Ocean shipping time mystery: Is 35 days from China to Netherlands really reliable?

Maritime TransportationThe truth and myths about shipping time

Recently encountered manyforeign tradePeers are all struggling with the same question: How long does sea shipping from China to the Netherlands really take? Some freight forwarders confidently promise delivery within 28-35 days, but delays frequently occur in practice. As a 20-year veteran in foreign trade, I must say:Under current international shipping conditions, these time promises indeed contain significant exaggeration.

Shipping changes brought by the Red Sea crisis

Since the outbreak of the Red Sea crisis, global shipping patterns have undergone tremendous changes. Routes that previously passed through the Suez Canal now have to detour around the Cape of Good Hope, increasing voyage distance by approximately 30%. This means:

• The voyage from Shanghai to Rotterdam has extended from the original 26-32 days to 35-40 days
• Including domestic customs clearance, container loading, and overseas customs clearance and unloading, the overall transit time requires at least 45-50 days
• If encountering inspections or other unexpected situations, the time will be further extended

The tricks behind freight forwarders time promises

Why do some freight forwarders still dare to promise delivery within 35 days? Based on my experience, there are mainly the following situations:

• Information lag: Some freight forwarders use outdated data without timely updates on route changes
• Marketing tactics: Using ultra-fast delivery to attract customers, then finding various excuses to explain delays during actual execution
• Concept confusion: Possibly only calculating voyage time without including front-end and back-end operations

How to identify reliable freight forwarder services

To avoid getting into transit time disputes, I recommend taking the following measures:

• Request detailed transportation plans: Including routes, shipping companies, estimated port arrival times, etc.
• Verify key information such as container numbers: Even for LCL shipments, corresponding transportation identifiers should be provided
• Sign clear time-effectiveness clauses: Establish delay compensation mechanisms in contracts
• Choose formal customs clearance methods

: While maidan customs clearance is convenient, it carries higher risks. Its recommended to opt for normal customs clearance whenever possible

Practical Suggestions for Newcomers in Foreign Trade

For newcomers to foreign trade, Id like to offer some special reminders:

• Dont solely pursue low prices and fast delivery times,Stability is more important than speed
• Establish your ownFreight forwarder evaluation system, compare quotes and services from multiple providers
• When communicating with clients,its better to conservatively estimate delivery times, rather than overpromise
• Keep all shipping documents,for unexpected needs

Finally, in the current complex international shipping environment,45-60 daysis a reasonable expected shipping time from China to the Netherlands. Instead of obsessing over whether freight forwarders fulfill their promises, focus your energy on selecting reliable logistics partners. After all, in foreign trade,steady progress leads to long-term success.