Delivery Times from China
The times below are actual, not advertised. On some routes the difference reaches a week, and it's not because the carrier is dishonest — it's because the advertised time leaves out pickup from the supplier, consolidating the shipment, the border, and customs. Below: what the timeline is made of, how long each route takes, and how you know where your cargo is while it's on the way.
How long each route takes
| Destination | Method | Actual time |
|---|---|---|
| Ukraine | air | 4–7 days in flight + 3–4 days for pickup from Poland and customs |
| Kazakhstan | truck, consolidated | 10–15 days |
| Uzbekistan | truck, express route | 15–20 days |
| Uzbekistan | truck, economy | 20–35 days |
| Europe | air, air express to address | 12–20 days |
| Russia | truck, express route | 15–20 days (carrier quotes 12–15) |
| Russia | truck, standard route | 18–35 days (quoted as 18–25) |
| Russia | air express to Moscow | 72 hours after departure + pickup in Moscow |
A separate note on Kazakhstan: it borders China, so the trucking leg there is shorter than on any of our other routes. That's not something we did or an advantage of our service — it's geography, and we state it just as plainly as everything else.
What the timeline is made of
The advertised figure usually describes only the third of six stages. The other five always exist, and they're exactly why "twelve days" turns into twenty.
| Stage | How long it takes | What it depends on |
|---|---|---|
| Pickup from the supplier | 1–7 days | goods ready at the factory — this is where a week is most often lost |
| Warehouse receiving | on the day of arrival | recount, weighing, measurements, photos |
| Consolidating the shipment | 0–3 days | consolidated cargo waits for a truck, a dedicated one leaves right away |
| Transit | by route | table above |
| Border | unpredictable | queue and inspections; depends on neither us nor the broker |
| Customs and release | 1–4 days | completeness of documents and inspection |
Practical takeaway for planning: count the timeline from the goods being ready at the factory, not from the payment date. Between payment and shipment from the supplier, one to seven days pass, and that week isn't included in anyone's advertised figure.
Why advertised and actual times differ
Three reasons, and none of them is about being dishonest.
- The advertised figure assumes a perfect run. The truck left full, crossed the border with no queue, and cleared customs on the first try. That does happen, but you can't plan around it.
- Customs in 2026 is unpredictable on every route. Inspections happen constantly, and a complete set of documents speeds up release but doesn't guarantee it. It's more honest to say this upfront than to name an exact date and miss it.
- Chinese holidays shift everything. For Chinese New Year, factories and logistics shut down for about two weeks, with a peak in shipments before and after: rates rise and space on runs fills up. A shipment needed for the season is sent out before the holiday.
We quote the actual time, not the advertised one. A difference of four to five days on the express route isn't a safety margin — it's statistics.
How you know where your cargo is
Honestly, upfront: we don't have a tracking number with a map. We could put an "enter your number" form on the site and show whatever the carrier's system returns — but that's data we don't control, and it updates on its own schedule, not when your cargo's position actually changes.
Instead, you get the status yourself, at every stage:
- Warehouse receiving — photos of every package and actual measurements the same day, before dispatch. You learn about any discrepancy from the declared figures from us, not from an invoice.
- Packing and consolidating the shipment — what exactly was done with the cargo and what it cost.
- Dispatch — the shipment is on its way.
- Crossing the border — the carrier's confirmation. This is the first point where we can confidently say it's moving.
- Customs and release — the broker is in charge here, yours or one we've arranged; we hand over the documents and step in if anything's missing.
If there's a delay, we tell you before you ask, the same day we learn of it, with the reason and the new date. This is one of the few things about timing that depends entirely on us, so it's something we can promise.
If the deadline is missed
First: you find out from us. Second — something the industry usually doesn't talk about: carriers are liable for delays, and if the deadline is missed through their fault, claiming compensation is our job, not yours.
You shouldn't have to work out whose leg of the route it is or who to correspond with; our interest here matches yours.
What this liability doesn't cover: delays at customs. There, the timeline depends on inspection and the completeness of documents, not on the carrier, and there's no one to claim compensation from. The only thing that reduces this risk is determining the product code and checking certification before shipment, not on arrival.
Frequently asked questions
How many days does cargo from China take on each route?
Air to Ukraine — 4–7 days in flight plus 3–4 days for pickup from Poland and customs. Truck to Kazakhstan — 10–15 days. Truck to Uzbekistan — 15–20 days on the express route and 20–35 on the economy route. Air to Europe — 12–20 days to the recipient's address.
To Russia: the express route takes 15–20 days against the carrier's quoted 12–15, the standard route 18–35 against a quoted 18–25, and air express to Moscow is 72 hours after departure plus pickup.
From what point do you count the delivery timeline?
From the goods being ready at the factory, not from the payment date. Between payment and shipment from the supplier, one to seven days pass, and that week isn't included in anyone's advertised timeline.
After that comes warehouse receiving on the day of arrival, up to three days consolidating the shipment for consolidated cargo, the transit itself, the border, and one to four days for customs and release.
Why does the actual time differ from the advertised one?
The advertised time assumes a perfect run: the truck left full, crossed the border with no queue, and cleared customs on the first try. On top of that, customs in 2026 is unpredictable on every route — inspections happen constantly, and a complete set of documents speeds up release but doesn't guarantee it.
We quote the actual figure, not the advertised one. A difference of four to five days on the express route is statistics, not padding.
Do you have a tracking number and a tracking map?
No, and we don't add an "enter your number" form on purpose: it would just show the carrier's data, which we don't control and which updates on its own schedule, not when the cargo actually changes position.
Instead, you get the status yourself at every stage: photos and measurements on the day of receiving, packing and consolidating the shipment, dispatch, the carrier's confirmation at the border crossing, customs and release.
What do you do if the carrier misses the deadline?
We tell you ourselves, before you ask: the reason and the new date — the same day we learn of the delay.
Separately: carriers are liable for delays. If the deadline is missed through their fault, claiming compensation is our job, not yours.
How does Chinese New Year affect shipment planning?
Factories and logistics shut down for about two weeks, with a peak in shipments right before closing and after reopening: rates rise and space on runs fills up.
Practical takeaway: a shipment needed for the season is sent out before the holiday, not after. It's the one shift in timing you can plan for in advance, accurate to within a week.
Tell us the route and the date you need your cargo on site — we'll work backward to when it needs to ship, and tell you if the deadline is already unrealistic.