What's the best way to visit Yiwu market in 2024?

Use My Agent's Forwarder or My Own Forwarder?

Why Freight Forwarder?

Normally two freight forwarders are involved to get your container shipped from Yiwu to your warehouse: a China freight forwarder and a local freight forwarder.

A China forwarder contacts carrier to help you book container space, arrange the inland transportation and do customs declaration. This forwarder takes over once the container finished loading in Yiwu, and then trucked it to Ningbo port, finally get it shipped out to your port.

Once your container arrives in your port, another forwarder (your local freight forwarder) takes over. This forwarder will help you do customs clearance and arrange to send the products to your warehouse.

Sometimes, all above work can be done only by one forwarder - your own freight forwarder.

My Agent's Forwarder:

Your agent's forwarder's services can usually offer better service from Yiwu to China port usually.

Your ocean freight rate can be discussed (and usually cheaper), other costs can also be discussed. This freight forwarder help make every document. If problems happen, they can do their best to help shipper resolve them.

You need to prepay all costs to your Yiwu agent/Yiwu business partner.

My Own Forwarder:

Your own freight forwarder is the forwarder appointed by you from your side.

This freight forwarder usually has agent or branch office both in China and your own country. You do all freight forwarding through them. Then this forwarder becomes your designated freight forwarder.

This designated forwarder will ask its branch office to contact with the shipper to arrange the goods, make customs documents. The shipper (usually your agent/business partner in Yiwu) cannot discuss anything with them, because they are your designated agent. It's you who pay them.

They usually charge more inland charge from Yiwu to Ningbo/Shanghai.

All cost can be postpaid.