Shipping from China to the UK
Express collection from Chinese suppliers, clear customs guidance and door-to-door delivery for UK businesses, e-commerce sellers and personal shipments.
From your supplier's door to your UK destination
ArrowPath can arrange collection from factories, agents and warehouses across mainland China, Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR. We then coordinate the international express movement, customs documentation and final UK delivery.
- Supplier or factory collection arranged for you
- Door-to-door express service with tracking
- Commercial invoice and customs-document guidance
- DDP options where available
- Amazon FBA and fulfilment-centre delivery support
What we need for a quote
Collection city, UK destination city or postcode, number of cartons, actual weight, carton dimensions, goods description and value.
Check chargeable weight first
Express charges are normally based on the greater of actual and volumetric weight. Calculate your estimate before requesting a price.
Mainland China export eligibility
ArrowPath uses FedEx for these movements and accepts only shipments that can travel through simplified A-, B- or C-category export clearance.
A, B and C only
A covers qualifying documents, B covers qualifying personal effects, and C covers qualifying low-value goods. ArrowPath cannot arrange a D-category formal customs declaration.
Category C value test
The declared customs value must be below RMB 5,000. The quantity and weight must be reasonable, with no licences, export tax refund, export-verification, inspection, quarantine or other formal-declaration requirement.
No batteries or dangerous goods
We do not accept dangerous goods or anything containing a battery from mainland China, including loose batteries, power banks, phones, laptops, battery-powered toys and tools.
FedEx gateway weight rules
- Guangzhou Baiyun Airport: shipments weighing 90 kg or more require Category D formal declaration, so ArrowPath can consider only shipments below 90 kg through this gateway.
- Shenzhen Bao'an Airport: shipments weighing 99 kg or more require Category D formal declaration, so ArrowPath can consider only shipments below 99 kg through this gateway.
- Beijing, Shanghai, Qingdao, Xiamen and other gateways: FedEx has not published a current numerical Category C threshold for every gateway. We confirm the applicable rule before collection.
- Per-package carrier limit: standard FedEx international parcel services normally permit no more than 68 kg per individual package. This is separate from any total-shipment customs threshold.
The supplier's collection city does not necessarily identify the airport where FedEx will clear the export. Acceptance is confirmed only after we know the actual FedEx gateway, contents, value, carton count and weights. Being below a published value or weight threshold does not guarantee Category C treatment; FedEx or Chinese Customs can still require a formal declaration.
Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR are separate customs jurisdictions, so these mainland China clearance categories and gateway thresholds do not automatically apply to collections there.
Read the full A, B, C and D export-category explainer for a category comparison and pre-collection checklist.
How China-to-UK express shipping works
Send the shipment details
Give us the supplier location, UK destination, contents, value, weights and dimensions.
Compare your quote
We check the available express options and return a written rate and expected service level.
Collection and delivery
We arrange supplier collection, provide paperwork guidance and track the shipment to its UK destination.
What will China-to-UK express shipping cost?
A confirmed rate needs the contents, route and packed dimensions. The carrier may charge on volumetric weight when a large box is light. For example, a fictional carton measuring 40 × 30 × 25 cm has a volumetric weight of 6 kg with a divisor of 5,000. If it actually weighs 4 kg, the illustrative chargeable weight is 6 kg. Your service may use a different divisor and additional charging rules.
Check your own dimensions, then request a written quote. The calculator estimates weight, not a shipping price.
How long will the journey take?
Tell us when the supplier will be ready and your delivery deadline. We confirm the available service and expected transit basis with your quote. Collection timing and customs clearance can affect the end-to-end journey, so there is no single arrival promise for every China-to-UK shipment.
Documents commonly needed
International shipments normally require a commercial invoice containing a clear description of the goods, quantity, value, currency, country of origin, sender and receiver details, and the applicable commodity code. Requirements depend on the goods and shipment route, so we check the information before collection. Use the printable China-to-UK commercial invoice checklist before sending documents.
UK duties, VAT and DDP
UK import duty and VAT depend on the goods, their value, origin and commodity classification. With a DDP service, duties and taxes are charged back to the sender or booking party where the selected service supports it. With a non-DDP service, the UK receiver may need to pay charges before delivery. Your written quote will state the basis used.
Amazon FBA and fulfilment centres
For Amazon FBA deliveries, provide the FBA reference, carton labels and receiving requirements before booking. We can help check that the shipment information is ready and arrange delivery to the specified fulfilment centre.
How to avoid unnecessary shipping cost
- Ask the supplier for final packed dimensions, not product dimensions.
- Remove avoidable empty space where the goods can still be packed safely.
- Combine cartons only when the larger carton will not create a higher volumetric charge.
- Provide a precise goods description to reduce customs questions.
- Tell us your delivery deadline so we can compare the right service level.
Use the free volumetric weight calculator, then send us the result with your quote request.
Need a China-to-UK shipping quote?
Send the supplier location, UK destination, goods description and value, carton count, individual weights and dimensions. We will check China export eligibility before quoting.
Request a Quote