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SINO Shipping is the best choice you could make for your shipment from or Malaysia! Whether you need sea, air, or trucking services, don’t hesitate to hit that contact button right now!
Main Ports Malaysia
Port Klang (Kelang) : the largest port in Malaysia
Port Kelang, also known as Klang, Pklang, or Port Klang is the largest port of Malaysia. Obviously, traffic from/to this port accounts for the majority of the shipments we handle from China to Malaysia. This is the official port of Kuala Lumpur, and is connected to the main cities of the country by road and railway.
We also work closely with the main ports all over the country, such as Johor, Kuantan, Tanjung Pelepas, Bintulu…
By ensuring a full coverage nationwide, SINO Shipping is able to provide a logistic solution for every single request for import and export services from China to Malaysia.
TRANSIT TIMES
Transit times between China and Malaysia are generally around 8-14 days, depending on the port of loading, and the port of entry.
Here are some examples of transit times between the main cities of both countries:
Shanghai-Kuala Lumpur (Klang)à 12-14 days
Beijing-Penang à 9-11 days
Guangzhou-Johor à 8-10 days
Hong Kong-Kuala Lumpur (Klang) à 8-10 days
This might be the slowest freight mode, but it is at the same time one of the most cost-effective. Let’s have a closer look at the cost of this option.
SEA FREIGHT RATES
The first question you have to ask yourself is: “Am I looking to save money, or am I looking to save time?”
If you are looking to save time, you should definitely avoid sea freight when exporting from China to Malaysia, and have a closer look at air freight. But, if you are looking to save money, sea freight may be the best option.
Why?
Because while shipping at a low cost, sea cargo also offers the possibility to ship high volumes.
Obviously, SINO Shipping can offer the whole range of sea freight-related services: FCL, LCL, Bulk cargo, etc.
The total cost of your shipment will vary according to the services required. The price won’t be the same whether you just need a CFR shipment (freight service), DAP (delivery at place, or ‘door-to-door’ service), DAT (delivery at terminal), etc.
As mentioned before, at Sino Shipping, we are 100% committed to adapt our offer to your budget. To do so, we’ve decided to quote every single shipment individually, to provide an accurate and tailored offer to our customers.
Sea Freight: FCL/LCL, rates, insurance, … all you need to know!
FCL or LCL?
Sea Cargo is the most widely used type of freight. It is also the cheapest and most environmentally-friendly option in today’s transportation industry. It is a very good choice for any business or individual operating internationally and willing to opt for the most cost-effective logistics solution. You will have to choose between two main sea freight options if you choose to ship your goods by sea: FCL and LCL. Let’s see together how it works and how to choose between both alternatives.
SINO Malaysia offers both FCL and LCL services from and to Malaysia
FCL
First things first: FCL means Full Container Load. In other words, it means you won’t have to share a container with another customer.
Remark: FCL does not mean that you have to fill it entirely! You may want to fill it partially but still hire a full container in order not to ship your products alongside other customers’ goods.
Obviously, FCL is highly-recommended for high volumes, and for customers willing to have a greater control on their shipments. In fact, unlike LCL, there is no need to wait for the container to be fully loaded before departure: You can get it shipped whenever you want.
SINO Malaysia is proud to offer weekly departures to the largest ports around the world, offering two standard types of FCL: FCL 20”, and FCL 40”.
20” Dry Container VS. 40” Dry Container
A 20” Dry Container can contain up to 33 CBM, and a 40” has an internal maximum capacity of 66 CBM.
LCL
If the volume of your shipment is not sufficient to fill a whole container, you can share the space with other customers in order to benefit from a more cost-effective solution. This type of shared container is called LCL (Less than a container load). At destination, your goods will be sorted out from other customers’ goods and delivered to the agreed location.
Cons:
This option is a good way to save money if the volume you need to ship is not sufficient to use a full container. However, in the other hand, you will end up having much less control on your shipment. Why?
Because the carrier will arrange departure only when the container is fully loaded, which means that you depend on other customers’ bookings too. This can cause some delays before departure, but also upon arrival, as the goods have to be sorted out.
As you can imagine, when sharing the container with other importers, there is no control over the nature and packaging of the products in the container.
Your goods have to be packed carefully, in order to travel in a container that could carry liquids, extremely heavy goods (which could spill or exert pressure on your products), chemical fumes, sharp objects, etc.
What is a good packaging?
- 5-layer cardboard boxes
- The use of standard pallets is recommended when shipping LCL, as it also allows a smoother process when sorting out, and an easier transportation process.
- An outer protective plastic layer is good to dampen the vibrations caused by a month of navigation between China and Europe and thus avoid any damage of the imported goods
Door-to-door vs. Door-to-port
Door-to-door: choose the peace of mind
We are proud to offer door-to-door services thanks to the strong network we have been able to build over the years. With this service, you can ship your goods or belongings to any destination in the world with full peace of mind. SINO Malaysia will take care of your shipment from A to Z, which means from the pick-up location of your choice, to your new house or warehouse.
We handle for you all the mandatory steps that have to be completed when shipping abroad:
- Packing
- Administrative documents (proforma invoice, valued packing list, Bill of Lading, import/export licenses…)
- Customs clearance
- Loading/unloading
- Final delivery
SINO Malaysia is truly committed to provide the best services to its customers. We work in full compliance with international standards. We can provide a logistics solution for any destination in the world, ensuring competitive rates and high-quality services.
When you choose a door-to-door service, you are choosing a hassle-free shipment, for which you don’t have to worry. You will be in permanent contact with your SINO advisor, who will always keep you on the loop about the status of your shipment.
Door-to-door in a nutshell:
- Time-saving: you don’t have to worry about customs clearances, documents, delivery, … Just stay focused on growing your business and SINO will securely handle everything.
- Full transparency: Door-to-door services allow you to avoid bad surprises: you have a clear idea of the total cost of the process, and you can make sure you will not end up paying much more taxes or any unknown additional costs. Simple, safe and easy!
- Hassle-free: Using door-to-door services takes the hassle out of shipping when completed professionally.
SINO Malaysia is truly dedicated to your satisfaction. For this reason, we provide tailored logistics solutions based on your budget, expectations, requirements, and needs.
Feel free to contact us at any time. One of our staff will find the best solution to match your needs for door-to-door services!
Door-to-port
The other option you have is to have your goods shipped from door-to-port. Once your cargo is released from customs clearance, you are responsible of the final step of the logistic chain. It is your responsibility to find the best option to get your goods to your warehouse/house. If you have a strong network in the country of destination, this option might me the most cost-effective and time-effective for you.
When choosing a door-to-port service, you gain greater control on your shipment. This control is due to a reduced number of actors involved in the logistic chain. You will be in direct contact with the customs broker. This greater control comes with a reduced risk of delays, unexpected events, and a better communication and transparency.
Note: Always remember to check which Incoterm applies to your shipment, and make sure the responsibilities are clearly defined since the very beginning of the process. This will save a lot of troubles and misunderstanding.
Whether you choose DAT (delivery at terminal – to-port) or DAP (delivery at place – to-door), please note that customs clearance has to be made by the importer.
No matter which option you choose, SINO Malaysia is here to assist you in the whole process and fully committed to ensure a successful shipment from door-to-door or door-to-port. Contact us now and get a quick and free quotation!
Understanding your sea freight quote
A sea freight quotation is made up of various costs. Each step of the logistic chain represents a cost, that will be included in the final quote that you will receive.
Here is a non-exhaustive list of the main charges, step-by-step:
- Pre-carriage: All the logistic operations that have to be done before the cargo being loaded. Here are some examples of the pre-carriage costs involved in the final quote:
- Packing
- Customs clearance
- Documentation charges: Export licenses (if any), certificate of origin, …
- And much more
- Carriage: This is the process during which the cargo is being shipped from the Port of Loading to the final destination port. Here are some examples of the carriage costs involved in the final quote:
- Ocean freight
- Terminal Handling Fee
- Export charges
- And much more
- On-carriage: any inland operations after the cargo reaches its final destination
- Customs clearance
- DTHC: Destination Terminal Handling Charge
- Unpacking
- Delivery (door-to-door)
- And much more
To these costs, some surcharges are sometimes applied. Here are some examples:
Peak Season Surcharge (PSS)
• General Rate Increase (GRI)
• Security charges (carrier, origin/destination)
- Inland Fuel Surcharge)
- Currency Adjustment Factor
• Chassis fee
• Port Congestion Fee
Thus, as you now understand, a sea freight quotation is not just made up of the freight rates and the potential delivery. Every shipment is different, and for that reason the rates will vary for every single request we receive. The price will depend on the volume you need to ship, on the level of services you require, on the destination, etc.
This is why SINO Malaysia decided to quote on a case-by-case basis, to ensure a maximum level of transparency. It allows you to accurately forecast the final costs of your shipment, and to avoid bad surprises!
Contact us now and receive a free quotation within 48 hours!
AIR FREIGHT FROM/TO MALAYSIA
As for sea freight, the first question to ask yourself is the same. If you are looking to save time, air freight is the best option for your business.
As for our sea freight to Malaysia services, we are proud to offer door to door or door to airport services, enabling you to benefit from a safe and secure air shipment from China. We provide high quality services for your export needs from Malaysia, ensuring a professional and efficient logistic solution.
Whenever time is the biggest concern, (e.g. if you need to get your goods delivered quickly to Malaysia for an exhibition or any important event), air shipment is the best solution. Whether you need a one-time urgent air service to Malaysia, or a regular traffic between both countries, Sino Shipping is there to provide a solution suited to your budget and expectations.
We understand the time sensitivity of some of the shipments we handle, and we do our best to provide the best cost-effective option to make it as smooth as possible for you and your business. Thanks to our strong experience as a China-based freight forwarder, our professional staff is able to bargain with the biggest airlines to get the best rates your air shipment.
Don’t waste time: contact your Sino advisor right now to receive a free quotation!
Main Airports Malaysia
Sino Shipping benefits from a strong network in Malaysia, enabling us to offer door-to-door services to any location within the country. We maintain a close collaboration with the largest Malaysian airports, as we are fully aware of the flexibility our clients deserve to benefit from.
Kuala Lumpur
KLIA is the largest and busiest airport of the country. Most of the air shipments we handle at Sino Shipping are headed to this airport. If you need to get your products delivered to downtown Kuala Lumpur, we have a solution for you too!
Langkawi
Langkawi is an international airport located in West Malaysia. We can arrange weekly shipments to this airport, with a direct flight from Guangzhou. The largest Asian companies, such as AirAsia or Malaysia Airlines have services for this aiports.
We are also used to arrange air shipments to the other main airports of the country: Kuching, Kota Kinabalu, Penang, etc. It all depends on your needs and expectations. Just keep in mind that Sino Shipping can offer a logistic solution in full compliance with your business needs.
Whether you require a door-to-airport or a door-to-door service, we’ll make sure to provide tailored services that suit your request.
Don’t wait any longer and contact us now, so that we can find together the most suitable logistic option
TRANSIT TIMES
Instead of giving an approximate transit times, we truly believe that providing decent information about the processes that have to be respected when shipping by air is better. Do you know which aspects affect air shipments? Do you have any idea of every step that has to be respected?
You probably have no idea of any of it, let’s have a closer look at it together.
Air freight transit time is far from being only flight durations. This is only one part of the process.
Here are the main steps of the logistic chain:
Step 1 – Gathering details about the shipment: type of cargo, weight, destination, service required…
Step 2 – Sino Shipping closes shipment with the airline company
Step 3 – Storage at warehouses prior to departure
Step 4 – Customs clearance
Step 5 – Cargo arrival and delivery services (if required)
Note: don’t lose track of your air shipment! We will provide a unique tracking number for your shipment, that will enable you to always be kept on the loop on the status of your parcel
AIR FREIGHT RATES FROM MALAYSIA
As you know, air freight is the most expensive freight mode. But do you know how rates are calculated when it comes to air shipments? Here is an explanation:
The rule is to multiply your parcel’s volume in CBM by 167 for air freight. As an example, you need to ship a box that have the following dimensions: W: 65, H: 45, L:35, the total volume is 0.102m3. If you multiply it by 167, the volumetric weight of your parcel is 17.09kgs.
If this weight is greater than the real weight of the parcel, the carrier will base its rate on this weight. You can use online chargeable weight calculators to ease the process, now that you know how it works.
Then, the price will obviously depend on the service you need. If you need a full door-to-door service, naturally the price will be higher than a regular door-to-airport service. As for our sea freight services, we made the choice to quote every single air shipment individually, to be as accurate as possible based on our clients’ requests.
Feel free to contact us at any time to receive a detailed and free air freight quotation!
IMPORT GOODS TO MALAYSIA
CUSTOMS CLEARANCE MALAYSIA
Customs clearance
Every shipment which is imported into Malaysia has to undergo clearance processes, especially when crossing several countries. This is a key aspect of the whole process. Every single necessary document has to be carefully provided to the customs authorities, to make sure there is no troubles for the release of the shipment.
The following documents have to be provided to the Malaysian customs:
- Invoice
- Packing list
- Delivery letter
- Leaflet, catalogue or other related documents
- Insurance certificate, if insured
- Bill of lading
- Letter of credit (if used)
- Permit, licenses/ certificates
- Proof of fare payment
- A declaration form (Customs Form No. 1) that mentions the number, description of packages/ crates, value, weight, quantity and type of goods and country of origin
- Completed Custom forms should be submitted to Customs offices at the place where the goods are imported or exported.
- All duties/ custom taxes imposed on imported goods will need to be paid in advance before the goods can be released. Taxes to be paid include import tax and sales tax.
Not all products require a license though. However, having an overall understanding of Malaysia’s licensing requirements when importing within the country is vital to avoid troubles with customs. You can rely on our experience and expertise in handling customs procedures to ensure a prompt and quick release of your road shipment.
IMPORT DUTIES MALAYSIA
Tariffs and Taxes
Malaysia is aligned with the Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) for imported and exported goods coming from non-members states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). China is not part of the ASEAN, but there are still some FTAs between both countries (China-ASEAN Framework Agreement), facilitating business transactions.
Import Tariffs and Taxes
Malaysia’s tariff rates range from 0 to 50%, applying ad valorem rates. Nevertheless, the average duty paid for imported industrial goods is 6.1%. Higher rates are applied for goods for which production already exists within the country, as well as ‘sinful’ goods such as pork and alcohol.
Reduced tariffs or tariff exemptions are applied for raw materials that are not easy to source within the country, and used for the manufacture of exported goods.
Malaysian has been applying a GST on imported goods of 6%.
Note: Malaysia recently decided to drop this 6% GST. From the 1st of June 2018, the country is supposed to charge a 0% for GST.
Export tariffs and taxes
Exported goods are subject to tariffs ranging from 0 to 10%, applying ad valorem rates.
Tariffs paid for exported goods which were sourced from imports are subject to a 90% refund.
Free Trade Agreements
The country signed seven different bilateral free trade agreements and six regional FTAs.
Malaysia has signed bilateral FTAs with the following countries :
Malaysia is a partner to the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement and a member of five regional FTAs through the ASEAN with:
- Australia;
- China;
- India;
- Japan; and
- Korea.
If you want to benefit from these FTAs, you have to provide a Preferential Certificate of Origin (PCO) for every shipment. To apply for a PCO, you have to go through Malaysia’s single window clearance, Dagang Net. Furthermore, the Malaysian government has built up a “Free Trade Agreement Calculator” to help companies and individuals find out if their products are subject to reduced tariffs.
GST
As said before, Malaysia decided to abolish the 6% GST which has been applied over the past few years. The government has to repeal the GST Act 2014 before this tax can be fully abolished. It is expected to be effective from the beginning of June 2018.
A 0% rate means that end-consumers will get more value for their money and this should encourage economic growth.
Companies will save a lot of time, as they won’t need to claim back the GST, and the consumers will end up paying less for the same service.
Through the various FTAs, tax exemptions, and GST abolishment, Malaysia is putting all its effort in encouraging business transactions, which makes it a strong business place in South-East Asia.
To learn more about taxes payable and tariffs, feel free to contact us now and benefit from our long-lasting experience and expertise!
RESTRICTED AND PROHIBITED ITEMS
PROHIBITED ITEMS
You cannot just ship any type of product to Malaysia. Here is a list of prohibited items, which means that any importations into Malaysia is totally forbidden:
- Knives and daggers
- Pens and pencils
- Goods that look like syringes
- Indecent or pornographic material of any description
- Counterfeit money
- Chemicals that are poisonous
- Cloth with prints or duplicates of verses from the Quran
- Radio receivers capable of reading the ranges (68-87) MHz and (108-174) MHz
- Anything that is unsuited with peace or is prejudicial to Malaysia’s interests
- Sodium arsenate
- Some forms of liquor
RESTRICTED ITEMS
Here is an illustrative list of the goods that require an import license to get into the country:
- Imitation or toy guns and firearms
- Imitations explosives
- Fireworks and other explosives
- Protection clothing (e.g. equipment against attack, as bullet proof vests)
- Motorcycle and other safety helmets
- Motor vehicles
- Home brewing equipment
- Radio communication equipment that operates at a lower frequency than 3000 GHz
- Arms and munitions
- Outdoor parabola antenna
Note: this is only an illustrative list, not a comprehensive one. If you are not 100% sure that your products will be accepted in Malaysia, contact us now.
EXCHANGE RATE
1 Malaysian Ringgit = 0,25 US Dollar / 1 USD = 4 MYR
1 Malaysian Ringgit = 0,21 Euro/ 1 Euro = 4,69 MYR
1 Malaysian Ringgit = 1,60 Yuan/ 1 Yuan = 0,62 MYR
COUNTRY ALERTS MALAYSIA
Malaysia is overall a safe country, in which you can exercise regular precautions. Nevertheless, in some areas, the risks are increased significantly. Here are the 3 main risks you should be aware of:
Kidnapping risk in Eastern Sabah
There is a high risk of kidnappings-for-ransom and violence from both terrorists and criminals. This kind of groups may operate randomly in tourist areas, islands, ferries with tourists, etc.
Pay particular attention in the eastern area of Sabah State where several similar situations occurred.
Other shipping services
Dry and Wet Bulk Cargo, Project Cargo
Bulk Cargoes
Bulk cargo shipments require a particular attention, as it can be quite challenging from a logistic point of view. Before considering shipping your goods through bulk cargo, you have to find a reliable freight forwarder to collaborate with. SINO Malaysia has built a strong expertise over the years and has handled numerous challenging bulk cargoes. Only few forwarders have the right skills to handle this kind of request, and this is why we are so proud to offer the best-quality services available on the market for this kind of shipments.
The whole process will be fully monitored by our experience staff, ensuring a constant follow-up. No matter how your request is tricky and challenging, our passion and dedication for customer satisfaction will make us reach the most-effective and tailored-made logistic solution.
Is bulk cargo way more expensive than containers shipping services?
SINO Malaysia is able to offer the best rates even for bulk cargo, benefiting from a strong negotiation power with the largest forwarders all over the world. We will make sure to provide the best rates for your shipment.
We can book vessels for any kind of commodity that you need to ship. Whether you are considering to ship crude oil, steel products, chemicals or whatever, SINO Malaysia has a solution for you!
Our staff has a strong experience in shipping all kind of commodities, cargo handling, port operations, requirements and every single aspect involved in the shipment of bulk cargoes all over the world.
Project Cargo
We can also handle all kinds of over-sized and heavy items, in Malaysia or internationally. Project cargo is all about finding solutions: decent planning is key. We will study the best routes, to ensure an efficient shipment and eliminate any potential risk.
A project cargo service is always challenging. It requires maximum security and careful attention. As Project Cargoes are usually too large to be shipped via traditional routes (small roads, tunnels, infrastructures not adapted…), SINO will carefully study alternative solutions to ensure a successful transportation process. We ensure a straight collaboration with the best partners and engineers to figure out how your shipment should be shipped, on a case-by-case basis.
For any specific requirement (40’HC, refrigerated containers, project cargo…) contact your SINO advisor now ! We will make sure to find a solution tailored to your needs.
CROSS BORDER TRUCKING MALAYSIA
We are proud to offer door-to-door trucking services from China to Malaysia. Cross-border road freight between China and Malaysia can be tricky due to the huge distance between both countries. Still, it can be a good logistic solution, especially if the departure location in China is situated in the Southern part of the country.
To do so, our team of professional and efficient truck drivers will have to cross Vietnam, Laos, Thailand before reaching Malaysia. If you are based in the Northern part of China, the rule of thumbs is that it will be cheaper to choose sea freight.
Road freight is a good alternative that will allow you to benefit from a good mix between speed and cheap prices.
As it can be a bit challenging to arrange, the best option is that you reach out to your SINO advisor in order to schedule together a road shipment and figure out the best routes.
We offer a full range of services for cross border trucking:
- Prompt customs clearance and paperwork assistance
- Full transparency of processes and routes
- Door-to-door services with constant tracking of your shipment
- Professional drivers
- Dedicated customer service
- Duty and taxes forecast
- We provide all the requested licenses if needed
We have been arranging this kind of shipments throughout South-East Asia over the past few years. We have been able to gain a strong expertise and experience, allowing us to offer high quality trucking services.
Contact us now! A Sino advisor will get back to you within 24 hours to plan it all!
Major cross-border routes in South-East Asia
TRANSIT TIMES
Despite the huge distance between China and Malaysia, transit times are still faster as compared to sea freight.
Here are some examples:
Hong Kong – Kuala Lumpur: 3-4 days
Guangzhou – Kuala Lumpur: 3-4 days
If you need to ship from cities like Beijing or Tianjin, transit times would be too long, equal to sea freight. In this case, ocean freight is recommended.
Anyway, it’s not easy to provide accurate transit times, as a lot of events may occur during the journey. Nevertheless, you can always be sure that the advisor who is personally in charge of your shipment will maintain a permanent contact with you trhroughout the whole process. This is what makes us so special: transparency, efficiency, and reliability.
ROAD FREIGHT RATES
A road freight quotation will be calculated based on several factors: distance, forecasted diesel amount, availability of trucks, type of cargo, possible surcharges, routes, etc.
Due to the huge amount of aspects to be considered before proposing an estimate, we kindly ask you to reach out to us for your road freight needs. The first step is to determine your needs, find the most cost-effective route, and figure out what kind of truck has to be hired. Once we have gathered enough information, we’ll be able to provide a price estimate for the cross-border trucking service.
Usually, road freight is always a good alternative to air freight and sea freight. Faster than sea freight, cheaper than air freight, road freight in ASEAN can be a good option if the distance to be covered and the goods to be transported offer the possibility to use this freight mode.
Terrorism
There is a current risk of terrorism in Malaysia, including in the capital city of KL, and other large cities.
In June 2016, the Islamic State took action through a grenade attack in a bar in Puchong, Kuala Lumpur. Eight people were injured. The group has threatened more attacks.
Piracy
Piracy happens against vessels around Malaysian borders, especially around Malacca and between Sabah and Philippines. Again, it’s important to pay attention and keep in mind that dangerous situations may occur in these areas.
Why Choose Sino Shipping for your shipment from to Malaysia? Because we are the #1 in ASIA !
