When time is critical, air freight remains the fastest and most reliable way to move goods from Asia to Europe. We recently assisted a UK importer with an urgent shipment that needed to be moved via air freight from China to the UK within a tight deadline to prevent stock shortages and maintain customer commitments.
The cargo was purchased on CPT (carriage paid to) Shanghai airport incoterm, meaning the supplier in China was responsible for the cargo up to arrival at the airport for air freight from China to the UK. As part of the agreement, the supplier of the goods also arranged export formalities in China and transport to the airport. Once the goods arrived at the airport – Shanghai in this particular case – our freight forwarder agent based in China took control and handled the air freight from China to UK.
As with all air freight shipments, careful planning was required to ensure the cargo moved seamlessly through export customs procedures. Our team worked closely with our agent in China, who in turn liaised with the supplier of the goods (also known as the shipper) in order to verify documentation, arrange airline bookings and ensure the shipment was ready for departure without delay.
Once cleared for export, the goods were loaded onto a scheduled flight for air freight from China to the UK. One of the major advantages of air freight from China is the ability to significantly reduce transit times compared to sea freight from China, making it the preferred option for urgent consignments, high-value products and time-sensitive supply chains.
Following arrival in the UK, Mercator’s team coordinated the import customs clearance process and arranged the onward movement of the cargo to the customer’s premises. Because every stage of the shipment had been managed proactively, the goods were released promptly and delivered as planned.
For the client, the shipment provided a fast and dependable solution that prevented disruption to their business operations. Rather than waiting several weeks for a sea freight service, air freight from China enabled them to replenish stock quickly and continue serving their customers without interruption.
This movement highlights the value of a well-managed air freight service. By handling the shipment from the airport in China through to arrival and then to door in the UK, we provided complete visibility and control throughout the journey, ensuring the cargo arrived as planned.
Whether you have regular air freight from China shipments, a one-off, or even sea freight consignments (from less than container loads to multiple full containers), Mercator’s team can assist you on any incoterm. To request a quote you can email sales@mercatorcargo.co.uk, call our office on (+44) 02392 756 575, or complete the form below and we will get back to you.
