Insights
Freight knowledge, written plainly
Field-tested guidance on modes, routing, customs and cost — the questions our customers actually ask before they ship.
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Start from what you are trying to do
The newest article is rarely the one you need. These five entry points group every guide by destination, by mode and by the question it answers.
Chargeable Weight Worked Examples: 224 kg, 250 kg and 592 kg Cases
Four worked air-freight chargeable-weight examples using common planning divisors 6000 and 5000; confirm the actual carrier quote before booking.
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- Reference
China to Manzanillo Transit Days: How Long Does It Really Take?
How to interpret the China–Manzanillo ocean benchmark, what port-to-port excludes, and how routing, congestion, customs and inland delivery shape the full timeline.
- Reference
Are Yantian and Shekou the Same as Shenzhen Port? All 4 Compared
Yes and no: Yantian, Shekou, Chiwan and Da Chan Bay are separate terminals inside the Shenzhen port zone. Compare them by factory location, cut-off, live service and total cost.
- Comparison
Telex Release vs Original B/L vs Seaway Bill: How to Choose
A deep dive into the three ways cargo gets released at destination — original bill of lading (OBL), telex release and seaway bill — with the mechanics, use cases, common mistakes and a multilingual glossary.
- Guide
Air & Ocean Freight from China: Modes, Costs, Ports & Routes (2026)
The complete 2026 guide to freight from China: air vs ocean, FCL vs LCL, how shipping is priced, which port to use, special cargo and routes to Latin America.
- Comparison
Alibaba vs Made-in-China vs 1688: Which Is Cheapest to Buy From (2026)
Alibaba.com, Made-in-China.com and 1688.com compared for 2026: which is cheaper, which is best for machinery, how foreign buyers use 1688 (the Chinese version of Alibaba), MOQ, Trade Assurance and export support.
- Reference
Mexico Cuotas Compensatorias: How to Check a Shipment
A resolution-first method for checking Mexican anti-dumping or countervailing duties by product description, fracción, origin, exporter, rate and validity.
- Reference
CFDI & Pedimento: Reconciling Your Mexican Import Records
What Mexico's current tax rules require on a CFDI for a first-hand sale of imported goods, and how the pedimento supports an import-IVA credit claim.
- Guide
How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Container from China to Mexico? (2026)
What it costs to ship a container from China to Mexico in 2026 — the full cost stack of ocean freight, surcharges, duty and IVA, and why rates move.
- Guide
China to Mexico Inland Delivery: CDMX, Guadalajara & Monterrey DDP
The inland leg after the port: moving cargo from Manzanillo or Lázaro Cárdenas to CDMX, Guadalajara and Monterrey. Drayage, LTL vs FTL, customs and DDP.
- Guide
Chinese New Year 2027: Factory Shutdown, Cut-Offs & How to Ship
Chinese New Year 2027 falls on February 6. Plan around the factory shutdown: production cut-offs, the pre-CNY space and rate crunch, post-holiday ramp-up, and how to keep stock flowing.
- Reference
How Many CBM Fit in a 20ft, 40ft and 40HC Container?
A 40ft gives about 67 m³ on paper but only 55–58 m³ usable. Nominal vs. usable CBM by container size, max payload, pallet counts and a realistic loading factor for planning shipments.
- Reference
Freight & Import Glossary: China–Latin America Shipping Terms
A plain-language glossary of freight, shipping and customs terms for importing from China to Latin America — Incoterms, ocean and air freight, surcharges, customs.
- Guide
How to Buy from China: a Step-by-Step Guide for First-Time Importers
A step-by-step guide to buying from China for first-time importers — finding suppliers, samples, vetting, Incoterms, paying safely, QC, and arranging freight.
- Guide
How to Pay Chinese Suppliers Safely (Methods & Anti-Fraud Rules)
How to pay Chinese suppliers safely: T/T bank wire, Alibaba Trade Assurance, L/C and PayPal compared, plus anti-fraud rules to avoid losing your deposit.
- Guide
How to Verify a Chinese Supplier on Alibaba (7-Step Due Diligence)
A skeptical 7-step due-diligence checklist to verify a Chinese supplier on Alibaba: business licence, supplier status, factory checks, samples and red flags.
- Guide
Importing Auto Parts from China to Mexico: NOM, Fracción & Duties
How to import auto parts from China to Mexico: classification by fracción, conditional NOM and sector checks, anti-dumping screening, IVA, IMMEX eligibility and DDP.
- Guide
Importing Electronics from China to Mexico: NOM, Telecom & Duties
What it takes to import consumer electronics from China to Mexico: NOM labeling, CRT telecom homologation, HS classification, duties, IVA and air vs ocean.
- Guide
Importing from China: Customs, Duties, Tariffs & Compliance (2026)
A complete 2026 guide to importing from China: customs documents, who can be importer of record, HS codes, tariffs, duties, taxes and product compliance.
- Guide
Importing Furniture from China to Mexico: Costs, Tariffs & NOM
How to import furniture from China to Mexico: FCL vs LCL for bulky cargo, tariff-classification and NOM checks, taxes and a compliant DDP structure.
- Guide
Importing Machinery from China to Mexico: Containers, Permits & Duties
How to import machinery and equipment from China to Mexico: flat-rack and open-top for oversized cargo, used-machinery rules, permits and fracción, NOM electrical safety and DDP.
- Guide
Importing Textiles & Apparel from China to Mexico: NOM-004-SE-2021
How to screen textile imports by fracción for Anexo 10 registration, NOM-004-SE-2021 labeling, compensatory duties, 2026 tariffs, IMMEX and DDP.
- Guide
Mercado Libre Cross-Border (CBT) Logistics from China: How It Works
How Mercado Libre cross-border / CBT selling from China actually moves goods: the import side, importer-of-record problem, DDP, and Full vs cross-border.
- Guide
Mexico's 2026 Parcel & Courier Tax on Imports from China, Explained
How Mexico's simplified courier import rates work in 2026, when the general 33.5% or conditional 19% treatment applies, and how formal freight differs.
- Reference
Products Needing NOM in Mexico: Classification-First Checklist
Screen Mexican NOM requirements by product, tariff classification and Anexo 2.4.1, including current NOM-004-SE-2021, NOM-008-SE-2021 and CRT checks.
- Guide
Padrón de Importadores: Mexico's Importer Registry Explained
Mexico's general Padrón de Importadores route, its RFC and e.firma prerequisites, conditional Anexo 10 sector registration, limited SAT procedures and DDP.
- Reference
RFC, e.firma & Buzón Tributario: Mexico Padrón Requirements
How an active RFC, current e.firma and validated Buzón Tributario fit the SAT's current Padrón de Importadores registration conditions.
- Guide
Shipping from China to Argentina: A Guide to Buenos Aires
Shipping from China to Argentina via Buenos Aires: routing, Aduana customs under AFIP/ARCA, the new SEDI/SECOIN import regime, IVA and DDP door-to-door.
- Guide
Shipping from China to Bolivia: Transit Routing, Costs & Customs
How to ship from China to landlocked Bolivia through a live third-country gateway: transit planning, ANB importer and declaration routes, GA and IVA.
- Guide
Shipping from China to Brazil: A Guide to the Port of Santos
Shipping from China to Brazil via Santos: routing, Siscomex / Sistema Habilita, the 2026 CBS/IBS transition and formal-import tax planning.
- Guide
Shipping from China to Central America: A Guatemala Customs Example
How to plan China–Central America shipping using Guatemala as an example: live gateway selection, SAT importer clearance, IVA and DR-CAFTA origin limits.
- Guide
Shipping from China to Costa Rica: Caldera, Moín, TICA Customs & Costs
How to ship from China to Costa Rica via Caldera or Moín/Limón: ocean and air options, transit ranges, TICA customs clearance, DAI duty and IVA.
- Guide
Shipping from China to the Dominican Republic: Caucedo & Customs
How to ship from China to the Dominican Republic via Caucedo and Haina: ocean and air options, transit ranges, DGA customs in SIGA, the RNC, and duty, ITBIS and ISC costs.
- Guide
Shipping from China to Ecuador (Guayaquil): Costs, Times & SENAE
How to ship from China to Ecuador via Guayaquil: ocean and air options, transit ranges, SENAE customs in ECUAPASS, RUC and the DAI, plus duty, IVA and FODINFA.
- Guide
Shipping from China to Mercado Libre Full Mexico: First-Leg Guide
How to ship from China to Mercado Libre Full in Mexico: the importer-of-record problem, NOM labeling, and the domestic inbound into a Full warehouse.
- Guide
Shipping from China to Mexico: The Complete 2026 Guide
A practical 2026 overview of shipping from China to Mexico — air vs ocean, ports, transit times, costs, the pedimento, tariffs, NOM and DDP door-to-door.
- Guide
Shipping from China to Panama: Ports, Free Zone & Customs
How to ship from China to Panama: container-terminal selection, the Colón Free Zone, customs declarations, ITBMS rates and shipment-specific re-export checks.
- Guide
Shipping from China to Uruguay: Costs, Customs & Montevideo Free Port
How to plan a China–Uruguay shipment through a live gateway: Montevideo's free-port rules, DNA general-import DUA, RUT, broker, duty and IVA.
- Guide
How to Ship Lithium Batteries from China (UN38.3, Dangerous Goods)
How UN38.3, IATA packing instructions, 2026 state-of-charge rules and the IMDG Code apply to lithium batteries shipped from China.
- Guide
The True Landed Cost of Importing from China (FOB to Your Door)
The FOB price isn't your real cost. See the full landed-cost stack from China to your door — freight, duty, IVA, broker fees, delivery — plus how DDP simplifies it.
- Reference
Volumetric Weight & Cubic Measurement Explained
How cubic size drives freight cost across air, courier and ocean LCL — the CBM and volumetric-weight formulas, with worked examples for each mode.
- Guide
Shipping from China to Chile and Brazil: Customs-First Planning
Compare China–Chile origin claims with Brazil's formal Siscomex and Mercosur framework, using live routing and shipment-specific tax checks.
- Guide
Shipping from China to Peru via Callao: Origin and SUNAT Checks
Plan China–Peru freight through Callao with live routing, shipment-specific origin proof and current SUNAT import procedures.
- Explainer
The IMMEX Program Explained (and the December 2024 Apparel Change)
What Mexico's IMMEX program is, who can use its temporary-import framework, and how the December 2024 decree restricted specified finished-apparel tariff lines.
- Guide
Mexican NOM Compliance: Classification, Evidence & Labeling Routes
Determine Mexican NOM certification, testing and labeling by fracción, standard scope and current Anexo 2.4.1 instead of using category-wide assumptions.
- Guide
Sending Inventory to Amazon Mexico (FBA): Freight, Customs and Duties
How to ship inventory from China to Amazon Mexico FBA: importer-of-record structure, Mexican customs and duties, Amazon delivery rules, and freight options.
- Reference
Shipping from China to Latin America: Choose the Lane, Then Verify
A practical map for choosing ocean or air freight from China to Latin America, with country-specific links for live routes and customs checks.
- Reference
China to Mexico Shipping Time: Which Transit Clock?
China–Mexico planning benchmarks by transport leg, what port-to-port and airport-to-airport exclude, and how to obtain a door-to-door estimate for your shipment.
- Guide
Ocean Freight from China to Buenaventura and Cartagena
A practical comparison of Colombian ocean-freight gateway options: Buenaventura on the Pacific and Cartagena on the Caribbean, with live routing, customs, DDP structure and inland quotes.
- Guide
Ocean Freight from China to Lázaro Cárdenas and Veracruz
How to ship from China to Lázaro Cárdenas and Veracruz as alternatives to Manzanillo: Pacific vs Gulf routing, transit times, customs, and inland reach.
- Guide
Ocean Freight from China to Manzanillo: A Practical Guide
A practical guide to ocean freight from China to Manzanillo: live routing, FCL vs LCL, port-to-port timing, Mexican customs, DDP scope and inland delivery.
- Guide
Shipping from China to Colombia: Customs, DIAN and Tariffs Explained
A practical guide to importing from China to Colombia — DIAN registration, the targeted 35% measure on 14 classifications, ports and documents.
- Guide
DDP Shipping from China to Mexico: How Delivered Duty Paid Works
How a compliant China–Mexico DDP arrangement is structured, which charges may be included, who acts as importer of record, and what must be confirmed before booking.
- Guide
HS Codes and Tariffs: Classifying Your Products for Export
What HS codes are, how the classification system is structured, why the right code matters for duty and compliance, and how to classify your products correctly.
- Guide
How to Import from China to Mexico: Pedimento, Padrón & Customs
A plain-English guide to Mexican import customs — the pedimento, the Padrón de Importadores registry, sector-specific padrones and the documents you need to clear goods from China.
- Reference
Mexico's 2026 Tariffs on Chinese Imports: What Importers Need to Know
How to check Mexico's tariff decree effective January 1, 2026 by exact fracción, origin and preference without applying headline rates to unlisted products.
- Reference
China to the US: Realistic Ocean and Air Transit Times
How China–US ocean and air transit varies by ports, booked service, transshipment, customs and delivery address, and how to obtain a shipment-specific window.
- Guide
Shipping from Shanghai and Ningbo: East China's Gateways
A guide to exporting through Shanghai (Yangshan, Waigaoqiao) and Ningbo-Zhoushan, comparing factory location, live services, transhipment and total cost.
- Guide
Shipping from Shenzhen and South China: Ports and Lanes
A guide to exporting from South China — Shenzhen (Yantian, Shekou), Guangzhou (Nansha) and nearby ports, the cargo they suit, and the major trade lanes they serve.
- Guide
Demurrage and Detention: How to Avoid Extra Container Charges
What demurrage and detention actually mean, why they are different, how free time works, and practical steps to avoid these avoidable container charges.
- Guide
Peak-Season Shipping: GRI, Space and How to Plan Ahead
Why freight rates spike in peak season, what GRI and PSS surcharges mean, and practical ways to secure space and control costs when demand surges.
- Guide
Shipping Dangerous Goods from China: Mode-Specific Checks for 2026
Plan dangerous-goods shipping from China using current IMDG, IATA DGR, ICAO and UN sources without assuming every shipment needs the same documents or packaging.
- Guide
Cargo Insurance for International Shipments: What You Need to Know
Why carrier liability is not enough, how marine cargo insurance works, what All Risks covers, and how to value a shipment so a claim actually pays out.
- Guide
How to Pack and Palletize Export Cargo Safely
Practical packing and palletizing guidance for international freight — carton strength, pallet choice, stacking, wrapping and labeling that prevents damage in transit.
- Reference
Shipping Container Types and Sizes: A Practical Reference
A reference for the main shipping container types and sizes — standard, high-cube, reefer, open-top and flat-rack — with capacities and what each is for.
- Guide
Shipping from Wuhan: Routes, Transit Times and What to Know
A guide to international shipping from Wuhan, China — ocean and air options from a central China hub to Latin America and beyond, typical transit times, and how inland origin affects your freight.
- Comparison
DDP vs DAP vs FOB: Choosing the Right Incoterm for China Imports
Three of the most common Incoterms for buying from China compared — who handles freight, customs and duty under FOB, DAP and DDP, and which suits you.
- Guide
How to Choose a Freight Forwarder in China: A Practical Checklist
What to look for in a China freight forwarder — licensing, carrier relationships, communication, pricing transparency and customs expertise — with a checklist you can use before you sign.
- Guide
Exporting from China: The Customs Document Checklist
China export declarations, commercial and transport records, licences and cargo-specific documents — what is standard and what must be confirmed per shipment.
- Comparison
Air Freight vs Ocean Freight from China: How to Choose
A practical comparison of air and ocean freight from China — cost, transit time, reliability and the cargo each mode suits best, so you can pick the right option with confidence.
- Guide
How to Calculate Chargeable Weight for Air & Courier
Air freight is billed on chargeable weight, not just actual weight. Learn how volumetric weight works, the formulas couriers use, and how to lower your bill.
- Guide
Bill of Lading Explained: Types and How It Works
What a bill of lading is, the difference between original, telex-release and seaway bills, and why this single document controls who can collect your cargo.
- Explainer
Ocean Freight Charges and Surcharges, Explained
Decode an ocean freight quote — base ocean freight, BAF, CAF, THC, documentation and the other line items that make up the real landed cost of a container.
- Comparison
FCL vs LCL: Which Ocean Freight Option Fits Your Shipment?
A clear comparison of full-container (FCL) and less-than-container (LCL) ocean freight — cost, speed, risk and the volume where it makes sense to switch.
- Guide
Incoterms 2020 Explained: A Shipper's Guide
A practical guide to Incoterms 2020 — what each term means, who pays for what, and where risk transfers between buyer and seller in international trade.
- Explainer
What Is a Freight Forwarder, and What Do They Actually Do?
A plain-English explanation of what a freight forwarder does, how they differ from carriers and customs brokers, and when using one saves you time and money.
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