In the current increasingly prosperous global trade, the export business of large refrigerators is frequent. For many enterprises engaged in refrigerator exports and customers with relevant procurement needs, understanding the time required for large – scale exports to different countries is of crucial importance. This time span not only affects the planning of the supply chain but also is closely related to aspects such as enterprise cost control and customer satisfaction. Next, we will deeply analyze the key factors affecting the transportation time of large – scale refrigerator exports and introduce in detail the approximate time required for exports to some major countries.
I. Key Factors Affecting the Transportation Time of Large – scale Refrigerator Exports
1.Differences in transportation methods
（1）Maritime shipping:
It has the significant advantages of large freight volume and low cost, but its transportation speed is relatively slow. Generally, for ordinary container shipping, starting from the time the goods are loaded onto the ship at the port of departure until they are unloaded at the port of destination, this process may take 15 – 45 days, depending on various factors such as the distance between the port of departure and the port of destination, the busyness of the shipping route, and whether transshipment is required midway. For example, if shipping from China to the west coast of the United States, under normal circumstances, the transportation time is approximately 15 – 25 days; if shipping to the east coast of the United States, due to the longer distance and the possible need to transit through the Panama Canal, the transportation time will be extended to 25 – 35 days.
（2）Air freight
Its biggest feature is speed. It generally supports the transportation of small refrigerators, but it is basically not feasible for large – scale ones. The process from the time the goods are delivered to the airline until they are unloaded at the destination airport only takes 1 – 7 days. This is an ideal choice for customers who urgently need the goods or for some special orders with extremely high time requirements. However, air freight is relatively expensive, and for large – scale refrigerators, which are large in volume and heavy in weight, airlines may have certain restrictions in terms of cabin space arrangement. For example, it generally takes 3 – 5 days to air – transport large – scale refrigerators from China to Europe, but if it is the peak season of air transportation or there are special circumstances in airport operations, the transportation time may also be delayed.
（3）Land transportation
Between neighboring countries or in some regions with a complete land – transportation network, land transportation is also an option for the export of large – scale goods. For large – volume refrigerators, truck land transportation is required. The transportation time of land transportation varies according to the distance and road conditions, generally taking about 1 – 10 days. For example, if transporting large – scale refrigerators from China to some Southeast Asian countries by road or railway, if the transportation route is smooth, it may only take 3 – 5 days to arrive. However, if there are cumbersome border clearance procedures, road construction, etc., the transportation time may be significantly extended.
2.Customs clearance efficiency of the destination country
Developed countries: In developed countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany, the customs clearance process is relatively standardized and efficient. Generally, under the condition of complete documents and correct declarations, the customs clearance time for sea – freight goods is usually 2 – 5 working days, and that for air – freight goods is 1 – 3 working days. Taking the United States as an example, for sea – freight goods, it normally takes 2 – 5 working days from the submission of complete documents to release; for air – freight goods, it generally takes 1 – 3 working days to complete customs clearance. However, if there are errors or ambiguities in the declaration information of the goods, or if the goods are randomly inspected by the customs and further inspection is required, the customs clearance time will be correspondingly extended, possibly reaching 7 – 10 days or even longer.
Developing countries: Due to reasons such as imperfect customs systems and relatively weak infrastructure in developing countries, the customs clearance efficiency may be low. The customs clearance time may take 3 – 10 days, and in some special cases, it may exceed 10 days. For example, in some African countries, the customs procedures are cumbersome, document review is strict, and there may be problems such as insufficient manpower, resulting in a long stay of goods at the customs. In addition, the customs policies of some developing countries may not be stable and may be adjusted at any time, which also brings uncertainties to the customs clearance work and further extends the transportation time.
4.Impact of special periods and emergencies
Holidays: During some important holidays, the work efficiency of both logistics transportation and customs clearance in both the country of departure and the destination country will be affected. For example, during Western holidays such as Christmas and New Year, as well as the Spring Festival in China, during these periods, employees of logistics enterprises take vacations, and the working hours of customs are also adjusted accordingly, resulting in a slowdown in the transportation and customs clearance of goods. It is generally recommended to arrange the export of goods 2 – 3 weeks before the peak of these holidays to avoid significant delays in transportation time.
Adjustment of trade policies: Changes in the trade policies of various countries have a direct impact on the transportation time of large – scale refrigerator exports. When the destination country introduces new trade policies, such as increasing tariffs or adding import restrictions, enterprises need time to adapt and adjust the declaration documents and processes, which may lead to an extension of the customs clearance time. For example, if a country suddenly implements new energy – efficiency standard certification requirements for imported refrigerators, the exporting enterprise needs to prepare relevant certification materials again, and the customs also needs to review these materials, which will undoubtedly increase the time cost of customs clearance.
Force majeure factors: The occurrence of force majeure factors such as natural disasters, wars, and public health incidents will seriously disrupt global logistics transportation. For example, a sudden hurricane may cause the closure of a port for several days, making it impossible to load and unload goods on time; regional conflicts may affect the safety of the transportation route, forcing logistics enterprises to change the transportation route, thus extending the transportation time.
II. Approximate Time Required for Exporting Large – scale Refrigeration Equipment (Refrigerators, Freezers) to Major Countries
1.Export to the United States
Maritime shipping: If departing from major Chinese ports to ports on the west coast of the United States, such as Los Angeles and Long Beach, under the condition of a smooth transportation process and without considering the customs clearance time, the sea – transportation time is approximately 15 – 20 days. Adding the normal customs clearance time of 2 – 5 working days in the United States, the overall transportation time is approximately 18 – 25 days. If shipping to ports on the east coast of the United States, such as New York and New Jersey, due to the longer transportation distance and the possible need to transit through the Panama Canal, the sea – transportation time is usually 25 – 35 days. Adding the customs clearance time, the overall transportation duration is approximately 28 – 40 days.
Air freight: From major Chinese airports to major airports in the United States, such as John F. Kennedy Airport in New York and Los Angeles International Airport, the flight time is generally about 12 – 15 hours. Adding the operation time of the goods at both ends of the airport and the customs clearance time (1 – 3 working days), the overall transportation time is approximately 3 – 5 days. However, if it is the peak season of air transportation and the cabin space is tight, the goods may need to queue up for loading, and the transportation time may be extended to 5 – 7 days.
2.Export to the United Kingdom
Maritime shipping: Shipping goods from Chinese ports to British ports, such as Southampton and Felixstowe, the sea – transportation time is generally 25 – 35 days. The customs clearance efficiency of the UK customs is relatively high. Under the condition of complete documents and correct declarations, the customs clearance time is usually 2 – 4 working days. Therefore, the overall transportation time for exports from China to the UK by sea is approximately 28 – 40 days. Some professional logistics service providers, such as Fengge International Logistics, offer UK sea – freight LCL services for shipping large – scale equipment and other goods, with double – clearance, tax – inclusive, and door – to – door services, and the delivery time is 20 – 25 days. They shorten the transportation time to a certain extent by optimizing the transportation route and closely cooperating with shipping companies.
Air freight: From China to major airports in the UK, such as London Heathrow Airport, the flight time is approximately 10 – 12 hours. Adding the airport operation and customs clearance time (1 – 3 working days), the overall transportation time is approximately 3 – 5 days. Similar to sea freight, air freight may also experience tight cabin space and extended transportation time during the peak season.
3.Export to Canada
Maritime shipping: For sea freight from China to Canada, if shipping to west – coast ports such as Vancouver, the sea – transportation time is generally 20 – 30 days. The customs clearance process of the Canadian customs is relatively standardized, and the normal customs clearance time is 2 – 5 working days. So the overall transportation time is approximately 23 – 35 days. If shipping to east – coast cities such as Toronto and Montreal, due to the increased transportation distance and possible transshipment, the sea – transportation time will be extended to 30 – 40 days. Adding the customs clearance time, the overall transportation duration is approximately 33 – 45 days. Some logistics special lines, such as the home – appliance sea – freight line to Canada, can deliver refrigerators and other home appliances to Vancouver in 30 days, and it takes 35 – 45 days for cities such as Toronto and Montreal. They also provide CBSA double – customs – clearance and tax – inclusive door – to – door services, covering major cities such as Calgary and Ottawa.
Air freight: From China to major airports in Canada, such as Toronto Pearson International Airport and Vancouver International Airport, the flight time is about 12 – 15 hours. Adding the airport operation and customs clearance time (1 – 3 working days), the overall transportation time is approximately 3 – 5 days. But the impact of the peak season of transportation still needs to be noted.
4.Export to Australia
Maritime shipping: Shipping from Chinese ports to major Australian ports, such as Sydney and Melbourne, the sea – transportation time is generally 15 – 25 days. The Australian customs has relatively strict inspection and quarantine requirements for imported goods, and the customs clearance time is usually 3 – 7 working days. Therefore, the overall transportation time for exports to Australia by sea is approximately 18 – 32 days. During the transportation process, the goods need to meet the relevant product standards and environmental protection requirements of Australia; otherwise, they may face customs clearance obstacles, further extending the transportation time.
Air freight: From major Chinese airports to major airports in Australia, the flight time is approximately 8 – 10 hours. Adding the airport operation and customs clearance time (1 – 3 working days), the overall transportation time is approximately 3 – 5 days. Similar to other countries, although air freight has high timeliness, the cost is also relatively high, and enterprises need to make choices according to their own needs.
5.Export to other countries and regions
（1）Export to other European countries:
Taking Germany as an example, for sea freight from China to German ports, such as Hamburg and Bremen, the sea – transportation time is generally 25 – 35 days, and the customs clearance time is 2 – 5 working days. The overall transportation time is approximately 28 – 40 days. If transported by railway, from some starting stations of the China – Europe freight trains in China to Germany, the transportation time is approximately 12 – 18 days. However, the railway transportation capacity is relatively limited, and the transportation plan may be affected by factors such as line maintenance and scheduling. The air – freight time to Germany is similar to that of other European countries, about 3 – 5 days.
（2）Export to some Asian countries:
When exporting to Japan, for sea freight from Chinese ports to major Japanese ports, such as Tokyo and Osaka, the sea – transportation time is generally 3 – 7 days, and the customs clearance time is 1 – 3 working days. The overall transportation time is approximately 4 – 10 days. The situation of exporting to South Korea is similar. The sea – transportation time is usually 2 – 5 days, and the customs clearance time is 1 – 3 working days. The overall transportation time is approximately 3 – 8 days. These two countries are relatively close to China, so the transportation time is relatively short, and the logistics system is relatively mature, with relatively high transportation timeliness. When exporting to other Asian countries such as India, the sea – transportation time may be about 10 – 20 days, and due to the complexity of the Indian customs process, the customs clearance time may take 3 – 10 days. The overall transportation time is approximately 13 – 30 days.
（3）Export to African countries:
Due to the large differences in infrastructure and logistics conditions among African countries, the transportation time also varies greatly. Taking South Africa as an example, for sea freight from China to major South African ports, such as Durban and Cape Town, the sea – transportation time is generally 30 – 45 days, and the customs clearance time may take 5 – 10 days or even longer. The overall transportation time is approximately 35 – 55 days. For some land – locked countries, due to the need for secondary transportation by road or railway, the transportation time will be longer, and there are more uncertain factors during the transportation process.
The time required for large – scale transportation exports to different countries is comprehensively affected by various factors, including transportation methods, the customs clearance efficiency of the destination country, and special periods and emergencies. When planning the large – scale refrigerator export business, enterprises need to fully consider these factors, reasonably choose the transportation method, and closely cooperate with professional logistics service providers to ensure that the goods can reach the destination on time and safely. At the same time, they should pay close attention to changes in the trade policies of various countries and the dynamics of the global logistics market, and take preventive measures in advance to reduce the risks brought about by the extension of transportation time. For customers with urgent needs, although air freight is costly, it can meet their requirements for timeliness; while for most regular orders, sea freight is a better choice to balance cost and transportation time.
Post time: Aug-08-2025 Views: