由 caicai8478 Delivering products produced in Chinese factories to European customers safely, efficiently, and cost-effectively is the core of successful cross-border e-commerce. This process is interconnected, and mistakes at any stage can lead to increased costs or customer loss. This guide will break down the entire process, guiding you step-by-step to successfully navigate the entire chain.
Full Chain Overview
China End (Departure): Factory Pickup → Domestic Warehouse (Optional) → First-Mile Logistics (Sea/Air/Rail) → Europe End (Landing): Customs Clearance → European Overseas Warehouse/Distribution Center → Final-Mile Delivery → Customer Hands
Phase 1: Departure from China – Factory Delivery and Goods Collection
Step 1: Factory Inspection and Goods Collection
Pre-shipment Inspection (QC):
When: Mid-term inspection at 80% production completion, final inspection before 100% packaging.
Executor: You can hire a third-party inspection company (such as SGS, BV) or your own QC team.
Content: Verify product quantity, workmanship, functionality, packaging, labeling, etc. to ensure they conform to order requirements.
Output: Inspection report, which serves as the basis for final payment with the factory.
Arrange Pickup:
Contact Freight Forwarder: Engage a reliable international freight forwarder.
Provide Information: Provide the freight forwarder with the pickup address, cargo volume, weight, value, and other information.
Document Preparation: Ensure the factory provides a Packing List and Commercial Invoice, which are the cornerstones of all subsequent logistics and customs clearance.
Step 2: Domestic Warehouse Operations (Optional but Recommended)
For sellers with multiple factories and multiple SKUs, establishing a domestic consolidation warehouse can greatly streamline processes.
Function:
Consolidation: Consolidates goods from different factories.
Quality Inspection: Conducts a secondary quality inspection.
Relabeling/Repackaging: Replaces labels and packaging that do not meet European standards.
Labeling: Applying the required FBA labels, CE marking, EU agency information, energy efficiency labels, etc. required in Europe.
Packaging/Packaging: Combining products into promotional packs or mixed boxes based on sales plans.
Value: As the saying goes, “before the troops move, the food must be ready.” Completing these operations domestically is significantly less expensive than handling them in Europe, making it a key step in reducing costs and increasing efficiency.
Phase Two: Transcontinental Trunk Lines – First-Mile Logistics Options
This is the most costly and time-consuming step, and the choice depends on your cost-efficiency balance.
Option 1: Ocean Freight – Best Cost, Longest Time
Slow Ship: 35-50 days, lowest cost. Suitable for high-volume, non-seasonal Category A/B products.
Fast Ship: (e.g., EMC, COSCO) 25-35 days, slightly higher cost. It effectively reduces inventory turnover pressure and is the optimal choice for balancing cost and timeliness.
Practice: Book a space with a freight forwarder, ship the goods to a Chinese port (such as Shanghai or Ningbo), and then clear customs before loading and departing.
Option 2: China-Europe Express (Railway) – The most cost-effective option
Time: 18-25 days.
Cost: Between sea and air freight.
Advantages: Less affected by weather, stable time.
Option 3: Air freight – Fastest time, highest cost
Time: 5-10 days.
Suitable for: Urgent replenishment, high-value, lightweight items, or new product testing.
Practice: Ship the goods to the airport, complete customs clearance, and then board a flight.
Decision Recommendation:
Main inventory: Ocean freight (a combination of fast and slow ships) + rail.
Urgent replenishment/new product: Air freight.
Strategy: Use a sea/rail model (first leg ocean/rail + final leg truck delivery), with the freight forwarder providing one-stop delivery to the doorstep of your European overseas warehouse, saving you time and effort.
Phase 3: Landing in Europe – Customs Clearance and Warehousing
This is the “black box” process most prone to problems and must be handled with care.
Step 1: Import Customs Clearance
Entrusted Customs Broker: This is usually handled by your freight forwarding partner or a designated European customs broker.
Prepare Key Documents (Critical!):
Packing List
Commercial Invoice
Bill of Lading/Airway Bill
Certificate of Origin (such as Form A, for tariff preferences)
Declaration of Conformity/CE Certificate (mandatory in the EU, customs will randomly check!)
VAT Number and EORI Number (This is your “identity card” for trading in the EU; customs clearance is impossible without it!)
Paying Taxes:
Customs Duty: Calculated based on product category and value.
Import VAT: Most countries levy this, but you can usually claim a refund on subsequent sales.
Step 2: Overseas Warehouse Receipt
Scheduling Delivery: After customs clearance, arrange for a trucking company (usually arranged by a freight forwarder) to schedule a delivery with the European overseas warehouse.
Warehouse Receipt and Shelving:
Upon delivery, warehouse staff will verify the shipment information and inspect the outer boxes for damage.
Shelving: Each SKU is scanned and registered, then entered into the warehouse management system (WMS). Inventory data will then be visible in your e-commerce backend or ERP system.
Phase 4: Final Sprint – Last-Mile Delivery and Delivery
This is the final mile of the customer experience and directly impacts customer reviews.
Step 1: Order Triggering
A European customer places an order on your e-commerce platform (e.g., Amazon, eBay, or your own website).
Step 2: Overseas Warehouse Order Processing
Order Receipt: Your e-commerce platform/ERP system automatically synchronizes the order to the overseas warehouse management system.
Picking: Warehouse staff locate the corresponding items on the shelves based on the order information.
Packing: Packaging is done using appropriate cartons and fillers.
Labeling: Print and affix the final-leg logistics label.
Step 3: Final-leg Delivery
Postal Parcel Service: These services, such as those offered by various national postal services, offer high cost-effectiveness, but slow delivery times and incomplete tracking information.
Dedicated Parcel Service: These integrated logistics solutions offer reasonable delivery times and prices, making them a popular choice for small and medium-sized sellers.
Commercial Express: Express delivery services, such as DHL, UPS, DPD, and GLS, offer fast delivery times (2-5 days), excellent service, and high prices, making them suitable for high-value or urgently needed goods.
Platform-Owned Logistics: These services, such as Amazon’s FBA delivery network, are the mainstream choice for Amazon sellers.
Step 4: Customer Sign-Off and After-Sales Service
Logistics Tracking: The system automatically sends a tracking number to the customer, allowing them to view their package’s location in real time.
Exception Handling: These services address unexpected situations such as package loss, damage, and customer refusal.
Return Management: Provide a convenient return address (usually an overseas warehouse address). The overseas warehouse can provide value-added services such as return labeling and quality inspection to help products get back on the shelves and reduce losses.
Key Points for Improving Efficiency Throughout the Supply Chain
Digital Management: Use an ERP system to integrate data from the e-commerce platform, overseas warehouse, and logistics provider, enabling automatic synchronization and visualization of inventory, order, and logistics information.
Compliance First: Product certification (CE), labeling, and VAT are essential for entering the European market; prepare in advance and don’t leave it to chance.
Specialization: Choose reliable freight forwarders, customs brokers, and overseas warehouse partners, allowing them to perform their respective duties so you can focus on your core market and sales.
Flexible Supply Chain: Don’t put all your goods in one basket. Adopt a multimodal logistics strategy with ocean freight for bulk shipments and air freight for urgent items to cope with market fluctuations.
A holistic view of costs: The lowest initial freight rate doesn’t necessarily mean the lowest total cost. Consider storage fees, the risk of unsold goods, capital tied up, and losses from stockouts.
By following this step-by-step practical guide, you can establish a stable, efficient, and controllable China-Europe cross-border logistics chain, laying a solid foundation for your European business.