How Do You Ship to China from the UK?
Soaring Demand for Courier Services
China is one of the fastest growing economies in the world, and an increasing number of people and businesses are shipping to China.
Shanghai is by far China’s most populous city. It’s a major financial city, and it has positioned itself as a global centre. Affectionately known as the ‘Pearl of the Orient’ and the ‘Paris of the East,’ the city’s population in 2016 was estimated to be around 25 million – more than that of nearby Taiwan.
More and more businesses are sprouting up and entering into trade with European businesses, so there has been a huge demand for parcel couriers such as Same Day Courier Services.
Duty and tax will have to be paid on all goods that pass customs. The charges are normally the responsibility of the person receiving the items. To get a parcel through Chinese customs, an invoice is needed that outlines the content, where the item was manufactured and the value of each item.
Checklist of Prohibited Items
There is good news, as the parcel will be exempt from charges if the items are valued at no more than 500 yuan. However, parcels with a value of 1,000 yuan or more are required to pass through customs clearance, which could mean a delay on the shipment.
China does have a list of prohibited items, and this changes often, so it’s a good idea to browse the official customs page before organising a delivery with firms such as http://allaboutfreight.co.uk/same-day-courier-service.
Remember that goods that are made from cane, bamboo, wood and rattan will be rigorously inspected. And China has a number of restricted food items. Food must be sent in its original container or packaging. All ingredients must be listed, and the packaging must not have been tampered with. A best-before date of more than six months must be visible.
According to the Retail Times, China has again enjoyed the largest parcel volume growth at 28 per cent year on year.
Parcelling up the goods to make sure they remain intact is key. If you are sending fragile items, it is a good idea to use a sturdy box which will resist rough handling. Corrugated boxes are available for this purpose. And for internal protection, bubble-wrap should be used, remembering to separate each item.
