Short answer
To ship art supplies efficiently from China, use flat-pack designs for easels and furniture, specify strong export cartons with drop testing, consolidate mixed items into one container, and choose an Incoterm such as FOB, CIF or DDP that matches how much of the logistics you want to manage.
Volume is the cost driver
Ocean freight is charged by volume for light goods, and easels are bulky. Designing easels to knock down flat can greatly reduce carton volume, which lowers freight per unit and allows more stock per container.
Export carton specification
- Double-wall (5-ply) corrugated master cartons for heavy items.
- Inner protection: corner guards, foam, honeycomb board or pulp trays.
- Gross weight per carton kept manageable for manual handling.
- Shipping marks, item numbers, quantity and carton numbering on two sides.
- Drop testing on the final packed carton before mass packing.
Incoterms in brief
| Term | Seller handles | Good when |
|---|---|---|
| EXW | Goods ready at factory | You have your own China logistics partner |
| FOB | Delivery onto the vessel at the Chinese port | You control ocean freight and insurance |
| CIF | Ocean freight and insurance to your port | You want simple port-to-port pricing |
| DDP | Delivery to your door, duties paid | You want a landed-cost price |
Mixing products in one container
Most buyers combine easels, brushes, canvas and paints into one shipment. We consolidate items from our production network, plan the loading order with heavy cartons at the bottom and provide a container loading plan and photos.
LCL, FCL, air and express
Small first orders and samples usually travel by express or air. Orders of a few cubic meters go LCL, and larger programs use 20 ft or 40 ft containers. Shanghai and Ningbo are the main export ports for our production.
Ready to plan a shipment? Send us your item list and destination for a freight-inclusive quotation.
Frequently asked questions
Which Incoterm is best for first-time importers?
Many first-time importers prefer CIF or DDP for simpler pricing, while experienced importers often choose FOB to control freight.
Can different art supplies be shipped in one container?
Yes. Easels, brushes, canvas and paints can be consolidated into one container with a planned loading order.
