From a Two-Person Desk to Ningbo's Trusted Freight Partner
BY-LINE was founded next to Beilun terminal with one mission: make freight forwarding from China transparent, reliable, and human. 15 years later, we ship 2,000+ containers a year — and still answer the phone ourselves.
How It Started
In 2009, two freight industry veterans set up a desk just 3 kilometres from the Beilun container terminal at Ningbo-Zhoushan Port — the busiest port in China. They had spent years watching importers get treated as an afterthought: delayed responses, hidden surcharges, paperwork that vanished into black holes. They knew there had to be a better way.
They founded BY-LINE with a simple promise: treat every shipment like it matters, because to the client it does. That first year they handled 87 shipments. Every single one was tracked personally, every document was double-checked, and every client could pick up the phone and reach a real person.
Word spread. Importers who had been bounced between impersonal brokers started coming to BY-LINE for straight answers and on-time delivery. The two-person desk became a team. The team became a company. And the company never lost sight of why it started.
15 Years of Steady Growth
Founded
BY-LINE launched with a 2-person team and 87 shipments in the first year, operating from a small office near Beilun terminal.
Team Grows to 5, Air Freight Added
Expanded the team to five members and introduced air freight services to meet growing demand for faster shipping options.
NVOCC Registered
Became a registered Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier, giving us the authority to issue our own bills of lading and negotiate directly with carriers.
Ningbo Warehouse Opened
Opened our own warehouse in Ningbo, enabling consolidated cargo handling, quality inspections, and flexible storage for clients.
FIATA Member
Joined the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations, affirming our commitment to global industry standards.
1,500 Shipments Per Year, DDP to NA & Europe
Reached 1,500 annual shipments and launched Delivered Duty Paid services to North America and Europe, handling the entire supply chain door-to-door.
95% On-Time During the Pandemic
While the global supply chain ground to a halt, BY-LINE maintained a 95% on-time delivery rate through proactive planning and strong carrier relationships.
Amazon FBA Delivery Launched
Added dedicated Amazon FBA delivery services, helping e-commerce sellers ship directly to Amazon fulfilment centres with full compliance.
2,000+ Shipments, 200+ Ports, 98% On-Time
Surpassed 2,000 annual shipments across 200+ ports worldwide with a 98% on-time delivery rate — our best year yet.
What We Believe
Freight forwarding is not just about moving boxes. It is about trust. When you hand over your cargo, you are trusting us with your timelines, your reputation, and your money. We take that seriously.
Accurate. We give you real transit times, real costs, and real options — not optimistic estimates designed to win a bid and then disappoint. If a route has risks, we tell you upfront.
Fast. Not "send you a quote in three business days" fast. We respond within 24 hours because we know that in international trade, delays cost money. Every hour counts.
Accountable. One team handles your shipment from inquiry to delivery. No hand-offs, no "that's not my department." If something goes wrong, you will hear it from us first — along with the solution.
Meet the Team
Alex
Senior Consultant & Co-Founder
15 years in international freight forwarding. Alex has personally managed thousands of shipments from Ningbo to every major port in the world. He built BY-LINE on the belief that importers deserve a forwarder who treats their cargo with the same care as their own.
Lina
Operations Manager
Joined BY-LINE in 2014 and now oversees all shipment operations. Lina ensures every container is tracked, every document is filed correctly, and every deadline is met. Clients consistently praise her attention to detail and calm problem-solving under pressure.
Why Importers Choose BY-LINE
Port-Side Location
Our office sits 3 km from Beilun terminal at Ningbo-Zhoushan Port. We can physically be at the dock within minutes — no remote coordination, no time-zone delays on critical decisions.
Guaranteed Space
Long-standing contracts with major carriers mean we secure container space even during peak season. When other forwarders are waiting for cancellations, your cargo is already loaded.
One Bilingual Team
Our team speaks fluent English and Mandarin. No translation layers, no miscommunication. You get clear answers in your language from the people actually handling your shipment.
Transparent Pricing
Every quote is line-by-line. No bundled surcharges, no mystery fees that appear after booking. What we quote is what you pay — and we explain every charge.
Dedicated Contact
You get one point of contact from inquiry to delivery. No call centres, no ticket numbers, no "let me transfer you." Your consultant knows your cargo and your history.
End-to-End Visibility
From factory pickup to final delivery, you know where your shipment is at every stage. We proactively update you — you should never have to chase us for a status report.
Certifications & Memberships
FIATA Member
Member of the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations — the global standard for freight forwarding professionalism and ethical practice.
NVOCC Registered
Registered Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier, authorised to issue house bills of lading and negotiate carrier rates on behalf of our clients.
Customs Registered Broker
Licensed by China Customs as a registered brokerage, enabling us to handle export declarations and clearance in-house with full compliance.
What Our Clients Say
"We have been working with BY-LINE for six years now, shipping over 400 containers from Ningbo to Genoa and Barcelona. They are consistent, honest, and proactive. When there is a problem — and in shipping there always is — they call us before we even know about it."
"We switched to BY-LINE after our previous forwarder lost critical paperwork twice. The difference was immediate. Every document was filed correctly from day one, and our customs clearance delays dropped to zero. They actually care about getting it right."
"We had an emergency — a production line in Hamburg was down and we needed spare parts air-freighted from Ningbo within 48 hours. BY-LINE had the cargo on a plane the same day and coordinated customs clearance at both ends. Unbelievable turnaround."