If you don’t understand the complete shipping process, buying a filter press machine from China can be a headache.
The article offers a step-by-step shipping guide for what to do at each stage of the shipping process to avoid potential hassles once your filter press machines are ready for dispatch.
There are 23 steps in the shipping process.
Let’s go over each of them together:
Step 1：Identify Needs
Importer:Identify needs and expectation for a desired filter press machine
Step 2：Place Order
Importer: Fix the contract of sales & Order goods from the most preferred filter press machine supplier
Step 3：Arrange Down Payments
Importer:Make a down payment to the filter press machine supplier (exporter) to prepare for production
Step 4：Arrange Production
Exporter：Manufacturing of filter press machine begins
Timeline：30-120 days prior to estimate date of shipping
Note：Lead times on filter press machine orders can run as short as 10 days to as long as 40 days depends on the function demand & supply.
Step 5：Book Shipping Space
Exporter：Reserve shipping space in the vessel for shipment and get a shipping order (SO)or Booking Confirmation from shipping company. (Shipping order mentions Booking No.; BL No.; Vessel Name; Port of loading; Port of Discharge; ETA; ETD; Cut-off time etc.)
Timeline：10-20 days prior to estimate date of shipping
Step 6：Pre-shipment Inspection
Importer：Arrange for pre-shipment inspection and quality check on ordered filter press machines
Timeline：12-15 days prior to estimate date of shipping
Step 7：Arrange Balance Payment
Importer：Make balance payment to filter press machine exporter based on agreed payment terms to exporters to arrange shipment
Timeline：7-10 days prior to estimate date of shipping
Step 8：Pre-shipment Seaworthy Packing
Exporter：Arrange for packaging, labeling, and marking of filter press machines as per standard shipping practices
Timeline：6-8 days prior to estimate date of shipping
Step 9：Arrange container pickup
Exporter/Freight Forwarder：Pick up delivery order (DO) for container from shipping line and arranges for container pickup, stuffying and sealing. (Container No.; Seal No.will be informed. )
Timeline：8 days prior to estimate date of shipping
Step 10：Export Haulage
Exporter：
(option 1) Arrange carrier (containers)to pick up filter press machines with seaworthy packing (video link) at the supplier’s premises
(option 2) Transfer filter press machines (by means of truck) to forwarder’s origin warehouse for container loading at the port of loading (typically it takes 2-3 days depending on the distance and geography） before cut-off date>
Timeline：5-7 days prior to estimate date of shipping
Step 11：Load Container
Exporter：Arrange container loading of ready machines at exporter’s warehouse.
Timeline：4-6 days prior to estimate date of shipping
Step 12：Prepare Shipping Documents
Exporter:Prepare shipping documents (Bill of Lading, Packing List, Commercial Invoice) and arranges documents check (check particularly goods description; HS Code, consignee/ notify party info) by sending drafted copy to importer for confirmation before submitting to custom of origin port.
Timeline：3-4 days prior to estimate date of shipping
Step 13：Export Custom Declaration
Exporter/Freight Forwarder：
Submit a declaration detailing the cargo and supporting documents to China Custom.
Timeline：3-4 days prior to estimate date of shipping
Step 14：Custom cleared
China Custom：China Custom Releases containers after documents check and custom inspections
Timeline：2-3 days prior to estimate date of shipping
Step 15：Apply for CO：
Exporter：Apply for Certificate of Origin issued by the Custom and send drafted copy to importer for confirmation before issuing final copy
Timeline：1-2 days prior to estimate date of shipping
Step 16：Containers on Board
Port Dock Workers：Load the port on scheduled ship. At the port, the container is stacked together with other containers intended to load on the same ship, and finally loaded when the ship is ready at the port.
Timeline：0-1 days prior to estimate date of shipping
Step 17：Ship takes off
Ship departures from Port of loading
Date of Shipping
Notes: chances are big that shipping could delay for 1-7 days at some point that will be completely beyond importer & exporter’s control Reasons for Shipping Delay: bad weather condition, port congestion, custom inspection
Step 18：Courier Shipping Documents
Exporter：Get the original Bill of Lading (BL) and Certificate of Origin (CO) from shipping line and other documents (Packing List, Commercial Invoice; Certificate of Analysis; Measurement List; Catalogue etc.courier hard copies to importer/consignee (3-5 working days after the ship takes off )
Timeline：3-7 working days prior to estimate date of shipping
Step 19：Arrival of Goods
filter press machines arrive at the port of destination of importer’s country
Timeline：5-50 days after estimate date of shipping
Transportation time Depends on direct or indirect shipping, shipping lines, Port of destination.
Step 20：Import Custom Clearance
Importer/Freight forwarder：
Present the shipping documents to the customs at the Port of Destination for import clearance
Timeline：2-4 days after estimate date of arrival
Step 21:Receive Containers
Importer：Take custody of the shipment
Timeline：2-4 days after estimate date of arrival
Step 22:Import Haulage
Importer：Arrange for transportation of filter press machines to final destination
Timeline：4-7 days after estimate date of arrival
Step 23:Unload Containers & Receive goods
Importer：Arranges unloading of the container & hands over empty container at appointed yard of the shipping line
Timeline：5-10 days after estimate date of arrival
