Shenzhen to Tokyo FCL Resin Export
When production timelines are tied to Letter of Credit (LC) shipments, speed, accuracy, and proactive coordination are paramount.
This case details how GWT Shipping managed the urgent delivery of seven 20-foot containers of petrochemical resin from Shekou, Shenzhen, to Tokyo, Japan.
By implementing a rigorous, hands-on approach, we successfully navigated production bottlenecks and documentation hurdles to meet a critical LC deadline.
Situation & Client Context
Client: A Guangzhou-based trading company.
Contract: A time-sensitive Letter of Credit (LC) stipulating cargo must arrive in Tokyo by December 20.
Shipment: 7 x 20GP (20-foot General Purpose) containers of petrochemical resin.
Route: Shekou Port (Shenzhen), China to Tokyo, Japan.
Objective: Achieve 100% on-time delivery and flawless documentation to ensure LC compliance and prevent disruption to the Japanese production line.
Prior Pain Points: The client’s previous forwarders had a history of inconsistent vessel schedules, frequent Bill of Lading (B/L) amendments, customs declaration errors, and delays. This created significant risk for LC payments and production continuity.
The Challenges
GWT Shipping was brought in to manage this shipment with only 10 days remaining before the LC deadline, facing several immediate and critical challenges:
Extreme Time Constraint: With only 10 days from inquiry to the required arrival date, there was zero margin for error. Any delay in booking, production, or transit would result in a breached LC and halt the client’s production in Japan.
Production Bottleneck: The resin was manufactured but required two additional days for palletization. However, the factory was experiencing severe labor shortages due to COVID-related absenteeism, making it impossible for them to complete the pallet-building process in time.
Strict Documentation Rigor: LC shipments demand absolute precision. All documents—Commercial Invoice, Packing List, Bill of Lading, and Certificate of Origin (CO)—had to be prepared, verified, and issued flawlessly to prevent costly delays at Tokyo customs.
Communication & Routing Risk: Given the client’s past negative experiences, clear, proactive communication was essential. Furthermore, available vessel options from Shenzhen to Tokyo within this tight window were limited, making carrier reliability and space guarantees a primary concern.
GWT Shipping's Solution & Actions
Our team implemented a four-step, end-to-end plan to take control of the timeline and mitigate all identified risks.
Step 1: Schedule Optimization & Carrier Selection
Action: GWT’s operations team immediately analyzed the one-month schedule performance of all carriers on the Shenzhen-Tokyo route, evaluating reliability, transit time, and space availability.
Decision: We selected SITC, a carrier known for its stable schedules and fast 3-day transit time on this lane. We secured firm space and favorable rates.
Outcome: We booked the vessel sailing on December 14, locking in the timeline. This date became the critical deadline for all preceding steps.
Step 2: Production Coordination & Emergency Palletization
Action: We directly engaged the factory to confirm the production bottleneck.
Innovative Solution: Recognizing the factory’s labor shortage, GWT proposed an emergency solution. We arranged for the un-palletized cargo to be trucked to GWT’s own warehouse in Shekou. Our team then worked overnight to complete the entire palletization process.
Execution: Cargo was professionally palletized, stretch-wrapped, and labeled according to the client’s specifications. This ensured precise weight distribution and prepared the cargo for immediate loading, all while the factory’s operations were unaffected.
Step 3: Documentation, LC Compliance & Pre-Clearance
Action: GWT’s documentation team prepared the full set of LC-required documents in advance.
Coordination: We collected all necessary paperwork and pre-paid all carrier charges. This enabled the instant release of the Original B/L immediately after the vessel’s departure, saving critical days for the client’s bank negotiation.
Compliance: We meticulously verified the Certificate of Origin (CO) data to ensure the client could leverage potential tax exemptions in Japan, accelerating customs clearance in Tokyo.
Step 4: Real-Time Tracking & Proactive Communication
Action: GWT provided 24/7 monitoring of the shipment, from port gate-in to vessel departure and real-time ETA tracking. The client received frequent status updates and a pre-alert before arrival.
Coordination: We worked closely with the port terminal and carrier to ensure the containers were gated-in and loaded without issue, mitigating any risk of being rolled to the next vessel.
Results & Benefits
Our proactive, solution-oriented approach transformed a high-risk shipment into a major success for the client, delivering clear, measurable value.
On-Time Delivery & LC Compliance: All 7x20GP containers were loaded and shipped on December 14 as planned. The cargo arrived in Tokyo on December 17, a full 3 days ahead of the December 20 LC deadline, securing the client’s payment and supply chain.
Seamless Customs Clearance: The 3-day transit was successful. Most importantly, the Original B/L was issued to the client within 24 hours of the vessel’s departure. This allowed them to complete all customs formalities before the vessel arrived, enabling zero-delay cargo pickup.
Long-Term Partnership Won: Impressed by the execution, the client immediately transferred all their weekly shipments to GWT Shipping. We have since optimized their entire process, consistently achieving a 7-day end-to-end delivery time from factory to Tokyo.
Phần kết luận
This project demonstrates GWT Shipping’s capability to combine operational agility (like our emergency warehouse palletization) with deep LC compliance expertise.
This combination is critical for petrochemical and high-value exports where timing and documentation precision determine business continuity.
By transforming a high-risk shipment into a major success, GWT proved its value not just as a vendor, but as a designated logistics partner in China, managing the client’s ongoing sea and air freight with proven reliability.
Client Review
GWT’s precision and urgency saved our LC timeline. We now rely on them for all Japan-bound shipments.
— Our Trading Partner in Guangzhou
Founded in 2004, Shenzhen Guanwutong International Freight Forwarding Co., Ltd. (GWT) is a WCA- and AEO-certified global logistics provider offering end-to-end air, ocean, rail, express, and DDP solutions.
With bonded warehouses in Shenzhen, Dongguan, and Fuzhou, plus 24/7 customs brokerage and real-time tracking, we deliver reliable, compliant, and tailored freight services to 3000+ clients across 190+ countries.
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