How to choose a good freight forwarder in China: a guide to the real costs
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A good freight forwarder in China is first and foremost someone who quotes you a price you can still afford in three months, except in extreme circumstances like the one we saw with the war in Iran. The rest—speed, tracking, certificates—comes later, because a freight forwarder who slashes their rates in January and triples them in November will always cost you more than a stable rate that's slightly higher.
Before comparing quotes, it's essential to understand how the price of a shipment from China is calculated. This is where unpleasant surprises often arise, and it's precisely what most importers discover too late. Why does the price of a shipment change daily?
Freight rates are not fixed. Air and sea rates fluctuate daily, depending on flight occupancy, available ship capacity, the season, and fuel prices. A quote obtained on Tuesday may be outdated by Friday.
Many importers only realize this when they receive the invoice. The freight forwarder advertises an attractive price to secure the deal, then invoices at the rate in effect on the day of shipment. The difference can exceed 40% for the same route, even just a few weeks apart.
At Mijay, we operate in the opposite way: fixed priceThe price you accept is the price you pay, whether the market rises or falls in the meantime. It's a bet we make on the year, because an importer who can calculate their margin in advance is an importer who comes back.
With two exceptions, and we prefer to announce them clearly rather than discover them with you.
The two periods where no fixed price holds
Q4: from mid-November to early January
This is the absolute peak. Retailers worldwide are replenishing their stock for the period when they make the bulk of their revenue: Black Friday, Christmas, and the January sales. Demand for freight skyrockets, capacity remains unchanged, and prices follow suit.
During this period, no reputable freight forwarder can guarantee a fixed price. Those who promise one compensate elsewhere—on customs fees, storage, or by placing you on a slower service than the one advertised.
The two weeks before Chinese New Year
The Chinese New Year brings the country to a standstill. Factories close, logistics companies shut down, drivers go home, and nothing resumes for two to four weeks, depending on the region. Not all workers return.
As a result, in the two weeks leading up to the event, retailers buy in bulk to avoid running out of stock. The price of goods rises, as does the cost of freight, and a last-minute order is very expensive—if it even ships.
We remain open during this period. Our team is not Chinese, we do not take New Year's holidays. When the factories close, we continue to receive, consolidate and ship what is already in the warehouse.
The calendar of good months to order
Here's the advice that makes all the difference over a full year, and that few agents share: anticipate by two months.
| Period | Price level | What to do with it |
|---|---|---|
| August | The lowest of the year | Best window of opportunity. Few orders, retailers are on vacation and their summer stock is already in. Ideal for getting ready for back-to-school season. |
| March, April, June | Down | Excellent times to order, reasonable prices. |
| September – October | Moderate | Best to plan for Q4 and avoid end-of-year prices. |
| January | Moderate after the peak | Good window to restock before the Chinese New Year. |
| April – May, October – November | Increase (Canton Fair) | Logistics companies are taking advantage of the influx of buyers on site. |
| Mid-November – early January | The highest | Avoid this if you can postpone. |
| 2 weeks before Chinese New Year | Very high | Order now, or wait for the resumption of normal operations. |
The Canton Fair deserves special mention. During the April-May and October-November sessions, tens of thousands of foreign buyers are physically present in Guangzhou. They leave with samples, place orders on the spot, and local freight demand surges. Logistics companies benefit from this. If your order has nothing to do with the fair, postpone it for three weeks.
Ordering in September-October rather than December often results in savings of 30 to 50% on the same container. The only real cost is holding the stock a little longer.
Boat, train or plane: where the real economy is at stake
The most powerful lever remains the mode of transport. During periods of growth, maritime transport can return to half price compared to air travel, and during certain periods of the year the difference reaches 60% discountThe downside is the delays — hence the importance of anticipating.
The China-Europe train falls somewhere in between: faster than the ship, significantly cheaper than the plane, and suitable for medium volumes that do not justify a full container.
The trick no one ever tells you about flying
Even by air, you have a choice. A shipment received in 3 days doesn't cost the same as one delivered in 1 week, 2 weeks, or 3 weeks. These are different services, with different prices, for the same route.
If you're not in a hurry, always ask for the full delivery schedule before confirming. The difference between the 3-day express service and the 3-week service is often considerable.
And beware of the opposite trap. Some freight forwarders sell you "1-week delivery" but actually put you on a 2- or 3-week service. You pay for express, you receive the slower option, and the difference goes to them. Demand the name of the service and the flight or bill of lading number.
The real trap: the invisible intermediary
This is the area where importers lose the most money without realizing it.
Many sourcing agents take a commission on the merchandise And A second one concerns the shipment itself. Some freight forwarders do the same thing. And there's an even more expensive case: freight forwarders who don't ship themselves and instead use another freight forwarder.
Do the math. Actual freight forwarder margin + reseller freight forwarder margin + intermediary agent commission: on a 500 kg shipment, stacking can represent more than a third of the bill, for a strictly identical service.
Warning signs that should alert you:
- The company cannot give you the physical address of its warehouse.
- You never receive a photo of your packages upon delivery.
- Response times increase as soon as there is a problem (the information is routed through a third party).
- The invoice mentions "service fees" or "processing fees" without providing a detailed breakdown.
- The quote does not specify the service or the contractual deadline.
The rule is simple: Go directly through a freight forwarder who owns their own warehouse and who has direct access to the shipments. You delete all the stacked margins at once.
What we do at Mijay
We are a freight forwarder with our own warehouse in China. No intermediaries, no subcontracting to another forwarder, no hidden commissions on shipments.
In concrete terms:
- Fixed price all year round, with two high season exceptions announced in advance.
- Shipping by plane, train or boatto the whole world
- Receiving, checking, consolidation and storage in our warehouse
- Open during Chinese New Year
- A complete delivery schedule will be provided before validation, allowing you to choose the best price/speed ratio.
Your suppliers simply deliver your packages to our warehouse, and we take care of the rest: consolidation, documents, customs, shipping, tracking to destination.
Address of our warehouse (to be passed on to your suppliers):
东莞大道与鸿福路交汇处） 环球经贸中心主楼4605-4606
WhatsApp contact: +33 7 55 97 34 49
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I tell if my freight forwarder is taking a hidden commission on the shipment? Request a detailed, line-by-line invoice: freight, handling fees, documentation, customs, and final delivery. A direct freight forwarder will provide a complete breakdown. If an overall "service charge" appears without explanation, or if the company refuses to name the airline or shipping company used, there's a middleman involved.
What is the cheapest time to ship from China? August, by far. Demand drops during the summer holidays, retailers have already built up their seasonal stock, and prices are at their lowest for the year. March, April, and June are also good periods.
Should we avoid shipping during the Chinese New Year? It's crucial to avoid ordering in the two weeks prior: the prices of goods and freight rise sharply, and factories then close for several weeks. Ideally, place your order in January, before the rush. A freight forwarder that remains open during this period can continue shipping items already in their warehouse.
How much can you save by switching from flying to taking a boat? During periods of rising prices, sea freight is often half the price of air freight, and the difference can reach 60% during certain periods of the year. The key is to plan well in advance to allow for transit time.
Does a longer delivery time really lower the price of air freight? Yes. A shipment received within 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, or 3 weeks corresponds to four separate services and four separate rates. Always ask for the complete price list before making a decision.
Is your next expedition in September or October? This is the perfect time to prepare for Q4 without incurring year-end price increases. Send us your package list and dimensions via WhatsApp at +33 7 55 97 34 49, we will send you a fixed price.