Shipping & Delivery
Lead Time Overview
Typical lead time ex-works depends on size, standard, and material:
| Product type | Typical lead time |
|---|---|
| Standard A234 WPB / A105 fittings & flanges (in stock) | 2-4 weeks |
| A234 WPC / WP11 / WP22 / WP91 alloy fittings | 6-10 weeks |
| ASTM A403 stainless / A790 duplex | 6-12 weeks |
| Inconel / Hastelloy / Monel nickel alloys | 8-14 weeks |
| Large-OD induction bends (DN ≥ 600) | 8-16 weeks |
| Spectacle blinds, custom forgings | 6-10 weeks |
Lead time confirmed in writing on each proforma invoice.
Incoterms 2020 — Practical Comparison
We quote any Incoterm. The choice affects who arranges freight, who pays insurance, and where risk transfers from us to you. Buyers unfamiliar with Incoterms should default to FOB for first orders.
| Incoterm | Best for | Seller arranges | Risk transfers at | Indicative ocean freight (20'GP, ex-Tianjin)* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXW Mengcun | Buyers with own China forwarder | Nothing — pickup at plant | Plant gate | Buyer pays inland + ocean (USD 1,200-2,800 to most ports) |
| FOB Tianjin / Shanghai | Most international buyers — default | Inland trucking + export clearance + loading on vessel | Vessel rail at load port | Buyer pays ocean (USD 900-2,500 typical to Rotterdam / Houston / Jebel Ali) |
| CFR (named port) | Buyers wanting one-stop quote, own marine insurance | FOB + ocean freight | Vessel rail at load port (insurance is buyer's risk) | Built into our quote (FOB + USD 900-2,500) |
| CIF (named port) | Buyers wanting one-stop quote with insurance | CFR + 110% invoice marine insurance (Institute Cargo Clauses A) | Vessel rail at load port (insurance covers buyer) | CFR + ~0.15-0.35% of CIF value |
| DAP (named place) | EU / GCC buyers wanting door-to-door | All to destination terminal; buyer clears import | Destination terminal, before unloading | CFR + USD 600-1,800 inland (varies widely by country) |
| DDP (named place) | Buyers needing fully landed cost (rarer for B2B) | Everything including duty + import VAT | Final delivery point | DAP + duty + VAT — quoted case-by-case |
- Indicative only. Actual freight depends on container size (20'GP / 40'HQ / OOG flat-rack for large bends), bunker surcharges, peak-season multipliers, and trade lane. We quote freight from a partner freight forwarder within 24 hours of an Incoterm request.
Recommendation:
- First-time buyers / most projects → FOB Tianjin or FOB Shanghai.
- L/C transactions → CFR / CIF (cleaner document set).
- EU buyers requiring DDP → only feasible when import VAT can be reclaimed; we recommend DAP plus your local broker.
Air freight is available for samples and small urgent shipments (typical lead time 3-7 days; cost USD 6-12 / kg via DHL / FedEx / China Post EMS).
Packaging — International Sea-Freight Standard
Standard for sea freight:
- Wooden crates — heat-treated and ISPM-15 stamped (HT mark + IPPC logo + CN registration code). Mandatory for EU, US, AU, CA, IN, BR, KR, JP, TR and most regulated markets — non-compliant shipments are quarantined or destroyed at destination.
- Plastic end caps on every fitting to protect bevels and seal threads.
- VCI (vapor corrosion inhibitor) paper wrap on stainless, duplex, alloy and nickel-base items — protects against marine salt fog (typical 30-day VCI life inside sealed crate).
- Desiccant bags (silica gel, 50-200 g per crate) inside for monsoon / tropical transit.
- Strapping: PET / steel band, 2-4 per crate; large bends and headers fitted with lifting lugs and rigging diagrams.
- Container loading plan: stowage drawing with center of gravity, dunnage layout, and photographs of each crate + final container interior — included with shipping documents.
Large-OD bends (DN ≥ 600) and over-length items ship on flat-rack or open-top containers with custom steel cradles + tarpaulin; lifting points clearly marked; sling angles specified per ASME B30.9.
Photo evidence is taken at three stages — naked goods after final QC, in-crate before strapping, and inside the container before doors close — and emailed to the buyer before the vessel sails.
Documents Provided
With every shipment:
- Commercial invoice + packing list
- Bill of lading (B/L) — copy first, original after payment
- Mill Test Certificate EN 10204 3.1 (3.2 on request)
- Heat treatment record + NDT reports (PT/MT/UT/RT as applicable)
- Certificate of Origin (CO) + Form A / Form E for preferential tariff (where applicable)
- Pre-shipment inspection certificate (when buyer specifies SGS/BV/TÜV witness)
Tracking & Communication
- Daily production-status updates from order confirmation through container loading
- Photos of finished goods, packing, container loading on request
- Freight forwarder's tracking link shared after vessel sailing
Damage Claims
Report visible damage within 48 hours of receipt with photos and shipping documents. Claims are processed against the freight insurance (CIF orders) or directly with carrier (FOB orders).
Get a Freight Quote
Submit your project location and target delivery date via the inquiry form. We quote freight cost from major Chinese ports to most destinations within 24 hours.