Logistics FAQ & ABC

Price & Costs

How much does a container from China to Latvia cost?

Current market rates (2025-2026):

• Sea freight (Ningbo/Shanghai - Riga): 4,000-6,500 EUR for 40HC, transit approximately 90 days
• Rail freight (China - Latvia via Kazakhstan): 7,000-9,000 EUR, transit 18-25 days
• Air freight (Guangzhou - Riga): from 3.5 EUR/kg, transit 5-10 days

What affects the delivery price?

Key factors that determine the final cost:

• Port of origin - Foshan, Ningbo, Shanghai each have different rates
• Container type - 20DC vs 40HC (40HC is the most common for volume cargo)
• Season - peak Sep-Nov vs low Jan-Mar (rates can differ 30-50%)
• Incoterms - EXW / FOB / CIF determine who pays what
• Cargo type - standard / hazmat / reefer / oversized each have different rates

What additional costs should I expect?

Beyond freight, plan for these costs:

• Customs duty - varies by HS code, typically 0-12%
• VAT - 21% in Latvia (applied on goods value + freight + duty)
• Port handling charges (THC) - approximately 150-250 EUR
• Customs broker fee - approximately 100-200 EUR
• Last-mile delivery - 150-400 EUR within Latvia

Delivery Times

How long does delivery from China take?

Current transit times for China - Latvia:

• Sea: Ningbo/Shanghai - Riga approximately 90 days (includes port handling)
• Rail: China - Latvia via Kazakhstan 18-25 days
• Air: Guangzhou/Shenzhen - Riga 5-10 days
• Multimodal (sea to EU port + road to Latvia): 70-80 days

Why do delivery times vary?

Common causes of delay:

• Port congestion - especially Ningbo and Shanghai during peak season
• Suez Canal situation - routing changes can add 10-15 days
• Customs inspections - random or targeted checks add 1-5 days
• Weather and seasonal factors - typhoon season, winter delays
• Chinese holidays - CNY shuts factories for 2-3 weeks (Jan-Feb)

How long for European deliveries?

Road transport within Europe:

• Germany - Latvia: 2-3 days
• Italy - Latvia: 3-4 days
• Spain - Latvia: 4-5 days
• UK - Latvia: 3-4 days (includes ferry + post-Brexit customs)

Logistics Process

How does delivery from supplier to warehouse work?

Full process in 5 steps:

1. Cargo pickup at supplier (factory/warehouse)
2. Export customs clearance at origin country
3. International transport (road/sea/air/rail)
4. Import customs clearance in EU (Latvia)
5. Last-mile delivery to your warehouse

We handle all 5 steps as one service.

What's better - EXW or FOB?

• EXW - you control the entire chain, often cheaper for experienced importers
• FOB - supplier delivers to port, reduces risk on the Chinese side
• CIF - supplier covers freight + insurance to your port

Recommendation: FOB for most importers. It reduces risk on the Chinese side while keeping transport costs transparent.

Can you deliver small cargo (not a full container)?

Yes, we handle shipments of any size:

• LCL (Less than Container Load) - from 1 CBM
• Groupage road freight - from 1 europallet
• Express/courier - parcels from 1 kg

LCL is 20-30% more expensive per CBM than FCL but ideal for volumes under 10-12 CBM.

Documents & Customs

What documents are needed for import?

Standard document set:

• Commercial Invoice - from supplier (value, quantity, description)
• Packing List - detailed cargo description (weight, dimensions per package)
• Bill of Lading (B/L) or Air Waybill (AWB) - transport document
• Certificate of Origin - if preferential tariff applies
• CE/safety certificates - for regulated products (electronics, toys, machinery)

We prepare import declarations and handle all customs communication.

Do you handle customs clearance?

Yes, fully in-house - no third-party brokers:

• Import/export declarations
• Duty and VAT calculation
• Transit documents (T1/T2)
• EAD for excise goods (alcohol, tobacco)
• Temporary admission for repair/return goods

What is customs duty and how is it calculated?

Duty depends on the HS code (product classification) and country of origin. Typical rates:

• 0% - many raw materials and components
• 3-6% - machinery and equipment
• 8-12% - consumer goods

VAT (21% in Latvia) is applied on top of: goods value + freight cost + duty amount.

Risks & Insurance

Should I insure my cargo?

Always recommended. Insurance costs approximately 0.15-0.3% of cargo value (minimum around 30 EUR). Without insurance, carrier liability is limited to approximately 8.33 SDR/kg for sea freight (around 10 EUR/kg) - regardless of actual cargo value.

What if cargo is damaged?

• With insurance: document damage at delivery, file claim with photos and CMR/B/L notes, receive compensation within 30-60 days
• Without insurance: carrier liable only per CMR/Hague-Visby limits - typically much lower than actual cargo value

What are the main risks in international shipping?

Most common risks and how we mitigate them:

• Container damage during port handling - proper packaging supervision
• Moisture/condensation in sea containers (35+ day transit) - desiccants and liner bags
• Theft (rare but happens) - sealed containers, GPS tracking
• Customs delays from missing documents - pre-clearance document check
• Supplier quality issues - pre-shipment inspection service available

Working with Us

What do you need to provide a quote?

Just 4 things:

1. Pickup address (or supplier/factory name)
2. Delivery address
3. Cargo details (weight, volume, description)
4. Any special requirements (temperature, hazmat, urgency)

Response time: usually within 1 working day.

Do you work with first-time importers?

Yes. We guide you through the entire process - from supplier communication to customs clearance. Many of our clients started with their first container from China and now ship regularly.

What is your minimum order?

No minimum. We handle everything from a single 1-CBM LCL shipment to 40+ containers per month for major clients.