01
Official contract
We fix the scope, prices, timelines and each side’s responsibility. You deal with a company, not a “private trader”.
Air · Consolidated cargo · From 10 kg
Small cargo from China — from 10 kg
A small batch, samples or a box from 1688 — we find the optimal way to ship it to Thailand, Bali, the UAE or the CIS. A vetted cargo line with no markup, or a turnkey shipment with buyout and inspection.
10 kg+
minimum batch
5–10
days by air cargo
1–2 days
to quote your route
Honestly: we are a sourcing agent, not a cargo company
Dream View's core business is turnkey factory sourcing from China for B2B clients. But requests for small batches come in constantly, so small cargo has its own track: we either introduce you to a vetted cargo partner on your route for free, or take the shipment turnkey — with buyout, inspection at our warehouse in China and consolidation. No hidden markup on freight: you know in advance who carries your cargo and what it costs.
Ways to ship a small batch
ModeTime*Rate*When to choose
Air cargo5–10 daysfrom $6–12/kgUrgent, light and compact — samples, electronics, textiles
Road / consolidated (LTL)15–25 daysfrom $2–4/kgThe best price-to-speed balance for 20–500 kg
Sea consolidated (LCL)30–45 daysfrom $1–2/kgNot urgent, heavy and bulky — the cheapest per kg
*Indicative for Southeast Asia routes; depends on the route, volumetric weight and product category. Exact quote within 1–2 business days.
Who small cargo shipping is for
Small businesses in SE Asia
A café in Bali, a salon in Phuket, a showroom in Bangkok: consumables, uniforms, packaging, small equipment. Regular small batches where predictability matters — a tracking number, a firm timeline and a person you can actually message.
Sellers testing a niche
A trial batch before the big order: 20–100 kg to validate demand, quality and unit economics. We buy from the 1688 seller, inspect at the warehouse and ship — and when the niche takes off, we move your purchasing to the factory directly.
Private clients
Furniture for one room, a chandelier from a showroom, tableware, kids' goods — anything heavier than a suitcase but smaller than a container. We help buy it, check completeness and deliver to your door.
What makes up the shipping price
The "$/kg" rate is just the tip. The final price of a shipment depends on four factors — and those are exactly what we work on when finding the best option for your cargo.
01
01
Weight vs volume
Cargo lines bill whichever is greater: actual weight or volumetric (usually 1 m³ ≈ 167–200 kg). Light, bulky cargo — cushions, lampshades — "weighs" by volume, and that is the number one surprise for first-timers.
02
02
Product category
Ordinary goods travel at the base rate; electronics, liquids, cosmetics and branded items cost more or need special paperwork. Name the category honestly: both the rate and the passability depend on it.
03
03
Route and mode
Air costs 2–4× more than road; sea is the cheapest but slowest. On popular routes (China → Thailand, China → Bali) rates are lower and departures more frequent — consolidated cargo does not wait weeks for companions.
04
04
Packing and insurance
Dense packing reduces volumetric weight, crating protects fragile items, insurance costs 1–3% of the goods' value. On small batches these are single dollars that save hundreds.
Example: volumetric weight
A 0.3 m³ box of cushions weighs 15 kg — but the tariff is billed on the volumetric weight:
Actual weight15 kg
Volumetric weight55 kg
That is why we repack cargo denser whenever it lowers the tariff.
What to know before you ship
Some categories need special lines or cannot travel at all — better to find out at the quoting stage than when the batch is stuck at a warehouse in Guangzhou.
Batteries and electronics
Lithium batteries, power banks and devices containing them travel only on special lines — slower and pricier. Shipping them "as ordinary cargo" is not an option: the batch gets pulled off the flight.
Liquids, powders, cosmetics
These need dedicated lines and documents. Some categories (aerosols, alcohol) most cargo lines refuse altogether — we will warn you at the quoting stage, not after dispatch.
Branded goods
Brand replicas risk confiscation at any customs; originals need trademark documents. We will tell you honestly what can travel legally and what is not worth attempting.
Fragile without crating
Glass, ceramics and marble survive consolidated cargo only in a wooden crate. That is +$10–30 per shipment — nothing compared to the price of a shattered chandelier.
Two ways we handle small cargo
Free
We match you with a vetted cargo partner
If you only need delivery of goods you have already bought, we hand your cargo to a vetted carrier on your route: we request the rate, verify the terms and introduce you directly. You get a carrier we trust ourselves — with no markup from our side.
Turnkey
Buyout, inspection and dispatch of a small batch
If the goods still need to be found, bought from the seller, checked and shipped — we take the small batch turnkey for a flat service fee. We inspect the goods at our warehouse in China before dispatch, consolidate from several sellers and ship the optimal way.
How it works
01
Request
Describe the cargo: what we are shipping, weight and volume, from where (factory, market, 1688/Taobao) and to where. A photo and a product link are enough.
02
Route quote
Within 1–2 business days we come back with options: air, consolidated road or sea — with timelines and an indicative per-kg cost.
03
Dispatch
The cargo is consolidated at the warehouse in China, packed and shipped the chosen way. On request — photos of the cargo before dispatch.
04
Receiving
Tracking by number and local pickup or door delivery: Thailand, Indonesia (Bali), the UAE, Kazakhstan and other destinations.
Where we ship small cargo
TH
Thailand
Phuket, Bangkok, Samui, Pattaya. Our most frequent route: consolidated road 15–25 days, air 5–10. Local pickup or door delivery — islands included.
ID
Indonesia & Bali
Jakarta and Bali (Denpasar and the regencies). Indonesian customs is stricter than Thai, so we match the line to your product category — some categories travel by sea only.
AE
UAE, Kazakhstan, CIS
Dubai, Almaty, Astana and beyond. Air for the urgent, consolidated road and sea lines for the rest. We will help you pick the right price-to-speed balance for your cargo.
How you see your cargo at every stage
01
01
Intake at the warehouse
The cargo arrives at our consolidation warehouse in China: we weigh, measure and photograph it. You see the actual and volumetric weight before dispatch — the price will not "be confirmed later".
02
02
Tracking number and statuses
After dispatch you get a tracking number and see the key statuses: left the warehouse, at the border, ready for pickup. No "call tomorrow, we'll check".
03
03
Receiving
Pickup at destination or door delivery. If something goes wrong, we resolve it with the cargo partner — not you against an unfamiliar carrier.
Small cargo is most often a beginning: 20 kg of samples today, a container from the factory in six months. So we treat small shipments the same as big batches: an honest quote, clear statuses and a person who answers. When your volumes grow, you will already be working with a team that knows your product — and move to factory-direct sourcing without changing contractors.
Guarantees
Your money is protected
“I paid — and the goods never came” is the main fear of sourcing from China. Here is how we close it at every stage.
We’ll show you the contract and payment schedule on a free consultation.
Get a consultationSmall cargo — FAQ
What is the minimum weight for shipping from China?
Small cargo usually means a batch from 10–20 kg up to a few hundred kilograms. Cargo lines accept shipments from 10 kg (sometimes from 1 kg by air, at a higher per-kg rate). If your cargo is under 10 kg, an express courier (DHL, FedEx, EMS) is usually the better deal — we will tell you which fits your case.
How much does small cargo delivery from China cost?
Roughly: air cargo — from $6–12/kg (5–10 days), consolidated road — from $2–4/kg (15–25 days), sea — from $1–2/kg (30–45 days). The exact rate depends on the route, cargo density (volumetric weight) and product category. We quote precisely within 1–2 business days from a cargo description.
Will you deliver 20–50 kg to Bali or Thailand?
Yes — that is the typical job. For Thailand and Indonesia we work with vetted cargo partners who regularly move consolidated cargo from China to Bangkok, Phuket, Jakarta and Bali. We hand your cargo to a partner at a clear rate, or arrange a turnkey shipment if you also need buyout and inspection.
What is cargo shipping, and how are you different from a cargo company?
Cargo is consolidated shipping where the carrier handles transport and simplified customs formalities. Dream View is not a cargo company but a sourcing agent: our core business is factory sourcing, buyout and quality control for B2B clients. Small cargo we either hand to vetted cargo partners or ship turnkey together with the buyout — and we tell you honestly which option is better value for you.
Can you buy goods from 1688 or Taobao and ship them?
Yes. For small batches this is the most common scenario: you send links, we buy the goods, receive them at our warehouse in China, check completeness and condition, consolidate from several sellers if needed and ship the optimal way. We work for a flat service fee agreed before we start.
What is volumetric weight and why does it matter?
Cargo lines bill the greater of two weights: actual or volumetric (volume in cubic metres × 167–200 kg). A 15 kg box of cushions at 0.3 m³ "weighs" 50–60 kg for the tariff. Dense packing is therefore real savings: before dispatch we repack cargo whenever it reduces the volumetric weight.
How long can cargo sit at the consolidation warehouse?
Usually 2–4 weeks free of charge — enough to gather parcels from several sellers into one shipment. If some orders are delayed, the cargo waits for the rest at the warehouse instead of shipping half-empty. We will warn you in advance about paid storage and its terms.
Will you help return or replace goods if the seller sent the wrong thing?
Yes — when cargo goes turnkey through our warehouse, mismatches surface at intake: we check the goods against the order before dispatch and resolve the issue with the seller on the spot, while Chinese return mechanisms still work. That warehouse check is the single most valuable part of the service for 1688 and Taobao purchases.
How does payment work?
The rate is fixed after weighing and measuring at the warehouse in China — you confirm the amount before dispatch. Payment by a method agreed with you; for turnkey shipments with buyout it is staged: first the buyout, then delivery after the weight is confirmed.
Which goods cannot travel as ordinary cargo?
Dedicated lines are needed for lithium batteries and electronics containing them, liquids, powders and cosmetics. Brand replicas risk confiscation; aerosols and flammables most cargo lines refuse altogether. Name the goods honestly at the quoting stage — we will find a line that carries them legally, or warn you not to try.
What if my volumes grow?
For regular purchasing from $100,000 a year there is the core Dream View format: direct factory sourcing, factory prices, on-site AQL quality inspections and clean logistics with a fixed landed cost for a 10% fee. Many clients start small — the first 20 kg box often turns into regular containers.
