Import From China Business
A practical guide for starting a small business
2010-
Import from China
Sell on eBay
Sandra Kell
Ontario, Canada
Baby Products
Profit This Year: $10,400
“I started with $1,000 and began importing baby products from China. I sell them on eBay, Facebook and in my local stores. After 8 months, I am earning $400 a week. I finally quit my day job!”
Learn How
Shipping UK
Overview Shipping UK
Shipping UK and the logistics of international freight play an important role in the economy of UK. The bulk of UK's international freight is processed through the UK's ports. There are about 1,000 ports and terminals/wharfs in U.K. The top ten ports in UK control the bulk of the shipments in and out of the country.
The top ranking ports according to volume are: Humber, London, Tees and Hartlepool, Southampton, Forth, Milford Haven, Liverpool, Felixstowe, Dover and Sullom Voe. The majority of these ports are privately owned and operated.
Humber Port
- The Humber Port handles more cargo than any other port in UK. This port plays an integral part in the local economy. The energy sector relies heavily on the Humber Port as coal, natural gas and oil are transported in and out of here. As the country's leading port, the Humber Port receives significant investment from its operators, Able Humber Port.
Port of London
- The Port of London is located along the banks of the River Thames from London, England
to the North Sea. The port is operated by the Port of London Authority (PLA), a
public trust established in 1908. Port of London consists of over 70 terminals and
port facilities. Its location gives it proximity to UK's largest consumer market
in London. The port can handle cruise liners, ro-
ro (roll on roll off) ferries and cargo of all types. Items transported in and out of the Port of London include: timber, paper, vehicles, aggregates, crude oil, petroleum products, liquefied petroleum gas, coal, metals, grain and other dry and liquid bulk materials.
Port of Tees and Hartlepool
- Port of Tees and Hartlepool (Teesport) is owned and operated by PD Ports. The port is situated on the North East coast of England near the industrial Tees Valley. The Port of Tees and Hartlepool moves millions of tons of chemicals and steel every year.
Top Ports for Shipping UK
Port of Southhampton
- Port of Southampton is situated in the central part of the south coast of England. As a major passenger and cargo port, Southampton is a leading car handling port in UK. Its proximity to motorway and railroads make this port an attractive location for shipping UK and the distribution of goods. The port is naturally protected from the sea by the Isle of Wight. Port of Southhampton is owned and operated by Associated British Ports since 1982. The famous Titanic ventured out of this port until its disastrous cross Atlantic voyage.
Forth Port
- The Forth Port is situated on the east coast of Scotland and is operated by the Forth Ports plc. Vessels carrying cargoes such as timber, grain, sugar, textiles and coal have ventured in and out of this large port.
Port of Milford Haven
- Port of Milford Haven is a large natural deep sheltered harbor located in Pembrokeshire, West Wales. It is the largest port in Wales and is one of the largest ports in UK. Formerly a fishing port, the Port of Milford is now a dedicated oil port with three oil refineries nearby. It is also a passenger port and a roll on roll off port for vessels mainly travelling to and from Ireland. This is the port of one of Europe's worst oil disasters in 1996 where an oil tanker named the Sea Empress spilled 72,000 tons of crude oil into the sea.
Liverpool
- The Port of Liverpool covers an area of 2,000 acres with an enclosed 7.5 mile dock system. With over 4 million square feet of modern logistics facilities, this port is UK's largest importer of grain, the largest exporter of scrap metal and the leading timber port since the 13th century. The port of Liverpool is one of the major trading ports with Ireland and the eastern seaboard of North America. It handles a diverse group of goods ranging from animal feed, coal, cocoa, crude oil, edible oils, liquid chemicals and others.
Port of Felixstowe
- The Port of Felixstowe, UK's busiest container port is located in Felixstowe, Suffolk. It is responsible for moving a third of the country's container cargo. The port is operated by the Hutchison Port Holdings Group. Port of Felixstowe is also one of the country's largest ports for RoRo freight traffic (roll on roll off vessels carrying wheeled cargo such as automobiles). The port continues to expand and receives further development even today with new berths and new technologies.
Port of Dover
- The history and origins of the Port of Dover can be traced back to Roman times to
the days of Julius Caesar. The Port of Dover is the cross-
channel port situated in Dover, southeast England. Being only 34 km (21 miles) away from France, the Port of Dover is one of Europe's largest passenger ports. The Dover Harbour Board is responsible operating the harbour at Dover. In addition to cargo, the port transports over 14 million passengers per year.
The Port of Sullom Voe
- The Port of Sullom Voe is a major deep water harbour in the Shetland Islands at most
northern part of United Kingdom. The discovery of oil in the 1970's in the North
Sea led to the growth and development of this port. Europe's largest oil refinery
is situated in Sullom Voe with the local port facilitating the shipping in and out
of U.K.
Crude oil is transferred through an underwater pipeline from the oil fields located about 100 miles (160 km) northeast of the Shetland Islands in the North Sea to the onshore pipeline terminal at Sullom Voe. Large oil tankers are loaded and shipping UK is conducted from here. The Port of Sullom Voe is owned and operated by Shetland Islands Council as Harbour Authority. In addition to liquid bulk cargo, the port handles quarried rock and general, dry, bulk, RoRo (roll on roll off vessels carrying wheeled cargo such as automobiles) and containerized cargo.
International trade and exploration by UK's ships have been part of UK's identity for centuries. The key ports of UK continue to provide opportunities for the importer and exporters of today. They provide access to one of Europe's largest consumer markets.