Any business in the UK that imports from China has two main choices when it comes to obtaining goods from the Far East. The first – and perhaps the most tried-and-tested option – is sea freight. The other is air freighted shipments. Both have their pros and cons so you should not immediately jump to the false conclusion that one is always better than the other. Either way, you will still need an EORI number and to be properly registered with HMRC if you want to import raw materials, components or finished goods from China for use in your business or for resale. You will also need to understand UK tariff quotas and the relevant commodity codes for the classes of goods you intend to import.
Helpfully, there are freight forwarding companies in the UK that can help British businesses to overcome these hurdles and benefit from the often lower costs of importing items from China, whether by sea or air. According to just one such firm, Barrington Freight, having expertise in the relevant importation documents is one thing – British businesses still need to make a strategic commercial decision about whether to opt for air or sea freight. Let’s examine each, in turn, to help determine which might be the best in your circumstances.
Table of Contents
Sea Freight Pros and Cons
- Shipping by sea container is generally less costly than shipments sent by air.
- It is possible to share your sea container with other importers in what is known as a less than container load (LCL), which saves even more money.
- Chinese suppliers are often used to shipping to the UK and other European destinations through their many seaports.
- Shipping via sea routes means expending less energy than air freight, so it is better for the environment.
- There is a dearth of containers while the globe adjusts to the post-pandemic commercial environment so sea shipping isn’t always as cost-effective as it used to be.
- It takes at least six weeks for a container to leave a Chinese port and arrive in the UK.
- You don’t get a door-to-door service when you use this method of importing from China.
- Port duties and taxes differ depending on which one in China your supplier uses.
- Fuel and currency surcharges may apply even while your goods are being imported, so it is harder to plan for all your cost risks.
Air Freight Pros and Cons
- Air freight is much quicker and can take as little as one week to get your items into stock.
- If delays occur to your shipment, then they are usually only a matter of a day or so at most.
- You can track and trace shipments made by air freight much more easily.
- Importers can arrange for goods to be forwarded directly to them after they touchdown in the UK.
- On the other hand, air freight is usually more costly than shipping items by sea.
- Low-value goods are not suited to importation by air freight since it becomes unviable economically.
- The carbon footprint associated with air freight will put some people off buying goods that have arrived in the British Isles this way.
