Shipping from China to Mexico Cost and Time

Mexico is located in the southern part of the North American continent and borders the United Statesto the north. It has a population of approximately 128 million in 2022 and a per capita GDP of approximately US$11,000. According to World Bank standards, it is an upper-middle-income country. Mexico has a stable political situation and sound laws. It is a populous country, a large economic power, a large trading country and an important foreign direct investment destination in Latin America.

China has been Mexico’s second largest trading partner in the world for many years. Mexico firmly ranks as China’s second largest trading partner in Latin America and is one of the key countries for Chinese companies to carry out investment cooperation in Latin America. The areas of cooperation mainly include energy, telecommunications, transportation, infrastructure, manufacturing, mining, finance, etc.

From January to November 2023, the bilateral import and export volume of goods between China and Mexico was US$91,986,820,400, an increase of US$4,757,442,900 compared with the same period in 2022, a year-on-year increase of 5.9%

Efficient shipping from China to Mexico is essential for businesses involved in international trade between these two countries. This comprehensive guide provides detailed insights into various aspects of shipping, including sea and air freight, shipping durations, major ports, customs procedures, and the selection of a reliable freight forwarder.

shipping from China to Mexico

The main options are express shipping by courier service, airfreight, and sea freight. In this section, we’ll provide a quick overview of how each method works as well as their respective strengths and weaknesses.

Express Shipping freight From China to Mexico

This is the fastest option to ship goods to Mexico . With Express shipping, your merchandise can reach its destination within 3-7 business days. With Express shipping courier services see your packages from door-to-door – that is, from your supplier factory to the items’ end destination.

A variety of well-known carriers offer these services, such as UPS, TNT, DHL FedEx, and EMS. They all have good reputations for reliability, so you can rest easy knowing your items are quickly making their way to their destination. These carriers use a variety of methods (airfreight and sea freight which we’ll go into in greater depth later) to provide a hands-off, worry-free service. They can pick up your inventory at your door (or factory) and see it to a designated address, whether that be the warehouse in Mexico or directly to your Mexican  customers.

Door-to-door express shipping handles items of all sizes and weights. Light items are generally air-freighted for speed and heavy items are sea-freighted, which involves a longer ship time. But since they come directly to your door, they are the most convenient option.

Upsides to express shipping: A fast, worry-free experience for you
Downsides to express shipping: More expensive than alternatives

Air Freight from China to Mexico

The biggest advantage of air freight is speed. Items shipped from China can arrive in Mexico within 5-8 days. This is the best option for high-value items as they spend less time in transit. However, that speed comes with some trade-offs.

Air freight is usually more expensive than sea freight. It’s also better suited for smaller items since airlines have weight and volume restrictions. Air freight also uses more fuel than other modes of transportation, so if you and your company are ethically concerned about your carbon footprint, you’ll choose sea freight.

Sea Freight from China to Mexico

Ocean Freight  is the most common way to ship items from China to Mexico, mainly because of its versatility and reliability. While air freight has restrictions on what it can carry, virtually all items can be shipped by sea, including very large and heavy items (such as cars). The main disadvantage of ocean shipping is its timing. Other shipping methods take just a few days to deliver goods, while ocean freight can take weeks. Items typically take 15-40 days to reach their destination, depending on the type of shipment and the specific departure and arrival ports.

Ocean freight operates under FCL and LCL container systems. Please consider container size when selecting a shipping size and getting a price estimate, as FCL and LCL prices differ. We can help you create commercial invoices, clear customs and purchase insurance for your goods.

Full Container Load (FCL): Shipping in which all contents of the container are owned by one company. This is a good option when you are transporting a volume large enough to fill an entire container yourself. This applies to bulk items and bulky products. If you are filling the entire container, this is the most cost-effective option.

Less than Container Load (LCL): Items from multiple shippers are packed into a single container. This method is used when the quantity you are shipping is too small to fill an entire container. This allows for smaller, more adaptable inventories.

Shipping Costs from China to Mexico

Shipping costs from China to Mexico depend on various factors, including the shipping method, the size and weight of the cargo, and the specific route taken. Below are some general shipping cost estimates for different shipping methods:

Cost Of Shipping 20ft & 40ft Container From China To Mexico

The average price to ship a container from China to Mexico is $2,850 to $5,550.
Shipping costs for shipping a full container from China to Mexico depend on the size of the container (20ft or 40ft) and the timetable route, please contact the Basenton Quotation Team for detailed rates for shipping containers from China to major container ports in Mexico .

• How much does it cost to ship a 20-foot container from China to Mexico? The average price to ship a 20-foot container from China to Mexico is $2850 to $4050. Shipping schedules for shipping 20-foot containers from China to Mexico vary by route.
• How much does it cost to ship a 40-foot container from China to Mexico? The average price of shipping a 40-foot container from China to Mexico is from $3,250 to $5,550. Shipping schedules for shipping 40-foot containers from China to Mexico vary by route.

How Much Does Container Shipping Rates From China To Mexico

These are the average prices to ship a container from China Mexico with the cheapest rates for loading and shipping containers from the major ports in China to Mexico for 20ft and 40ft containers (FCL) with all types of cargo such as: commercial cargo, vehicles, or personal effects for international shipments from China to Mexico.

Cost of LCL shipping from China to Mexico

*These rates are subject to change and should be used as a reference only. For personalized LCL quotes, please contact Junqing Logistics. 

Cheapest way to ship from China to Mexico

Minimizing transportation costs is crucial to maximizing profits in your importing business. To find the cheapest shipping method, consider these tips:

• Negotiate with multiple suppliers and carriers to find the best price
• Use freight forwarder packaging materials to reduce weight and costs
• Ship during the off-season to take advantage of lower shipping costs
• Consolidate shipments from multiple suppliers to save on shipping costs
• Choose the most suitable shipping method based on your cargo size, weight and required transit time

Door to door Shipping from China to Mexico

Door to door shipping from China to Mexico is the most direct and convenient way. With door to door service, you don’t have to worry about any link in the transportation. The supplier will be responsible for the entire transportation process, including packaging, transportation, customs clearance and final delivery to the designated location.

• Simplified process: When choosing door to door transportation, all transportation and customs clearance procedures are handled by the service provider, and customers only need to provide cargo information and the final delivery address.
• Convenient logistics chain: This method ensures seamless connection of goods from departure to destination.
• Applicable scenarios: Suitable for customers who need fast and full tracking, especially for goods with high timeliness requirements.

DDP Shipping from China to Mexico

DDP (Delivery Duty Paid) means that the seller bears all costs and responsibilities before the goods arrive at the destination and complete all customs clearance and tax procedures. For DDP service from China to Mexico, the seller is responsible for all costs such as cargo transportation, customs clearance and taxation at the destination port, and the buyer only needs to pay the purchase price and freight.

• Full responsibility: The seller needs to bear all transportation costs, including customs duties and taxes, until the goods are delivered to the designated address.
• Hassle-free for customers: Buyers do not need to deal with any additional procedures or fees.
• Suitable for customers: Suitable for customers who are unwilling to deal with complicated import procedures, especially small businesses or individual customers.

DDP Shipping from China

How to ship from China to Amazon FBA warehouse in Mexico?

We currently have 2 FBA shipping routes from China to Amazon FBA Mexico, using DDP terms.

Air Freight from China to Amazon FBA Mexico

It takes about 5-12 days from China to the FBA warehouse in Mexico.
Moderate cost and fast speed.
Air Freight from China to Mexico, depending on the goods, the goods are loaded in Shenzhen or Hong Kong, and delivered to your door in Mexico by UPS or FEDEX.
Shipping via Delivered Duty Paid (DDP), which means we will handle customs clearance, pay import and export duties, and you only need to wait for the goods to arrive at the FBA warehouse in Mexico.

Sea Freight from China to Amazon FBA Mexico

It takes about 30-45 days from China to the FBA warehouse in Mexico.
Low cost and slow speed.
Sea Freight from China to Mexico, depending on the goods, the goods are loaded in Shenzhen or Guangzhou, and delivered door-to-door in Mexico by UPS or FEDEX.
Shipping via Delivered Duty Paid (DDP), which means we will handle customs clearance, pay import and export duties, and you only need to wait for the goods to arrive at the FBA warehouse in Mexico.

Customs Clearance and Import Duties in Mexico

When importing goods from China to Mexico, you must understand the customs clearance process and import duties. Mexican customs imposes a 16% value-added tax (VAT) on imported products, and additional taxes may be levied depending on the specific items being imported. It is crucial to understand these fees and prepare the necessary documentation to ensure a smooth customs clearance process.

Documents required for customs clearance

• Bill of Lading Manifest
• Mexican tax identification number
• Tariff subtitles and product information
• Register as an importer in Mexico
• Mexican Customs Value Declaration
• Mexico’s debt-free status
• Move inventory (if applicable)
• Trade or company patent in Mexico
• Authorization letter from your customs broker

What documents are needed to import from China to Mexico?

The requirements for importing from China to Mexico are to present an English-translated commercial invoice and a detailed packing list, which must indicate details of quantity, product type and shipping location, and then provide the following documents to customs in Mexico:

Goods imported from China must have the following documents:

• Bill of Lading Manifest, used for import, release and tax purposes.
• Mexican tax identification number
• Tariff subheadings and location of goods
• Register as an importer in Mexico
• Mexican Customs Value Declaration
• Mexico debt free
• Transfer inventory from China to Mexico (simple copy)
• Having a trade or company patent in Mexico must show that you are committed to importing from China.
• China Phytosanitary Export Certificate (Simplified Copy)
• Showcasing Mexico’s economic solvency
• Develop the terms of an Incoterms import agreement.
• Find a good customs broker in Mexico
• Original bill of lading, sea waybill or air waybill from the shipping company
• packing list
• commercial invoice
• China Joint Certificate of Production Value and Origin (CCVO)
• A letter of authorization authorizing your customs broker to handle import customs clearance for you in Mexico.

The 12 most important industry goods imported from China to Mexico

Mexico imports a variety of goods from China. The following are the most important categories:

• Motors: From generators to batteries and more.
• Machinery: including engines and refrigeration equipment.
• Vehicles: including cars, trucks and related parts.
• Computers and Electronics: Personal computers, parts and other electronic equipment.
• Fossil fuels: such as oil and coal.
• Plastics and plastic products: from plastic packaging to PVC.
• Optics, Technology, Medical Devices: Covering eyewear to technology and medical devices.
• Steel: Steel raw materials and processed products.
• Appliances: Various household and commercial appliances.
• Organic chemicals: used in various industries.
• Aluminum: Raw and processed aluminum products.
• Tires Various types and sizes for different vehicles.

freight forwarder from China to Mexico

When shipping from China to Mexico, choosing the right freight forwarder is an important part of ensuring that your goods are delivered safely and on time. Here are a few key factors to consider when choosing a freight forwarder from China to Mexico:

Service Scope
A good freight forwarder should provide a full range of services from major cities and ports in China to Mexico, including pickup, customs declaration, transportation, customs clearance, and final delivery to the designated location.

Transportation Mode
A freight forwarder should be able to provide a variety of transportation modes, including sea, air, express, and door-to-door services to meet the needs of different goods.

Customs Clearance Capability
Customs clearance is a key link in international logistics. A reliable freight forwarder should have rich customs clearance experience and be able to handle customs clearance procedures smoothly to avoid cargo delays or additional costs.

Price Transparency
A good freight forwarder will provide detailed quotes, clearly list all fees, avoid hidden fees, and ensure that customers can clearly understand the shipping costs.

Customer Support
Good customer service is also crucial. Freight forwarders should provide responsive customer support, answer various questions during the transportation process, and ensure smooth communication.

Junqing Logistics will serve as your international freight forwarder to help you ship from China to Mexico. We provide you with a warehouse address located in Guangdong Province, China’s logistics and import and export center, allowing you to enjoy the most Chinese routes at the lowest freight rates.

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