Typical ocean transit times from South China
- Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City) — 3 to 5 days
- Thailand (Bangkok) — 4 to 6 days
- Malaysia (Port Klang) — 4 to 6 days
- Singapore — 4 to 5 days
- Philippines (Manila) — 5 to 7 days
- Indonesia (Jakarta) — 7 to 10 days
Why total lead time is usually much longer than transit time
Ocean transit is often the shortest part of the whole timeline. Production typically runs 30 to 60 days depending on order complexity, pre-shipment inspection adds a few days, and destination customs clearance can add anywhere from one day to over a week depending on the port and paperwork.
A realistic total timeline
For a standard furniture order, a reasonable end-to-end estimate — from confirmed order to goods available at your warehouse — runs 8 to 14 weeks, with production time being the largest single variable you can influence by confirming specs early and avoiding late design changes.
Building in a buffer
Peak season delays, factory holiday shutdowns around Chinese New Year, and port congestion are the three most common causes of schedule slippage — worth checking against your target delivery date well before placing the order.