Introduction
You’ve approved the sample. The factory has confirmed production is complete. Your first bulk clothing order is sitting in a warehouse in China, ready to move.
And now you realize you have no clear idea how it actually gets from there to you.
For most first-time apparel brand founders, the manufacturing side of the business gets most of the attention — and rightfully so. But the logistics side is where a surprising number of new brands lose money, lose time, and lose inventory to preventable mistakes.
Customs holds caused by incorrect documentation. Shipments were delayed at the port because duties weren’t calculated correctly. Goods arrived damaged because the carton specifications weren’t confirmed. Surprise costs at the destination that nobody mentioned when the freight quote was provided.
None of these is inevitable. They’re the result of not knowing how the shipping process works before you need to know it.
The purpose of this guide is to take you through the process that How to Ship Clothing from China, starting from the completion of production up until the goods reach your storage facility. It does not make you an expert in logistics, but equips you with enough information on what questions to ask, common pitfalls to look out for, and how to successfully ship your first clothing shipment.
Step 1: Understand Your Shipping Options Before Production Ends
You must figure out how you are going to ship your products prior to being finished, rather than afterward.
You have three primary ways of shipping bulk orders of clothes from China:
Sea Freight (FCL or LCL)
This is the most common way of shipping bulk orders of clothes. Sea Freight is also more affordable than air freight per cubic meter.
FCL means “Full Container Load” which implies that you pay for an entire shipping container, which is generally either 20 or 40 feet long.
If you are shipping a large quantity of goods, it would be great to use FCL since you can pack the container with anything you wish.
LCL means “Less than Container Load” which implies that you share a container with others’ goods.
If you are making your first order, you should choose LCL since you will not have much to ship at all.
The transit time for sea freight from major Chinese ports (Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Shanghai) to the USA west coast is 14-20 days, to the UK and Europe 25-35 days, and to Australia 12-18 days.
Air Freight Air freight is quick, with a typical door-to-door delivery time of 5-10 days. Air freight is considerably more expensive than sea freight, and for clothing, which is not heavy but takes up a lot of space, air freight can be 3-5 times more expensive than sea freight.
Air freight is a good option when:
You have a replenishment order where time is critical.You have a seasonal order where time is critical.You are shipping a small order where the value of time is higher than the increased cost.You would otherwise miss a critical window with sea freight.
Express Courier (DHL, FedEx, UPS) If you are shipping a small order, express courier is a viable option. If you are shipping a large order, express courier is not a viable option due to its high cost per kilogram.
Step 2: Decide on Incoterms With Your Factory
Incoterms refer to standardized shipping terms agreed upon globally, thus indicating where your responsibility ends at the factory level and starts as far as shipping is concerned. Misunderstanding of these terms may result in one of the biggest hidden costs you can incur with your first order.
There are two Incoterms that you are highly likely to come across in China-based apparel manufacturer in China apparel manufacturing orders. They are as follows.
FOB – Free On Board
In this case, the factory will arrange for your shipment up to the point of departure from the port, after which the goods will be placed on a boat. It will become your responsibility to cover all expenses related to ocean or air transportation, insurance, etc., as well as delivery to your warehouse.
This is the most widely used Incoterm among international clothing orders because it puts you in charge of the entire shipping procedure, allowing you to hire a separate freight forwarding company without being tied to the factory’s terms.
EXW (Ex Works)
The liability of the factory ends at their loading dock. Everything falls under your responsibility and costs – from moving the goods by road from the factory to the port, exporting them via Chinese customs, ocean freight shipping, importing to your country, through customs there, and delivery. With EXW terms, you have total control – and also total responsibility.
DDP (Delivered Duty Paid)
The factory or their logistics provider does everything and delivers to your front door, including paying import tariffs. It might seem straightforward, but DDP pricing typically has an extra fee for handling customs procedures, and you won’t know how much you’re paying for each individual process.
For new shippers, it’s recommended to start with FOB. With FOB you can control the transportation from China’s port and obtain a quote from several freight forwarders.
Step 3: Hire a Freight Forwarder
However, unless you have some logistics background, it is not recommended that you try to handle your first international shipping coordination on your own. A freight forwarder specializes in the coordination of international shipping, which can be very complex. They have done it enough times to know how to handle problems when they arise.
What a freight forwarder does:
- Book a space on the appropriate vessel or flight
- Arranges inland trucking from the factory to the port in China
- Handles export customs documentation on the China side
- Handles import customs clearance in your destination country
- Arranges delivery from the port to your warehouse or fulfillment center
- Provides status updates throughout the transit
When looking for a freight forwarder, look for one that specializes in the import of apparel from China to your destination country. Request a detailed quote that breaks down every aspect of the shipping. The breakdown is important because some freight forwarders have very competitive quotes, but the destination charges are very high. The charges are not usually disclosed until the very end of the shipping process.
It is a good idea to get quotes from two or three freight forwarders before making your final choice. The difference in quotes can add up on your first shipment.
Step 4: Confirm Your Documentation Before Goods Leave the Factory
Incorrect or incomplete documents are the most common reason for customs delays and holds. The vast majority of these problems can be entirely avoided if you verify documents before the departure of the shipment.
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The documents you need:
Commercial Invoice Issued by your factory, listing the buyer, seller, description of goods, quantity, unit price, total value, and currency. The value declared on the commercial invoice is what customs uses to calculate import duties. It must be accurate — undervaluing goods to reduce duties is customs fraud and the consequences if caught are serious.
Packing List A detailed breakdown of what’s in each carton: the style, color, size, quantity per carton, carton dimensions, and gross weight. Your customs broker uses this for clearance and your warehouse uses it for receiving. Errors here cause receiving discrepancies and slow down your ability to start fulfilling orders.
Bill of Lading (Sea) or Airway Bill (Air): The document issued by the shipping line or airline confirming they’ve received your goods. It’s the title document for sea freight — you need the original or a release instruction to collect your goods at the destination.
Certificate of Origin: Some countries require a certificate of origin for tariff preference purposes or import compliance. For clothing imported into the USA, UK, or EU, check whether your product category requires one.
Textile and Fiber Content Documentation. Many countries, including the USA, require that imported clothing include fiber content and country of origin on the product label. Your factory should be labeling correctly, but confirm this before production completes — it’s easier to fix on the production floor than after goods have been packed and shipped.
Step 5: Understand Import Duties and Taxes for Your Market
Import duties on clothing vary significantly by destination country, product category, and — particularly for US imports — the country of origin. This is a cost you need to calculate before your order ships, not after it arrives.
USA Clothing imported from China into the USA is subject to normal import duties, which are generally between 12% and 32% of the declared FOB value for most apparel items. Any additional tariffs that are assessed on Chinese imports through Section 301 will also apply to your imports. These will vary depending on your category of products and the current trade policy environment. You should work with your customs broker to ascertain the correct classification of your product in the HTS and the applicable duty rate before you finalize your pricing model.
Post-Brexit, the UK has its own import tariff schedule. Clothing from China is generally subject to UK Global Tariff rates, which vary by product type. Import VAT is also applicable and is typically reclaimed by VAT-registered businesses.
EU import duties on clothing from China vary by product category under the Common Customs Tariff. Import VAT applies at the destination and varies by member state.
Australia applies relatively low import duties on most clothing categories, with many lines at 0–5%. GST applies on top of the dutiable value.
The key point: get your HTS or HS code classification confirmed by your customs broker early, and build the correct duty cost into your landed cost calculation before you finalize your retail pricing.
Step 6: Prepare Your Carton and Packing Specifications
How your goods are packed directly affects how they arrive, how efficiently they move through the supply chain, and how easily your warehouse can receive and process them.
Work with your factory to confirm:
Carton dimensions and weight — Most freight is quoted by volumetric weight or actual weight, whichever is greater. Oversized or excessively heavy cartons can push freight costs up and create handling problems at warehouse.
Units per carton — Confirm this matches your packing list exactly. A discrepancy between the packing list and actual carton contents is a receiving nightmare.
Inner packaging — Are garments folded consistently? Are they in poly bags? Is there tissue paper? For direct-to-consumer brands, the unboxing experience starts the moment a customer opens a package — inner packaging consistency matters.
Carton labeling — Each carton should be labeled with your brand name, style, color, size breakdown, carton number, and destination. Clear carton labeling accelerates receiving and reduces errors.
Master carton vs. inner carton structure — For mixed-size orders, clarify whether each carton contains a single style and colorway (easier for receiving) or a mixed assortment.
Step 7: Arrange Cargo Insurance
Cargo insurance, on the other hand, is not costly compared to the value of your cargo, and it is not a risk you should be willing to take.
The liability of a shipping line for loss or damage to goods is normally limited to a small amount on a per-kg basis, which is a fraction of the actual value of your goods. In case your goods are lost at sea, damaged, or even stolen, you will not be fully compensated.
A policy on cargo insurance will ensure that you get the full value of your goods for their entire journey, not just on the ship. The cost of a cargo policy is normally 0.1-0.5% of the value of goods, a small cost to pay for a big risk.
This service can be arranged through a freight forwarder, and you should ensure that you get a policy that covers the whole journey, not just on the ship.
Step 8: Track Your Shipment and Prepare for Arrival
Once your goods are on the water, the hard work of logistics happens in the run-up to the goods arriving. This is your window to ensure everything is in place on your end, so there is no delay in the goods arriving.
Check in with your customs broker. Your freight forwarder or customs broker should have all documentation in hand before the vessel arrives. Customs pre-clearance can often be done in advance of the vessel’s arrival, which cuts down on the time your goods sit waiting in the port after the vessel arrives.
Work on your end to receive your goods. Give your warehouse or your fulfillment center the packing list in advance so they know exactly what to expect. Surprise shipments to warehouses can cause delays in receiving goods and errors in counting goods.
Use the shipping company’s container tracking. All sea freight shipments have a container number and a bill of lading number. Both of these can be used to track your vessel in real-time.
Plan for clearance time. Even with all documentation in order, customs can take two to five business days to clear your goods after the vessel arrives.
Step 9: Inspect Your Goods on Arrival
Before you accept your inventory as received and available for use, check it.
Check a random selection of cartons against your packing list. Verify units per style, color, and size. Verify for transportation damage: water damage on cartons, crushing of cartons, or any other visible damage to the contents. Verify that the contents match your approved sample in fabric, construction, labeling, and finishes.
Record any problems or damages immediately, photographically, while the merchandise is still on the loading dock or in the receiving area. Discrepancies recorded in this way are actionable. Discrepancies recorded several days later are more difficult to verify, more difficult to resolve with the factory or carrier.
If you have not already made arrangements for a pre-shipment inspection at the factory (which is the preferred option), then a thorough inspection on arrival is your last line of defense before your merchandise enters your fulfillment cycle.
Common First-Shipment Mistakes to Avoid
Not calculating landed cost before pricing. The real cost of your product will include manufacturing, freight, duty, and customs fees, etc. If you are pricing your product on the basis of its ex-factory price, you may end up realizing that your product is not viable after adding all these costs.
Trusting verbal ETAs. The transit time given by factories and forwarders can be considered an estimate. Add two to three weeks to any proposed launch date based on inventory arriving in time.
Ignoring import compliance labeling. First-time importers are unaware that apparel must have a label showing the country of origin and the content of the fibers. Ensure that your factory checks for these labels before production is completed.
Not getting a pre-shipment inspection.Inspecting on the factory floor before goods are packed and loaded will allow you to spot defects, discrepancies in quantity, and correct labeling before the container is sealed. If you are dealing with a large quantity, the expense of a third-party inspection is always worth it.
Choosing the cheapest forwarder. In the business of freight forwarding, experience and quality of communication are important factors. It is true that a slightly more expensive forwarder with excellent communication and efficiency in resolving issues is far more valuable than one who is cheaper but does not communicate when issues arise.
Working with My Apparel Manufacturer
At My Apparel Manufacturer, we ship out completed orders to clothing brands based in the USA, UK, Europe, and Australia. We work closely with our clients to ensure that documentation is correct, and the packing specs are confirmed before coordinating the logistics of the shipment out of our facility once production is completed.
If you are a clothing brand about to embark on your first international shipment, we are more than willing to take you through the process in detail and work closely with your freight forwarder to ensure that nothing slips through the cracks.
If you are a clothing brand preparing for your first bulk order and want to work with a team of manufacturers that will be involved in the process until the end of the shipment, not just production, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
