AliExpress‘ suppliers offer different shipping options, and sometimes it can be confusing which one you should use for your online business., since AliExpress shipping can go from 5 days to 1 month to shipping depending on the shipping method, and this will depend on 3 things: The shipping carrier, the shipping method and the shipping cost you choose.

What Carriers you can choose from?

AliExpress 

There are 2 options that AliExpress offers you

• AliExpress Standard Shipping: the delivery time is about 15 to 45 working days after the date of shipment of the item, and this usually offer for FREE, this is one of the most popular sways to ship since you can also track the parcel.
• AliExpress Premium Shipping, is faster from 7 to 15 days after, this is because the shipping they offer is by air. It is usually cheaper than DHL, UPS or FedEx, but the cost can go from $8 to $20 USD really depending on the size of your package.

Cainiao

Cainiao Super Economy or Cainiao Super Economy Global, this company belongs to Alibaba, and is they offer very cheap delivery fees, reason why man suppliers that market their shipping as FREE use Cainiao Super Economy,  the downside of this is that Cainiao Super Economy takes from 30-50 Days to Delivery and even thought you will get a tracking number, this cannot be track outside of China, you can only track this within in China, which might be a disadvantage for your customers outside of China.

Cainiao Super Economy For Special Goods & Cainiao Expedited Standard , the key difference is that Cainiao Super eConomy for Special Goods offer a faster shipping for goods that are less than $ 5 USD and the weight less than 2kg, Expedited Standards does not have this restriction and both offer you a tracking information. These two methods will take around 20-45 Days. Which is faster than the Super Economy and Economy Global.

China Post – ePacket

ePacket is the most use for Dropshippipers because of their cost and timing, the only thing is the restriction on value of the product and size of the package, your package cannot be more than 2KG, no more than 15 cubic cm  (Volumen) and it takes from 7 to 30 days depending on the cost you are willing to pay, this was not offer during COVID, but now that China has opened its borders you should consider this.

EMS

This is a company that belongs to China Post, and it has one of the best shipping times in the market, as it goes from 5–10 days and directly competes with DHL, UPS, FedEx. Your package can weight up to 40KG and you and your customer can have a full tracking information. Since EMS have a priority services for customs, this will take lest time and it will improve your delivery times.

International Carriers

DHL, FedEx, UPS, TNT

These are the fastest shipping methods, safe and reliable ways to ship your goods from China to your customers if you are doing end to end delivery, these companies offer 3-5 days delivery and if your suppliers ships from Hong Kong it would take even 2 days to the USA, however, this comes with a cost as they are the most expensive of all the shipping methods

Which one is the best for Dropshipping?

If you are offering a product that is small and low volume ePacket  or  Aliexpress Standard Shipping, are the best options for you as they are inexpensive and they have good delivery times. IF you are looking to have better delivery times and can’t pay as much as the international Carriers, then EMS should be the best option.

Based on what you just learned, now you know that the cheapest would be Cainiao Super Economy and the fastest would be any of the International Carriers. 

Tracking of your orders

Remember that you can track your orders directly on the AliExpress website under your orders section, or you can track using the tracking numbers the supplier provides for you.

Now that you know how to ship from AliExpress, and you are interested in knowing buying products from China, check my video on How to Import From China to the USA IN 2023 – The EASY Way!