What is the TW Express Ship Service?
TW Express Shipping is an international shipping service that transports goods from China to Japan.
Although it is a sea freight service, it is characterized by relatively fast delivery times and is used by HubBuyer for the shipment of apparel, general merchandise and OEM products.
It is also used for
・Amazon FBA shipments, Rakuten RSL shipments and direct shipments to ZOZOTOWN making it a convenient shipping method for e-commerce businesses. Estimated delivery time is approximately 9 to 16 days.
Why I Decided to Try the TW Express Ferry This Time
The items we shipped this time were apparel products.
We considered using air freight but since it wasn't that urgent, we opted for TW Express Shipment after weighing the shipping costs.
When importing from China, the shipping cost has a significant impact on profits.
Especially for apparel and general merchandise, where individual item prices aren’t very high, minimizing shipping cost is crucial.
So this time, I decided to give it a try, partly to verify "how many days it actually takes for the shipment to arrive.”
Shipping Status in China
According to the tracking history,
the shipment was received on May 28; after being loaded into a container and clearing export customs, it departed from Shanghai on May 31.
It then arrived in Japan, cleared import customs and was handed over to the domestic delivery service.
Since I can check the delivery status in detail, it’s reassuring to be able to easily track exactly which stage the shipment is currently at.
Information on delays caused by the typhoon
During this shipment, a notice appeared stating that "Delays may occur due to the typhoon.”
In international logistics issues such as weather, port congestions, customs clearance status and other factors can cause delivery times to vary or be delayed. Due to this, it is not uncommon for estimated delivery dates to fluctuate slightly. Although such a notice was displayed this time, the shipment ultimately proceeded without any significant delays.
Domestic Shipping in Japan
After import clearance, the package was handed over to Sagawa Express and delivered within Japan.
According to the tracking information, the package was successfully delivered at 10:49 a.m. on June 10.
Domestic delivery after import approval went very smoothly and I was able to receive the package without any issues.
Actual delivery time
This shipment was delivered on May 28th
May 28: Package received
↓
June 10: Delivery completed
In other words, it took about 13 days to arrive.
Since the estimated delivery time for TW Express Ship is 9–16 days, this shipment can be considered to have gone almost as expected.
Moreover, since we were notified of a delivery delay due to a typhoon along the way, I feel that the delivery was quite fast considering the circumstances in which they arrived.
Benefits I Noticed While Actually Using It
There are three main benefits I noticed after using this service.
・The Fast Delivery For Sea Freight
I think many people imagine that standard sea freight takes several weeks to over a month. However, this time it arrived in about 13 days.
Of course, it doesn’t compare to air shipping but considering it’s sea freight, I felt the delivery speed was quite fast.
・Good Balance Between Cost And Shipping Time
Air shipping excels in terms of speed but it comes at a higher cost.
I found that TW Express Sea Freight offers a good balance between delivery time and shipping costs, making it a great fit for products where profit margins are a priority.
To check shipping rates, please click here: International Shipping Estimate Tool
・Tracking Shipment Is Easy
It’s reassuring to be able to check exactly what stage your package is at in the delivery process.
Since you can track the shipment from China all the way to delivery within Japan, I found it easy to estimate the expected arrival date.
The TW Express Ferry Service is recommended for people like this
After actually using the service, I felt it was particularly well-suited for the following types of people:
Those who import apparel
Those who handle OEM products
Those who sell general merchandise
Those who ship to Amazon FBA
Those who use Rakuten RSL
Those who want to ship products to ZOZOTOWN
Those who want to keep air freight costs down
Those for whom delivery in about two weeks is acceptable
Conversely, if you "absolutely need your shipment within a few days,”I think air freight is the better option.
Summary
In this post, I shared my experience using the HubBuyer's TW Express shipping service.
For this shipment, it took approximately 13 days from the time the package was received on May 28th to the day delivery was completed on June 10th.
Although we received a notification of a delivery delay due to a typhoon along the way, the delivery was completed without any major issues.
My impression after actually using the service was that "it’s fast enough for a sea shipment and offers a good balance between speed and shipping costs.”
*Please Note That delivery times may vary depending on the season, weather and customs clearance conditions, so we cannot guarantee the same delivery time as this instance.
I feel this is a strong option for those involved in imports from China or OEM manufacturing who prioritize a balance between shipping costs and delivery speed.
