Outside the EU, customs clearance required
Freight from China by sea, air and rail
China is the lane where the choice of mode matters most. Sea is cheapest, rail halves the time, air is for emergencies. We price all three and tell you which one your cash flow actually wants.
Importing from China is less about the freight rate than about the total cost of the decision. A container by sea takes around five weeks and ties up your capital for that period. The same container by rail arrives in three weeks at a higher rate. By air it arrives in under a week at many times the cost. For goods with a healthy margin and fast turnover, the expensive mode is sometimes the cheaper decision.
We arrange all three and quote them side by side, including the parts importers often forget: the origin charges at the Chinese port, the terminal handling at both ends, the customs duty and import VAT, and the inland leg in Romania. A rate that looks cheap at the ocean freight line often is not once those are added, which is why we quote landed cost rather than freight cost.
The customs work on China imports is where mistakes are expensive. Commodity codes drive duty rates that range from zero to well over ten percent, anti-dumping duties apply to a significant list of Chinese origin products, and the customs value has to include the freight and insurance up to the EU border. We check all of this before the goods sail, not after they arrive.
Typical transit times
| From | To | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | Constanța Ocean, FCL | 28 to 40 days |
| Ningbo | Constanța Ocean, LCL | 35 to 45 days |
| Xi’an | Central Europe Rail, block train | 18 to 25 days |
| Shanghai | Otopeni Air freight | 3 to 6 days |
Indicative times, assuming normal traffic conditions and complete documentation.
How we ship to China
Ocean Freight
FCL and LCL container shipping with inland haulage and customs in one file.
Rail Freight
Intermodal and wagon load rail, including China to Europe block trains.
Air Freight
Scheduled, express and charter air cargo with door to door handling at both ends.
Customs Clearance
Import, export and transit declarations with tariff classification and duty planning.
Where we load most often
- Shanghai and the Yangtze delta
- Ningbo and Zhoushan
- Shenzhen, Yantian and the Pearl river delta
- Qingdao and the northern ports
- Xi’an and Zhengzhou rail terminals
- Guangzhou and Hong Kong air gateways
Customs and documentation
Goods from China are non-EU imports, so a full customs declaration is required. Duty is calculated on the customs value, which is the price paid plus freight and insurance to the EU border, and import VAT at the Romanian rate is then charged on that total. The commodity code determines the duty rate and it must be correct.
Anti-dumping and countervailing duties are the trap on this lane. They apply to a long and changing list of products of Chinese origin, at rates that can exceed the value of the goods, and they are assessed on the product and the manufacturer rather than just the code. We check the current measures against your specific supplier before you place the order, because discovering an anti-dumping duty at the border is far too late.
Frequently asked questions
Sea, rail or air from China?
Sea for anything bulky, heavy or low margin where five weeks is acceptable. Rail when three weeks is worth paying a premium for, which is common for mid value goods on a replenishment cycle. Air only when the goods are genuinely urgent or so valuable that the freight cost is small relative to the product. We quote all three so the comparison is real rather than assumed.
What is the total cost of importing a container from China?
The ocean rate is often less than half of it. Add origin charges, terminal handling at both ends, the customs duty, import VAT, any anti-dumping duty and the inland delivery in Romania. We quote landed cost as a single figure so there is nothing to discover later, and we itemise it so you can see where the money goes.
How do I know if anti-dumping duty applies to my product?
Send us the commodity code, a product description and the manufacturer name and address. Measures are product and producer specific, and a supplier change can move you from a zero rate to a substantial one. We check the current EU measures before you commit to an order rather than when the goods arrive.
Can you collect from my Chinese supplier directly?
Yes. We arrange collection from the factory, the export formalities in China and the loading, so the supplier only has to have the goods ready. This is usually the better arrangement when you are buying on FOB or EXW terms, because it keeps control of the routing and the cost on your side.
Where we ship this
Industries we serve with this
Tell us what you need to move.
Send the supplier city or port of loading, the volume and weight, and the date the goods are ready. We will come back with a landed cost and a realistic transit time, usually within one working day.