When can you ship?

发货 (fā huò) is the verb that marks the handoff — the moment goods leave the factory’s control and enter the logistics chain. 发 (fā) means “to send out” or “to dispatch”; 货 (huò) means “goods” or “cargo.” Together, 发货 is the action the supplier takes when your order is produced, packed, and handed over to a truck, forwarder, or courier. It’s the most common shipping-related verb in Chinese supplier communication, and it’s distinct from every other stage of the logistics chain.

The most useful follow-up to “when can you ship” is the pre-shipment checkpoint: 发货前拍一下照片和视频 (before shipping, take some photos and videos). This is standard practice in Chinese supplier-buyer relationships. You want visual confirmation of the finished goods before they leave the factory — once they’re shipped, quality issues become much harder to resolve. A good supplier will do this proactively. With a new supplier, insist on it. The phrase 先确认再发货 (confirm first, then ship) establishes the sequence clearly.

The verb 发货 covers everything from sending a single sample by SF Express to dispatching a full container load. For small shipments (samples, documents, small orders), 发快递 (fā kuài dì, send by courier) specifies the method. For larger shipments, 发物流 (fā wù liú, send by freight/logistics) or 发货柜 (fā huò guì, send by container) are more specific. And when you need the tracking number: 发货后把单号发我 (after shipping, send me the tracking number). The more specific you are about what you need and when, the smoother the handoff between factory floor and your receiving dock.