Faster Shipping Route from China to UK Now Available

Crossborder Logistics is pleased to offer a new transit route from the Far East to UK which promises to significantly reduce current shipping times. The train route, which takes 22 to 23 days, offers a faster alternative to current seafreight solutions, which typically takes around 40-50 days, depending on the port of departure.

The journey begins in Xi’an, where containers are closed and prepared for departure five days prior to the train’s departure. Goods from various inland origins such as Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Ningbo are transported by road to Xi’an, a process that takes 3 to 4 days.

The train route proceeds to Duisburg, Germany, from where containers are moved by road to Rotterdam. They are then ferried across to Tilbury, UK. Upon arrival in Tilbury, containers are devanned, and goods are cleared through customs as usual.

Overall, this new route reduces the total transit time from Shanghai to the UK to approximately 30 days, compared to around 50 days by sea. This reduction is achieved by cutting down on the 44 days typically spent on water

However, there are several restrictions on the type of cargo that can be shipped using this route. Prohibited items include foodstuffs, chemicals, liquids, batteries, magnets, alcohol, animal products, dangerous goods (DG cargo), personal effects, and stones. Additionally, no shipments involving letters of credit are allowed.