How to Find a Freight Forwarder in China: Freight Shipping, Amazon FBA, and More

Finding the best freight forwarding company in China is important. Find out here how to find and choose the best freight forwarder in China for your needs.

Dylan Sommer

February 8, 2023

Exporting from China? You’ll need to find the right freight forwarder.

With so many service providers out there, how do you find the right one for your shipping requirements? Read on to find out.

Highlights

If you’re exporting from China, your forwarder doesn’t need to be based in China, but they do need experience shipping on your lane.
Choose a forwarder with the expertise you need – you know your business best.
Make sure to compare quotes – and know what services are offered in the quote.

How to choose a freight forwarder in China

Here’s the first thing to know: you don’t necessarily need to choose a Chinese freight forwarder to manage your exports from China. Instead, choose a forwarder with expertise shipping from China, specifically on the lanes you need.

That’s because experienced freight forwarders will often work with agents or partner forwarders in China to handle your shipment on the ground, before it leaves the port.

So, aside from expertise on your lanes, what should you look for in a provider to handle your China shipments? Here are some factors to consider:

Scope of services

What services does the freight forwarder provide? While some forwarders handle the full supply chain, including pick-up, transfers, packaging, warehousing, customs brokerage, and door-to-door deliveries, others have more limited services.

To choose a provider that works for you, consider the type of goods you ship and your particular shipping needs. Then choose a forwarder who can fulfill these needs.

Scale of operations

Are you a large business? Go with a forwarder that has the infrastructure, workforce, and technology to handle your shipment. If you run a smaller business, you might benefit from a more hands-on service. And if you’re looking to grow, you’ll need a provider capable of scaling your operations.

Managing a few shipments each month is very different from shipping thousands of containers a year – and everything in between.

Choose a freight forwarder that meets your business needs.

Industry expertise

Look for a freight forwarder with both the experience and specialization you need. For example:

Does this freight forwarder specialize in your industry?
How long have they been in business?
What kind of goods do they generally handle?
Which shipping lanes are they familiar with?

A freight forwarder experienced in your goods, industry, and shipping routes will help you anticipate charges and issues that may arise – and help you avoid them whenever possible.

Networks and connections

Freight forwarders don’t work alone. Every successful shipment requires coordination with multiple providers, including trucking companies, carriers, customs agents, and brokers.

A forwarder with an extensive logistics network can provide service options customized to your shipping needs, offer a greater range of value-added services, and even leverage their connections in emergencies.

Understand all the services the forwarder you’re considering offers – and if they have the partnerships to get you all the services you need.

Registrations and licenses

When selecting a freight forwarder for shipping from China, check their compliance with all required registrations, licenses, and certifications for operating in the country.

Reputation

You are choosing a forwarder, always take the time to read reviews from past customers to get a better sense of how the business operates. Look for on-time shipments, dedicated customer support, transparency, risk management capabilities, and outstanding past service records.

Looking for forwarders for your China export?

Compare quotes now

How to choose a freight forwarder in China for Amazon FBA

Amazon has strict requirements for labeling, packaging, delivery, and storage. Failing to meet these guidelines can result in delays or even rejected shipments.

If you’re shipping FBA (fulfillment by Amazon), choose a freight forwarder with experience handling Amazon shipments.

It’s easy to find FBA-experienced forwarders on Freightos.com . Just select an FBA fulfillment center as your door-to-door destination and you’ll be on track with all Amazon requirements from the start.

Below you can see how to select an Amazon fulfillment center on the Freightos.com platform:

Not sure what your Amazon destination warehouse code is? You’ll receive it once you complete your Amazon Plan on Amazon Seller Central.

Best freight forwarders for shipping from China

The best forwarder for shipping your goods from China will depend on your business needs. Finding a freight forwarder with experience in your industry and on your lane should be your top priority.

Here are some freight forwarders on the Freightos.com platform with a ton of experience – and good reviews! – exporting from China:

Seabay

Seabay is one of the top 50 international freight forwarders in Southern China, and the logistics provider and partner of Alibaba, providing services to thousands of Alibaba exporters and buyers. Their main priorities are safety and simplicity.