Shipping from China to Ireland

How Long Shipping from China to Ireland By Sea Freight

Port of Loading	Port of Arrive	Transmit Time
Shanghai	Dublin	34
Shenzhen	Dublin	30
Guangzhou	Dublin	30
Ningbo	Dublin	34
Qingdao	Dublin	40
Tianjin	Dublin	44
Xiamen	Dublin	30
Dalina	Dublin	42

Shipping from China to Ireland: The Complete Guide

You might be among the people who wonder how they are going to get their goods from China to Ireland.

If so, then there is no need to worry because we have the perfect solution to help you sort out your worries.

In this guide, I am going to cover everything you need to know when importing from China to Ireland.

Importing from China to Ireland – Photo courtesy: AGRILAND

Chapter 1: What’s the Cost of Shipping Cargo from China to Ireland?

The cost of shipping cargo from China to Ireland will vary according to the weight and type of goods.

In most cases, you will calculate the rates the rates according to the size, type, and weight of the goods to transport.

Generally, products which cover more space, heavy good and fragile goods attract higher rates as compared to other goods.

Sample shipping calculator – Photo courtesy: World Freight Rates

How to Calculate Import Duty in Ireland

Import duty also known as customs duty and taxes is the revenue the government will charge you for the imports.

They are essential and pass through clearance as soon as possible before transporting the goods.

It is a charge on every import that comes into Ireland either by a commercial or a private entity.

The method of valuation is CIF which is an initiative that stands for Cost, Insurance and Freight.

CIF – Photo courtesy: International Commercial Terms

CIF means that the person selling the goods will pay for the cost, freight, and insurance.

The payments are against the risks of damage or loss in transit to the port of destination.

Import Duty Tariff Codes Ireland

Ireland as a member of the European Union levies a tariff on the goods that they get from China.

Ireland in the EU

It applies the taxes set up by the EU which has a base on the International Harmonized System (HS).

The duty rates from other countries range from 5 – 8 % and have a foundation on CIF value on goods.

Ireland allows most of the raw materials to enter the country duty-free or with very minimal charges.

Tariffs on food and agricultural items are according to the market price of the commodities in the world.

The rates also vary according to the composition of the food which will affect other kinds of foodstuff.

Calculating Tax Using Import Duty Calculator Ireland

The calculation involves adding the total value of the goods imported to the cost of insurance and shipping.

VAT in EU – Photo courtesy: Wikipedia

In most cases, you will be using the duty calculator following the procedure stated below.

You will fill a form that will give you the rates to pay according to your imports.

The form includes:

• The country you are exporting from
• The country you are importing to
• The HS code of your product
• Description of your product
• Product Information
• The total value of the order
• The shipping cost
• The name of your logistics company
• The freight Insurance cost
• The name of your Insurance broker
• Your first and last name
• Your mailing addresses

After filling out the form, you will get a call from the customs agent with the rates you will pay.

It is an easier way of knowing all the import tariffs in Ireland.

Air Freight Cost from China to Ireland

Air freight is the transport of goods by a freight company by either purchasing available seats on a plane.

Apart from that, the freight company might decide to charter a freight plane for air shipments.

In Ireland, direct flights to and from China are not available so the cargo will pass through other countries.

Aer Lingus

Air freights carrying goods to Ireland will pass through London, Amsterdam, and Paris.

In case the products are urgent and the shipment is by a passenger flight, there is a chance it might bump.

This simply means that the goods might miss space on the plane because passenger goods have the priorities.

The cost of the freight will depend on the weight of the goods you will be transporting.

Apart from that, you will pay for the mode of transport that the seller will use to send products.

The cost will be high when the cargo moves on express flights as compared to that on passenger planes.

Sea Freight Cost from China to Ireland

Shipping goods from China to Ireland will attract a multitude of fees making the price to be high.

The cost of shipping closely relates to the Incoterms that you will select.

The following is a list of things you will have to consider when shipping from China to Ireland.

Maersk Line – Photo courtesy: The Irish Line

As an importer you will have to know that you will receive an invoice for the following:

• Transport of goods to the loading port (As inclusion in the FOB)
• Export clearance (As found in the FOB)
• Charge for the Sea Freight (As inclusion in the CIF)
• Terminal Handling charge and Port fee (As included in the DAT)
• Fees for custom clearance
• Customs Duties & Import taxes (This includes VAT in the European Union)
• Transporting goods from the destination port to your preferred warehouse
• Shipping Fraud

You will receive a complete invoice on the factors listed above summing up the total cost of the sea freight.

Please note that the total cost will vary accordingly depending on the weight and type of the cargo.

Express Shipping from China to Ireland

Express Shipping from China to Ireland is mainly by a chartered flight through individual agencies.

It is the fastest mode of transporting your goods from anywhere in China to Ireland.

Apart from the speed at which the products will get to you, express shipping involves smaller goods.

Express shipping

The primary agencies that deal with express cargo shipping from China to Ireland include DHL, EMS, UPS, and FedEx.

These agencies charge different cots depending on the kind of goods you will be transporting.

Continue reading and get information on the type of services the agencies listed above offer for express shipping.

FedEx and TNT come together to give you more connections to better opportunities in five simple steps.

First, identify the location where you will need your goods to come from and where it will go.

After that, give a description of the type of products you need to transport giving out the weight and relevant dimensions.

Then, you will be required to decide on the speed that you will need to use in the shipment of your goods.

There are quite a number of services that you will receive depending on the type of goods you will transport.

Identify the dates you will want the agency to pick your goods ready for transport to your destination of choice.

Lastly, you have the liberty to track the goods as they will be on transit all the way to the destination.

After that, the company will bill you the fee of shipping the goods all the way to the destination.

FedEx and TNT are one of the companies that offer the services that are listed above.

The other companies such as EMS, UPS, and DHL also provide the same services but at different fees.

The agencies are in over 200 countries, Ireland and China being among them.

Chapter 2: How to Transport Cargo from China to Ireland

Transporting Cargo from China to Ireland is possible through air freight and sea freight.

a) Air Freight from China to Ireland

Air freight is the safest, fastest and most convenient mode of transporting goods from China to Ireland.

The cargo you will be carrying by air always has high value and a strict timeline you will need to consider.

As you will be shipping by air from China to Ireland, you will come across specific terminologies which I will explain.

Air China Cargo

• AWB: It is a necessary transport document you will receive from the agent or the carrier. It indicates that the agent or the carrier agrees with the terms and conditions of transporting the goods.
• IATA: It is an initial for International Air Transport Association which helps in the formulation of the policies of the industry. Apart from that, It supports the activities of the airline industries in accordance with the set standards.
• ETD: Estimated Time of Departure
• ATD: Actual Time of Departure
• ATA: Actual Time of Arrival
• ETA: Estimated time of Arrival
• ETT: Estimated Transit Time which is meant for estimation only and is never guaranteed. This does not mean that the shipment will not leave and arrive as per the time frame.
• Dangerous goods: these are the type of goods IATA classifies as according to the danger it poses to the safety of the carriers. It classifies cargo to be dangerous by looking at the characteristics and nature of the goods.
• Dimensional Weight: Also known as Billable weight or Chargeable weight. It is the charge by the carrier depending on the gross weight or the dimensional weight of the cargo. In most cases, the airline will look at the weight which is higher and use it to bill you.
• MOQ: The most common MOQ is 45 kilograms. The rates are classified as being: +45 kgs, +100 kgs, +300 kgs, +500 kgs or + 1000 kgs. The couriers will cost less if it is less than 100 kgs in most of the countries.
• ULD: You will understand it better as the air container just like the sea container. It might exceed the allowable maximum so the courier will calculate the charges.

Advantages of Air Freight from China to Ireland

The best things that associate with air freights are the speed of transport and efficiency.

Generally, the time it takes to transport goods from China to Ireland is less than ten working days.

In many cases, it takes three to five days before you receive your cargo which is good for business.

You should know that air freight will only cover transport from one airport to the destination airport.

Air couriers, on the other hand, offer other services such as door to door delivery of goods.

Air Cargo Types

The properties of the air cargo divide it into two main types:

Loading cargo in a plane

· Special Cargo

This type of cargo includes living animals, dangerous goods or goods that require special temperature control.

Chemicals are perfect examples of dangerous goods; seafood requires refrigeration all through making them special.

Their characteristics subject them to different regulations making them costly to transport.

They have to go through various forms of inspection and have to meet multiple requirements.

Many airlines do not accept these goods due to their nature so advise the courier in advance.

Any detail or information that has been left out may attract extra charges and penalties to you.

Apart from that, other types of special cargo will fall as general after testing.

The goods will have an Identification and Classification Report for Air Transport of Goods for the carrier before transporting.

These goods include Chemicals, powder, with liquid or oil, with a magnet, with battery, with a motor inside and audio equipment.

· General Cargo

This type of cargo includes jewelry, electronics, wristwatches, pharmaceuticals, and many more.

The industry of electronics accounts for about 40% of all the cargo transported by air.

The goods require excellent conditions for transport making them very expensive, but it is good for business.

Main Airports in China

International Air transport uses codes and standard short naming systems for the airports under IATA.

Airports in China

The short naming system involves the use of three capitalized letters to assist in easy identification.

The main International Airports in China include:

• PEK which is an initial for Beijing Capital International Airport
• HKG is the initial for Hong Kong International Airport
• CAN as the initial for Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport
• PVG is the initial for Shanghai Pudong International Airport
• SHA as the initial for Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport
• CTU as the Chengdu is the initial for Shuangliu International Airport
• SZX is the initial for Shenzhen Baoan International Airport
• KMG is the initial for Kunming Changshui International Airport
• XIY is the initial for Xi’an Xianyang International Airport
• HGH is the initial for identifying Hangzhou Xiao Shan International Airport

These are the busiest airports in China from which you can transport goods to Ireland.

You will choose the Airport that is nearest to the point where you will be buying the products.

In other cases, some airports might not serve Ireland.

Therefore, you will consider others that serve Ireland.

Major Airports in Ireland

Just like the airports in China, Ireland has airports listed under the IATA for easy identification and regulation.

The airports in Ireland will act as the ports of destination for air freights but couriers do door to door deliveries.

Figure 12 Airports in Ireland

The major airports in Ireland where you can receive the goods from China are as follows:

• Dublin Airport situated in the east coast, North of Dublin coded as DUB/EIDW.
• Cork Airport situated in the south coast, south of the cork city coded as ORK/EICK.
• Shannon Airport situated on the west coast North of the city of Limerick coded as SNN/EINN
• Knock Airport also is known as Ireland west Airport Knock situated in the county of Mayo in the North West. It is coded as NOC/ EIKN
• Belfast International Airport situated in the North East, west of the city of Belfast coded as BFS/EGAA
• Kerry Airport in the county of Kerry code as KIR/EIKY
• Donegal Airport in the province of Donegal coded as CFN/EIDL
• George Best Belfast City Airport situated in Down county coded as BHD/EGAC
• Sligo Airport in the county of Sligo coded as SXL/EISG
• Waterford Airport in the province of Waterford coded as WAT/EIWF
• City of Derry Airport situated in Londonderry coded as LDY/EGAE
• Galway Airport in the county of Galway coded as GWY/EICM

You will have to choose the Airport that you want your goods to arrive before picking them.

The number of airports in Ireland is as many as those in China making it easy to transport goods.

Cargo Planes from China to Ireland

Importing goods from China to Ireland will require you to use cargo planes if you need them fast.

Different airline companies offer the services of transporting cargo from China to Ireland.

The seller will get to the airport and book a cargo flight for the goods he is carrying.

The most common group known for handling cargo planes in Ireland is the Worldwide Flight Services (WFS).

It has more than 50 airline customers who operate in Ireland including Air China, American Airlines, IAG cargo among others.

British Airways Cargo

The big airline companies have different cargo planes that work within the route of China and Beijing.

This means that the cargo planes that operate within this route can easily transport imports from China to Ireland.

Apart from that, big courier companies have specialized cargo planes that work on this route making it simpler to carry.

Emerald Freight Express is another company that has cargo planes that transport cargo from China to Ireland.

How long it Takes to Ship from China to Ireland by Air

In case you are expecting your goods to arrive at a particular time and they are late to arrive.

You will have to worry because it leads to losses in business and maybe the loss of important customers.

You are in no position to fix the situation especially when you have the good with the carrier.

You have the upper hand to make a choice on the best carrier for your goods before committing to it.

Look at the estimated time it will take for your goods and to arrive and commit to the selected period.

After that, choose the carrier and wait for the goods to arrive expecting slight delays in case of anything.

In general, you will look at the following steps before choosing the transit time:

• Find the carrier you prefer
• Find the route schedule of the carrier

The modern world provides you with straightforward ways of identifying a carrier and the route schedule of the carrier.

 China to Ireland by air – Photo courtesy: Explore China Tibet

All this information is available online, and it is good for its accuracy due to the experience of the listed companies.

Most of the companies delivering goods by air will take a maximum of 10 days to deliver your goods.

Courier services are much faster and you are able to receive goods at your door step within 3 days.

In most cases, the period for transporting cargo through couriers take one to three days.

It is the fastest mode of air transport even though you will have to dig deeper into your pockets.

b) Sea Freight from China to Ireland

You might imagine that transporting cargo from China to Ireland by sea is quite a complicated process.

Well, it is not as you will learn more about it and how you will maneuver through it all.

The process is straightforward, but the kind of terminology they use might be confusing to you.

Incoterms

These are the standard international commercial codes or terms that dictate time, place and method of transporting cargo.

As an example, free on board (FOB) includes carrying goods from the factory all the way to the port.

It also involves all the legal procedures of transport and arrangements for transporting goods to their final destination.

Incoterms 2010 – Photo courtesy: IncoDocs

You can alternatively choose to use DAP (Delivered at Place) which involves different procedures from FOB.

DAP consists in shipping the goods from the factory in China taking it all the way to the destination in Ireland.

When you are getting a quote from your supplier, you have to specify the incoterms that you prefer.

Do not forget to look at the costs you will incur with the incoterms you choose.

The prices will vary according to the area you are importing it from and the Incoterms that you decide to use.

LCL and FCL Shipping

FCL is the cheapest freight method if the counting is on cost per weight unit and volumetric unit.

FCL vs LCL

 It is an initial for full container loads even though most buyers are not able to buy full container loads.

Air freight is the method you should use for small goods even though others find the matter confusing.

The best solution to this confusion is the LCL which is the less than container load.

It is the kind of container freight where your goods will be in one container with other products.

It means that the cargo from different buyers will be in one container as it will be on transit.

Freight Insurance

Insurance will never appear on the shipping quote unless the terms of shipping declare so.

This can either be through CIF incoterms which stand for Cost Freight and Insurance.

Container ship accident

If you are ordering shipment according to DAP or DAT, inform the shipping company to insure the goods.

The insurance for shipping is relatively not expensive and will only cover the value of the cargo in case of damage.

It does not cover product development costs, los sales or consequential loss.

Shipping and Lead Times

Lead time from one port to another depends on the distance between the port of origin to the port of destination.

As an example, shipping from Hong Kong to Cork/Dublin/Belfast will take an average of 35 days.

Keep in mind that there might be delays at the loading port and also at the port of destination.

Shenzhen to Ireland – Photo courtesy: Ports.com

Shipping cargo by sea will be regarding lead times, both unpredictable and slow than air freight.

As such, you are to plan well and expect any forms of delays when it comes to sea freights.

You should place all your orders early enough before the hard deadlines.

The time your goods will take to reach the destination in Ireland from China varies.

It varies depending on the distance between the ports, the route the ship will take and the speed.

Apart from that, there are other incidences and delays that may occur thus increasing the transit time.

In general, you are expected to have a particular time estimate and also give an allowance to time.

Shipping goods from the port of Shanghai in China to port of Dublin in Ireland takes around 49 days.

The distance the ship will cover is 11662 nm traveling at a speed of 10 knots which is low.

The time estimate can either be faster or slower depending on the cargo ship you choose.

Your good will take longer at see if you use longer routes and slow cargo ships.

The higher the rates you pay, the faster the journey.

Shipping Container Volumes

In any case, you are in a position to transport a full container load.

There are containers to choose.

The containers you can choose from are:

• FCL 20″ (Volume: 33.2 cubic meters)
• FCL 40″ (Volume: 67.7 cubic meters)
• FCL 40″ (Volume: 76.3 cubic meters)
• FCL 45″ (Volume: 85.9 cubic meters)

Bulk shipping container

The volume of the container differs slightly depending on the type of company that will be transporting your goods.

The difference is however minimal and does not make any significant difference.

To avoid wastage of space, make orders that will fit in the container that you need.

Export packaging

Protect your cargo sufficiently from damage in case of dust from the factory or any other form of damage.

A lot of things can usually happen during the shipping process, so you have to make sure the package is good enough.

Do not trust the supplier to make sure that the packaging is okay because they might not do it well.

Corrugated boxes for packaging

Keep in touch with your supplier and offer him the right dimensions of the kind of package you require.

Explain everything in detail and do not leave anything out to avoid future problems.

You will have to look at the export packaging regulations as you give instructions for your packages.

Main Sea Ports in Ireland

Ireland has quite a number of ports found by the sea that you can choose to use.

Make sure you choose a port that is closer to the country which you are importing from.

You have the choice of choosing a port from the East, West, North, and South.

Sea ports in Ireland

The main ports on the east include Rosslare, Arklow, Wicklow, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin, Howth, Drogheda, Dundalk, and Greenore.

In Northern Ireland, the ports found include Warren point, Belfast and Larne.

The main ports on the south coast include Bantry Bay, Fenit, Dingle, Foynes, Killybegs, Galway, Sligo, Limerick, and Kilronan.

The ports on the north coast are very few, and they include Coleraine and Derry in Northern Ireland.

There are quite a number of ports on the south coast of Ireland.

These include Castletown Berehaven, Kinsale, Cobh, Ringaskiddy, Tivoli, Cork, Youghal, Dungarvan, Waterford, New Ross and Dunmore East.

Sea Ports in China

So many goods come from China, and you should not wonder why it has so many ports handling cargo.

You should know the name of the ports in China so that you can tell where to export your goods.

Incredibly, China has around 8 of the 17 busiest ports in the world.

These ports include:

• Port of Shanghai
• Port of Shenzhen
• Port of Ningbo
• Port of Qingdao
• Port of Guangzhou
• Port of Tianjin
• Port of Dalian
• Port of Xiamen

The following ports are among the busiest in the world handling quite a lot of containers at a particular time.

Besides that, China has additional ports that process a significant number of vessels but not as busy.

The other ports include:

• Port of Hong Kong
• Port of Kaohsiung

The manufacturers of goods are spread all over, and it is easy to transport them from the nearest port.

The port that is nearer to the country where the products will go to is the one you should choose.

It becomes cheaper to transport the goods from a port that is nearer to the country you are taking your products.

As for Ireland, most of the people will have to choose the port that is closer to it.

If you decide that, the cost will reduce significantly and the time will be shorter.

Cargo Ships from China to Ireland

Whether your goods require FCL or LCL to get to the point you require them to be, a ship must be available.

The ship which normally carries the containers all the way is known as a cargo ship.

There are quite a number of companies with a lot of cargo ships to transport cargo from China to Ireland.

The main shipping companies that ship from China to Ireland include:

For medium rates such as medium transit time and medium shipping rates, you will use KLINE and COSCO.

COSCO Shipping

For low rates such as low transit time and low rates of shipping, you will use different companies.

These companies include MSC, PIL, CSCL, WANHAI, ZIM, and MISC.

Lastly, for high transit time and high rates of shipping, you will use CMA, APL, MSK and HMM.

The companies listed above have lots of cargo ships that you can use to transport your cargo to Ireland.

Sea Routes from China to Ireland

China has many ports where goods leave the country on cargo ships all the way to Ireland.

Ireland has a number of ports where the goods from China come in.

This means that, from one port to another, a cargo ship will take a particular route.

The routes will change according to the port with which the ship is coming from and the port of destination.

The first main route is from the port of Shanghai in China to the port of Dublin in Ireland.

It can deliver the goods to other ports in Ireland too such as the port of New Ross and the port of Cork.

There are two main routes which the cargo ship can use to transport goods to Ireland.

The first is the Atlantic route which can easily transport the goods.

The second being Indian Ocean route all the way to Ireland

Different sea routes – Photo Courtesy: Silk Route.NET

Chapter 3: How to Find a Freight Forwarder in China

Freight forwarders have the role of moving your goods from the floor of the factory all the way to your warehouse.

When importing your goods from China, freight forwarders are very important as they can make or break your business.

This is the reason why you have to be very careful when choosing a freight forwarder to transport your goods.

The first step in finding a freight forwarder in China depends on the location where you are at.

The easiest way of finding a freight forwarder is through the internet.

You can go online and find a freight forwarder easily through companies such as FIATA.

FIATA is the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Association that represents freight forwarders on a world-wide stage.

They have many freight forwarders registered under this association which has recently risen to 40,000 members.

This kind of platform offers you a wide range of freight forwarders to choose from especially from China.

Getting the freight forwarders from China on the FIATA website is quite simple when you follow the right steps.

Go to the FIATA website and look under the FIATA members directory, then choose China as the country.

After that, you will have a list of all the freight forwarders you can find in China to help you with transporting your goods.

Freight forwarder

It is a simple process, but you have to be careful before you choose the freight forwarder for your cargo.

You have to ask the following questions before making a choice.

• Where is the freight forwarder based?
• Does the company have employees operating in China?
• Do they have the licenses to act as customs brokers?
• Do they have a clean record of customer references?
• Do they have online tracking systems you can use to track your goods?
• Do they have other logistic services that they offer to their customers?
• Do they have a range of shipping services such as LCL and FCL among others?
• Do they have enough experience to deal with the category of products you want?
• Are they in a position to offer repackaging services?
• Can they have shipments from different suppliers under one container?
• What are the discounts that they offer when you choose to work with them?
• Are they in a position to offer services such as parcel shipments air freights?

A freight forwarder with all these questions answered will handle your cargo well.

It is important to consider freight forwarders with beautiful reputations even though they are expensive.

You can pay more to the freight forwarder and make sure that the goods reach you in perfect condition.

Chapter 4: Modes of Shipping from China to Ireland

Shipping your goods from China to Ireland is not as difficult as you might have been imagining.

There are plenty of shipping services that you can choose from depending on the type of goods you have.

You have the option of either transporting your goods by air or by sea.

Air transport is swift and reliable, even though you might have to pay more.

Apart from that, it is limited to smaller packages as compared to sea freights.

Sea freights on the other end offer quite a lot of services no matter the weight but is slower.

FCL Shipping from China to Ireland

Shipping from China to Ireland by sea using FCL shipping is the most cost-effective mode of bringing in goods.

There are three different sizes of containers that are available for you to choose from, the smallest being 20ft.

No matter the extent it can carry 28 cubic meters of goods or 28 pallets of the load.

Evergreen Shipping

The next is the 40ft container which can carry 58 cubic meters of goods or 58 pallets of the load.

The last among the containers is the 40ft container which can take 66 cubic meters of products.

It is, however, taller and there is no need of transporting pellets in such a vessel.

There are also other sizes of containers that you can choose from depending on the type of load.

Do not worry since all your goods will come to you in perfect condition no matter the set standards.

LCL Shipping from China to Ireland

Less than container load is the process where the goods you are shipping are put into one container with others.

This is a costly method if it comes to shipping a few things for yourself in a huge container.

To cover for this, many buyers with few goods usually take space on a container and transport all their goods together.

LCL Shipping

You are to make sure that the destination of the container is Ireland and it arrives intact.

This allows you to have your goods in perfect condition without any form of interference.

Opening up the container at a different port may lead to destruction or loss of the goods you were expecting.

The amount of time the goods will take at sea before you receive them depends on the freight you choose.

The faster the goods reach you, the better as it ensures that you get them in perfect conditions.

Ro/Ro Shipping from China to Ireland

Roll on, roll off shipping is the kind of shipping you will use when importing cars from China.

This shipping method has unique Ro/Ro ships that transport the cars from China to Ireland.

The name of the shipping comes from the mode of loading and offloading the vehicle from the cargo ship.

Apart from that, Ireland also receives non-motorized trucks on these vessels such as boats and machinery on trailers.

Ro/Ro vessels are quite sophisticated and can carry up to a capacity of 6000 vehicles at one particular sail.

They are usually 860 feet long and have nine internal decks for carrying different types of goods.

If you are interested in importing a car from China to Ireland, then you are in a better position.

There are quite a number of ships that can handle your car or machinery.

The Door-to-door Shipping from China to Ireland

The door to door shipping from China to Ireland is the most efficient way of receiving your goods at your doorstep.

You can get this kind of service from courier providers such as DHL, UPS, EMS, and FedEx which operate in both countries.

Door to door shipping

Courier services are usually very reliable, and your goods will reach your doorstep.

The courier companies such as DHL and UPS among others deal in all kind of goods from lightweight to heavy goods.

You will receive light goods faster as they will come via air freight.

Heavier goods are challenging as they have to be shipped by sea and might take a while.

Despite the time it takes, door to door deliveries will ensure that you receive your goods right at your doorstep.

There is a certain level of guarantee that your goods are safe and will get to you in the long run.

OOG Shipping from China to Ireland

Out of gauge cargo abbreviated as OOG is the kind of goods that are too big to fit in any of the available containers.

OOG Shipping – Photo courtesy: Vince Danet

You can order your OOG cargo from China and you will receive it on a cargo ship in Ireland safe and sound.

Companies like MSC are efficient enough to provide such services at the best rates for you.

The companies will transport your cargo on a flat platform, flat rack or a container that is open at the top.

These goods are special in terms of their size and should be taken care of well to avoid any damages.

They are also very expensive, and you should adhere to all the factors involved in transporting it all the way to Ireland.

There are, however, no specialized cargo ships to carry the OOG cargo and thus all transport is on the standard cargo ships.

Chapter 5: Choosing Incoterm when Shipping from China to Ireland

The incoterms you will be subject to will depend on the type of shipping you want for your goods.

These are the international standard commercial terms that will dictate the mode of transporting your goods.

The most common incoterms include the free on board (FOB) and delivery at the place (DAP) which you can choose.

Make sure that when you are negotiating on the payment modes with the seller, inform them of the Incoterms to use.

Do not forget to calculate the cost of the freights concerning the chosen incoterms.

Choose the preferred incoterms that will make sure that your goods are safe and sound as it will be on transit.

You can arrange with your supply to offer additional services not included on the incoterms privately.

Prior arrangements will make transporting goods from China to Ireland very easy.

I have a useful guide for you on this: Incoterms 2010: The Definitive Guide.

Chapter 6: Know More on Ireland Import Custom Regulations

Doing a market survey before deciding on the kind of business you would like to do is a significant step.

It gives you the idea of the type of market you are venturing in and how you will maneuver through.

Customs in Ireland

This involves looking at the regulations on goods and other requirements such as that on imports among other things.

Ireland Prohibited and Restricted Imports

Ireland as a country has its regulations that govern the importation of goods from other countries.

The rules include limitations and prohibitions on certain types of goods that are not worthy.

You should note that Ireland is a free country to do business, but you have to respect their rules and regulations.

The restrictions and prohibitions affect the following groups:

• Domestic dogs and cats
• Dangerous or Illegal drugs
• Obscene or Indecent goods
• Particular foodstuffs such as milk, meat, fish and products thereof.
• Products from species that are in danger of extinction.
• Items of International Heritage that have protection.
• Medicine
• Weapons, firearms, explosives or fireworks
• Dead or live animals such as birds, fish or plants

Ireland Import Requirements and Documentation

Importing goods into Ireland will require you to have certain documents from the customs authority.

Bill of lading – Photo courtesy: Advanced On Trade

The import documents include:

• The Single Administrative Document which is the official declaration document you will write to customs.
• Import requirements which restrict you to getting the official clearance from Irish customs classification, taxes, and duty.
• Bill of lading
• Air waybill
• Sea waybill
• Certificates of Origin
• CMR
• Courier waybill
• CIM consignment note
• Certificate of shipment
• Invoices and types of invoices

Please note that the import documentation will vary according to the state with which the imports come.

There are certain countries which have agreements with Ireland that allow them to present fewer documentations.

Import Customs Clearance Process in Ireland

The first step is to fill a customs declaration document if you are importing outside the European Union.

You will generate the document electronically using the Revenue’s Automated Entry Processing system (AEP).

After that, your agent will have to pay the fee the customs will require before the release of your goods.

The charges include value added tax (VAT), customs duty and excise duty among others.

The payment document has to be available in case customs request for it.

You will provide an entry summary declaration depending on the goods that you are importing.

After going through all these procedures, you will proceed to transport your imports.

Chapter 7: How to Ship from Alibaba to Ireland

Alibaba is a shopping site where you can purchase your goods and then transport them to Ireland.

It offers around 3646 shipping to Ireland of which 40 % is for the freight agents working under Alibaba.

21% is transport by air freight and 14 % is transport by sea freight.

Alibaba

Most of the goods are subject to transport by air because of their nature.

Alibaba offers a wide range of shipping options to Ireland including LCL and FCL.

They have specific days that you will be able to choose from including Monday, Tuesday and Friday.

Apart from that, Alibaba has a platform for over 3662 suppliers willing to ship to Ireland.

Among the suppliers, most of them come from China occupying about 99% of the goods.

Most of the goods from Alibaba to Ireland come from Northern Europe, Western Europe, and Central America.

Your products will arrive safe if you choose to buy from suppliers who are trustworthy.

Chapter 8: FAQs on Importing from China to Ireland

I know you could be asking yourself so many questions about importing from China to Ireland.

In this section, I will take you through everything you need to know:

1) What are the charges I will incur in case I want to ship goods from China to Ireland?

The charges you will pay will vary according to the kind of cargo you are bringing into Ireland.

There is a system that will help in the calculation of the amount of money you will pay for your cargo.

2) How long will it take for my cargo to reach Ireland in case I am importing from China?

The other issue many people may not understand is the period you will have to wait for the goods to arrive.

The time is not specific but there is a time window you will have as you wait for your cargo to arrive.

The time it will take will also depend on the cargo ship you choose and the route it will take.

3) Do you have a door to door courier services operating the China to Ireland import route?

Door to door services are available for any cargo you wish to get from China to Ireland.

Courier services like UPS, DHL, FedEx among others are responsible for this kind of arrangement.

The services are faster and at least you will be sure of receiving your goods right at your doorstep.

4) What are the additional services that a company can offer in case I choose to work with them?

Different companies have different policies which govern their modes of customer service.

Many of the companies offer additional services in accordance to the agreements that you have with them.

They are ready to talk to you and listen to your requests on such issues.

5) May I know the list of goods that are not allowed into Ireland?

Ireland has policies on the kind of goods that they allow into the country.

Some of the goods are, however, not allowed into Ireland.

Some of the goods include: foodstuffs, domesticated animals such as cats and dogs, medicine, weapons among other goods.

6) What kind of documents do I have to present before transporting goods from China?

Ireland is a member state of the European Union and has regulations that control the import of goods.

The customs department in Ireland expects you to provide a few documents before importing any cargo.

Some of the documents include:

• The Single Administrative Document which is the official declaration document you will write to customs.
• Import requirements which restrict you to getting the official clearance from Irish customs classification, taxes, and duty.
• Bill of lading
• Air waybill
• Sea waybill
•  Certificates of Origin
• CMR
• Courier waybill
• CIM consignment note
• Certificate of shipment

Invoices and types of invoices

Chapter 9: JMS – Your Reliable Freight Forwarder from China to Ireland

JMS has been focusing on shipping to Ireland since 2012 and as such have significant experience in handling their goods.

The many logistical requirements offered by JMS aims at making the imports from China to Ireland better.

It is one of the best freight forwarders you can use to transport your cargo from any city in China.

JMS offers the following shipping services for your cargo.

• Sea freight shipping from China to Ireland handling any good you might have. This includes the FCL and LCL shipping of goods.
• Air freight shipping from China to Ireland as it cooperates well with other flight companies.
• Door to door courier services from China all the way to Ireland
• Pickup and delivery services
• Distribution and warehousing services
• Cargo insurance
• Custom clearance

Now, what are some of the main advantages that JMS offers?

• It provides lower freights from any city in China to Ireland
• Offers professional logistics based on customer requests and good information
• Offers reasonable chargers to the shipper under the terms of FOB
• It prefers port to port services thus keeping goods safe
• Offers professional door to door shipping services
• Has a lot of experience in handling OOG and Ro-Ro goods
• It provides good paperwork and full-time online support

Conclusion

I am pretty sure that you are now satisfied with all the information you require when shipping from China to Ireland.

You are in a better position of finding excellent freight for your goods.

Once you implement and follow everything I have discussed in this guide, shipping from China to Ireland will be simple.

And, in case you need any assistance, feel free to contact JMS.