Hong Kong

Importing from Hong Kong to the UK

The Port of Hong Kong is one of the world's busiest and most efficient international container ports. It is strategically located on the south coast of China, between the Pearl River Delta and the South China Sea.

It serves several major factory districts and industrial zones within its extensive network.

The districts of Kwai Chung and Tsing Yi house 9 container terminals and are key locations for handling the bulk of Hong Kong's container throughput.

The extensive facilities here support a wide range of industries, including electronics, textiles, and machinery. Hong Kong Port also serves Tsuen Wan and Tuen Mun, two industrial districts that are known for manufacturing electronics, toys, and apparel.

What are FOB and EXW terms?

Businesses importing goods from Hong Kong to the UK should understand two key international trade terms that determine seller and buyer duties: 'Free on Board' (FOB) and 'Ex Works' (EXW).

FOB
With FOB shipping terms, the seller is responsible for delivering the goods to the nearest port and handling all associated costs and risks until the shipment is loaded onto the vessel. At that point, ownership transfers to the buyer, who must arrange and pay for import clearance, customs duties, and final transportation to the UK.

EXW
Under EXW terms, the seller simply makes the goods available at their premises in Fuzhou. The buyer takes full responsibility for export procedures, insurance coverage, loading of the goods, customs clearance, and all transportation and delivery costs to the final UK destination.

Sea Freight service options from Hong Kong to the UK

When importing goods to the UK from Hong Kong by sea, shippers have two main cargo shipping options:

Full Container Load (FCL) shipping, which involves filling a freight container exclusively with the shipper's goods for their sole use.
Less than Container Load (LCL) shipping allows shippers with partial container volumes to share space in the same container with other shippers' goods.

Do you need an export licence?

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce has classified exported goods into three categories:

approved goods that are automatically licensed;
restricted goods that require a licence;
forbidden goods.

Export licences issued by the Ministry contain information about the exporter, buyer, cargo, value, and transportation. Obtaining a licence is mandatory to export restricted items. Foreign trade companies (FTCs) in China exporting to their UK subsidiaries must also acquire an export licence. However, trading on FOB terms with a supplier eliminates the FTC's need for a licence.

Customs clearance documents for import needed