China
USA trade laneChina dominates global LED manufacturing, and lighting is one of the most consistent import categories on the Trans-Pacific lane: residential fixtures, commercial troffers and high bays, LED strips, grow lights, and smart lighting systems. Margins in lighting are made at the compliance layer — the difference between product that utilities rebate and marketplaces list, versus product that gets delisted.
AGF ships lighting from the Guangdong and Zhejiang manufacturing clusters weekly, with the FCC and energy-certification paperwork checked before loading rather than argued about after arrival.
How LED Lighting Ships from China to USA
Lighting is mixed-density cargo: bulky finished fixtures cube out 40HC containers, while drivers, strips, and retrofit lamps pack dense. Glass and diffuser components need edge protection; finished fixtures ship boxed with foam interiors.
Most programs run steady ocean replenishment with air freight reserved for project deadlines — commercial lighting is project-driven, and a construction schedule missing its fixtures is an expensive way to learn about buffer time.
- 40HC standard for fixture volume; LCL workable for project-specific orders
- Fragile diffusers and glass: verified packing at origin
- Project cargo timed to construction schedules with buffer for exams
- Smart-lighting SKUs with batteries follow battery documentation rules
What Drives the Cost
- Section 301 tariff status of lighting lines
- Fixture volume vs component density in your mix
- Certification scope (FCC, UL/ETL, DLC) already held vs needed
- Project deadlines forcing air freight
- Packaging quality for fragile components
HS Codes and Duty Notes
Classification guidance only — duty rates change and depend on your exact product. Our licensed customs brokers verify every code before you commit to an order.
| HS Code | Products | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 9405 | Luminaires and lighting fittings, including LED fixtures | The main lighting chapter — subheadings distinguish fixed, portable, and specialty lighting; base rates modest with Section 301 additions common. |
| 8539.5x | LED lamps (bulbs and retrofit modules) | Retrofit lamps classify separately from fixtures — mixed shipments need both lines. |
| 8504 | LED drivers and power supplies | Drivers shipped separately classify as power supplies with their own rate and compliance (DOE efficiency) profile. |
Regulations and Compliance
FCC (Part 15/18)
LED drivers and smart lighting emit RF and require FCC compliance — certification for connected/wireless products, SDoC for most others. Marketplace platforms increasingly demand the paperwork.
UL/ETL listing
Not a customs requirement, but a market one: electrical inspectors, insurers, and commercial buyers expect NRTL-listed fixtures. Confirm your factory's listings cover your exact SKU, not just a similar model.
DLC and Energy Star
Commercial buyers chase utility rebates that require DesignLights Consortium listing; residential retail favors Energy Star. These certifications drive what your product is worth — plan them with the factory before production.
Door-to-Door Import Service
From Zhongshan (China's lighting capital) or Ningbo to your warehouse or project site: consolidation, compliance-document verification, ocean or air freight, customs clearance, and delivery — including staged deliveries for construction projects through our warehouse.
Lighting distributors run standing programs with us: monthly containers, consistent classification, and landed-cost reporting per SKU.
Frequently Asked Questions
What certifications do LED lights need to enter the US?
How much does it cost to import LED lighting from China?
Can you handle lighting for a whole construction project?
LED Lighting is just one example. AGF ships whatever your business moves — on this lane and beyond. If your commodity isn't covered by one of our guides, tell us what you ship and we'll build the logistics around it.