The Bill of Lading is the single most important shipping document. It serves as: receipt of goods, contract of carriage, and document of title. Three main types: Original B/L (controllable — need signed copy to release cargo), Sea Waybill (non-negotiable — cargo releases automatically), and Telex Release (electronic — fastest but no physical document). Choose based on payment terms and trust level with the buyer. For L/C transactions, only Original B/L is acceptable.
Sea freight from China to major global destinations typically takes 25-35 days for the US West Coast, 35-45 days for the US East Coast, 30-40 days for Northern Europe, and 20-30 days for the Middle East. These are transit times only and don't include loading, unloading, or customs clearance. Always add 7-14 days to the transit time when quoting delivery dates to your customers. Buffer time is not waste — it's risk management.
Shipping insurance is often misunderstood. The standard 'all risks' clause in marine insurance actually excludes many common problems: insufficient packaging, inherent product defects, delay, and market loss. To be properly covered, you need specific clauses for your product and route. Work with an insurance broker who specializes in cargo insurance. The extra premium (typically 0.1-0.3% of cargo value) is worth it for the right coverage.