Shipping & Delivery
1.5 million bottles leave our campus every month, through Ningbo and Shanghai. Lead times below are the ones written on your PI — not best-case estimates we adjust later.
Lead Times
The clock starts when the deposit is confirmed and the artwork is approved — both, not either. That is the date our production planner books against.
| Order Stage | Typical Duration | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| Sample development | 3–7 days | Existing mould: samples made and photographed for your approval before mass production |
| New tooling & mould | 15–25 days | For custom shapes or new capacities; tooling cost quoted separately, amortised on volume |
| Raw material procurement | 7–12 days | 304 stainless steel coil, coating and packaging purchased to your specification |
| Mass production | 20–30 days | Metalworking, robot spraying, assembly and in-process inspection across the line |
| Final QC & packing | 3–5 days | Laboratory verification, carton packing, container loading and photo report |
| Booking & departure | 3–7 days | Space booked with your forwarder or ours; documents issued after departure |
Peak-season advisory: production and vessel space tighten noticeably from August to mid-October and around Chinese New Year. If your programme lands in those windows, send the forecast 60 days ahead and we will reserve line capacity and space accordingly.
Shipping Options
We quote what fits your volume and your deadline. Transit times below run from port departure, not from the order date.
| Method | Best For | Transit Time | Typical Volume |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sea FCL | Full container orders — best unit cost | 25–35 days to US West Coast · 30–40 days to Europe | 1 × 20'GP or larger |
| Sea LCL | Smaller orders sharing container space | Adds 5–10 days for consolidation | From 1 CBM upward |
| China–Europe Rail | Europe-bound orders needing speed without air cost | 18–25 days to major European hubs | From 2 CBM upward |
| Air Freight | Launch deadlines, retail restock emergencies | 7–12 days door to door | Up to 2,000 pcs |
| Express Courier | Samples, approval units, small urgent batches | 3–7 days via DHL / FedEx / UPS | Up to 300 pcs |
Ports & Incoterms
Container Loading
Planning figures based on standard single-carton packing for our most common capacities. Exact counts are confirmed on the shipping plan for your model.
| Capacity | Carton Packing | 1 × 20'GP | 1 × 40'HQ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 350 ml sports bottle | 24 pcs / carton | ≈ 16,000–18,000 pcs | ≈ 40,000–44,000 pcs |
| 500 ml vacuum bottle | 24 pcs / carton | ≈ 13,000–15,000 pcs | ≈ 32,000–36,000 pcs |
| 600 ml tumbler / car mug | 20 pcs / carton | ≈ 11,000–13,000 pcs | ≈ 27,000–30,000 pcs |
| 750 ml handle mug | 16 pcs / carton | ≈ 9,000–10,500 pcs | ≈ 21,000–24,000 pcs |
| Mixed model container | By model ratio | Calculated to your model mix — send the ratio and we return a loading plan | |
Figures are planning estimates. Actual loading depends on carton dimensions, retail packaging thickness and whether inner boxes or display cartons are used. We issue a confirmed loading plan before booking, so there is no surprise at the port.
Packaging & Handling
Drinkware is a damage-prone category — dents and paint chipping in transit are the most common complaint in this industry. Our packing standard is built to remove that problem before it reaches your distribution centre.
Shipping FAQ
Yes. DDP and DAP terms are quoted case by case for direct-to-warehouse delivery. We need your delivery address, whether the site requires a lift-gate or has docking facilities, and whether the pallets must be palletised or can be floor-loaded. All of that affects the quote, so send it with the inquiry.
Regularly. FOB terms mean the forwarder is yours to choose. Give us their booking contact, and we coordinate the pickup, loading window and document set directly with them, copying you on everything so the chain of communication stays visible.
Split releases are normal for programme launches. We can ship an initial air-freight or LCL quantity for the launch date and release the balance by sea behind it. The premium on the air leg is quoted separately so you can decide whether the launch window justifies it.
Two layers of protection: individual protective sleeving on every unit, plus carton inserts and divider grids that stop units from contacting each other. Loading is supervised by our staff, and the container is filled to prevent load shifting at sea. Loading photographs are archived against your order number.
Yes, for repeat programmes with rolling call-offs. We can hold finished goods and release against your schedule, which lets you place a larger production order and take delivery in stages. Storage terms and duration are agreed in writing beforehand.
Tell us the destination port, target quantity and required arrival window. We'll return a landed cost and a shipping plan.