Machinery Shipping and Export from China

How machinery shipping works, step by step

1. Share your requirement

Send us the product, the spec you need, the quantity and your destination country or port. If you are bidding on a government tender, include the technical clause from the tender document so we can match it line by line.

2. Receive a quotation

We quote against the Incoterm that suits your import process. Before we price anything, we confirm the voltage and frequency at your site, the destination port and whether you need delivery beyond the port.

3. Confirm and schedule

Once you confirm the order, we plan production and dispatch against your required delivery date. For tender orders, that date comes from your contract, so we work back from it rather than guess.

4. Pack, document and ship

Each machine is packed for export, the shipping documents are prepared, and the cargo leaves for your agreed port or address. We share the shipping details as soon as the booking is made.

Sea freight or air freight

Most industrial machinery moves by sea freight. We choose the load type by size and quantity:

• FCL (full container load): a whole container for your cargo alone, which suits bulk and tender-quantity orders.
• LCL (less than container load): your goods share a container with other cargo, which often suits a single machine or a small order.
• Flat rack or open top: often used when a unit is too tall or wide for a standard container.

Air freight is available for urgent spare parts and small, time-critical items, but it costs far more per kilogram. We confirm the best method with you at quote stage based on the weight, size and urgency of your cargo, rather than defaulting to one option.

Incoterms we quote

We quote under four Incoterms, and the table below sets out who handles each cost and when risk passes:

• EXW (Ex Works): you or your forwarder collect the goods from us and handle export clearance and freight.
• FOB (Free On Board): we deliver the goods on board at the port of loading, usually Shanghai, and you arrange the main sea freight.
• CFR (Cost and Freight): we pay freight to your destination port, while risk passes to you once the goods are on board.
• CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight): as CFR, plus we arrange minimum cargo insurance to the destination port.

The exact rules are set by the International Chamber of Commerce. For the official wording, see the ICC Incoterms rules. Buyers new to import often ask us which term to pick. If you have a trusted local forwarder, FOB gives you control of freight; if you want a single price to your port, CFR or CIF is simpler.

Export documents for machinery shipping

Every export order comes with the papers your customs broker needs to clear the goods. These usually include a commercial invoice, a packing list, a bill of lading for sea freight (or an air waybill for air freight) and a certificate of origin. Where a tender or customs process calls for them, we add product datasheets and compliance documents; see our page on certifications and compliance documents for how we confirm these.

We recommend sending your import rules or tender clause early. That way, the right documents are ready when the cargo sails, not after it lands.

Transit times and planning

Sea transit from Shanghai depends on the carrier, the route and the season, so the times in the table below are only a guide. We confirm the current estimate when we quote. For tender orders, build in time for production, inland transport at both ends and customs clearance, not just time at sea.

Payment terms

We confirm payment terms per order, and they follow standard export practice. For standard orders, that is usually an advance deposit with the balance paid before shipment. Larger and tender-quantity orders are often paid by letter of credit (L/C). Tell us your preferred terms when you enquire and we will confirm what works for your order size and destination.

Machinery shipping to your country

Our 1069 products across 26 categories ship to 67+ countries. Heavy items such as construction machinery and equipment often need flat racks, while food processing equipment and machines usually travel in standard containers. For the main port, currency and tender portal in your market, see the countries we export to. When you are ready, contact the export team with your product, quantity and port for a machinery shipping quote.