10–23 days
China to Bishkek
from $1.8/kg
Consolidated cargo
from 10 kg
Minimum shipment
up to 30%
Saved by repacking
Apparel is the highest-volume category we ship. The cargo is light, bulky and seasonal, so three things decide the outcome: packing density, timing accuracy and the right customs scheme.
Rates and transit
| Route | Consolidated | Full truck | Transit |
|---|
| Guangzhou — Bishkek | from $1.8/kg | from $6,500 | 10–23 days |
| Yiwu — Bishkek | from $1.8/kg | from $6,500 | 10–23 days |
| Urumqi — Bishkek | from $1.2/kg | from $3,200 | 5–10 days |
| Guangzhou — Bishkek, by air | from $11.5/kg | — | 3–7 days |
How apparel is charged
Density of clothing in soft packaging is usually 100–150 kg/m³, in cartons 150–200. That is the borderline zone: the charge follows whichever is greater, so depending on packing you pay either for weight or for volume. This is exactly why repacking shows up so clearly on apparel.
A worked example. A batch of 300 pairs of shoes: 240 kg, 2.1 m³. By weight 240 × $1.8 = $432; by volume about $399. We take the greater — $432, which is $1.44 per pair. At a purchase price of $9 per pair, freight adds 16% to the landed cost. That is a normal figure for road.
The same batch by air would cost $2,760, or $9.2 per pair — more than the goods themselves. That is why apparel and footwear travel by road, and air is kept for samples and urgent top-ups.
Where the real savings are
- Vacuum packing and compression. For knitwear, down jackets and bedding, volume drops by 25–30% — and so does the bill when the cargo is charged on volume
- Dropping hangers and surplus cartons. Suppliers often ship a box inside a box
- Consolidation. Combining five suppliers into one shipment beats five parcels
- Urumqi instead of Guangzhou. If the supplier can ship there, the rate is lower and the transit is nearly halved
Seasonality: the expensive mistake
Apparel is seasonal, and being late costs more than the freight. A collection arriving at the end of its season sells at a discount — that is margin lost, not a shipping line item.
- Chinese New Year — late January or February. Factories stop for 2–3 weeks. Spring orders are placed in December and shipped before the holiday
- October and November — the peak before Singles Day and the winter season: truck space goes faster and rates rise
- Buffer rule. From the date you need the goods, subtract the longest transit on the route and add a week. In peak season, two
Brands and marking
Branded apparel does not travel as cargo — it requires rights holder documentation and an official import. That is not bureaucracy but risk: such cargo gets seized at the border.
For shipments into Russia, mandatory marking applies to most apparel categories. We apply the codes at the warehouse in China, before departure — cheaper than relabelling after import and it removes the penalty risk.
Shipping cost calculator
Enter the weight and volume of your cargo — we will show an indicative shipping cost.
Frequently asked questions
How much does apparel shipping from China cost?
From $1.8 per kg from Guangzhou and Yiwu, from $1.2 from Urumqi. A 240 kg batch works out at about $432.
How can I reduce the shipping cost?
Ask the supplier to pack tighter and order repacking at our warehouse. For knitwear and bulky items vacuum packing saves up to 30%.
Can branded clothing be shipped as cargo?
No. Branded apparel requires an official import with documentation from the rights holder.
Send us the weight, volume and pickup city on WhatsApp +996 700 11 1688 — we reply with a quote within an hour.
