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Cosmetic and Household Liquid Air Freight from China to the USA, Door to Door DDP: 30 ml, 300 ml and Drum Channels
Shenzhen Bao'an Fuhai warehouseHong Kong / Korea to Los Angeles (LAX)UPS to 48 statesDDP — duty and clearance included
- Channel 1 · Tube, under 30 ml — US09-AKR
- Channel 2 · Can, under 300 ml — US09-BKR
- Channel 3 · Drum, over 300 ml — US09-CKR
- Four weight breaks: 21 / 71 / 101 / 501 kg
- ZIP-zone pricing for West, Central and East
- Volume decides the channel, not the product name
- Rates valid to 31 October 2026
The dividing line for liquid cosmetics is inner packaging volume, not whether the product is a liquid. The same shampoo, filled into a 30 ml travel bottle or a 4 litre drum, moves on two different channels at two different rates, and is packed differently as well.
The rates below cover mainland China origin, transfer through Korea, pickup at Los Angeles (LAX) and UPS delivery to a US address, in RMB per kilogram with export declaration, US import clearance and duty inside — DDP, Delivered Duty Paid. Channels split by the volume of the smallest commercial pack, and the rate steps up with it.
Three channels are priced here, from travel sizes through to bulk drums. What decides the channel is a measurement the factory already knows, which makes this one of the few cargo classes where a shipper can price a shipment accurately before asking anyone.
Three channels compared at 21 kg and above
The spread between channels comes from packaging volume and acceptance conditions, not from product value. Tube formats can be connected to passenger aircraft; drums need leak-proof crates and their pickup window stretches from 5–7 days to 7–9. Compare at the 21 kg break first, then read the full four-break table.
| Channel | Typical cargo | US West 21 kg+ | US Central 21 kg+ | US East 21 kg+ | Pickup | Minimum billed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cosmetic liquid US09-AKR | Disposables, sachet hair dye, shampoo, massage oil (under 30 ml) | 51.0 | 52.0 | 53.0 | 5–7 days | 21 kg |
| Household liquid US09-BKR | Chemical base liquids, additives, reagents, water-based coatings (under 300 ml) | 56.0 | 57.0 | 58.0 | 6–8 days | 21 kg |
| Bulk liquid US09-CKR | Drummed raw material, additives and coatings (over 300 ml) | 61.0 | 62.0 | 63.0 | 7–9 days | 21 kg |
The three rates differ by packaging volume and acceptance conditions. Travel sizes clear on the standard air path; drums need leak-proof repacking, and pickup stretches from 5–7 days to 7–9.
Why the same product can carry three different rates
Nothing about the liquid changes between a 30 ml bottle and a 4 litre drum. What changes is the packing instruction, the acceptance route and the handling cost, and the rate follows all three.
Small formats on the cheapest tier
Retail units under 30 ml are billed on the tube tier, which sits well under the drum rate. For cosmetics exported in many small SKUs and modest volumes, that spread is the difference between a workable landed cost and a marginal one.
Channel follows the pack, not the name
One shampoo formula in a 30 ml sachet and in a 4 litre drum uses two channels and two rates. Declaring on the actual pack avoids a supplementary charge when the warehouse measures it.
All three channels route through Korea
Liquid cosmetics are carried as dangerous goods or sensitive cargo with a fixed origin in Korea and pickup at Los Angeles, which is more predictable than hunting for a direct flight at short notice.
Duty already inside the rate
Export declaration, US clearance, duty and the UPS leg sit inside the per-kilogram rate. The receiver needs no US importer status and no customs bond of its own.
No delivery fee at FBA or commercial addresses
Charges appear only at residential and remote addresses, and they are listed line by line, so a quote can be built down to the item before booking.
A packing method for drums
Bulk liquid above 300 ml is packed in three layers — leak containment, shock absorption, moisture barrier — in MDF crates sized to 10–22 kg per piece.
How a cosmetic liquid is classified
The transport classification of a cosmetic liquid follows the formulation, not the marketing category. Alcohol-based hand sanitiser, perfume and solvent-based nail adhesive are declared as flammable liquids. Alcohol-free detergent, shampoo and body wash are usually non-hazardous and move as sensitive cargo. Two products on the same shelf can sit in different classes, and they cannot be declared together.
Cosmetics face a second layer of rules at the US border. The Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 (MoCRA) requires facilities that manufacture or process cosmetics for the US market to register with FDA and renew every two years, requires the responsible person named on the label to list each product on the market, and requires a US agent for foreign facilities. Registration and listing are filed through FDA Cosmetics Direct, and FDA issues no certificate. Freight does not check any of this; customs and the later retail channel do.
| Requirement | Whose obligation | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Facility registration | The manufacturing or processing facility | Cosmetics produced for the US market; renewed every two years |
| Product listing | The responsible person on the label | Every SKU on the market, within 120 days of first marketing |
| US agent | Foreign manufacturing facility | Required at registration for a non-US facility |
| Safety data sheet and letter of guarantee | The shipper | Verified before liquid cargo is accepted |
| Production licence and intact retail packaging | The shipper | Unlicensed or damaged goods are refused |
Channel 1: cosmetic liquids in tubes up to 30 ml
Disposable vapes, sachet hair dye, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, detergent, laundry pods, massage oil and non-flammable nail glue sit here. The test is whether liquid inside the smallest commercial pack exceeds 30 ml.
| Delivery area | ZIP zone | 21 kg+ | 71 kg+ | 101 kg+ | 501 kg+ | Pickup | UPS delivery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US West | ZIP 89xxx | 51 | 46 | 44 | 43.5 | 5–7 days | 1–3 days |
| US Central | ZIP 45/6/7xxx | 52 | 47 | 45 | 44.5 | 5–7 days | 3–4 days |
| US East | ZIP 0/1/2/3xxx | 53 | 48 | 46 | 45.5 | 5–7 days | 4–6 days |
Rates are in RMB per kilogram and include export declaration, US import clearance, duty and the UPS delivery leg. Surcharges are charged on top.
- Up to 30 ml of liquid in the smallest commercial pack; above that the shipment moves to US09-BKR or US09-CKR
- Cosmetics still need a safety data sheet, a UN38.3 report where a battery travels with the goods, and a letter of guarantee before receipt
- No delay compensation; where cargo is not picked up 9 business days after departure, the inspection sheet or air waybill number can be supplied
Channel 2: household liquids in cans up to 300 ml
Cargo carrying organic or inorganic base liquid, chemical additives, reagents, non-flammable adhesives, water-based coatings, alcohol-free pigment or dye, organic agricultural preparations and non-flammable paint uses this channel, with a ceiling of 300 ml of liquid in the smallest commercial pack.
| Delivery area | ZIP zone | 21 kg+ | 71 kg+ | 101 kg+ | 501 kg+ | Pickup | UPS delivery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US West | ZIP 89xxx | 56 | 51 | 49 | 48.5 | 6–8 days | 1–3 days |
| US Central | ZIP 45/6/7xxx | 57 | 52 | 50 | 49.5 | 6–8 days | 3–4 days |
| US East | ZIP 0/1/2/3xxx | 58 | 53 | 51 | 50.5 | 6–8 days | 4–6 days |
Rates are in RMB per kilogram and include export declaration, US import clearance, duty and the UPS delivery leg. Surcharges are charged on top.
- Up to 300 ml in the smallest commercial pack; above that the cargo goes to US09-CKR
- Alcohol and solvent formulations must show a flash point on the safety data sheet
- Same document set and acceptance check as channel 1, and no delay compensation
Channel 3: bulk liquids in drums above 300 ml
Drummed organic and inorganic raw material, additives, reagents, adhesives, water-based coatings, alcohol-free pigment and dye, organic agricultural preparations and non-flammable paint belong here. Packing requirements are stricter than the two channels above, with leak containment and repacking expected rather than optional.
| Delivery area | ZIP zone | 21 kg+ | 71 kg+ | 101 kg+ | 501 kg+ | Pickup | UPS delivery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US West | ZIP 89xxx | 61 | 56 | 54 | 53.5 | 7–9 days | 1–3 days |
| US Central | ZIP 45/6/7xxx | 62 | 57 | 55 | 54.5 | 7–9 days | 3–4 days |
| US East | ZIP 0/1/2/3xxx | 63 | 58 | 56 | 55.5 | 7–9 days | 4–6 days |
Rates are in RMB per kilogram and include export declaration, US import clearance, duty and the UPS delivery leg. Surcharges are charged on top.
- Accepts bulk liquid above 300 ml in the smallest commercial pack, provided leak-proof, shock-absorbing and moisture-barrier protection is in place
- MDF crates sized to 10–22 kg gross per piece are the practical unit
- Same document set and acceptance check as channel 1, and no delay compensation
Billed weight and minimum charge
All three channels bill on chargeable weight, the greater of actual and volumetric weight, with volumetric calculated as length × width × height in centimetres divided by 6,000. Liquid cargo tends to arrive in glass or plastic containers, so actual weight usually dominates — but drum cargo often flips the other way.
- The rate table starts at 21 kg; anything billing below 21 kg is charged as 21 kg
- A single piece reaching 21.85 kg triggers the overweight surcharge at RMB 215 per piece
- 10–22 kg per piece is the practical range, and drums split into that band travel more easily
- A single piece above 67.85 kg leaves the rate table and is quoted separately
Surcharges
Weight and dimension surcharges are calculated per piece and stack with each other. A single heavy carton is usually more expensive than the extra carton it should have been split into.
Weight and dimensions
| Condition | Surcharge |
|---|---|
| Single piece reaching 21.85 kg (volumetric within 29.85 kg) | +RMB 215 per piece |
| Single piece above 39.85 kg | +RMB 460 per piece |
| Single piece above 67.85 kg | Quoted separately |
| Longest side above 119 cm, second-longest above 75 cm, or girth 266–329 cm | +RMB 215 per piece, stacked with the overweight charge |
| Girth 330–415 cm | +RMB 425 per piece, with piece weight at or below 68 kg and length at or below 174 cm |
| Girth above 415 cm, weight above 68 kg, or length above 175 cm | Billed from 100 kg minimum, quoted separately |
Girth is the longest side plus twice the sum of the second-longest and the shortest side, in centimetres. Measuring the carton while it is still open is the cheapest way to apply this table.
Delivery coverage and remote-area charges
Delivery covers the 48 contiguous states. PO boxes, military addresses and offshore islands are not served, and ZIP 006–009 (Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands), 966–969 (Hawaii, Guam) and 995–999 (Alaska) sit outside the network. Paying does not open them; the alternatives are pickup at Los Angeles or a different transport mode.
Fulfilment centres and commercial addresses carry no delivery charge. Charges apply at residential and remote addresses only, decided by UPS zone data rather than by how the receiver describes the address, and a residential address that is also remote pays both.
| Address type | Charge |
|---|---|
| Amazon FBA and commercial addresses | No delivery surcharge |
| Residential address | +RMB 35 per piece, minimum RMB 350 per shipment; above 350 kg billed at RMB 1.0 per kg |
| FBA or commercial address, remote | RMB 25 per piece, RMB 30 for super-remote, minimum RMB 150 per shipment |
| Residential address, remote | RMB 35 per piece, RMB 45 for super-remote, minimum RMB 200 per shipment; charges stack |
| Extreme remote | RMB 95 per piece, minimum RMB 200 per shipment |
The delivery leg is UPS throughout. How a UPS service of its own prices and what it accepts is covered under air freight to the USA.
Documents and packaging before the cargo is accepted
Four things set the entry threshold for a liquid cosmetic: the safety data sheet, the UN38.3 report, the letter of guarantee and the production licence printed on the packaging. The first three decide whether it can fly; the fourth decides whether it can enter the warehouse at all.
- Safety data sheet — ingredients, flash point, boiling point and UN number all have to agree. Cosmetic formulas change often, and reusing an old sheet after a reformulation is a regular cause of refusal at the warehouse.
- UN38.3 test report — only where a lithium battery travels with the goods, such as a disposable vape or a battery massage device. A pure liquid does not need one.
- Letter of guarantee — the shipper confirms that the declared name and ingredients match the cargo. Declaring a solvent-based product as a cosmetic is a description mismatch and rests with the shipper.
- Production licence and intact commercial packaging — the number must appear on the pack and the pack must be undamaged. Unlicensed products and damaged packaging are refused.
Packing and marking
Bottles and drums fail differently. A bottle leaks at the closure; a drum leaks, crushes and tips over. The shared floor is a dry outer carton with no trace of product on it, because a stain is enough to have a pallet pulled for inspection.
- Sealing film over the closure and a second seal around the cap; liquid and absorbent material in the same carton
- Bottle volume matching the declaration — marked 30 ml but filled to 50 ml means the whole batch is re-classified
- Drums repacked into MDF crates at 10–22 kg gross per piece
- Outer cartons rigid and square; UN boxes and soft bags are not accepted
- For battery-bearing cosmetics such as disposable vapes and massage devices, confirm the battery capacity against the 95 Wh threshold first
Before the cut-off
The steps from receipt to cut-off are fixed, and doing them early removes most of what would otherwise be disputed. They apply as written.
Warehouse receipt, labelling and cut-off
- Chargeable weight is volumetric divided by 6,000, whichever is greater against actual weight. The weight break follows chargeable weight, not declared weight.
- After cut-off, returns, holds and address changes are refused.
- At least two valid FBA labels per carton plus a Made In China mark. Marks and labels are checked once, at receipt.
- No bill of lading data is released before the destination releases the cargo, including shipments with an open inspection.
- Inspection fees and night storage arising from the cargo or its declaration rest with the shipper.
- No delay compensation applies on any of the three channels. Where cargo is not picked up 9 business days after departure, the inspection sheet or air waybill number can be supplied.
Three changes on the US import side in 2026
The USD 800 de minimis allowance is gone
The low-value exemption was suspended on 29 August 2025 under Executive Order 14324 and extended by a further order on 20 February 2026, and CBP has suspended 19 U.S.C. §1321(a)(2)(C) indefinitely by regulation. Cosmetic samples and travel sizes now need an entry and pay duty, so splitting parcels to stay under the threshold no longer works.
MoCRA registration is being enforced
Facility registration and product listing under MoCRA have been enforceable since 1 July 2024, with registration renewed every two years from the original submission date. FDA does not check any of this at the airport, but customs and the retail channel do. Registration itself is free and FDA issues no certificate, so a supplier claiming an "FDA certificate" for a cosmetic is describing something that does not exist.
Why the DDP rate includes duty
Under DDP the carrier files the import entry and pays the duty, so the receiver pays nothing further and needs neither importer status nor a bond. The trade-off is that value and description must be truthful: under-declaration and a wrong description rest with the shipper.
What the transit time actually measures
Pickup time counts to the moment the cargo is handed to UPS; customs inspection is not inside it. Tube-packed cargo is 5–7 days to pickup at the US West, plus 1–3 business days for delivery. The can channel runs 6–8 days and the drum channel 7–9, with 4–6 business days at the far end for the East Coast.
Typical shipments
Four product shapes, split by packaging and formulation. Where a shipment does not fit, the cause is usually the alcohol content or the volume of one bottle, and the safety data sheet settles it before a channel is chosen.
Travel-size hair and body care
Travel shampoo, conditioner, body wash, massage oil and 30 ml sachet hair dye. RMB 51.0 per kg at 21 kg+ to the West, falling to RMB 43.5 at 501 kg+.
Cleaning and sanitising liquids
Alcohol gel hand sanitiser, disinfectant spray and detergent refill in packs up to 300 ml. From RMB 56.0 per kg to the West; an alcohol formulation needs a flash point on the safety data sheet.
Drummed base material and bulk liquid
4 L and 20 L drums of detergent base, water-based coating and industrial additive. From RMB 61.0 per kg to the West. Leak-proof repacking at 10–22 kg per piece is mandatory.
Disposable vapes
Declared on both attributes: the liquid part on the tube tier, the battery with a UN38.3 report. Sale of disposable vapes is restricted in several US states, and the import side of that has to be confirmed separately — the freight channel does not obtain licences.
Claims on the liquid channel
A claim starts either from a shipment that was never picked up, which begins with an FBA inventory check, or from cargo already with UPS, which begins with a carrier trace. The deadlines differ and the wrong route is returned.
How to file
- Where part of a shipment is not picked up or not signed for, check FBA inventory first, within 7–10 business days
- From business day 10, submit a screenshot of the FBA inventory showing the units are not received, with the real clock time visible on screen, and the claim can be opened
- Nothing is accepted beyond 20 business days
- Once UPS holds the cargo, the carrier trace window is 120 days and the result follows the carrier's reply
What is paid
| Situation | Settlement |
|---|---|
| Lost in transit, whole shipment never picked up by UPS | Declared value, capped at RMB 40 per kg, with freight refunded |
| Lost after handover to UPS | Freight not refunded; declared value under the UPS terms, capped at USD 100 per shipment |
| Carton or product damage, shortage, or natural disaster during delivery | Not compensated |
| Held by customs for 40 business days or more | Declared value, capped at RMB 40 per kg, with freight refunded |
Damage and shortage in transit are outside the settlement table, so high-value cargo should be insured separately. Leakage caused by inadequate packaging is a packing failure and is treated as such. Duty or seizure arising from under-declaration, a wrong description, anti-dumping exposure, missing certification or infringement rests with the shipper.
Customs seizure: a claim opens only after 40 business days from the seizure date. Seizures from under-declaration, a wrong description, anti-dumping, missing certification or infringement are excluded.
How the terms take effect: accepting the booking confirms the rate sheet and its notes.
Rate validity: 31 October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Can cosmetic liquids be flown to the USA?
Yes. Liquid cosmetics are accepted in three volume tiers — under 30 ml, under 300 ml and above 300 ml — each with its own channel. Products containing a flammable solvent are declared as dangerous goods, while alcohol-free detergent and shampoo can move as sensitive cargo.
How much does liquid air freight cost per kilogram?
Tube-packed goods under 30 ml are RMB 51.0 per kg at 21 kg+ to the US West, falling to RMB 43.5 at 501 kg+; to the East, RMB 53.0 at 21 kg+. The can channel runs RMB 48.5–58.0 and the drum channel RMB 53.5–63.0. All rates include declaration, duty and delivery.
Do shampoo and detergent need a safety data sheet?
Yes. Cosmetics and household liquids are verified against a safety data sheet, a UN38.3 report where a battery travels with the goods, and a letter of guarantee before receipt. A non-hazardous formulation still submits them; the conclusion is simply non-dangerous, which prices the cargo on the lower tier.
How are 30 ml and 300 ml defined?
By the actual liquid volume in the smallest commercial pack, not the carton total and not net weight. A unit marked below the limit but filled above it re-classifies the whole batch at the higher tier.
Can disposable vapes be shipped?
Yes, declared on both attributes — liquid on the tube tier and the battery with a UN38.3 report. Several US states restrict the sale of disposable vapes, and that side has to be confirmed separately; the freight channel does not obtain state licences.
Does a cosmetic need to be registered before shipping?
MoCRA requires facilities producing cosmetics for the US market to register with FDA and renew every two years, requires the responsible person on the label to list each product, and requires a US agent for foreign facilities. Freight does not check this, but customs and the retail channel do.
Can perfume use this channel?
Alcohol-based perfume is a Class 3 flammable liquid. In retail units up to 30 ml it can move on the tube tier; larger bottles are treated on the can or drum tier.
Can a 20 L drum of detergent base be shipped?
Yes, on US09-CKR. It needs three-layer protection — leak containment, shock absorption and moisture barrier — and MDF crates at 10–22 kg gross per piece. Any single pack above 300 ml is worth confirming once before dispatch.
How long does it take to reach the USA?
Tube-packed cargo is 5–7 days to pickup, the can channel 6–8 days and the drum channel 7–9 days, measured from landing at Los Angeles to handover to UPS and excluding inspection. UPS adds 1–6 business days depending on the zone.
How is leakage or breakage handled?
Carton or product damage and shortage during delivery are outside the settlement table. High-value cargo should be insured. Leakage from inadequate leak-proofing is a packing failure and is treated as one.
Can this be declared as general cargo?
No. A cosmetic containing a flammable solvent is dangerous goods and declaring it as general cargo is a false declaration. Alcohol-free detergent is non-hazardous but still sensitive cargo, and it moves on this channel regardless.
Can you deliver to a residential address?
Yes, at RMB 35 per piece with a RMB 350 minimum per shipment, or RMB 1.0 per kg above 350 kg. Remote charges stack on top: RMB 35 per piece for remote, RMB 45 for super-remote, minimum RMB 200 per shipment.
Do you deliver to Hawaii or Alaska?
No. ZIP 006–009, 966–969 and 995–999 are outside the delivery area, as are PO boxes and military addresses.
Does the rate include duty?
Yes. DDP covers export declaration, air freight, US import clearance and duty, and the UPS delivery leg. Surcharges come on top: overweight and oversize, residential and remote delivery, inspection fees and night storage.
Which warehouse receives the cargo?
Only our Shenzhen Bao'an Fuhai warehouse. Cargo received in Guangzhou, Quanzhou, Yiwu or Langfang carries an additional domestic transfer charge.
How long are these rates valid?
To 31 October 2026. A shipment crossing the month end is re-confirmed at the rate then in force.
Pricing a liquid cosmetic shipment to the USA?
Send the product volume of one retail unit, the alcohol content if any, the destination ZIP code and the monthly volume. We will confirm the tier, the rate and any surcharge within 24 hours.
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