In this article, we are going to explain in detail why shipping delays from China happen, especially in those unexpected situations when you are in a hurry to receive your goods, but end up having your well-crafted shipping timeline disrupted.
But do not worry! Since you are already here with us, DDPCH will help you anticipate and stay ahead of these shipping delays from China, ensuring that your time, money, and efforts are not wasted just because you are completely clueless of what is causing behind the shipping delays from China.
Top 6 Reasons for Shipping Delays from China
If you regularly import from China, you may have wondered why some of your shipments experience shipping delays from China that impact the on-time delivery to your doorstep. Did you know that out of all shipments transported every day between countries, only about 65% are delivered on time?
For example, let’s say you have had 12 shipments from different cities in China in the last 4 months whether for your business or personal use. Nearly 8 of these shipments arrived on time to you, while the other 4 shipments faced delays, often due to one of the common reasons for shipping delays from China.
How disappointing, right? Well, you are not alone. Every day, many people face shipping delays from China, and we understand how inconvenient this can be. That’s why we make sure to explain these issues clearly and reasonably to our customers who, just like you, want to avoid getting involved int this kind of situation.
So, please stay with us until the end of this article to learn why shipping delays from China happen and how you can outsmart them by exploring the top 6 reasons. If you have any questions or get confused in the middle, please contact our sales team at any time.
Late Container Returns Causing Shipping Delays from China
If you send your shipment by sea freight from China, you are most likely familiar with shipping options like Full Container Load (FCL) and Less than Container Load (LCL). These two methods are subject to specific deadlines, which is one of the factors that can lead to shipping delays from China.
Let’s begin by talking about the Full Container Load first. For full containers (FCL), the containers are usually loaded at the supplier’s premises. Every time you book a space on a ship, the shipping company will issue a “deadline,” which is the date on which the loaded container should be returned at the port. Due to various reasons, the shipping delays from China, causing the full container to lose the scheduled ship.
Struggling to understand why your supplier faces late container returns, causing shipping delays from China? Let’s break it down. A month ago, we worked with a customer who had two suppliers in Guangzhou and Ningbo, both shipping machinery parts and equipment.
After the container was sent out for loading, one supplier notified us last minute that some items were not ready due to factory delays. This caused the container to be returned late, missing the scheduled ship, resulting in shipping delays from China, and what’s, the customer had to pay significantly more for a new booking.
In the case of Less than Container Load (LC), the goods are sent to the warehouse of the freight forwarder, where they group or consolidate several LCL shipments into one container, which is then sent to a specific port. This is probably the most common cause of shipping delays from China in sea freight.
That’s why we recommend that, in most cases, one of the best ways to avoid shipping delays from China is to ensure everything is ready on time. This includes effective communication with suppliers, timely pickup of containers, and coordinating domestic delivery, depending on the agreed-upon Incoterms.
Shipping Delays from China Due to Incorrect Documentation
Based on our experience, one of the most common reasons for shipping delays from China is incorrect documentation during the export customs clearance process. In the shipping industry, the customs clearance procedure slightly varies between countries. As for China, there are two main methods to manage it: (1) Separate customs clearance and (2) Buying customs clearance/Double clearance.
Let us explain it in a simpler way how this contributes to shipping delays from China. As you may know, many Chinese suppliers receive export tax refunds from the government, ranging from 0% to 7%. This is often referred to as a tax rebate, typically happens when you place a large order, and the supplier asks to declare the goods in China under their company name.
For example, one of our customers had a supplier who requested a tax rebate. However, during the clearance process, customs authorities found that there was missing or incorrect information on the documents, such as the real invoice value, product descriptions, HS codes, and tariff codes. The same goes for the buying customs way where the supplier unintentionally provide unclear, lacking, and inaccurate information.
To avoid having China customs hold up your shipment and face long shipping delays from China, or even penalties, make sure to check the documents with your supplier to ensure the following documents are available:
- Packing List
- Commercial Invoice
- Chinese Company License for Exporting
- Other necessary permits and certificates in compliance with China customs
By ensuring these documents are correct and complete, you can avoid unnecessary shipping delays from China. If you want to understand more about this factor, please reach out to our sales team.
Schedule Changes in Shipping Lines
Shipping lines often make changes to schedules, which can lead to shipping delays from China. Several factors drive these schedule adjustments, but based on our experience, the most common ones are operational issues and environmental factors that directly impact transit times, ultimately causing unexpected shipping delays from China.
That’s why, we are here to explain the common reasons for schedule adjustments so you can better avoid unexpected shipping delays from China. Here are the most frequent factors we have observed based on our experience:
- Strikes or Labor Shortages at specific ports
- Peak Season Traffic
- Route Adjustments
- Port and Terminal Congestion at both the origin and destination ports
- Limited Equipment Availability causing loading delays and disrupted schedules
If you still have any questions about how schedule changes in shipping lines can contribute to shipping delays from China, feel free to contact our sales team.
Customs Inspections Impacting Shipping Times
Have you ever wondered when is the ideal time to send your shipments from China to avoid shipping delays from China due to customs inspections? Well, the answer is just one scroll away so keep reading until the end.
All shipments are required to go through a customs clearance process for both importing and exporting. Customs inspections are typically random, referred to as random customs inspections, and they can unexpectedly cause shipping delays from China. Besides the delay in shipping, not only will you miss the cutoff date, but you will also have to pay customs fees for the inspection privileges and cover container rent and demurrage fees
Want to avoid this kind of shipping delays from China? One essential tip is to stay informed about the times when inspections are more likely to happen. Knowing when normal or higher inspection rates occur can help you plan ahead and avoid any unexpected shipping delays from China.
| Type of Inspection | Type of Cargo | Inspection Rate | Specific Time of Inspection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal Time Inspection | Brand Goods | 5% to 10% | Normal time |
| Normal Time Inspection | Sensitive or Dangerous Goods | 8% to 15% | Normal time |
| Special Time Inspection | Brand Goods | 50% to 70% | One month before Chinese New Year Holiday, One month before China National Holiday |
| Special Time Inspection | Sensitive or Dangerous Goods | 60 % to 80% | One month before Chinese New Year Holiday, One month before China National Holiday |
Port and Terminal Congestion Issues
Wondering why ships sometimes leave the loading port later than expected, causing a shipping delay from China? This is often due to port and terminal congestion issues, which delay scheduled departures from China, especially during peak seasons.
These shipping delays from China are common and usually beyond anyone’s control, even for the shipping company and freight forwarders like DDPCH. They can happen even under normal conditions, as demand for shipments from China continues to rise. This leads to crowded terminal ports with limited space, when a number of containers exceeds the maximum capacity that the port can handle, resulting in shipping delays from China.
If you are curious about when these shipping delays from China typically occur, please refer to the list below. Be aware of these peak times when ports experience increased terminal congestion, leading to longer vessel wait times and potential shipping delays from China.
| Reason of Shipping Delay from China | Peak Season | Anticipated Timeframe |
|---|---|---|
| Port and Terminal Congestion | Chinese New Year (Lunar New Year) | Late January 2025 to Early February 2025 |
| Port and Terminal Congestion | Golden Week Holidays | October 2025 and Early May 2026 |
| Port and Terminal Congestion | Mid-Autumn Festival | September 2025 to October 2025 |
| Port and Terminal Congestion | End of Year (Holiday Rush) | November 2025 to December 2025 |
Wondering why ships sometimes leave the loading port later than expected, causing a shipping delay from China? This is often due to port and terminal congestion issues, which delay scheduled departures from China, especially during peak seasons.
These shipping delays from China are common and usually beyond anyone’s control, even for the shipping company and freight forwarders like DDPCH. They can happen even under normal conditions, as demand for shipments from China continues to rise. This leads to crowded terminal ports with limited space, when a number of containers exceeds the maximum capacity that the port can handle, resulting in shipping delays from China.
If you are curious about when these shipping delays from China typically occur, please refer to the list below. Be aware of these peak times when ports experience increased terminal congestion, leading to longer vessel wait times and potential shipping delays from China.
| Reason of Shipping Delay from China | Peak Season | Anticipated Timeframe |
|---|---|---|
| Port and Terminal Congestion | Chinese New Year (Lunar New Year) | Late January 2025 to Early February 2025 |
| Port and Terminal Congestion | Golden Week Holidays | October 2025 and Early May 2026 |
| Port and Terminal Congestion | Mid-Autumn Festival | September 2025 to October 2025 |
| Port and Terminal Congestion | End of Year (Holiday Rush) | November 2025 to December 2025 |
Weather Conditions
Do you know that China is one of the many countries that experience heavy rain and storms every year? Well, this brings us to the last reason for shipping delays from China, and we are 100% sure you will agree with us on this one: bad weather conditions.
Due to adverse weather conditions, shipping delays from China often occur when ships are forced to skip their scheduled port of call. As a result, they miss their planned departure, leading to shipping delays from China.
How DDPCH can help you to avoiding Shipping Delays from China?
Shipping delays from China can be a major obstacle, especially during peak times like Chinese New Year, Golden Week, and the holiday rush. These shipping delays from China are often caused by factors such as late container returns, inaccurate documentation, unexpected schedule changes, customs inspections, port congestion, and even adverse weather conditions. Each of these can disrupt your plans, resulting in frustrating shipping delays from China that affect both timelines and costs.
However, DDPCH is here to help you avoid shipping delays from China with expert support. We know the ins and outs of Chinese customs, documentation requirements, and scheduling, allowing us to anticipate and avoid common causes of shipping delays from China.
When you choose DDPCH, you are choosing a partner who understands how to overcome these challenges, keeping your shipments on schedule and ensuring that shipping delays from China don’t disrupt your business.
FAQ
Q: What are the main reasons for shipping delays from China?
A: The top causes of shipping delays from China include late container returns, inaccurate documentation, schedule changes by shipping lines, customs inspections, and port congestion, especially during peak seasons.
Q: How does incorrect documentation lead to shipping delays from China?
A: Incomplete or inaccurate documents can hold up customs clearance, leading to shipping delays from China. Ensuring all paperwork is accurate and complete can help avoid these delays.
Q: Why does port congestion impact shipping delays from China, and when is it most common?
A: Port congestion causes shipping delays from China by slowing loading and unloading times. This is common during peak seasons like Chinese New Year and Golden Week, when high shipment volumes lead to backlogs.
Q: How can customs inspections cause shipping delays from China?
A: Customs inspections are sometimes random but tend to increase around major holidays. These inspections can result in shipping delays from China, adding extra costs for storage and inspection fees.
Q: How can DDPCH help me reduce shipping delays from China?
A: DDPCH offers expertise in managing documents, customs, and scheduling to avoid the common causes of shipping delays from China. Partnering with us means fewer risks and smoother, on-time deliveries.
