Manufacturing Lead Times in China — Procurement Timeline Guide

Q: Typical Lead Times by Process

Learn more about typical lead times by process for your manufacturing sourcing needs in China.

Q: Shipping Times from China

Learn more about shipping times from china for your manufacturing sourcing needs in China.

Q: Total Procurement Timeline

Learn more about total procurement timeline for your manufacturing sourcing needs in China.

Understanding lead times is crucial for successful sourcing from China. This guide provides realistic timelines for each manufacturing stage.

Typical Lead Times by Process

Process	Tooling Lead Time	Sample Lead Time	Production (per order)
Injection Molding	20-40 days	7-14 days (T0/T1)	2-4 weeks
CNC Machining	N/A (CAM 1-3 days)	3-7 days	1-3 weeks
Die Casting	25-45 days	10-20 days	3-5 weeks
Sheet Metal	10-20 days (progressive die)	5-10 days	2-4 weeks
Metal Stamping	20-40 days (progressive)	10-15 days	2-4 weeks
3D Printing	N/A	1-5 days	3-10 days

Shipping Times from China

Sea freight: 20-35 days to US West Coast, 25-40 days to EU
Air freight: 3-7 days including customs clearance
Express (DHL/FedEx/UPS): 2-5 days door-to-door
Rail (to EU): 12-20 days (growing in popularity)

Total Procurement Timeline

Supplier sourcing & audit: 2-4 weeks
Quoting & negotiation: 1-2 weeks
Tooling (if needed): 3-6 weeks
Sample approval: 1-3 weeks
Production: 3-5 weeks
Shipping: 1-5 weeks

Total minimum: 10-12 weeks for new tooled parts. Repeat orders: 5-8 weeks.

Holiday Considerations

Chinese New Year (CNY) adds 3-6 weeks of delays (Jan-Feb). National Holiday (Oct 1-7) adds 1-2 weeks. Order before holidays to ensure production slots.

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