How to Combine Shipments from China to Save Fees

If you're importing goods from China—whether you're a small e-commerce seller or a growing brand—you’ve probably felt the sting of high shipping fees. Here’s a little secret: combining shipments from China can slash your costs by up to 40%. I’ve helped over 50 businesses streamline their logistics, and consolidation is hands-down one of the most effective (and underrated) strategies.

Why Consolidation Makes Sense

When you order from multiple suppliers in China, each one might ship separately. That means multiple air freight charges, handling fees, and customs paperwork. By consolidating shipments, you bundle all packages into a single shipment before international transit. This reduces both cost and complexity.

According to a 2023 Flexport report, businesses that consolidate save an average of $1.80 per kg on air freight and up to $1,200 per container on sea freight compared to individual shipments.

Step-by-Step: How to Combine Shipments

1. Use a Chinese Forwarding Agent: Partner with a reliable agent in cities like Guangzhou or Yiwu. They receive goods from all your suppliers and store them temporarily.
2. Quality Check & Repackaging: This step is crucial. Your agent inspects items, removes excess packaging, and consolidates into the most efficient cartons—saving space and weight.
3. Choose the Right Shipping Method: Decide between air, sea, or express based on urgency and volume.
4. Single Customs Clearance: One consolidated shipment = one customs declaration. Less hassle, faster processing.

Air vs. Sea: Cost Comparison When Combining Shipments

Here’s a real-world example for a 200 kg shipment from Shenzhen to Los Angeles:

As you can see, even with lower base rates, sea freight becomes dramatically more cost-effective when you combine shipments from China.

Pro Tips from the Trenches

• Timing is everything: Most forwarders offer free storage for 7–15 days. Coordinate supplier deliveries to arrive within this window.
• Declare accurate weights: Over-declaring leads to overpaying. Use calibrated scales at the warehouse.
• Insure the full value: A single consolidated shipment means higher total value—don’t skip insurance.

In my experience, sellers who skip consolidation bleed money slowly—and don’t even notice it. But once they switch, margins improve almost overnight.

Bottom line: Whether you're shipping monthly or quarterly, combining your China orders isn’t just smart—it’s essential for staying competitive.