How Much does it Cost to Ship from China to Germany


China and Germany have a strong and important trade relationship. Both countries are major players in the global economy and their trade relations have grown over the years. Germany is one of China’s largest trading partners within the EU, and China is Germany’s largest trading partner in the world. The trade volume between the two countries is large and involves a wide range of goods and services.

Germany exports a variety of products to China, including machinery, vehicles, electrical equipment, chemicals and pharmaceuticals. On the other hand, China exports electronic products, textiles, machinery and consumer goods to Germany.

Freight charges determine the cost of transporting goods from one location to another. The total cost is affected by the type of cargo, mode of transportation, volumetric weight of the cargo, and distance to destination.

Other factors also affect shipping costs from China to Germany, including location, size and shipping method: FCL by sea, LCL by sea, air or express.

What Are The Ways Of Shipping From China To Germany?

Shipping From China to Germany

Air freight from China to Germany

Freight plays a vital role in facilitating trade, connecting manufacturers, suppliers and consumers across borders. There are 3 modes of transportation for freight from China to Germany:

Air freight is faster than sea freight but is generally more expensive, making it suitable for urgent or high-value shipments. Major airports such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou in China and Frankfurt (FRA) and Munich (MUC) in Germany are commonly used for air cargo.

Air freight is a good option for last-minute shipments or time-sensitive shipments that require quick delivery. However, if cost is a consideration, you may want to consider shipping by sea or rail.

Air freight from China to GermanyAir freight from China to Germany

Sea freight from China to Germany

Sea freight is the most popular and cost-effective option for shipping goods between China and Germany. Container ships transport a variety of cargo and you can choose between Full Container Load (FCL) or Less than Container Load (LCL) options. The main ports involved in this route include Shanghai (CNSHA), Ningbo (CNNGB), and Shenzhen (CNSZX) in China, as well as Hamburg (DEHAM) and Bremerhaven (DEBRV) in Germany.

Sea shipping is the most popular shipping method from China to Germany. It may take longer than air freight, but is also more cost-effective. Many companies also choose express delivery, a faster version of ocean shipping, to deliver products on time.

Rail freight from China to Germany

Rail freight is another cost-effective option for shipping from China to Germany. It takes less time than shipping by sea and costs less than shipping by air. It is a reliable and sustainable mode of transportation that is becoming increasingly popular among businesses.

Trains run to and from various cities in China (e.g. Chengdu, Chongqing, Xi’an) and European destinations in Germany (e.g. Duisburg, Hamburg). This option is particularly attractive for certain types of cargo due to its shorter transit time compared to sea freight.

Shipping Costs from China to Germany (Updated January 2025)

Shipping Method From China to the Germany (Cost)
Sea Freight (20ft Container) Approx. USD 3,250 for a 20ft container
Sea Freight (40ft Container) Approx. USD 3,800 for a 40ft container
LCL Sea Freight Approx. USD 80 – 150 per cubic meters
Door to Door or DDP Shipping Sea Freight : Approx. USD 3.1 per kgs
Air Freight : Approx. USD 8 per kgs
Air Freight Approx. USD 500 for 100kg (Approx. USD 5 per kilo)
Rail Freight Approx. USD 6,800 to to 8,500 for a full container load
Express Shipping Approx. USD 10 per Kgs

The final cost of importing from China to Germany depends on several factors. Before preparing a quote, your freight forwarder may ask for the following details:

  • What category does your shipment fall into?
  • Your preferred shipping method (FCL, LCL, air freight)
  • The weight and dimensions of your shipment
  • Origin and destination
  • Service type (e.g. port-to-port, door-to-door)

For goods weighing less than 200 kilograms, the cost difference between air freight and LCL sea freight is not large. Beyond 200 kilograms, the cost difference begins to widen. Although much slower, sea freight can quickly become much more economical than air freight when there is greater weight and size involved. Sea freight is also the cheapest way to ship goods from China to Germany

How much does it cost to ship from China to Germany (updated November 2024)How much does it cost to ship from China to Germany (updated November 2024)

Cost of Shipping 20ft & 40ft Container from China to Germany

How much does it cost to ship a container from China to Germany? The average price to ship a container from China to Germany is $3,050 to $5,850.
The cost of shipping a full container from China to Germany depends on the size of the container (20ft or 40ft) and the timetable route, please contact Basenton Logistics for detailed rates for shipping containers from China to major UK container ports in Germany.

How much does it cost to ship a 20-foot container from China to Germany?

The average price of shipping a 20-foot container from China to Germany is from US$3,050 to US$4,550. Shipping schedules for shipping 20-foot containers from China to Germany vary by route.

How much does it cost to ship a 40-foot container from China to Germany?

The average price of shipping a 40-foot container from China to Germany is US$3,550 to US$5,850. Shipping schedules for shipping 40-foot containers from China to Germany vary by route.

  • From Shanghai to Bremen, Bremerhaven, Hamburg 40ft container USD7,000
  • From Guangzhou to Bremen, Bremerhaven, Hamburg USD 40ft container USD6,500

Container shipping rates from China to Germany

These are the average prices to ship a container from China to Germany with the cheapest rates for loading and shipping containers from the major ports in China to Germany for 20ft and 40ft containers (FCL) with all types of cargo such as: commercial cargo, vehicles, or personal effects for international shipments from China to Germany.

Container shipping service from China to Germany Type of container Ocean freight rates from China to Germany:
How much does it cost to ship a container from Shanghai China to Germany. 20 foot container FCL
40 foot container FCL
average price from: $3050 20FT
average price from: $4050 40FT
How much does it cost to ship a container from Shenzhen China to Germany. 20 foot container FCL
40 foot container FCL
average price from: $3550 20FT
average price from: $4850 40FT
How much does it cost to ship a container from Ningbo-Zhoushan China to Germany. 20 foot container FCL
40 foot container FCL
average price from: $3150 20FT
average price from: $4850 40FT
How much does it cost to ship a container from Hong Kong China to Germany. 20 foot container FCL
40 foot container FCL
average price from: $3550 20FT
average price from: $4550 40FT
How much does it cost to ship a container from Guangzhou China to Germany. 20 foot container FCL
40 foot container FCL
average price from: $3150 20FT
average price from: $4250 40FT
How much does it cost to ship a container from Qingdao China to Germany 20 foot container FCL
40 foot container FCL
average price from: $3550 20FT
average price from: $4650 40FT
How much does it cost to ship a container from Tianjin China to Germany 20 foot container FCL
40 foot container FCL
average price from: $3250 20FT
average price from: $4550 40FT
How much does it cost to ship a container from Dalian China to Germany 20 foot container FCL
40 foot container FCL
average price from: $3650 20FT
average price from: $5050 40FT
How much does it cost to ship a container from Xiamen China to Germany 20 foot container FCL
40 foot container FCL
average price from: $3250 20FT
average price from: $4550 40FT
How much does it cost to ship a container from Yingkou China to Germany 20 foot container FCL
40 foot container FCL
average price from: $3350 20FT
average price from: $4850 40FT
Container shipping rates from China to GermanyContainer shipping rates from China to Germany

LCL sea freight from China to Germany

Departure Port Destination Port Price per CBM (USD) Estimated Transit Time (days)
Ningbo Hamburg 150 46
Ningbo Bremen 100 47
Shenzhen Hamburg 180 40
Shenzhen Bremen 150 41
Shanghai Hamburg 100 46
Shanghai Bremen 120 47

Air Freight Cost From China To Germany Per KG

Air freight prices from China to the Germany are around $4-10 per kilogram.

 Port of Origin  City  Weight  Price (USD)  Weight  Price (USD)  Weight  Price (USD)
 Shenzhen/Shanghai/Ningob  Cologne  ≥45kgs  5.5-12.9  ≥100kgs 5.1-10.9  ≥300kgs 4.2-8.8
 Hamburg  ≥45kgs  5.4-12.6  ≥100kgs 4.9-10.8  ≥300kgs 4.0-8.4
 Munich  ≥45kgs  5.8-12.3  ≥100kgs 5.2-10.5  ≥300kgs 4.5-8.8
 Frankfurt  ≥45kgs  5.2-12.5  ≥100kgs 4.7-10.2  ≥300kgs 4.2-8.0

For shipments weighing around 150kg to 300kg, standard air freight is the cheapest option. Shipments that are very light for their dimensions may be charged by dimensional weight rather than actual weight.

Air shipping is by far the fastest price. Express air freight is slightly more expensive.

Shipping rates vary widely between freight forwarders, and prices change regularly, so be sure to shop around.

For larger cargo sizes and origin/destination pairs, LCL (smaller than container load) ocean freight costs may actually be cheaper than air freight costs.

Air Freight Cost From China To Germany Per KGAir Freight Cost From China To Germany Per KG

Railway transportation costs from China to Germany

Rail shipping is cheaper and more economical than express air freight and standard air freight, but more expensive than sea freight; it is ideal if you want to transport bulk goods but don’t want to wait as long as sea freight.
By rail, the average cost of a 40-foot container from China to Germany is $6,000 to $8,000.

Railway freight per KG

 City  Weight  Price Range(USD)  Weight  Price (USD)
 Hamburg  ≥100kgs 2.2-5.8  ≥1000kgs 1.8-5.5
 Munich  ≥100kgs 2.3-5.8  ≥1000kgs 1.5-5.5
 Frankfurt  ≥100kgs 2.5-6.2  ≥1000kgs 1.5-5.5

Door to Door shipping cost from China to Germany 100KG

  • To ship 100kgs by air freight from China to the Germany, cost range from USD 6.2 kgs.
  • To ship 100kgs by sea freight from China to the Germany, cost range from USD 1.02 kgs.
  • To ship 100kgs by rail freight from China to the Germary, cost range from USD 3.8 kgs.
Door to Door Sea Freight cost to Germany (General cargo)
Below 100kgs USD 2.05/kg
From 100kgs to 500kgs USD 1.95/kg
Above 501kgs to 1000kgs+ USD 1.89/kg
Door to Door Air Freight cost to Germany (General cargo)
Below 100kgs USD 8.55/kg
From 101kgs to 500kgs USD 7.38/kg
Above 501kgs to 1000kgs+ USD 6.38/kg
Door to Door Rail Freight cost to Germany (General cargo)
Below 100kgs USD 3.13/kg
From 101kgs to 500kgs USD 2.96/kg
Above 501kgs to 1000kgs+ USD 2.83/kg

When importing goods from China, there are various factors that need to be considered before making a decision on which freight forwarder china to Germany will be used. The type of goods being imported and their dimensions are important considerations because this will affect the cost of shipping.

How Much To Ship 100 KGs From China To GermanyHow Much To Ship 100 KGs From China To Germany

If you are interested in the cost from China to other European countries, you can click on the link:

What are the factors that affect the shipping price from China to Germany?

  • Freight Type: Cost depends on whether you are shipping by sea, air, or land (rail or road). Sea freight is generally more cost-effective than air freight, but slower.
  • Container size: If you ship by sea, the size and type of container you use will affect the cost. Common container sizes include 20-foot and 40-foot containers.
  • Weight and Volume: The weight and volume of your shipment will affect the cost. Shipping charges are usually calculated based on weight or volume (whichever is greater).
  • Distance: The distance from the origin in China to the destination in France will affect the cost. Longer distances usually result in higher shipping costs.
  • Route: The specific route and ports involved will affect the cost. Some ports may have higher handling fees than others.
  • Shipping time: Faster shipping methods like air freight will usually cost more than slower shipping methods like ocean freight.
  • Fuel Prices: Fluctuations in fuel prices can affect shipping costs because they impact a carrier’s overall operating costs.
  • Duties and Taxes: You may be required to pay duties and taxes when you arrive in France, which will increase the overall cost.

Door To Door Shipping From China To Germany

Door-to-door, as the name implies, refers to the full logistics service from the shipper’s door or designated location (China) to the consignee’s door or designated location (Germany). Regardless of the mode of transportation (air, sea, rail), door-to-door service ensures that the goods can reach the final destination directly, achieving seamless connection throughout the process

What Are The Ways Of Door-To-Door Shipping From China To Germany

  • Delivery Duty Unpaid (DDU): Under the DDU terms, the seller is responsible for shipping the goods to Germany, but the buyer is responsible for paying duties, taxes, and customs clearance fees when the goods arrive. This option can save some costs for the seller, but requires the buyer to deal with local customs and additional fees.
  • Delivered Duty Paid (DDP): DDP is a hassle-free option where the seller is solely responsible for delivering the goods to the buyer’s doorstep, including all duties, taxes, and customs clearance fees. This method ensures a seamless and stress-free experience for the buyer, as all costs and responsibilities are borne by the seller.
Door to Door shipping from China to GermanyDoor to Door shipping from China to Germany

The price of door-to-door shipping from China to Germany is mainly affected by the following factors:

  • Cargo weight and volume: Generally speaking, the heavier and larger the cargo, the higher the transportation cost. Therefore, when choosing a mode of transportation, customers need to choose a suitable mode of transportation according to their cargo situation.
  • Mode of transportation: Different modes of transportation (such as air transportation, sea transportation, rail transportation, etc.) have different prices. Air transportation is fast but the price is higher, while sea transportation is relatively low but takes longer. Customers can choose a suitable mode of transportation according to their needs.
  • Destination and place of shipment: The transportation distance between different destinations and places of shipment is different, and the price will also vary. Generally speaking, the farther the distance, the higher the price.

DDP shipping from China to Germany

DDP shipping is a popular mode of shipping in Germany. It is also known as door-to-door (D2D) shipping. In this mode of shipping, the consignee can receive the goods at their doorstep without paying any additional fees.

Customs clearance from Germany and delivery to your desired destination is a sensitive and important part of shipping from China to Germany, and sometimes very complicated. Most of our German customers are worried about this. Therefore, please allow us to ship your goods from China to Germany using DDP shipping services.

In this way, we can pick up the goods from your seller in any city in China and deliver the goods to your doorstep in Germany without your involvement. In the DDP service, we arrange the customs clearance process of German customs without you having to provide us with any documents or permissions, so you can rest assured to enjoy our special door-to-door (DDP) service from China to Germany by air, sea, road and rail.

DDP shipping is best for Amazon FBA shipping, business addresses, private addresses.

You may also be interested in: How to Clear Customs When Shipping Imported Goods from China to Germany

Shipping time from China to Germany

Shipping from China to Germany by express delivery takes about 1-3 business days. Air express is fast, but also the most expensive.

Standard air freight takes about 3-7 business days, depending on the volume of goods and the shipping route you choose. Shipping via direct air freight is faster, taking only two days. Shipping via indirect air freight can take up to a week; if you choose door-to-door delivery, the duration will be 6-14 days.

The shipping time from China to Germany by rail transport is about 16 to 20 days; the door-to-door shipping time by rail is about 28-40 days, including container loading and unloading, import customs clearance and tariffs, and last-mile delivery.

Shipping from China to Germany by sea freight takes 28 to 45 days.

Port of China Port of Germany Transit time (days)
Port of Shanghai Port of Bremerhaven 35
Port of Shenzhen Port of Frankfurt 40
Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port of Hamburg 38
Port of Hong Kong Port of Bremerhaven 39
Port of Guangzhou Port of Frankfurt 40
Port of Qingdao Port of Hamburg 42
Port of Tianjin Port of Bremerhaven 42
Port of Dalian Port of Frankfurt 37
Port of Xiamen Port of Hamburg 40
Port of Yingkou Port of Bremerhaven 40

Best Freight Forwarder from China to Germany

Freight forwarders are service providers who accept the entrustment of the client and complete the transportation of goods. In international trade, freight forwarders play a vital role as intermediaries, brokers and transportation organizers between shippers and carriers.

Freight forwarders not only handle the transportation of goods, but also involve a series of related services such as picking up goods, paying freight, customs declaration, customs clearance, warehousing, delivery, etc.

Choosing the best freight forwarding company from China to Germany is crucial to ensure that the goods arrive safely and on time. Reputation and industry experience are key factors in choosing a transportation company. Reputable logistics companies can provide professional services to ensure the safety and integrity of goods during transportation. Transparent charging structures and flexible service options are also important aspects of choosing a shipping company.

Basenton provides clear quotes and a variety of transportation methods to Germany, including sea, air and rail transportation, ensuring that customers can choose the most suitable option based on the nature of the goods and budget. In addition, real-time tracking services can help customers understand the status of the goods at any time and improve the transparency of the transportation process.

Learn more:How to Choose the Right China Freight Forwarder





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