Shipping from USA to China
Airlift’s own US office handles your export; licensed agent partners in China handle import clearance and delivery.
Get a USA–China freight quote
Lane Overview
China buys industrial machinery, chemicals, raw materials and capital equipment from the United States. Airlift ships these exports from major US ports: our US office manages the export side, and a licensed agent network in China handles arrival. Most moves on this lane are full containers, and shipments have to clear Chinese customs and meet China’s import licensing rules.
(Based on Airlift’s operational data and past shipments on this lane.)
Quick Facts: USA China
Main Ports on This Lane
US Origin Ports:
Houston, Los Angeles, New York. Los Angeles gives the shortest transit to China.
China Destination Ports:
Shanghai, Shenzhen, Ningbo, Qingdao
Transit Times by Port Pair (P10–P90)
From Houston
| Destination port | Transit planning range |
|---|---|
| Shanghai | 30–40 days |
| Ningbo | 32–42 days |
| Shenzhen | 35–45 days |
From Los Angeles
| Destination port | Transit planning range |
|---|---|
| Shanghai | 16–25 days |
| Ningbo | 18–27 days |
| Shenzhen | 20–30 days |
From New York
| Destination port | Transit planning range |
|---|---|
| Shanghai | 35–45 days |
| Ningbo | 36–48 days |
Ranges show the middle 80% of Airlift’s past shipments (P10–P90). Depending on the carrier, cargo may transship in Busan or Singapore.
These ranges are port to port only. The glossary explains what a quoted transit time includes and which origin and destination legs it leaves out.
Shipping to China? Tell us your origin port and cargo.
Send your cargo details and ready date, and we’ll quote your shipment.Questions about your cargo?
Tell us what you ship and how it is packed, and a specialist will contact you.What Ships on This Lane
Most common:
- Industrial machinery and spare parts
- Chemicals (non-hazardous)
- Agricultural products
- High-value manufactured goods
We also handle:
Plastics, packaging materials, industrial equipment.
Customs and Paperwork
In the USA (export)
- AES export filing required
- Commercial invoice, packing list and, where needed, export licenses
- Handled through Airlift’s US office
In China (import)
- Import declaration with China Customs (GACC)
- CIQ (China Inspection and Quarantine) checks may apply
- Duties and VAT set by the HS code
- Coordinated by Airlift’s licensed agent partners
Service Options
- Full Container Load (FCL)
- Less than Container Load (LCL) on select routings
- Door delivery in China on request
- Special equipment on request for machinery or out-of-gauge cargo
Why Ship with Airlift
- Regular sailings on this lane
- Service from major US origin ports to China’s main destination ports
- Experience with machinery, chemicals and industrial cargo
- Our own US office manages the export, with licensed agents in China
- Track your shipment on Airlift’s digital platform
Check our licenses before you ship
Each license and membership below links to the public register or directory that lists it, so you can verify who you are dealing with before you send cargo details.
- FMC OTI license 016162 — Licensed and bonded NVOCC and ocean freight forwarder, d/b/a Airlift Container Line. Look it up on the FMC OTI list →
- FMCSA property broker, USDOT 2355713 / MC-798584 — US drayage and trucking arranged as a non-asset broker through contracted motor carriers. FMCSA SAFER company snapshot →
- WCA World member since 2019 — Los Angeles head office and New Jersey branch, both with Gold Medallion financial protection. WCA member profile →
- C-TPAT certified — Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism, U.S. Customs and Border Protection. About C-TPAT →
- NCBFAA regular member — National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America. NCBFAA →
- IATA CargoLink listed — IATA-accredited air cargo agent, listed in the CargoLink directory. CargoLink listing →
What to include in your quote request
The more of this you send, the more complete the quote, and the easier it is to compare with others.
- Pickup and delivery locations, preferred ports and inland transport requirements.
- Cargo description, package count, gross weight and packed dimensions, or container size and quantity.
- Cargo-ready date, delivery deadline and handling or storage requirements.
- Which services and charges you want quoted, so every quote you compare covers the same scope.
Get a USA–China freight quote
Your route is already in the notes; edit it if you need to. Then add what you are shipping, when it is ready, pickup and delivery locations, and the services you want quoted.
Tools and guides for this lane
Shipping from a country without a lane guide? See every origin, by region, on shipping to the USA by country of origin.
Frequently asked questions
Typically 16–48 days by ocean, depending on where you ship from. Los Angeles to Shanghai is fastest at 16–25 days. Houston to Shanghai runs 30–40 days, and New York to Ningbo is the longest at 36–48 days. These ranges come from Airlift’s own shipment history (the P10–P90 spread, i.e. the middle 80% of past shipments), not carrier brochure estimates.
Exports leave from Houston, Los Angeles or New York and arrive at Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen or Qingdao. West Coast departures are much faster because they avoid the Panama or Suez routing. East Coast sailings may transship (change vessels) in Busan or Singapore.
Both. Full containers (FCL) go in 20′, 40′ and 40′ high-cube equipment, with flat-rack and open-top on request for machinery and oversized (out-of-gauge) cargo. Shared-container LCL is available on select routings. Door delivery in China is available on request through Airlift’s agent partners.
In the US: a commercial invoice, a packing list and Electronic Export Information (EEI) filed in AES. EEI is required when any Schedule B line is worth more than $2,500 or the goods need an export license, and Airlift files it for you. In China: an import declaration with China Customs (GACC), coordinated through Airlift’s licensed agent partners, plus CIQ inspection for regulated goods.
It depends on the goods, not the freight. China Customs sets duty by the product’s HS code and charges import VAT on top, plus consumption tax for some categories. Airlift’s agent partners coordinate the declaration and duty payment with the consignee. Note that the tariff simulator on this site covers US imports only.
Use the rate search to compare live USA–China rates by port pair and container type. No signup needed. For recurring export programs or project cargo, ask our team to quote the lane directly.