Transit times
What delivery time consists of
Transit time depends less on the mode of transport than on how many links of the chain you hand over to us. The same air shipment can fly in a single day — if you move it airport to airport on your own documents. That same shipment takes around two weeks if we collect it from the factory, prepare the paperwork, clear customs and deliver it to your warehouse. Below is where each of those days comes from.
Why advertised figures differ from real ones
When a carrier advertises "air freight in 3 days" or "sea freight in 35 days", it is almost always quoting the transport leg itself — airport to airport, or port to port. That figure is honest, but it describes only one link.
The time that actually matters for your planning runs from the moment the goods are ready at the factory to the moment they stand in your warehouse. Between those two points there are another six to eight operations, and each of them takes time.
We quote both figures. And we commit to the second one.
The full chain: what happens to the cargo
Collection from the supplier
If the factory does not deliver the goods itself, we collect them with our own transport. The time depends on the distance to our warehouse: within one city it is a day, from another province up to several days. If your supplier brings the goods to our warehouse directly, this stage disappears.
Receiving and checking
At the receiving warehouse the cargo is counted, weighed, measured, checked against the order and photographed. A simple consignment takes a few hours. A complex product mix with unit-by-unit checking takes up to several days.
Consolidation and handling at the CFS
The cargo moves to the consolidation warehouse (CFS): the consignment is assembled, labelling is applied and, where needed, reinforced packing or crating is added. The time depends on whether we are waiting for the rest of your consignment from other suppliers.
Document preparation
Packing lists, invoices, specifications, permits for complex product categories. A straightforward shipment takes a day. Goods that require certification or special handling take longer.
Delivery to the port, airport or rail terminal
From our warehouse to the departure point. Depends on the city and the chosen route.
Export clearance in China and loading
The export customs declaration, loading into the container or onto the aircraft. If the supplier has no export licence, we file the declaration ourselves — this adds time, but it makes the shipment possible.
The transport leg
This is the figure usually quoted in advertising. Sea — 35–50 days, rail — 20–25, air — from one day on a direct flight to several days on a routed itinerary, road — 22–25 days.
Arrival and handling at destination
Our agents meet the cargo. From there, two scenarios: either the client collects it on their own documents, and the clock stops there; or we arrange transit and carry it onward.
Transit to Ukraine or an EU country
If the cargo has arrived at a European port or airport, a transit declaration and onward road transport are required. That is a separate allowance for paperwork and for the road.
Customs clearance
Import customs clearance. With a complete and correct set of documents it goes quickly. An incomplete set is the main cause of delays, which is why we check documents in advance, before arrival.
Delivery to your warehouse
From the terminal to your address. Kyiv and Odesa are faster, remote cities take longer.
Three scenarios, three different transit times
| What you order | What it includes | Indicative transit time |
|---|---|---|
| Freight only | Point-to-point transport. Documents, clearance and delivery are handled by you | Air — from one day. Sea — 35–50 days port to port. Rail — 20–25 days |
| Freight with clearance in China | Collection, consolidation, documents, export declaration and transport. Customs clearance and delivery in the destination country are on you | Adds roughly 5–10 days to the freight leg, depending on the complexity of the consignment |
| Turnkey · DDP | The entire chain from factory to your warehouse, with customs clearance and duties inside the rate | Sea — 55–70 days. Rail — 35–45. Air — 10–14. Road — 25–30 |
This is exactly why we always ask at which point our responsibility begins. It determines both the transit time and the rate.
What most often extends transit time
An incomplete set from the supplier
The most common cause of delays. We check documents before departure rather than after arrival, so the problem is resolved in China, where it is quick and inexpensive.
Chinese New Year
Factories close for two to three weeks and the entire market tries to ship before that. Rates rise and transit times stretch. Plan consignments well in advance.
Waiting for the rest of the cargo
If your consignment is being assembled from several suppliers, it waits for the slowest one. We flag this immediately so you can decide whether to wait or ship in parts.
Goods that require permits
Supplements, food products, equipment, batteries — all of these need additional documents. We handle them ourselves, but the time is built into the schedule.
Multimodal routes
We are not tied to a single mode of transport. The best result often comes from a combination: air to a European hub and then road into Ukraine, for example, or sea to a Polish port with a transit declaration and road delivery onward.
Direct flights are only one of the options. A routed itinerary through two airports sometimes turns out faster, or substantially cheaper, than a direct one. We price several schemes and show you the difference in time and cost — the choice is yours.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Quote · free of charge
We will calculate the transit time for your cargo
Describe the task and we will tell you how long each stage takes in your case, and fix the overall transit time.