#ImportingGoodsFromChinaToTheUK: A Comprehensive Guide 🚢🇨🇳🇬🇧

As a global manufacturing powerhouse, China ships vast quantities of goods to the UK annually. The UK, being the world’s fifth-largest economy, continues to import more and more Chinese products each year. Over 13% of the UK’s imports come from China, valued at over $91 billion (nearly £70 billion).

If you’re looking to enter this market, you might be wondering where to start. In a post-Brexit world, UK laws and import regulations are more complex than ever. Combined with language barriers and seemingly endless shipping options, knowing where to begin can feel like an impossible task.

Fortunately, HUBPAL’s partners specialize in East-West shipping, and we’re here to handle the details for you. Read on for a brief overview of shipping from China to the UK and learn how we can help you navigate this trade route to expand your business.

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What Can You Ship from China to the UK? 📦

Restricted Imports to the UK

Like most countries, the UK imposes restrictions on certain goods and materials that can be imported. Some items are restricted for safety, economic, or cultural reasons. Examples of prohibited imports include:

• Illegal drugs
• Offensive weapons
• Self-defense sprays
• Rough diamonds

Restricted Exports from China

Similarly, China has strict regulations on what goods and materials can be exported. In general, it’s crucial to know which items are restricted (requiring licenses or special approval) and which are prohibited (cannot be exported under any circumstances). Here are a few examples of both:

Restricted Items:

• Precious metals or products made from them
• National or foreign currency
• Chinese cultural relics
• Traditional Chinese medicines

Prohibited Items:

• Certain tiger bones and other animal horns
• Certain chemicals used in cleaning agents, like chloroform
• Specific processed and unprocessed logs, such as mahogany, teak, or beech

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Shipping Costs and Import Duties 💸

The cost of shipping depends on your shipping method, speed, distance, and service. However, your expenses don’t stop at shipping. Don’t forget the duties and taxes that the UK imposes on imports from China.

Import Taxes

Post-Brexit, the UK has implemented new, complex import tax laws affecting sellers shipping goods to the UK. The rules differ for foreign sellers stocking UK shelves and e-commerce businesses selling directly to UK consumers. Be sure to read the regulations and understand what your situation requires. (Or hire someone to help, as recommended by the official customs website.)

Generally, you should be prepared to pay between 5% and 20% value-added tax (VAT) on Chinese exports, depending on the type of product. The UK’s minimum threshold is £135, so if the value of your shipping container is below this, you won’t need to worry about tariffs or excise duties.

For tariffs, the UK government provides a handy lookup tool to calculate potential costs if you want to know how much you’ll be charged.

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Shipping Timeframes ⏳

If you are shipping to the UK, you will likely transport your goods by sea, like 95% of the UK’s import/export tonnage. You may use one of the ports listed below, so take some time to familiarize yourself with your options.

Major Ports in the UK

Although the UK has several major ports across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the following three ports handle significant amounts of international goods, including those from China. You can read more about other UK ports here.

Immingham

By tonnage, the UK’s largest cargo port, handling over 55 million tons of cargo in 2018.

Felixstowe

The UK’s busiest port by TEU, Felixstowe is also the 9th busiest port in Europe.

London

Central to the London economy, this port handled over 53 million tons of cargo in 2018 alone.

Major Ports in China

China has 34 major ports along its 32,000-kilometer coastline, but these three are the primary ones to help you estimate shipping times.

Shanghai

The world’s largest port, the Port of Shanghai handled over 514 million tons of cargo in 2019, located near many manufacturing hotspots.

Shenzhen

Near the electronics manufacturing hotspot on the southeastern coast, the Port of Shenzhen handled just under 195 million tons of cargo in 2018.

Ningbo-Zhoushan

The busiest port globally by cargo tonnage, with 1.12 billion tons of cargo passing through in 2018.

Shipping Time Estimates

While your carrier, departure port, and arrival port will all affect your shipping speed, you can generally expect sea shipments from China to the UK to take 30 to 40 days.

However, crossing the ocean is just one leg of the journey. Don’t forget to account for first-mile, last-mile, or time needed to clear customs, which can take an additional 24 hours to several weeks.

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Rules and Regulations You Should Know 📜

Shipping Agreements from China to the UK

For those importing into the UK, the government has outlined an 11-step process to help you. These steps are particularly important for those shipping goods from China:

1. Obtain an EORI Number

You need to apply for an Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI) number to bring goods into the UK. It should start with GB (for goods going to England, Wales, or Scotland) or XI (for goods going to Northern Ireland). You can apply directly on the website.

2. Check If You Should Register for VAT

If you do a certain amount of business in the UK each year, you need to register for VAT. Check this website to see if this rule applies to you.

3. Check Chinese Export Laws

If you work with a Chinese company, they may need an export license to send goods worldwide. Export regulations can be as complex as import laws, so always check with local Chinese authorities before attempting to ship products out of China.

4. Make a Goods Declaration

This part can be tricky and requires a high level of attention to detail, so many businesses sending goods to the UK hire services to help with the paperwork.

5. Find Your Product’s Commodity Code

Every product has a commodity code in the UK, and you need to find your code to calculate taxes and determine if you need any special licenses or permits.

6. Determine Your Goods’ Value

This step can also be complicated. Hiring a customs broker familiar with all the rules can prevent your goods from being sent back to China, saving you time and money.

7. Check Product Labeling

If you’re sending goods to UK stores for sale, you must follow strict labeling guidelines. Improperly labeled goods can be refused entry into the UK.

If you don’t know where to start, you can use the UK’s official import/export website to check specific rules and regulations that apply to your products.

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Who Can You Turn to for Help? 🤝

Navigating UK customs can be complex—in fact, so complex that the UK government itself suggests that commercial importers hire someone to help with the process. They offer three options:

• Freight forwarders
• Customs agents or brokers
• Express parcel operators

Working directly with any of these can help you move goods along the supply chain or through customs. However, if you want a fully integrated logistics experience, including:

• ✅ Order management
• ✅ Shipment tracking
• ✅ Access to a global network of logistics partners
• ✅ Personalized shipping plans to meet your business needs

Then a Fourth-Party Logistics (4PL) company will be your best bet.

HUBPAL’s Parnters Make Cross-Border Logistics Easy

Since Brexit and the UK’s departure from the EU, shipping to the UK has become more complex. If you want a hassle-free, comprehensive logistics plan to transport your products from your Chinese manufacturer to your UK buyers, HUBPAL’s partners are ready to help.

We have on-the-ground experts in China and logistics partners worldwide. Our adaptable international network keeps your supply chain synchronized from the first mile to the last.

Our full-service logistics offerings can do more than just find freight forwarders or customs brokers recommended by the UK government. We also help you clear customs, track all key regulations, and ensure you don’t waste time or money with goods stuck at the border. You can even track your shipments and view your business trends through our licensed logistics software, giving you deep insights into the best ways to grow.

If you want to learn more about how we can meet all your logistics needs, email us today. We’re ready to help you expand into the UK.

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