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China to UK
Shipping from China to the UK, duty and VAT sorted
Duty, import VAT and a GB EORI: sorted before the goods sail. Sea, rail, air or express to any UK postcode or Amazon UK, with customs duty and import VAT shown line by line on DDP quotes.
Start here
Three things to settle before your first UK shipment
- Get a GB EORI number. Any business importing into Great Britain needs one, and it must start with "GB". An EU EORI number doesn't work for UK imports. You register with HMRC online.
- Decide who pays import VAT and duty. On DDP, they're built into our price. On DDU, you or your customs agent pay HMRC. If you're VAT-registered, ask your accountant about postponed VAT accounting, which lets you declare import VAT on your VAT return instead of paying it at the border. It only works when the import is in your name.
- Treat the UK as its own market. Since Brexit, UK and EU customs are separate, and Amazon UK stock isn't part of Amazon's Pan-EU programme. If you sell in both, plan two inbound flows. See our China to Europe page.
Electrical goods and toys also need UKCA or CE marking, plus a UK-based contact on the product or packaging, before they're sold in Great Britain.
Ways to ship
Sea, air, rail or express to the UK
4–7 weeks
Sea freight, FCL or LCL
Port to port to Felixstowe
The standard choice for stock. Full containers or shared LCL space into the main UK container ports, then haulage to your warehouse or Amazon. Add roughly 1–2 weeks for pickup, export, customs clearance and final delivery, more for LCL.
Learn more: Sea freight, FCL or LCL25–35 days
Rail freight via mainland Europe
Door to door (varies)
Rail to mainland Europe, then road to the UK via ferry or the Channel Tunnel. A middle option when sea is too slow and air is too expensive. FCL and LCL both accepted.
Learn more: Rail freight via mainland Europe- Urgent
- 1–3 days
- Standard
- 5–10 days
- Economy
- 10+ days
Air freight
After departure
Most China–UK air freight lands at Heathrow, with Manchester and East Midlands used on some routings. Cleared, then trucked to the delivery address.
Learn more: Air freight- Priority
- 1–3 days
- Standard
- 3–5 days
- Economy
- 7+ days
Express courier
After pickup
Samples and small consignments via DHL, UPS and FedEx networks. For sales to UK consumers in consignments up to £135, VAT is normally charged at the point of sale by the seller or marketplace rather than at the border. The £135 customs duty relief is due to end in October 2028.
Learn more: Express courier
Arrival
Where UK shipments come in
- 01
Felixstowe
The UK's busiest container port and the usual first choice for China sea freight. Good road links to the Midlands, where many warehouses and Amazon sites sit.
- 02
Southampton and London Gateway
The main alternatives for deep-sea containers, useful for the South and London, and when Felixstowe is congested.
- 03
Amazon UK fulfilment centres
Amazon UK assigns the fulfilment centre when you create the shipment. Pallet deliveries need a booked slot, and we book it for you. We deliver to the centre on your shipment plan, with cartons labelled to Amazon's requirements.
Transit times
How long shipping from China to the UK takes
Typical estimates from Shenzhen or Ningbo. They vary with season, routing, border crossings and customs.
View as table
Transit times are estimates. Sea times are port to port unless stated. Air is counted from departure and express from pickup. Actual times vary by route, season, carrier space and customs.
Pricing
What affects your cost to the UK
We quote each shipment rather than publish a rate card, because rates change often. These are the main price drivers.
Chargeable weight or CBM
Air and express bill the higher of actual or volumetric weight. Sea LCL and rail LCL bill by cubic metre.
Mode
Sea is cheapest per unit, rail sits between sea and air, and express costs most per kg.
Season
Peak-season surcharges, typically before the Christmas peak and Chinese New Year.
Customs duty and import VAT
Duty on your commodity codes, and import VAT at 20% on goods, shipping, insurance and duty. Included on DDP quotes.
UK delivery
Haulage from the port, Amazon UK slot bookings, and residential or tail-lift deliveries.
Prep and extras
FBA labelling, repacking, inspection and optional insurance.
Compare
DDP vs DDU into the UK
DDP
- Who pays customs duty
- Included in our price
- Who pays import VAT
- Included in our price
- Can you reclaim import VAT?
- Usually not, unless the entry is in your name
- Customs declaration
- Arranged by us
- Best for
- Amazon sellers and first-time importers who want one landed cost
DDU
- Who pays customs duty
- You or your customs agent
- Who pays import VAT
- You, or declared through postponed VAT accounting
- Can you reclaim import VAT?
- Yes, if VAT-registered, using your C79 or postponed VAT statement
- Customs declaration
- Your customs agent, or us on request
- Best for
- VAT-registered importers who want to reclaim or postpone VAT themselves
FAQ
China to UK shipping questions
Question not answered here?
Message our shipping team directly, in English or Chinese.
Ask on WhatsAppHow much import VAT will I pay on goods from China?
The standard UK VAT rate is 20%, charged on the value of the goods plus shipping, insurance and customs duty. Some goods have reduced or zero rates. Customs duty depends on the commodity code. We check the codes and estimate both when we quote.
Do I need a GB EORI number if I ship DDP?
HMRC requires an EORI for customs declarations. On DDP, we confirm in writing before you book whose name goes on the import entry. For regular commercial imports, especially Amazon stock, having your own GB EORI is the safer set-up, and it's what lets you reclaim import VAT.
Is rail to the UK faster than sea?
Usually, yes, but the gap depends on the route and how busy terminals and border crossings are. Rail finishes by road from mainland Europe, which adds a customs step at the UK border. As a rough guide, rail to the UK typically takes about 25–35 days door to door including the road leg, but it varies. We'll compare it against sea and air for your cargo.
Can one shipment go to both Amazon UK and Amazon Germany?
Not as one customs entry. The UK and EU clear goods separately. We can consolidate in China, then split the cartons into a UK consignment and an EU consignment, each cleared in its own market.
Can you deliver to a residential postcode?
Yes, by express, or by freight with final delivery by van. Residential and tail-lift deliveries can cost more, so mention it when you request a quote.
Customer reviews
What buyers said after shipping with us
5.0 out of 5 from 32 Alibaba.com order reviews
Related pages
- Amazon FBA shipping
Amazon FBA freight forwarder in China: pickup from all your suppliers, prep and labels, customs and DDP delivery to FBA in the US, UK, Canada and EU.
- Rail freight
China–Europe rail freight, FCL and LCL, to hubs such as Duisburg, with truck delivery to France, the Netherlands and the UK. Usually weeks faster than sea.
- Sea freight
FCL and LCL sea freight from Shenzhen, Ningbo and Shanghai to the USA, UK, Canada and Europe. Port to port, door to door or DDP to Amazon FBA. Get a quote.
- DDP and door to door
DDP door-to-door shipping from China. One price for freight, customs clearance and import duties, delivered to your address or Amazon FBA. Get a DDP quote.
- Europe
Ship from China to Germany, France, the Netherlands and across the EU by rail, sea, air or express. EORI, import VAT and Amazon EU planned. Get a quote.
- Sea vs Air vs Rail vs Express from China
Compare sea, air, rail and express from China: port-to-port estimates by lane, how chargeable weight works, FCL vs LCL, and when to split a shipment.
Get a UK landed cost, VAT and duty itemised
Send your packing list, supplier city and UK postcode or Amazon shipment plan, and tell us whether you're VAT-registered. We'll price sea, rail, air or express with duty and VAT on separate lines.
Free quotes. We typically reply within one business day by email, WhatsApp or live chat.