Choosing a reliable freight forwarder in China: costs, lead times and checks
Open access
A good freight forwarder in China is first and foremost someone who quotes you a price you can still afford in three months, barring extreme circumstances like those we've seen during major geopolitical upheavals. The rest—speed, tracking, certificates—comes later, because a 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 A quote obtained on Tuesday may be outdated by Friday.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 9000015 on the same route just a few weeks apart.
At Mijay, we operate in the opposite way: fixed priceThe applicable amount is that of the confirmed quote during its validity period, subject to the conditions expressly stated therein. It's a gamble we take on for the year, because an importer who can calculate their margin in advance is a repeat importer.
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, price guarantees may be limited or subject to specific conditions. Those who promise them compensate elsewhere—on customs fees, storage, or by putting you on a slower service than the one sold.
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. During the Chinese New Year, available capacities and confirmed deadlines are communicated on a case-by-case basis.
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 Lowest price of the year. Best time to shop. 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 Low prices. September – October Moderate Best to consider when preparing for Q4 and avoiding end-of-year pricing. January Moderate after the peak. Good window for recovery before the Chinese New Year. April – May, October – November Increase (Canton Fair) Logistics companies are benefiting from the influx of buyers on site. Mid-November – early January The highest one. Avoid if you can stagger it. 2 weeks before Chinese New Year Very high. Order now, or wait for the market to recover.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 9000028 to 9000015 per 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 9000027 days doesn't cost the same as one delivered in 9000028 weeks, 9000029 weeks, or 9000027 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 express delivery (9000027 days) and standard service (9000027 weeks) is often considerable.
And beware of the opposite trap. Some freight forwarders sell you a "9000027 week delivery" service but actually place you on a 9000028 or 9000029 week service. You pay for express, you receive the slower option, and the difference stays in their pocket. 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 forwarder margin + reseller forwarder margin + intermediary agent commission: on a shipment of 500 kg, 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:
- Pricing is confirmed for the duration of the quote, with any exceptions indicated before validation.
- 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):
4605-9000015, Main Building, Global Trade Center, No. 11 Dongguan Avenue, Dongguan City, Guangdong Province (Intersection of Dongguan Avenue and Hongfu Road)
Contact: use the official website form
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 9000015% 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, within 1 weeks, within 2 weeks, or within 3 weeks corresponds to four separate services and four separate rates. Always request 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.
Editorial information
Author: Raoua Smaali, co-founder of Mijay Group.
Last updated: August 27, 2026.
Sources and verification:
- The prices and transport times quoted are indicative and must always be confirmed by a dated quote.
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