What they do, and why most importers should use one.
A freight forwarder arranges the movement of your goods from China to your destination — booking sea or air freight, handling documents, and often customs clearance and last-mile delivery. For most importers a good forwarder is worth it: they manage the complexity and often secure better rates than you would get direct.
A forwarder is your logistics coordinator: they book space with carriers, prepare and check shipping documents, arrange insurance, handle or coordinate customs clearance, and manage last-mile delivery. Rather than dealing with carriers, ports and brokers separately, you deal with one party who moves the shipment end to end.
Almost always, if you are new to importing or shipping anything beyond a small parcel. A forwarder removes the parts most likely to go wrong — documentation, clearance and coordination — and their consolidated volume often beats the rates you could negotiate alone. Experienced importers with simple, repeat lanes sometimes go more direct.
Choose a forwarder experienced on the China-to-your-country lane and your cargo type, with clear, itemised quotes and responsive communication. Costs are the freight plus their handling and documentation fees; get an all-in quote to your door so it feeds cleanly into your landed cost.