Europe is a large continent with 44 countries. The continent has many large ports and several shipping routes. Without experts and experience, it’s not easy to become an expert freight forwarder for shipping from China to Europe. Therefore, we have a dedicated wing to look after our clients from European countries.

If you are looking for shipping from China to Europe, you have landed on the right page. Here you will become familiar with shipping from China to Europe. We will discuss everything you should know before shipping to Europe from China.

When you are shipping from China to Europe you have complete freedom to choose the shipping method. You can use air, rail, or sea to ship to Europe. Very few countries in other countries have the flexibility that European countries have.

Every shipping method has its pros and cons. So, we can not tell any shipping method, particularly good or bad. Which shipping method is ideal for you depends entirely on your requirements. We will discuss every aspect of all shipping methods from China to Europe.

1.1. Sea freight  

Sea freight is the most used and cheapest shipping mode from China to Europe. Using ocean freight could be overwhelming for new shippers at first. But an experienced freight forwarder can make the entire shipping process very smooth.

Sea freight takes longer than any other shipping method from China to Europe. But most importers prefer this mode of shipping for the cost it offers. But it is better to know the options for sea freight shipping from China to Europe to make the right decision.

1.1.1. Full Container Load (FCL)

FCL shipping or Full container load is the cheapest shipping method from China to Europe. But that is not ‘cheapest’ for every importer. In FCL shipping, you have to hire an entire container. In other words, you will be forbidden to share your container with any other importer.

There are two types of containers – 40ft and 20ft. You can book one according to your requirement. So, FCL shipping is only ‘the cheapest’ if you are importing a huge amount of goods from China.

1.1.2. Less than Container Load (LCL)

In our opinion, LCL is the cheapest shipping method from China to Europe. In LCL shipping, you don’t hire an entire container. Instead, you have the freedom to pay for the space you will use. This is a very flexible option for most importers.

The process of LCL shipping is fairly easy. You will contact a freight forwarder and send them the details of your consignment. The freight forwarder then will determine how much space you will need and book the required space for you.

As you are only paying for the space you will use, you are not paying any extra money.

Know the difference between FCL and LCL shipping and costing from the below video

1.2. Air freight 

You can guess, this is the fastest shipping method from China to Europe. Air freight is involved in transporting a wide range of cargo from China to Europe. They are highly efficient and can ship your goods from China to Europe in real quick time.

Most European countries are well developed, and they have excellent air freight facilities in their airports. China is also equipped with highly efficient airports. But there is only one problem with air freight, and they are expensive.

If you are bringing a considerable amount of goods from China, air freight can be quite expensive. But if you are importing a small quantity and if TIME matters more than anything else in your business, you should pick air freight as your shipping companion.

1.3. Rail Freight

Rail freight is becoming more and more popular to ship from China to Europe these days. They are not as slow as sea freight, and the cost is not that high like air freight. Moreover, rail freight is highly efficient between China and Europe.

The high-tech rail transportation system between China and Europe is challenging both air and sea freight shipping. And there has been some quick development and new silk roads. This freight rail route goes from China through central Asia and finally Europe.

As a matter of fact, China is now connected with more than fifteen major cities in Europe by the new silk road network.

The rail network now covers nine countries all the way through London. Besides, there is another branch that goes to Madrid, Paris. Rail freight takes half the distance to deliver your goods from China.

Send us a message to get the best deal for rail freight from China to Europe.

2. Door To Door Shipping From China to Europe?

Door to door to shipping exactly means what the name suggests. In this shipping method, a freight forwarder will take the entire responsibility of shipping your goods from China to Europe. You will have to provide the supplier’s address and your address in the European city you live in.

The freight forwarder you contacted will receive your shipment from the supplier’s warehouse. They will bring your package to port and carry your consignment all the way to your desired city.

The freight forwarder will then receive the consignment at your city, arrange the inland transport and send the shipment to your warehouse. You will just unload your goods in your space.

Don’t worry about the documentation and customs duties, and taxes. Your freight forwarder will take care of everything.

Winsky freight provides the best door to door shipping service from China to Europe, and we offer the exclusive price, especially to our European clients.

With express shipping, you will receive your shipment from China faster than any other shipping method. There are many companies that are experts in express shipping services. Some of the top express shipping companies are DHL, FedEx, UPS, TNT.

You can use any express shipping company to ship your goods from China. But express shipping has some limitations. For example, for UPS Express, each carton size can’t be over 100cm,  and weight can’t be over 30KG, or it will create extra delivery fee or might can’t be shipped.

Express shipping is very expensive, but the bright side is getting your product in 2/3 days. This method is not ideal for general shipping purposes. If you have any small package or documentation from China, you can take express shipping service.

We have special contracts with almost every express shipping company and offer less price. So, if you have any small shipments, we can arrange express shipping for you.

When you are shipping from China to Europe, it is always better to know the exact shipping route that different shipping methods use.

4.1. Ocean shipping routes

When you know the sea shipping route, that will be helpful for you to determine which route to choose to ship to your country. Moreover, you can decide the port of loading and off-loading and manage your inland transport accordingly.

There are three routes for sea shipping from China to Europe. Off them, two routes are used by most carriers.

The northeastern Arctic is the first shipping route. This is the most significant shipping route between China and Europe. This route covers China’s eastern side, Russia’s northern part, and enters Europe via the Arctic Ocean.

The second most used sea shipping route is the southern route. This route covers China’s southern parts, passes through the Suez Canal, Indian Ocean before entering Western Europe.

Then comes the third sea shipping route, which is the Atlantic route. This route covers China’s southern side, passes through the Indian Ocean and the Cape of Good Hope. Then the route ends in Western Europe, passing through the Atlantic Ocean via West Africa.

4.2. Rail shipping Route

For rail shipping, there are two main shipping routes with many sub-routes.

The first route is the Southern route. This route starts from central China and passes through Kazakhstan and South Russia.

The second route is for the Northern region of Europe. This route goes through Siberia and covers Germany and Poland.

Industries like retail, automotive, industrial manufacturer, fashion, and technology mostly use rail routes. Germany is the largest market for those products, but surrounding countries also take advantage of rail shipping. Some of those countries are the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, France, Denmark, and sometimes all the way to Norway, UK, and Spain.

Shipping time from China to Europe depends on two factors. One is the shipping mode, and the second is the distance between the two cities.

On average, air freight takes three to five days to reach most countries in Europe. Some countries may need up to ten days to reach.

Sea freight takes around 35 to 60 days to reach Europe. Train freight takes 20 to 30 days to get to Europe.

This information can seem vague for some importers. Therefore, we have added a table for transit time from China to Europe.

Remember, transit time is the time required to travel your shipment from port to port. To calculate the time needed to receive your shipment, you have to add additional time for loading, unloading, customs clearance, etc.

Shipping cost from China to Europe depends on various factors. There is no magic number to give. But when you know the factors that affect the shipping costs from China to Europe, it will be easy for you to determine the cost.

6.1. Freight Forwarder Costs.

Do you need a freight forwarder for shipping from China to Europe? Well, technically, you can ship without taking help from a freight forwarder. But trust us, that will be a terrible idea. Freight forwarders and Customs brokers are two entities you will need to stay in the import-export business.

Freight forwarders are experts in goods handling, and they know which route will be best for you. Besides, prominent freight forwarders have an agreement with large carriers, and they get special prices from them. If you directly contact a carrier, they will charge more.

Another important thing is preparing the documentation. You can not import goods from China without proper documentation. A freight forwarder knows how to prepare them.

Lastly, customs brokers are agents who will pay your duties and taxes. You can not do that without a licensed customs broker. Many freight forwarders provide this service so that clients can get their shipments smoothly.

So, you should hire a freight forwarder to do all the jobs for you. A good freight forwarder will reduce your shipping cost by a great deal.

6.2. Insurance costs. 

Insurance covers any damage or loss of your consignment. This is not for having peace of mind but also ensures you can recover the damage in special cases. If you are bringing expansive or fragile products, we highly recommend getting insurance.

You can get insurance from a freight forwarder. Not all freight forwarders offer this service. In Winsky, we offer an excellent deal for insurance. You can also use a third party to obtain the insurance for your consignment.

 6.3. Customs duty.

This is another crucial factor that impacts the price of shipping from China to Europe. Customs is a complicated sector, and duties depend on many factors. It is always better to have some experts in dealing with your customs duties.

Custom duties are due in both the receiving country and the country of origin. Your freight forwarder will inform you how much duty you have to pay in China and the country you are importing to.

6.4. Local transportation costs. 

Most industries in China are strategically placed so that you can transport your consignment to any shipping area. But you have to hire an inland transport company to transport your goods to the desired port.

Picking up the product from the supplier’s warehouse is not a piece of cake. You will need expert manpower and machinery so that your consignment stays intact. Your freight forwarder can be your survivor here.

We pick up your shipment from your supplier’s warehouse, maintaining proper precautions. Moreover, you have to hire a local transport company to send your shipment from the port to your warehouse. International freight forwarders like Winsky have a connection with many local transportation companies in Europe and can help you deliver your goods at a low cost.

6.5. Shipping costs. 

Yes, you are right. This is the most vital factor that decides your shipping cost. Your shipping costs depend on two factors – mode of shipping and distance between two cities. As we have told you earlier, sea freight is the cheapest than come rail freight, and air freight is the most expensive shipping method.

After you decide on the shipping method, the distance between the two cities will determine the cost of shipping.

There is another factor which comes later, the type of your product. Every product doesn’t need the same treatment. For example, you can not ship food items and furniture in the same cargo. Your freight forwarder will be able to give you a good suggestion here.

6.6. Import duties and taxes.

You will have to pay import duties and taxes after your shipment arrives in your country. As we have said earlier, customs duty is a complicated thing. Different products are subjected to different customs charges.

After paying customs duties, you will have to pay the taxes. Another important factor is documentation. The Customs department won’t let your consignment go if they are not satisfied with the papers. Again, take the help of your freight forwarder for customs duties and taxes, and you will receive your consignment within 24 hours.

China is the largest exporter to Europe, exporting over 1 billion worth of goods every day! 70% of these exports happen by sea. There are over 1200 commercial seaports in Europe, and most of them are highly capable of loading and unloading a considerable amount of goods.

Here are some of the top seaports in Europe:

• Port of Rotterdam (Netherlands)
• Port of Antwerp (Belgium)
• Port of Hamburg (Germany)
• Port of Valencia (Spain)
• Port of Fos sur Mer (Marseille)
• Port of Le Havre (Le Havre)

There are some other famous seaports that we can mention, Amsterdam, Bremerhaven,Bilbao,Dunkirk,  Copenhagen, Gothenburg,  Helsinki, Gdynia, Tallinn, Kaliningrad, Odessa, etc.

Most European countries are economically advanced countries. Therefore, Europe is full of high-end Airports. Here are some of the top airports in Europe:

• Barcelona–El Prat Josep Tarradellas Airport
• Frankfurt International Airport
• Netherlands Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
• Aéroport de Paris Charles de Gaulle
• Heathrow Airport
• Aéroport de Bruxelles-National à Bruxelles-Zaventem
• Zurich Airport
• Malpensa Airport

Aéroport Adolfo-Suárez de Madrid-Barajas

Incoterms are a set of rules that define the responsibilities of suppliers and importers.  As an importer, you should know the incoterms to get the best deal. Here are some incoterms that are best for shipping from China to Europe:

• EXW – Ex Works is a term where the supplier has zero responsibility. They will just prepare your shipment, and the importer has to do everything related to shipping. This is a very good incoterm if you are well aware of international shipping or you have an efficient freight forwarder to help you.
• FOB – Free on board incoterm means the seller will deliver your shipment to the port. Moreover, the seller will take care of the customs clearance in the Chinese port. You will be responsible for the consignment after the cargo leaves the dock.
• DAT – Delivery at the terminal incoterm means the seller will be responsible for delivering the goods to the destination port. The buyer will take charge when the consignment arrives at the port. The buyer will pay the customs duty and inland transportation cost.
• DDP – This is similar to DAT. But in Delivery duty paid incoterm the seller is responsible for delivering the consignment at your doorstep. This means the seller will pay the customs duty and inland transportation costs.

CIF – Cost, Insurance, and Freight. In this incoterm, the seller will be liable for inland transport in China, Freight, customs cost in China, and insurance cost. But after reaching the shipment to the destination port, the buyer will be responsible for the rest.

When you are shipping from China to Europe, you have to follow certain rules. They are:

• You have to collect a registration certificate from your country’s authority before shipping from China to Europe. You have to submit the necessary documents to the authority and follow their instructions to achieve that certificate.
• You can not import forbidden items from China. Every country has a list of items you can not import from abroad. Contact the authority to know the list of prohibited products.

Different products have different import duties and taxes. You must pay the import tax accordingly. Your freight forwarder can assist you in finding the amount for the product you are importing.

Importing from China to Europe can be an exhausting process. If you are a new importer, this process will seem more difficult. Therefore, you should pick a freight forwarder who possesses sufficient knowledge of China and Europe’s import-export process.

We have been dealing with the European market for more than a decade, and we know every ins and outs. Our dedicated team always updates themselves to provide the best shipping experience to our clients.

From product pickup and delivery, from shipping to customs handling, we have separate experts. Moreover, we work with the best carriers in China to Europe to give our clients the best competitive rate.

We hope you have learned many things about shipping from China to Europe. Shipping can be a hectic job. Picking the wrong freight forwarder can make the shipping process more complicated.

We have no hidden charge and provide the best shipping service at the best competitive rate. That’s why Winsky freight has a huge reputation in the European market. If you want to know any specific information just send us a message.

If you are shipping from China to Europe, ask for a quote. Our dedicated expert will send you the best quotation quickly.