Ship from China to Japan

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China and Japan are major trading partners, with substantial bilateral trade volume. Both countries engage in the exchange of goods and services across various sectors, including electronics, automobiles, machinery, chemicals, and consumer goods. China and Japan have complementary economies, with Japan possessing advanced technology and expertise in manufacturing, while China offers a vast market, low-cost labor, and a growing middle class. This complementarity has facilitated cooperation in various industries, such as electronics, automotive manufacturing, and infrastructure development.

E-commerce Environment in Japan

As the third economy in the world, Japan has the fourth e-commerce market worldwide.

Online retail sales reached $115 billion in 2020, but online retail only accounts for 10% of total retail sales in Japan, so there is plenty of room to grow.

According to Global Data, the e-commerce industry in Japan has been able to maintain positive growth during the pandemic, and it will also maintain a compound annual growth rate of about 5.2% over the next four years, reaching 27.4 trillion yen ($237.8 billion) by 2026.

Therefore, the future potential of the e-commerce market in Japan is very large.

Rakuten, Yahoo Japan, and Amazon are at the forefront of the surge in the Japanese e-commerce industry, each achieving sales of over one trillion Japanese yen.

By diversifying their product and service offerings beyond just B2C commerce, these three giants have managed to captivate over 40% of online users.

This diversification includes services like Rakuten's online banking, Amazon's video streaming, and Yahoo's auctioning platform.

Main Shipping Methods from China to Japan

Air Freight

Air freight plays a pivotal role in shipping goods from China to Japan.

Given the geographical proximity of the two nations, air freight offers a speedy and efficient means to deliver products, often taking only a few hours compared to sea transport which might take days.

This quick turnaround time is crucial in the fast-paced e-commerce landscape, where consumer expectations for swift deliveries are consistently high.

Moreover, with Japan being an island nation, air transport provides a direct route to various cities, minimizing potential logistical hiccups and facilitating smoother, more predictable deliveries.

This becomes especially valuable for time-sensitive goods, perishable items, or during peak shopping seasons when rapid order fulfillment can give e-commerce businesses a competitive edge.

Sea Freight

Shipping goods from China to Japan frequently employs sea freight due to its cost-effectiveness and the relatively short journey across the East China Sea.

Particularly for sizable or non-urgent consignments, it provides a more economical option.

This translates to more competitive product pricing, an edge in e-commerce.

The cargo capacity of sea freight surpasses that of air freight, suitable for extensive shipments or peak season stockpiling.

Technological progress in logistics ensures enhanced reliability and efficiency in sea freight, catering to e-commerce needs for cost, volume, and punctuality.

Tariff and Tax Policies in Japan

Please see tax and tarrif info refer to https://www.customs.go.jp/tariff/index.htm

Shipping Time from China to Japan

Express	10-12 hours
Air Freight	1-2days
Sea Freight	5-7 days

Documents to Prepare When Ship from China to Japan

Bill of Lading (A sea bill of lading is a document issued by a shipping company or its representative in exchange for receiving goods for shipment. If the bill of lading has been given as a receipt for RECEIVED FOR SHIPMENT, it indicates the goods’ receipt by the relevant shipping company, but it does not show the goods’ definite shipment. The bill of lading is called ON BOARD. And the bill of lading, called “AIR WAYBILL or AIR CONSIGNMENT NOTE” or “AIR FREIGHT NOTE,” is usually issued in 12 copies, 3 of which are commercially important and the rest copies are for the airline interior.)

Invoice (It is a document containing information about the goods or goods sold that the seller issues in the name of the buyer.)

Certificate of Origin (it is a document issued by the Chamber of Commerce of each country for export goods and issued for each export item. This document certifies the place (country) of manufacture of the goods, and it is part of the documents that the buyer needs to clear the goods through customs so that it will be sent to the buyer along with other documents in due time)

Packing List (the list of all items to be shipped)

Test or Inspection Certificate (it is issued by international investigation companies)

Insurance ( all items must be insured)

Not all of these are necessary in every case, and document requirements vary based on the shipping method. Staying well-informed about current regulations and consulting with your freight forwarder will help ensure you always have the proper documentation prepared for your shipment.

If you’re not sure what documents you need or feel lost when preparing your documents, contact us. We offer help preparing commercial invoices as well as import and export customs clearances for each shipment.