International Shipping — UK Wide Service

International shipping is where a business's supply chain meets border, customs, tax, and multi-carrier operational complexity. Every cross-border shipment has to be routed through the right transport mode, entered under the correct customs commodity code, priced against the right Incoterms, and cleared into the destination market with the paperwork the recipient's broker actually expects. Get any of those wrong and the shipment sits in a bonded warehouse, accrues demurrage, or arrives with an unexpected tax bill months later. T&C Logistics operates as a UK-side international shipping specialist — with our own road fleet for the UK leg, vetted airline and ocean partners for the international trunk, and customs brokerage for the border crossing.

Our international shipping customer mix reflects UK cross-border trade: small and mid-size UK exporters shipping into EU, US, and Chinese markets for the first time, e-commerce sellers with recurring cross-border marketplace fulfilment, established manufacturers coordinating imports of components and exports of finished goods, personal effects and household moves between the UK and Europe, and specialised categories including live plants, controlled goods, ATA carnet demonstration equipment, and works of art. Below is the operational detail: how UK↔EU shipping works post-Brexit, what the UK↔China lane looks like end-to-end, which Incoterms give you the cleanest handover, and how our SOP handles the customs-hold scenarios that trip up unwary shippers.

What Is International Shipping?

International shipping is the combined operation of transport, customs, and destination-country coordination that moves goods across a national border. Unlike UK-domestic shipping — where the only operational variables are collection, transit, and delivery — international shipping adds the customs layer at both origin and destination, the Incoterm agreement between shipper and consignee, currency and tax treatment, any preferential trade agreement claims, and destination-country compliance requirements (labelling, certification, permitted commodities).

T&C Logistics operates international shipping as a coordinated end-to-end service. Our own road fleet handles UK collection and delivery, our air and ocean freight partners handle the international trunk leg, and our vetted customs broker network handles the entries at both borders. The customer signs one contract, has one point of contact, and pays one landed cost — freight + customs + destination charges — with no surprise brokerage bills on arrival. The pricing framework is transparent because we quote every line item rather than hiding fees in a blended trunk-leg rate.

UK↔EU Shipping — Post-Brexit Reality

UK↔EU shipping since 1 January 2021 works under the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA). Goods that meet the TCA rules of origin are exempt from customs duty on both sides; goods that do not (typically because they were re-exported after non-EU manufacture, or because origin cannot be documented) attract full MFN tariff rates. VAT is generally due in the destination country at the local rate. The paperwork burden is real — every UK↔EU consignment now needs a full customs entry both sides, EORI numbers for both parties, and correct commodity codes.

We handle UK↔EU work as standard: our own road fleet runs multi-drop pallet loads across France, Benelux, Germany, and further into Poland and Czechia; ferry and Eurotunnel crossings are booked with the shipment; customs entries are prepared before the vehicle reaches the port so the border crossing is a document-check-only operation rather than a full physical inspection. For pallet consolidation into a single EU destination we book weekly groupages with vetted road partners.

Typical UK↔EU rates: £120-400 per pallet UK to France, Belgium, or Netherlands with next-day or two-day delivery. £150-500 per pallet UK to Germany or Poland. Full-truckload dedicated moves quoted per mile. Post-Brexit customs entries are included in the quoted price — no surprise brokerage charges. For UK-inbound from EU, HMRC CDS entry with correct commodity codes and any TCA preferential origin claim.

UK↔China Shipping — Full Corridor Detail

The UK↔China lane runs at roughly £100 billion of trade each way annually and is one of the most active corridors we handle. Three modes serve different urgency and volume points: air freight (24-48 hour flight plus 1-2 days end-to-end door-to-door, £4-8 per kg on major lanes), rail freight via the New Silk Road corridor (15-20 days transit, roughly one-third the cost of air), and sea freight (25-40 days transit at £800-2,500 per 20ft container FOB Chinese port to UK landed).

For UK importers from China we handle UK-side clearance via Felixstowe, Southampton, London Gateway, or Liverpool for sea freight; Heathrow, East Midlands, or Manchester for air freight; DIRFT (Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal) for rail. HMRC CDS entry with 10-digit commodity codes and correct declared value; VAT and duty settled by DAN account where applicable; and onward UK road delivery to your warehouse, retail estate, or 3PL fulfilment centre. For UK exporters to China we coordinate FCA/FOB/CIF Incoterms, complete Chinese Certification (CCC) documentation where required, arrange fumigation certificates for wooden pallets under ISPM 15, and liaise with the destination consignee's Chinese customs broker for smooth import clearance.

Common UK↔China scenarios: consolidated sea freight of consumer goods for a UK importer with monthly stock replenishment; urgent air freight of aerospace components between UK MRO and Chinese manufacturing sites; e-commerce cross-border fulfilment for UK Amazon or Tmall sellers into the opposite market; and pharmaceutical raw material imports from Chinese API suppliers on GDP-compliant airline programmes.

Incoterms 2020 — Practical Decision Framework

Incoterms 2020 define who pays for what and where the risk transfers between seller and buyer. The choice of Incoterm has more impact on the landed cost and operational responsibility than most first-time international shippers realise. The three we handle most often:

• EXW (Ex Works): the seller makes the goods available at their premises; the buyer arranges everything else — collection, export customs, international freight, import customs, destination delivery. Cheapest headline rate for the seller, highest hidden cost and operational risk for the buyer.
• FOB (Free on Board): the seller delivers the goods to the origin port, cleared for export; the buyer takes over from that point. Standard for sea freight buyers who have relationships with international carriers.
• DAP (Delivered at Place): the seller handles everything door-to-door except destination country import customs duty and VAT. Cleanest split for both parties in most B2B trade.
• DDP (Delivered Duty Paid): the seller handles everything including destination duty and VAT. Cleanest for the buyer, most expensive headline rate — but no surprise costs on arrival.
• CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight): the seller covers freight and insurance to the destination port; the buyer handles unloading and destination customs.

The two Incoterms that trip up first-time shippers: EXW where the buyer under-estimates the origin-country customs work, and CIP/CIF where the seller thinks they've bought "delivered" but actually the buyer takes on unloading and destination customs. We advise on the correct Incoterm during quoting — a strong forwarder saves customers money by picking the right split of responsibilities.

Customs, HMRC CDS & Documentation

UK customs entries run on the Customs Declaration Service (CDS), replacing the legacy CHIEF system. For every import we prepare the CDS declaration with correct commodity codes (10-digit tariff classifications), declared value, country of origin, and any preferential trade agreement claims. Standard UK trade preference claims we handle: UK-EU TCA (rules of origin required), UK-CPTPP (post-2024 membership), UK-Japan CEPA, UK-Australia FTA, UK-New Zealand FTA, and various developing-country preference schemes under the DCTS.

Standard export/import paperwork we handle: commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading or air waybill, certificate of origin (EUR.1, ATR, or generic), fumigation certificate (ISPM 15 for wood packaging), certificate of conformity where the destination requires it, and dangerous goods declaration for Class 1-9 hazardous cargo. Missing or incorrect commodity codes lead to physical inspection, delay, and — if HMRC decides the goods were mis-declared — retrospective duty bills up to three years later.

For hard-to-classify goods (novel products, controlled goods, high-value works of art) we obtain a Binding Tariff Information (BTI) ruling from HMRC before the shipment moves. This gives a legally binding commodity code that HMRC cannot subsequently challenge, removing the risk of retrospective duty adjustment. For dual-use and export-controlled goods we work with our vetted export licensing partners to obtain the required Department for Business and Trade licence before dispatch.

How Our International Service Works — SOP

Every international shipping job runs the same coordinated sequence. On booking, our team confirms cargo details, origin and destination addresses, required Incoterm, target transit time, and any regulatory paperwork the destination country needs. We quote both the direct freight cost and the true landed cost (freight + duty + VAT + destination charges) so you can compare like-for-like against other providers.

Pre-collection, we prepare all documentation — commercial invoice, packing list, customs entries, dangerous goods declaration where applicable, and any preferential trade agreement claim. Our own vehicle handles UK-side collection with GPS tracking visible to you throughout. For sea freight we book origin haulage to port, coordinate the loading paperwork, and lodge the customs entry. For air freight we book cargo space with the airline, generate the Air Waybill, and coordinate airline handler drop-off inside cut-off. For road freight our driver runs the vehicle from collection to delivery including any ferry or Eurotunnel booking.

Customs pre-clearance (where the destination allows) means the shipment can clear immediately on arrival rather than waiting for paperwork to catch up. If a shipment is held at customs — usually a documentation query rather than an issue with the goods — our customs team liaises directly with the officer, provides the additional information required, and typically resolves within 4-24 hours. In parallel we notify you with a status update and the expected release window — no silent delays.

Common International Shipping Scenarios

Our recurring international shipping bookings: (1) small UK exporter's first international shipment to a European or Chinese distributor, needing full Incoterms advice and documentation handling; (2) monthly consolidated pallet freight into France, Germany, or Netherlands for a UK retailer, with full customs paperwork included; (3) e-commerce cross-border fulfilment for UK Amazon or Etsy sellers into EU marketplaces (or the reverse for EU sellers into the UK), with returns handling and VAT compliance guidance; (4) pharmaceutical or specialised chemical imports from Asian suppliers under GDP-compliant handling.

Other scenarios: personal effects and household moves between the UK and Europe (typically 1-3 pallets in a Sprinter or Iveco Daily), ATA carnet demonstration equipment shipping for trade shows and exhibitions, ISPM 15 wood-packaging fumigation certificates for markets that require it, and specialised categories including works of art (with CITES documentation where applicable), controlled goods, and antique furniture with pre-1900 origin certification. For furniture-specific international moves see our furniture transport service.

UK & Global Coverage

UK-side collection and delivery covers every major city and industrial corridor with our own road fleet, including all major UK ports (Felixstowe, Southampton, London Gateway, Liverpool, Immingham, Grimsby, Portsmouth) and airports (Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Edinburgh, Birmingham, East Midlands). International reach:

• European Union: France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Czechia, Spain, Italy — road freight with post-Brexit customs handling.
• China: Shanghai (PVG), Shenzhen (SZX), Guangzhou (CAN), Hong Kong (HKG), Ningbo, Qingdao, Tianjin — air, sea, and rail via New Silk Road corridor.
• Southeast Asia: Singapore, Hong Kong transhipment, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City — air and sea freight.
• North America: JFK, LAX, Chicago, Toronto, Vancouver — air freight with vetted customs brokers at each hub.
• Middle East: Dubai (DXB), Doha, Riyadh — air freight with dedicated pharmaceutical and perishables handling programmes.
• Australia & New Zealand: Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland — air and sea freight under UK-Australia and UK-New Zealand FTA preferences.

Pricing & Booking

International shipping pricing depends on mode, distance, cargo characteristics, and urgency. Indicative rates on major lanes: UK↔EU pallet freight £120-500 per pallet with next-day or two-day delivery. Air freight ex-Heathrow £2-8 per kg with £150-300 minimum. Sea freight ex-China £800-2,500 per 20ft container, £80-150 per cubic metre LCL with 1 cbm minimum. Add customs entry and duty/VAT settlement at destination. For personal effects and household moves we quote per pallet or per volume.

To book: call +44 7963 400173 (6:00-17:00) or +44 7737 778964 (8:00-22:00), email contact@tclogistics.uk, or request an instant quote from the contact form. Give us origin and destination addresses, cargo dimensions and weight, target transit time, and the Incoterm — or ask us to advise. We confirm mode, price, and paperwork requirements within an hour for straightforward moves and within a business day for complex multi-modal or hazardous shipments. For multi-modal freight coordination detail see our freight forwarding service; for air-specific see our air freight service.