Shipping from China to Latvia

How Long Shipping from China to Latvia by Sea

Port of Loading	Port of Arrive	Transmit Time
Shanghai	Riga	40
Shenzhen	Riga	38
Guangzhou	Riga	38
Ningbo	Riga	42
Qingdao	Riga	48
Tianjin	Riga	53
Xiamen	Riga	39
Dalina	Riga	50

Shipping from China to Latvia: The Complete Guide

I know you are a busy businessman who requires nothing but the best form of transport for your cargo.

You must be trying to import from China to Latvia.

Well, today, I want to make the entire process simple and easy for you.

But, how?

You’re going to learn how to ship from China to Latvia – from the best mode of transport, custom clearance, key players, etc.

By the end of this guide, you’ll definitely be an expert in this industry.

From China to Latvia

Key Players when Shipping from China to Latvia

Shipping from China to Latvia has many players trying to have a share of the transport market.

It is a vast sector with many players ranging from freight forwarders on the sea and in the air.

This kind of information should get you excited because there are many ways to bring your cargo to China.

Players in this industry have come up with many ways with which they will get your cargo to your warehouse.

They make sure that you have all the right documentation as they partner with other companies to get your cargo.

With partnership from cargo charters and carriers, commercial airlines and shipping companies, we guarantee safe delivery of your shipment.

Freight Forwarders in China to Latvia

Before we get deep into the subject, it is important that you understand a few things such as freight forwarders.

A freight forwarder is a member of the international transport and trade community who you cannot do without.

They are the people who organize for foreign merchandise and shipment to offer you the best deal for your goods.

Freight forwarder

Airline and shipping services in China have many links between the roads and warehouses to transport your cargo effectively.

They have full container loads (FCL) and less than container load (LCL) among other services for your shipment.

Under the guidance of freight forwarders, you better be sure that you will get your cargo in Latvia.

Roles of China to Latvia Freight Forwarders

The primary roles of a freight forwarder are the booking of freights and organizing how the cargo gets to you.

Apart from that freight forwarders can arrange export and import documentation, terminal charges and insurance.

They work with small exporters who consult them on prices before making a quotation in case they have a tender.

Freight forwarding

The roles of freight forwarders may vary depending on the freight forwarder you choose.

The significant roles of these freight forwarder include:

• Advising on the cost of export including port expenses, freight costs, consular fees, and insurance costs. Apart from that, they will take care of the prices of documentation and the value of the merchandise.
• Planning and advising on the best route for your shipment considering the type and nature of the goods. The quality of the products they often look at include perishability, safety, transit time and overall cost.
• Contracting and reserving the necessary space for your cargo on the ship, train, truck, and airplane.
• Contracting the transport insurance for the cargo on your behalf and may come through in case of an accident.
• Advising on the best mode of transport as they organize on stowing, packing, and loading of your cargo.
• Preparing and transporting Trade and transport documents you will require such as the bill of lading and CMR among others.
• Collaborating with the customs agents to ensure that the documents and goods comply with all the regulations of customs.
• Acts as the intermediary in the custom negotiations all over the world to allow the cargo to move efficiently.
• Using internet technology, satellite systems, and e-commerce to allow you to track the path the goods take.
• Advising on the legislation that affects international trade, social and political situations among other factors affecting the transport of goods.

How to Find a Professional Freight Forwarder

A freight forwarder is a vital person in the line of importing goods from China to Latvia.

You can choose a professional freight forwarder to handle your product from the comfort of your office or home.

Most of the freight forwarders have their details online thus making it easy to find them.

Before you start looking for a freight forwarder for your goods, there are things you have to consider.

You have to consider the following factors:

• Experience of the freight forwarder: – You have to admit a freight forwarder who has enough experience in the things that they do.

Most of the companies still existing as freight forwarders for a long time have seen almost everything and know what it takes.

That is why you have to make a choice and decide on one with a lot of experience in handling goods.

• You should know the network that the freight forwarder you intend to use has including agents and business partners. This will help you know if he/she has people in different countries who can help you bring your goods.

Take keen note on the availability of agents and people in business in the country you are exporting from or importing.

• Look at the list of services that the freight forwarder is offering and see if he can help you.

A good freight forwarder should have the ability to handle almost every aspect involving the transport of goods.

This includes shipping at sea, air transport, insurance of the cargo, distribution and warehousing among other vital services.

• The freight forwarder has to have good referees from the people he has done business with in the past.

Look for people who can recommend a certain freight forwarder to you depending on their experience.

If you cannot find good referees, then you are looking in the wrong place and should try something else.

• Service to the customer is also very important as it reflects on how they will handle your goods.

Look at the manner, speed and efficiency with which they handle your requests then decide.

It is important to have personal contact with them to understand their modes of operation.

Freight forwarder

There is quite a lot of information online on the kind of freight forwarder you can hire.

The mode and scale of operations that a particular freight forwarding company has is enough indication of their efficiency.

Personal contact with the freight forwarder is however very important as you will have the first-hand experience.

The International Federation of Freight Forwarders Association (FIATA) represents freight forwarders on the global stage including those in China.

FIATA

 It is the best place where you can easily log in to and get a list of freight forwarder for your preference.

It has about 40,000 registered members from whom you can choose from on the list.

Why Trust JMS Freight Forwarder in Shipping from China to Latvia

JMS is one of the companies that have been transporting cargo from China to Latvia for a long time.

They pride in providing the best services and competitive pricing for the cargo you are carrying.

They have vast experience in handling all types of cargo including fragile and dangerous cargo.

JMS

The kind of services that you can get from JMS include:

• Air freight shipping all the way from China to Latvia
• Sea freight shipments to Latvia from different ports in China including LCL and FCL.
• The door to Door services from your supplier in China to Latvia under FOB and EXW terms of trade.
• They use companies such as EMC, MSK, ONE, COSCO and CMA to transport your cargo to Latvia by sea. The services they offer are excellent and come in competitive pricing that will favor your pockets. Apart from that, JMS will also provide other services such as:
• Pickup of cargo from the seller and delivery to the destination of choice.
• Warehousing of different goods and later distributing them.
• Taking care of cargo insurance.
• Custom clearance among other things.

JMS should be your best freight forwarder from China to Latvia because:

• They provide the best shipping freights to Riga, Latvia from China as compared to others.
• They are good at consolidating services in China.
• They offer brokerage services in Latvia and China.
• They offer 21 days of free detention for your FCL shipment cargo.
• They have enough professional experience in handling your paperwork.
• They have enough experience in the customs and policies in China.
• They offer online support twenty-four hours a day for the whole week.

Customs Brokers in China and Latvia

Apart from the freight forwarders, there is another group of people you might need to help in shipping.

They are important because they support many operations that involve the customs to whom you deal with.

Continue reading and know more about the customs brokers in China and Latvia.

Who is a Customs Broker?

A customs broker will prepare and submit documents that will notify and get clearance from the relevant government agencies.

They can also arrange for shipping of the goods from the supplier using trucking companies available in the country.

Customs broker

Most of the customs brokers have specialties in particular commodities such as perishables and apparels among others.

Apart from that, a customs broker can also deal with the clearance of manifest and crews of big cargo vessels.

Most of the customs brokers who specialize in this kind of business, work exclusively at the inland ports.

You will find them clearing bonds in significant harbors and ports which experience a lot of international traffic.

Role of Customs Broker in Shipping from China to Latvia

A customs broker with a valid license will act as the link between the importer and the government.

They will make sure that you comply with the relevant laws that guide the importation of goods from China to Latvia.

Apart from that, they involve other issues such as:

• Representing clients : – the customs broker must have the relevant power from an attorney before they serve you.

You can contact them and offer a limited capability to handle all the issues revolving around the customs department.

• Customs Transactions : – he will submit all the relevant documents to the customs department requesting for clearance.

They prepare all the necessary documents you will need for the goods to enter the country including shipment information.

They will also assist you in obtaining the required documents that will identify you as an importer.

• Payment of fees and duties : – he will handle all the taxes and fees that you are to pay then send you a bill later. In case you have an account such as an “automated clearinghouse account” he will do the necessary calculations.

After that, you will authorize the transfer of funds from your account to the relevant receivers.

• Record Keeping : – after completing a transaction, a customs broker has to keep all the documents for future references. The records should be in the records of the customs broker for a period of not less than five years. They should also have copies that give them and revoke the powers of attorney to represent a particular client.

Cargo Shipping Company from China to Latvia

The shipping of cargo from Latvia to China can either be through the airlines or be the ship.

You are at the liberty of choosing the type of shipment you would like to transport your cargo.

However, certain types of goods will require certain means of transfer depending on their nature.

COSCO

There are many shipping companies that are available to help you with the transport of your cargo.

These companies have been in business for a long time, and they offer a broad range of services.

Continue reading and find out more about these companies and the kind of services they provide to their clients.

Please note that there are different ships you can use for different types of cargo including:

General Cargo Ships

You can describe them as bulk carriers or shipping specialists in transporting bulky and awkwardly shaped goods.

General cargo ship

Some of their products do not fit into the standard containers.

Some of the cargo are project cargo and heavy goods for building projects in different companies such as power companies.

Bulk carriers

These include ships such as oil tankers, which transport goods in bulk.

Bulk carriers

Some of the goods that they transport include ore, grain, coal, and cereals.

Tankers

This type of ship carries goods such as petroleum products, chemicals, crude oil, juice concentrates, and liquid gas.

Tanker ship

Container Ships

This type of ship specializes in the transport of goods which can fit into a container.

Role of Shipping Companies in Importing from China

A shipping company also known as a shipping agent is another critical feature you cannot avoid.

They play a very important role in the shipment of goods as you will soon find out.

They are readily available in different air and seaports.

Over 90% of the trade in the world has to pass through shipping companies to make it a success.

It has made it possible for us to export and import goods from different countries all over the world.

The mode of shipping can either be through the sea or by air depending on the type of cargo you need.

Apart from transporting goods from China to Latvia, Shipping companies can also:

• Make the necessary arrangements for the shipping of products from the supplier to the distributor or customer.
• Ensuring the availability of berths for incoming ships
• Arranging for tugs and pilots if necessary
• Making calls to the sellers and receivers of the goods
• Collecting cargo and freights for the customers
• Arranging for repairs in case it is essential
• Drawing documents for harbor and custom services
• Arranging for the storage of products if need be.
• Conveying necessary information to the ship owners
• Arranging for the provisions the crew will require while on transit such as clean water and food.

The roles of shipping companies and agents are endless as you will notice in your extensive reading.

Main Container Shipping Companies

There are quite a number of shipping companies that ply China to Latvia route.

https://youtu.be/isIcqkYUHws

This gives you an unlimited number of companies which you can choose from to transport your goods.

Some of the companies available that will help you in shipping cargo from China to Latvia include:

• Evergreen Marine Corporation
• CMA-CGM
• American President Lines (APL)
• China Ocean Shipping (Group) Company (COSCO)
• Mediterranean Shipping Company
• Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK)
• Maersk Shipping Lane
• China Shipping Container Lines
• Hanjin Shipping Company
• Hapag-Lloyd, just to mention a few.

The list of companies using plying this route is endless.

With the help of online marketing services such as Amazon and Alibaba, you are in an excellent position to do business.

Major Airlines from China to Latvia

The trade between China and Latvia involves transport of goods by air among other things.

Transporting cargo by air will include booking space on the passenger airline or the cargo planes.

Either way, you will be able to get your goods faster as compared to the sea routes.

Transporting cargo via airplanes are costlier as compared to transport by sea.

Despite the high rates, the cargo is often very safe and arrives very fast.

It is also limited to carrying goods of certain types and weight as compared to the ships.

Air Cargo

Please note that you can transport your cargo on any plane as long as it is passing through Latvia from China.

The major Airlines which you can use in carrying your cargo include:

• Etihad Airways
• Air Baltic
• KLM
• Turkish Airlines
• Primera Air
• Aeroflot airlines
• Ryanair
• TAP Portugal

Shipping from China to Latvia Step-by-step Process

The process of shipping cargo from China to Latvia begins from the supplier, and it will end with the customer.

It also involves many people who participate in the loading, offloading, packing and moving the cargo among other things.

Apart from the people involved, you have to look at the machines that make the process a success.

Continue reading and learn more about the process of transporting cargo from China to Latvia.

Please note that there are many ways of carrying the cargo from China to Latvia.

We might not be able to explain all the processes, but you will get the idea about the whole process.

Step 1: Deliver Cargo to Freight Forwarder

Delivering cargo from the supplier is the first step of the process of shipping goods from China to Latvia.

Loading shipping container

You can use a truck to carry the goods from the supplier all the way to the port.

The mode of transport can either be the responsibility of:

• Supplier as an after sales service
• Freight forwarder with full mandate of transporting and delivering goods
• The private entity that you will organize as the buyer or customer
• Shipping company or shipping agent

The process begins with packaging the products appropriately and preparing it for transport.

It is then put on to the truck that will take it all the way to the port or the freight forwarder.

You should note that the relevant documentation should be available as the goods move from one point to the next.

Step 2: Customs Clearance Process in China

Once the goods are with the freight forwarder, he will organize on how it gets on the ship.

Before that, he has to clear with the law, especially the customs department of China.

You can either choose the freight forwarder, shipping company, customs broker to deal with the process of clearing with customs.

This will involve presenting the necessary paperwork such as commercial invoice, CIF and packing list.

Customs clearance

All the documents must state clearly the name of the country such as “People’s Republic of China.”

You can quickly go through the process of clearing with customs in any of the customs offices all over China.

Apart from that, there are specific declarations you have to comply with such as:

• The country where goods originate from
• Description and value of the products or cargo
• The composition of the load
• Declare if the goods are semi-complete or complete
• Recipient of the goods
• Name and contacts of the supplier
• The final destination of the merchandise
• HS codes

§ Prohibited and Restricted Exports from China to Latvia

As an importer, you should know the type of goods that will not go through customs.

This is because the goods are not on the list of products Latvia will allow into their country.

China might also have issues with other goods and may not permit them out of their country.

Prohibited imports

The list of restricted and prohibited goods from China to Latvia include:

• Dangerous goods that will cause harm in Latvia
• Drugs and other narcotics that have international red flags and do not have prescriptions.
• Money orders
• Military Equipment
• Pornographic materials
• Ozone-depleting substance
• Veterinary controls on certain animals
• Specific categories of food and beverages
• Goods that are subject to CITES such as cultural goods
• Certain chemicals

The list of goods that Latvia prohibit is extensive, and you might not be able to get them through customs.

The list of products is not only controlled by Latvia but by the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union European Union at large making them very sensitive.

The prohibitions will also affect courier service providers who will not allow the products on board.

§ Export Inspection and Validation in China

The process of inspecting and validating the cargo is very important in China.

You will have to allow the customs department to inspect and validate the cargo you intend to transport.

Your goods will go through the process of inspection in line with the rules and regulations on exports.

Chinese export inspection

Inspection and validation are important because they help in identifying the restricted and prohibited goods.

Apart from that, it is a measure of security that prevents people from exporting dangerous goods that might cause harm.

All this is going on at the customs point after which you will get a certificate allowing you to proceed with the export.

You will also pay specific tariffs depending on the nature of your goods after the process of inspection.

§ The Export Document Validation Process

After the goods have gone through the inspection and validation process, the documents you have will be validated.

This can be done simultaneously with the process of inspecting and validating the goods.

The documents will get the necessary stamps after validation to allow you to proceed.

Commercial invoice – Photo courtesy: Ship Wire

The documents that you will present for validation will depend on the type of goods and include:

• Commercial invoice
• Bill of lading
• Sales contract
• Packing list
• Proforma invoice
• Insurance policy
• Customs declaration

After the validation of the documents is complete, you will pay the necessary tariffs and taxes.

§ Export Duties and Taxes in China

China imposes an export duty and tax on a few goods such as semi-manufactured goods and resource products.

It levies temporary tariffs on certain exports such as crude oil, iron alloy, and chemical fertilizers to conserve their resources.

The tax charged on export and import duties are the same in China.

Export duties and taxes in China – Photo courtesy: China Briefing

Generally, export duties and taxes on certain goods are free if you are exporting them to Latvia and other countries.

The only charge you will pay for is the 17 percent Value Added Tax (VAT) which you might regard as the tax you pay.

This move encourages exporters to increase their exports and improve the economy of China.

Step 3: The Process of Shipping from China to Latvia

Shipping goods from China to Latvia is a long but straightforward process.

Your goods have to go through customs for necessary clearance before transporting them.

After that, you will load the good on either a ship or a plane for shipment all the way to Latvia.

§ Sea Freight Shipping Service from China to Latvia

Sea freight shipping is the process by which you will transport cargo from the seaport on a ship.

There are many types of cargo ships you will use depending on the type of load you intend to transport to Latvia.

Many shipping companies will assist in transporting your cargo effectively and efficiently.

Most of the shipping companies have links to the warehouse they own in Latvia.

This means that your cargo will be safe in the warehouses for a specific period until you organize for transport.

These companies will also deliver the goods to the warehouse of choice depending on the arrangements you have with them.

Port of Ventspils

As an importer, you have options you can choose from depending on the type of cargo before loading your goods.

Your goods can either be on full container loads (FCL) or less than a container load (LCL).

The costs vary, and you will have the chance of deciding the best mode of transport for your products.

The rates of shipping goods from China to Latvia will depend on:

• The type of cargo and weight of cargo you are transporting
• The shipping mode you chose for your cargo
• The route that the ship will take as it transports your goods

The guidance of freight forwarders will take your cargo to different cities in Latvia such as:

• Daugavpils
• Jurmala
• Riga
• Jelgava
• Valmiera
• Ventspils

Manufacturers in China are spoilt of choice as they can make the goods to for export.

Ports in China – Photo courtesy: PHOENIXRYZING

The goods will come from different seaports in China including:

• Port of Shanghai
• Port of Hong Kong
• Port of Shenzhen
• Port of Qingdao
• Port of Kaohsiung
• Port of Guangzhou
• Port of Tianjin
• Port of Xiamen
• Port of Dalian

The kind of services you will receive on sea freights include:

• LCL Shipments
• FCL Shipments
• Arrangement and analysis of optimum transportation route
• Control on cargo movements and provision of information on the time at all the stages.
• Processing and drafting of all the customs documents

The types of cargo ships available for sea freight include:

• Standard containers
• Heavy and bulky freight
• Bulky liquid cargo
• Dangerous cargo
• Cargo that requires specific temperature conditions

§ Air Freight Shipping Service from China to Latvia

Air freight shipping is the process by which you will move your cargo from China to Latvia on a plane.

It is the fastest and most efficient mode of transporting goods from China to Latvia.

Most of the goods that you will transport in planes are perishable and requires to get to the customers on time.

It is the most efficient way of transporting cargo especially when it comes to the door to door delivery services.

There are warehouses around the major airports that deal with carrying cargo where you can store your goods.

The goods you transport will arrive at your destination airport waiting for you to pick them up as soon as possible.

Airports in Latvia

The kind of cargo that you will transport via air freights is usually not as bulky as the one on sea freights.

They might be perishable goods that need to reach the consumer as fast as possible before they get worse.

Most of the lightweight and electronic devices such as watches and phones come in through the air freight.

Most of the courier services specialize in faster movement of cargo using the air freights.

It is the reason why they can promise to deliver your goods on time without major delays unless otherwise.

Despite the speed of delivery, you will have to dig deeper into your pockets in comparison to sea freights.

International air freights are not the same as Express flights in relation to speed and the type of goods they carry.

Express flights carry lighter goods and they do direct flights all the way to the destination.

Express flights are specialties of courier companies such as DHL, FedEx, and UPS which do door to door deliveries on request.

 Express shipping

International air freights may carry larger cargo as they pass through different airports before they get to you.

The size of the cargo they carry is generally big and in fact is the fastest way you can get your vehicle to the point you need it.

The transit time is slower in comparison to the express flights that deliver goods under five days depending on the route.

§ What is the Cost of Air Freights?

Transporting goods using air freights depend on the size and the weight of the cargo.

Air freight carriers will look at the actual weight or volumetric weight of your cargo before charging you.

Usually, they will look at the weight that will be more expensive if they decide to use.

The cost of air freights is usually very expensive in comparison to other forms of transporting cargo.

Loading cargo

The cost of transporting cargo from one place to another is the major factors that discourage people.

It is very expensive therefore people have to look at various factors such as the value of the goods you are transporting.

When you are considering the transport of cargo through the air, you have to look at the cargo you transport.

The kind of cargo that you will need to transport through air freights include:

• Documents, which will go by courier companies such as DHL, UPS,
• Fashion garments
• Pharmaceuticals
• Production samples
• Electronics
• Seafood products
• Perishable goods such as agricultural products like flowers
• Inputs that require to meet a particular deadline
• Emergency shipments of spare parts

§ The Process of Transporting Cargo through Air Freights

The method of transporting cargo from China to Latvia starts from the manufacturer to the consumer.

The manufacturer will package the commodity well and give it out to the relevant transport who will take it to the airport.

You will organize for transportation or use the transport that the manufacturer may offer as an after-sales service.

https://youtu.be/RhkAZhGDF9o

The second step is clearing the goods with the customs authority in China who are in various offices around the country.

You will do this using the customs brokers or the shipping companies that are available in China.

They have more experience at dealing with the customs, and they are readily available to help you at a fee.

They will present the relevant documents to the customs offices allowing them to inspect the goods you have.

The customs office will go through your goods and documents and make sure that they are falling under the regulations.

After that, you might be asked to pay your customs charges, taxes and tariffs before the cargo leaves the country.

You will receive a certification document that will allow you to pass through the gates of the airport.

Transport your goods to the airport and load them onto the airplane that will transport them to Latvia.

The type of air transport for your cargo will depend on the amount of money you pay.

Riga International Airport

Finally, you will have your cargo on the plane ready for taking off all the way to the airport you choose.

Once the goods arrive at the airport in Latvia, you are at liberty of picking it up and taking it to your destination.

Remember to clear the goods with customs authority in Latvia before you take them anywhere as it might cause problems.

§ What’s the Estimated Transit Time from China to Latvia?

The transit time from China to Latvia will depend on the port where it comes from and the destination port.

You should also expect delays as the mode of transport might experience problems that delay their progress.

The transit time is in days and be sure to give an allowance as it might arrive earlier or late.

From sea port in China	To sea port in Latvia	Estimate time
Shanghai	Riga	40
Shenzhen	Riga	38
Guangzhou	Riga	38
Ningbo	Riga	42
Qingdao	Riga	48
Tianjin	Riga	53
Xiamen	Riga	39
Dalina	Riga	50

China has many seaports from which they can transport the goods.

Latvia, on the other hand, is a small country and uses Riga as the main port among others.

You will carry your cargo from the port that you desire depending on the location of your supplier.

Step 4: Customs Clearance Process in Latvia

The goods that you import from China to Latvia has to pass through the customs authority in Latvia.

This is a fundamental process, and you need to look at it with a sober mind.

Customs will inspect the goods you import to see if they fall within the categories they allow.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Latvia

Latvia is one of the countries in Europe that fall under the rules and regulations of the European Union.

It applies the “European Union Trade Policy” which include measures against anti-subsidy and anti dumping.

The import regime of the European Union works in Latvia especially the imports that revolve around the textile industry.

§ Prohibited and Restricted Imports in Latvia

The list of imports that are restricted and prohibited in Latvia is in three main categories:

List of Toxic Chemicals of the Convention on the Prohibition of Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction (CWC).

• List of Arms, Weapons, and Munitions.
• List of Dual-use Goods.
• Some of the goods include acids, Antiques, animal skin, bio-products, corrosives, flammables, infectious substances, oxidizers, poisons and work of art. Apart from that, other goods include radio actives, precious stones, seeds, tobacco, toiletries paints, perfumes, graphite, gases and gas samples. The list also has computer software, Diplomatic mail, furs, foodstuffs, Ice blue, ice wet, ice dry and liquor, Haz.

Latvia does not allow timber and logs from Liberia used as poles, wood-chips, fence pickets, flooring timber, and sheets.

§ Import documents validation and verification

Importing goods into Latvia from China will require you to have particular documents before you bring them into the country.

You will present the papers to the customs department in Latvia before you deliver your goods for business.

Other documents will be given to you after the validation and verification of the goods and materials you present.

You will have to present the documents online for validation and verification as the goods arrive.

Submitting the documents early enough will give you an allowance to collect your products as soon as clearance is complete.

Validation and verification are the responsibility of the customs department in Latvia who have offices all over the country.

After the customs office has gone through your documents, they will verify and validate their authenticity.

They will look at the details on the documents and confirm that they are right as per the regulations.

They will ask you to pay the customs fee, taxes, and tariffs on the goods you are importing before clearing you.

Finally, a certificate will be given to you to allow you to bring the cargo into the country.

You can request the assistance of the customs brokers of the shipping company to take care of everything.

They have more experience in dealing with the customs department making it a straightforward process.

§ Verification of consumer product safety

According to the rules and regulations that govern the import of goods in Latvia.

There are a number of goods that are under prohibition and restriction.

These goods will not pass the process of inspection in Latvia and may attract penalties to the importer.

The Consumer Rights Protection Center (CRPC) in Latvia is responsible for protecting the consumer against shady traders.

It provides the relevant information to the consumer on the rights that they have against certain types of products.

It is the body that will also help the consumer in case a conflict arises between the consumer and the trader.

Latvia

Imports are some of the goods that the consumers will use once they are allowed into the country.

The goods have to go through the process of verification before they are given a chance to be in the market.

The goods have to meet particular standards of quality so as to protect the consumer from using old products.

Apart from that, the goods will go through certain checks to confirm that they are safe for use by the consumers.

Your cargo will be subject to inspection specifically to verify if the goods are not prohibited or restricted.

Apart from that, the legislation are enhanced by the legislation of the European Union making them better for consumer protection.

§ How to calculate import duties and taxes

The process of valuation of the import taxes and duties is based on CIF.

They will look at the total sum of the goods you import plus the cost of insurance and shipping.

With this in hand, the calculation can be done quickly as per the sales and duty tax for Latvia.

Duty rates	Average Duty Rates	Sales tax (GST)	Threshold on goods
0% to 48.5%	20%	ST = 21% VAT = ST (CIF + Duty)	No duty – if FOB<EUR 150 No VAT – If FOB<EUR 22

§ Import clearance process

Goods that come into the country have to go through specific clearance processes before they get into the state.

Depending on the mode of transport, the clearance process may vary, but they mean the same thing.

Clearing of goods at the port is the responsibility of the customs department, and it begins with you submitting documents.

You will submit the documents electronically for the customs department to handle early enough.

The documents will come through as soon as you realize the goods are almost reaching the port.

As soon as the goods arrive at the port, you will have the cargo taken to a warehouse.

Before you do that, the cargo will go through inspection before you get them with you.

After inspection and certification of the goods, you will take them from the port.

This comes after the tariffs and taxes are paid and you have the clearance to proceed.

Step 5: Freight Forwarder Deliver Cargo to Buyer

Now, this is yet another critical step when importing from China to Latvia.

§ Popular Incoterms when Shipping from China to Latvia

Incoterms are the international commercial terms also known as:

• Freight terms
• Shipping terms
• Trade terms

These are the standard terminologies that you will come across when making international trade varying depending on the shipment.

Incoterms 2010

Since there are a lot of transactions when importing goods, you have to specify on the incoterms you will use.

You have to know who will be responsible for paying the bills depending on the type of shipment you use.

The most common Incoterms 2010you will come across include:

• FOB
• CIF/CFR
• DAP

The governments, practitioners and legal authorities, all over the world accept the rules and the regulations of the Incoterms.

The rules help in the elimination of different interpretations that may be confusing in different countries all over the world.

What are the Shipping Rates from China to Latvia?

The cost of shipping from China to Latvia varies depending on:

• The distance that the cargo ship covers: – the longer the distance, the higher the rates you will pay for your goods
• The weight of the cargo: – the heavier the load the higher the rates you will pay.
• The type of cargo: – different types of cargo will attract different rates
• The type of shipping you choose for your cargo: – your cargo will receive treatment according to the amount of money you pay.

The same applies to air transport even though it is faster than sea transport.

In this case, you might pay higher rates because of the speed of delivering your products.

Please note that the company that will transport your cargo will charge a different rate from others.

Generally, the cost of shipping from China to Latvia is not definite and you might experience changes.

The best way to go about it is finding a freight forwarder who will handle all the logistics of transport.

He/she will calculate everything and offer you a quotation for transporting the goods either by sea or in the air.

Factors Affecting Shipping Cost from China to Latvia

Whenever you are shipping from China to Latvia, there are a number of factors that will affect the cost of shipping.

These include:

i. Shipping Container

Cargo you get from China to Latvia will come in different shipping container sizes.

The most common sizes of containers 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)

Shipping container

The bigger the container, the more money you will pay for the cargo.

ii. Packaging Process and Material

The process of packaging material will depend on the type of goods that you would like to transport.

It is easier to package smaller goods before carrying them in comparison to more significant products.

DHL Packaging

Most of the cargo is put inside specific packages with the manufacturers brand on them.

After that, you will choose to either repackage the commodity to make them safer for transport.

The size of the cargo will determine the size of the container you will use for transportation.

Other types of cargo will not need containers as they are too big to fit.

iii. Shipping Season

China has one of the busiest ports in the world making it have the craziest shipping seasons all over the world.

Chinese New Year Holiday

The shipping seasons between China and Latvia will vary according to the availability of goods to transport from China to Latvia.

You should time the best season to ship your products to get the best rates as many goods are on transit.

iv. Shipping Company

The company involved in shipping cargo from China to Latvia vary accordingly.

There are many companies that you can use to help you with transporting goods to Latvia.

They usually take care of a lot of things such as transport, customs clearance, loading, and offloading cargo.

MAERSK LINE

Contracting a shipping company will ensure that you have all your worries taken care of.

They have the responsibility of making sure you receive your cargo depending on the agreement.

v. Mode of Shipping

The mode of shipping cargo from China to Latvia include LCL, FCL and Express shipping among others.

MSC Shipping

i. LCL shipping service from China to Latvia

LCL means less than a full container load you might use to transport smaller cargo that cannot fill a container.

It is a cheaper mode in comparison to FCL as you don’t have to fill a whole container.

You will share the cost of hiring a whole container with other people who will be transporting smaller cargo.

ii. FCL shipping service from China to Latvia

Full Container loads are the situation where you have enough cargo to fit into one of the specified containers.

The cost of transporting a full container load is cheaper depending on the amount f cargo that you have to transport.

It is economically the best option as you will reap more from transporting more cargo.

iii. Express shipping from China to Latvia

Express shipping is often left to the courier companies such as DHL and UPS who will transport the cargo very fast.

It involves transporting the cargo through air freights and delivering to your doorstep.

The type of goods you transport are smaller and very easy to handle in comparison to other types of cargo.

iv. Freight Class

In shipping, there are different classes where your cargo will be when it is on transit.

The class will determine the kind of treatment that the cargo will receive.

It also affects the speed at which the cargo will be brought to you.

Latvian Airline

The class you need for your goods will depend on the amount of money you will pay for them.

v. Size and Weight of Cargo

The size and the weight of the cargo will determine the amount of money you will pay for the services.

Weighing cargo

The greater the size and weight of the cargo, the more money you will pay.

It will also determine the type of shipment you will use for your cargo.

Conclusion

I hope you have the best information on how you will get your cargo from China to Latvia.

Do not hesitate to make a call to the company of your choice to get your cargo to Latvia.

Remember that your cargo is safe and will get to you as soon as it arrives at the port.

Here at JMS, we make shipping from China to Latvia easy and simple.

Talk to us today!