Guides for UK importers
Importing, explained calmly.
New to bringing containers in from China? Start here. Five short guides on how it works, what the words mean, what it really costs and what to do when plans change.
Your first container from China, step by step
The eight stages of a sea container from a Chinese factory to your UK door: roughly how long each takes, what happens, and what you do versus what Portside does.
Read the guide Glossary · 10 min read
Import jargon, explained
Plain-English meanings of the shipping and customs terms UK importers meet: bill of lading, ETD/ETA, FCL/LCL, Incoterms, free time, demurrage, detention, EORI, commodity codes, import VAT and more.
Read the guide Peace of mind · 7 min readWhat can go wrong, and what we do about it
The common hiccups when importing a container from China, why they happen, what they usually mean, what Portside does and what you can do. Calm, practical and in plain English.
Read the guide Landed cost · 7 min readThe real cost of importing a container
Every part of the landed cost of a container from China to the UK: goods, freight, insurance, duty, import VAT, port charges, customs clearance, haulage and demurrage risk, and how Portside shows cost per unit.
Read the guide Getting ready · 8 min readGetting set up to import into the UK
What a UK business needs before importing from China: a GB EORI number, commodity codes and the UK Trade Tariff, paying duty and import VAT, postponed VAT accounting, customs brokers, record keeping and product safety.
Read the guidePlain English
No jargon without an explanation, and no scare stories.
Checked against GOV.UK
UK rules link straight to the official pages, so you can check the detail.
Honest about timings
Typical ranges, not promises. Every shipment is a little different.
This is general guidance, not legal or tax advice. Rules change and every business is different, so check the linked GOV.UK pages or ask a customs broker or accountant about your own goods. UK rules last checked against GOV.UK on 25 September 2026.
You're not on your own. We chase it for you.
Portside chases your factory, forwarder and the port, and shows every container move through eight clear stages. If you're planning your first container, we're happy to talk it through.