Importing from Nantong to the UK

Cost-effective deliveries from Nantong and across the Globe

Importing from China has always been a delicate business, filled with lots of seemingly small details that eventually make a huge difference in the long run.

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Importing from Nantong to the UK

Therefore, if you want to import from Nantong to the UK, it’s best to do a bit of research on your own, even as you look for a shipping partner you can trust. Whether you are a large company moving items or a small business moving a small consignment, the tips in this guide will make the process easier for you. In this guide, we cover:

How to ship through peak seasons,
How to control costs and transit times, and
How to choose between FCL and LCL.

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How will Chinese New Year affect my Shipping Schedule?

From Late January to early February, all factories and facilities in China shut down for Chinese New Year celebrations. This suspension of shipping activities causes prices to spike and major delays. Most Chinese ports including the port of Nantong are closed for this duration, therefore any shipments planned just before Chinese New Year have to wait till after the celebrations. Also, prices rise steadily leading up to the holiday, so it’s best to ship well before January. If this is not possible then the next best option is to wait to ship after the celebrations, when the process returns to normal. Apart from Chinese New Year, three other Chinese festivals have a noticeable impact on shipping activities:

Golden Week festival running from October 1st to the following week.
Dragon Boat Festival running for three days during June
Holiday Shopping Season, running from October to December for air freight and July to October for sea freight.

The best time to ship from Nantong to the UK is from March to June. However, if you find that you cannot avoid shipping over peak seasons, this is what you can do.

REQUIREMENTS

Import Requirements

How Can I Control Costs and Shipping Time from Nantong to the UK

When shipping from Nantong to the UK, it’s best to plan so that you keep costs under control. A few weeks can make a huge difference in your shipping experience, especially during peak seasons.

Sea freight is the most affordable, but it also takes the longest time. Therefore, if you want to take advantage of the affordable rates of maritime shipping, you need to book in advance. Having a leeway of a few days in case of any delays will make the shipping process much less stressful.

You also want to avoid shipping during peak season if you can help it. Prices and transit times spike during the Chinese new year and other holidays, so ship during off-peak seasons whenever you can. Before you begin shipping, do your research in advance, know your HS codes and get your documentation in order. Your freight forwarder will have an easier time getting your goods into the country if you avail all documents in good time. HS codes will show you the customs fees and processes involved in shipping cargo from Nantong to the UK, and you cannot budget effectively without them.

Your Forwarder Can Help You beat Peak Season Chaos

Your freight forwarder can help you sail smoothly through peak season. To beat the price and transit times spike during peak season, you need to decide which of your cargo needs to get to you first. If you are a clothing outlet importing clothing over October to sell during Christmas, what do you need on your shelves? Shipments often get delayed during peak season and one of the major reasons is container rollover. If the vessel transporting your FCL or LCL shipment is at overcapacity, the container has to be accommodated in another ship. To avoid having all of your inventory delayed, you should inform your freight forwarder which boxes or containers hold the most urgent goods. That way, they can protect the higher priority goods in case the shipment is rolled.

Choosing between FCL and LCL

Cargo size is the most important factor to consider when choosing between Full Container Load and Less than Container Load shipments. If your cargo is not large enough to fill a full 20ft or 40ft shipping container, LCL is for you. Your cargo will be shipped along with other goods in the same container, and you will pay for the space occupied (cbm). If your cargo is large enough to fill a full container, then you will pay a flat rate for shipping a full container. Even if your cargo cannot fill an entire container, once it hits a certain volume, it’s better to pay a slightly higher price for a full container. You will enjoy faster transit times and higher security.

Express Freight

If you have fragile or urgent cargo our European courier services for express delivery will transport your shipment fast, safe and secure.

Road Freight

With daily road freight services to and from Europe, we are your premier road freight carrier for full loads, part loads and economy groupage.

Sea Freight

Shipping to hundreds of ports worldwide, we are a leading freight forwarder for Asia, the Americas and other destinations closer to our headquarters.

Air Freight

We offer air freight services for time sensitive delivery of cargo worldwide, suitable for those with high value goods.

Next Day Delivery

If you need an urgent delivery to Europe, call us today and take advantage of our next day delivery service.

We are friendly, easy to work with, honest and we do not charge the earth.

Here at Barrington, we delight in providing you with a seamless cargo shipping experience, whether you are moving goods from Nantong to the UK. We provide an excellent courier and pallet forwarding service and partner with leading companies in the UK. We have an experienced team of experts ready to advise you on the most important aspects of shipping from China and other locations. You’re welcome to contact us to get a quote!

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 224 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Sam McGowan 
 17 August 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Fantastic Service. Lee organised a last minute pickup from Sweden back to England. The shipment was under Carnet. Very good professional service at a competitive rate! I will be using them again.
  
 
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   Louise Ponsford 
 13 August 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Excellent service from start to finish. Simon at Barrington Freight handled our crate of mechanical machine parts from the UK to Canada with exceptional care, keeping us informed throughout. His Canadian agent also arranged customs clearance, making the entire process straightforward and stress-free. Highly recommended.
  
 
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   Proydohi 
 6 August 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I would like to thank the entire Barrington Freight team for their professional work and assistance in organizing the shipment of my cargo to the UK. I will definitely use their services again. Highly recommended.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Mike Yeo 
 23 July 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The team at Barrington Freight were brilliant, leading us through the minefield that is exports to the EU.

Nothing was too much trouble and we received immediate answers to all our many questions.

We will definitely use them again and recomend them to anyone.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Courtney Freeman 
 22 June 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had a fantastic experience importing our goods from Florida and honestly couldn’t fault the service. The quote was quick and easy, booking was straightforward and everything was handled smoothly from start to finish.

As this was our first import we needed a bit of guidance along the way but Simon was brilliant. He took care of everything, kept us updated throughout and was always on hand to answer our questions. What seemed like a complicated process was made incredibly simple and stress free.

The customer service was excellent, communication was spot on and our shipment arrived without any issues. We wouldn’t hesitate to use them again and would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a reliable freight forwarder. Thanks again for making our first import such a positive experience!
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Katie r Smith 
 18 June 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Simon looked after our air freight import from China and provided an excellent service throughout. The shipment arrived safely and quicker than expected, with clear communication at every stage. We were very pleased with the experience and will definitely use Simon and his team at Barrington Freight again in the future.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Phil Holloway 
 18 June 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We needed to get a shipment out to the USA quickly and Simon made the whole process far easier than we expected. Communication was straightforward, we were kept updated throughout, and everything arrived on time without any issues. It's refreshing to deal with someone who knows exactly what they're doing and gets things done. We'd happily use Simon again for future air freight shipments.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   James Roberts 
 15 June 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Matt really looked after us and made our shipment completely stress free, I will be using the services of Barrington Freight for all my overseas shipments from now on. Thanks Matt, great service
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   General Enquiries 
 23 April 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We have had consistently excellent service from Barrington Freight. Our main contact, Joshua Armstrong, is always incredibly helpful and reliable. He goes above and beyond to ensure everything runs smoothly.

Communication is clear and prompt and any issues are handled quickly and efficiently. It's reassuring to know that everything is in safe hands from start to finish.

I would highly recommend Barrington Freight to anyone looking for dependable and professional logistics partner.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   George Dunster 
 10 April 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had a time-critical air freight shipment coming in from China to the UK and Simon was a huge help in getting it over the line.

Right before arrival, an issue came up due to a mistake from the airline, which could have turned into a real headache. Simon picked it up straight away, dealt with it quickly and managed to sort everything without any extra costs on our side.

Really solid support throughout and easy to deal with, especially given the urgency. Another great job by Barrington Freight - we’ll definitely be using them again!
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Euphoric Bedding 
 1 April 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Good service during a turbulent global shipping period. Special thanks goes to Lee for his efficiency and proactive updates and for rescheduling a delivery in less than 24hrs when the haulage company didn’t read their own paperwork and sent a lorry without the requested tail lift. Highly recommended.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   The Greens 
 5 March 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great communication, competitive and efficient delivery
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Shannon Sharp 
 4 March 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We’ve worked with Barringtons for the past two years, and the service has been excellent throughout. Every shipment has been handled with great care and real personal attention.

A special thanks to Simon, who has been outstanding—always professional, responsive, and a pleasure to work with. Highly recommended!
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Peter Aylmore 
 4 March 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Barringtons always have worked well for us . They are efficient with the import / export paperwork . Always answer very quickly with both quotations and any issues. prices always competitive , indeed recently saved our customer a considerable sum on an export job. Truly excellent service
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Paul Newby 
 4 March 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. As first time importers, we are very happy with the service Barrington provided. Sean guided us through the whole process and was very patient with our questions. We will be happy to use them again for future shipments