Alibaba is renowned for being one of the biggest marketplaces in the world for finding suppliers and purchasing goods at a low cost. Every year, millions of products are shipped from Alibaba to the USA, one of the biggest retail markets in the world.
If you’re a business or an E-commerce seller looking to buy products from Alibaba and sell in the American retail market, then you’re in the right place.
This article will explain every step of shipping goods from Alibaba to the USA, the best shipping methods available, and the best freight forwarder to use. Let’s dive in.
Steps of shipping from Alibaba to USA.
1. Find suppliers on Alibaba
The first step is to find a reliable supplier on Alibaba. Thousands of Alibaba suppliers and trading companies sell the products you want to purchase, and you’ll have to screen them based on their ratings, reviews, and verification tags. It is better to buy from gold suppliers.
Afterward, you can chat with the selected suppliers and try to negotiate product requirements, Minimum Order Quantity (MOQs), and pricing.
Is Alibaba legit? How to buy from Alibaba safely?
What is Alibaba, and how does it work?
2. Buy products from Alibaba
After settling terms with your supplier, make an order, stating clearly the number of products you want. You should also agree on an incoterm with your supplier to ascertain who owns responsibility for transporting and shipping goods. Your messages must be brief and clear to avoid misunderstandings that might occur during translation.
3. Search Alibaba freight forwarders.
No matter your level of expertise or experience, it’s crucial to use a freight forwarder when shipping from Alibaba to the USA. Not only do they know how to prepare the proper documentation, but they can also help simplify the entire logistic process.
Thousands of freight forwarders are available on the Alibaba platform. It would be best if you screened them based on reviews and experience shipping to the USA.
Alibaba freight forwarders, what they can do for you.
4. Hire a freight forwarder.
Choose a reputable freight forwarder to help ship your products to the USA. DFH is one of the most reliable freight forwarders on the Alibaba platform. We can help you verify your orders with the suppliers, repackage and organize your items, and ship them at low Alibaba shipping costs. DFH will also handle customs clearance in the USA, so you receive your goods without any hassles.
5. Confirm the best shipping method from China to the USA.
The shipping method to be used depends on the size and type of goods, your shipping budget, and the urgency of delivery. This is important to get a low Alibaba shipping cost. We can discuss this to help you select the best shipping method for your goods. Contact us to get a quote.
Shipping time from China to US.
Why shipping from China is so expensive and how to avoid expensive shipping.
6. Prepare Shipping documents.
When importing from Alibaba, the importer is in charge of making sure that all required documents are provided for customs clearance. These documents include Commercial invoices, bills of lading, Import licenses, certificates of origin, etc.
Documents required for shipping from China
7. Begin shipping from Alibaba to the USA.
You can proceed to ship your goods from Alibaba to the USA. Contact us during shipping to track your goods and know the estimated delivery time.
8. Receive shipments.
When your goods arrive in the USA, you will be alerted. After import clearance, you can then have access to your goods. We can also offer door-to-door shipping to whichever location you are in the USA.
Who can help you with shipping from Alibaba to us?
Work with a freight forwarder in the USA.
This is a less stressful option for importers because the freight forwarders are from their country. However, most USA freight forwarders don’t have offices in China. Instead, they work with other Chinese agents to process logistics and shipping. This leads to higher Alibaba shipping costs and delays in the shipping process.
So, while it is a convenient way, it is more expensive and not so efficient.
Ask your Alibaba suppliers to help to ship
Importers can request their Alibaba supplier to handle shipping procedures for them. This is common under the DDP or CIF incoterm and is quite easy.
However, this method is mostly used by new importers without experience with international shipping. It is also a more expensive shipping method because the gold suppliers would charge extra for helping to ship the goods to their customers. Also, there are situations where importers do not get their goods delivered on time because the supplier might try to reduce Alibaba shipping costs by using less efficient shipping methods.
Hire a China freight forwarder to arrange everything.
This is the option many importers prefer when shipping from Alibaba and China. This method is fast, safe, and efficient because the Chinese freight forwarder can contact your supplier and help monitor the entire production process, package the goods afterward, and then ship them to you easily.
Importers feel safer choosing a Chinese freight forwarder because they can help them handle all aspects of quality inspection, logistics, and customs clearance in China. DFH as one of the leading China freight forwarders available to help you arrange your shipping. Let us know what you need today.
Where to find the Alibaba freight forwarder?
You can find a reliable Alibaba freight forwarder by searching online, checking online marketplaces, or asking your Alibaba suppliers.
You can then compare these freight forwarders to the USA based on their ratings, reviews, price, and shipping experience.
Top 7 shipping methods to shipping from China Alibaba to the USA
1. Express freight Alibaba to the USA
Express shipping is the fastest shipping method to ship goods from Alibaba to the USA is by. Air couriers like DHL, UPS, and FedEx express offer this service. Popular air couriers are reliable, so express shipping is a very secure method. Importers can relax knowing their goods will be delivered quickly. Express shipping is a door-to-door service.
While express freight is a fast and stress-free shipping method, it has the downside of being the most expensive shipping method. Therefore, if your Alibaba goods are bulky, you should not consider shipping through this method, except if they are urgently needed.
Express shipping generally takes 2-4 working days to ship goods from Alibaba to the USA. Alibaba shipping costs about $4-$10 per kg to the USA.
2. Air freight Alibaba to USA
Air freight ships cargo through airliners and air freight carriers. Since the USA has standard and well-developed airports, it is effortless to ship goods by air from Alibaba.
Air freight is the 2nd quicker and more affordable method of shipping goods than express shipping. It is also viable for sending high-value goods from Alibaba to USA.
Two advantages of air shipping should be considered are its increased scheduling flexibility and controllable goods flow.
Air freight is the next fastest method after express freight. The transit time depends on the type and size of goods and their shipping cost value. It generally takes 3-7 days to ship goods from Alibaba to the USA.
Air freight Alibaba shipping costs about $4-$9 per kg to the USA.
3. Ocean freight Alibaba to USA
Ocean freight is the most popular and cheapest way to ship goods into the USA. It is adaptable, reliable, and can ship very bulky cargo cheaply.
The main disadvantage of sea freight is the time it takes to deliver cargo;. At the same time, other shipping methods can do so in a matter of days, ocean shipping can take weeks, depending on the type of goods, the actual arrival and departure ports, and the shipping routes.
Sea freight can deliver goods using two different container systems. They are:
LCL Ocean freight.
Less than container load shipments are referred to as LCL shipments. In LCL sea freight, goods from different importers are shipped together in the same container, with the importer only paying for the space their goods occupy.
LCL shipping can easily be arranged with the help of a freight forwarder. They will calculate the space required for your goods and reserve it in the container.
Small freights or cargo between 1 and 15 cubic meters that don’t need a full container space are best shipped through LCL.
FCL ocean freight
FCL shipments represent Full container loads. In FCL shipping, an importer owns an entire container and its goods.
When shipping by the full container load, your cargo does not necessarily need to fill the entire container; in some situations, shipping a half-container using FCL rather than LCL is more affordable. FCL is best for goods > 15cbm.
Generally, sea freight takes about 30-40 days to deliver goods from Alibaba to the USA. You should budget Alibaba shipping costs in the region of $3000- $5000.
4. Air and Express combined shipping from Alibaba to the USA
This shipping method means that goods are first shipped into the USA by air freight and then locally delivered to the particular destination by express shipping. Air Freight can be combined with UPS or FEDEX Express and is mostly used in a DDP incoterm.
While this method is not a conventional shipping mode, it is cheaper than express freight, and goods take not much longer to be delivered (11-15 days).
Alibaba shipping costs through this method are between $4-$7.9 per kg.
5. Ocean and Express combined shipping from Alibaba to the USA
In this combined shipping, your goods are shipped from China to the USA through traditional sea freight. When the goods arrive at the port, they are immediately transported locally using express freight straight to the destination address. UPS is the courier that mainly carries out this service, and it saves you about 10 days of transit time.
Ocean and Express combined shipping is popularly used to ship goods to Amazon FBA centers in America. Goods are charged per kg, not by cbm. It usually costs about $1 – $2.5 per kg for goods less than 1000kg.
6. Air freight and trucker combined shipping Alibaba to USA
This shipping method involves using air freight to deliver goods to an airport in the USA, after which the goods are picked up by trucks and transported by road to the destination address in the USA.
7. Ocean and trucker combined shipping from Alibaba to the USA
This is the most popular shipping method for pallets packed or oversized packed shipments. After goods arrive in American ports, they are picked up by trucks and transported by road to their destination. This combined shipping method is much slower than the Ocean + Express combined shipping method, while it is without restrictions for the package sizes and weight.
How long does Alibaba take to ship to the USA?
The shipping time from Alibaba to the USA depends on the following factors:
The method of shipping.
The type and size of goods.
The loading and unloading ports are used.
The quality of the shipping carrier and freight forwarder.
Generally, express freight takes about 2-4 days, air freight 3-7 days, and sea freight 30-40 days to deliver goods from Alibaba to the USA.
Shipping method Transit time
Express Freight 2-6 business days
Air freight 3-8 business days
Sea freight 30-40 days
Air and Express Combined 5-12 business days
Air and Truck Combined 5-15 business days
Ocean and Express Combined 20-30 business days
Ocean and Truck Combined 35-45 business days
Why cooperate with DFH to help ship from Alibaba to the USA?
DFH is the most reputable freight forwarder in China, with experience shipping from Alibaba to the USA. With offices all over mainland China, we can help you pick up your goods directly from your Alibaba supplier and store them in our warehouse while preparing for shipping.
Here are the other services we offer:
Free-of-charge quality inspection of your goods.
Low-cost insurance premiums
Free-of-charge package optimization
Free-of-charge warehousing
Low Alibaba shipping costs
Stress-free logistics management.
For fast and hassle-free shipping from Alibaba to the USA, contact DFH today.
Conclusion.
Alibaba as one of the largest marketplaces in the world, and many importers are constantly seeking cost-effective ways to ship goods from Alibaba to the USA. This guide answers any questions about Alibaba shipping to the USA. If you need any more help, don’t hesitate to contact us.
Shipping from Alibaba to USA FAQs
What is the cheapest shipping way in Alibaba?
The cheapest shipping method in Alibaba is Ocean freight.
How can I choose the best shipping method from Alibaba to the USA?
Choosing the best shipping method depends on the size and type of goods you’re transporting, your shipping budget, and the urgency of your delivery. Contact us to advise on your best shipping option based on your shipping requirements and product information.
Can I ship from Alibaba to the USA?
Yes! You can ship goods from Alibaba to the USA. if you don’t know how to handle shipments from Alibaba, welcome to contact us, one of our expert services will guide you step by step.
How long does Alibaba take to ship to the USA?
The shipping time depends on the shipping method, whether air or sea freight. Generally, express freight takes about 2-6 days, air freight 3-8 days, and sea freight 30-40 days to deliver goods from Alibaba to the USA.
Do I need to pay import taxes from Alibaba to the USA shipment?
Yes. All goods shipped into the USA are subject to import taxes during customs clearance.
Do I need the import license to buy from Alibaba to the USA?
Yes, importers need an import license to buy goods on Alibaba and ship to the USA. If you do not have an import license, DFH can help ship goods on your behalf and Door to door delivery.
