail stated
- We book and loadLoading checked in Yiwu, documents prepared before sailing
Request a quote
Reply within 24 hoursWhat to send us
- Supplier city in China
- Container size: 20GP, 40GP or 40HQ
- UK port or delivery location
Written quote. Charges listed separately.
or talk to us directly