Freight Options
How to Ship From China to Europe
Air for speed, rail for balance, sea for volume — all available with DDP.
Air Freight — 5–14 Days
From Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou to Frankfurt, Heathrow, Amsterdam and other major European airports.
Rail Freight — 18–25 Days
New Silk Road block train to Germany, Poland, Czech Republic and other Central European countries. Weekly departures.
Sea Freight — 25–35 Days
FCL and LCL from Chinese ports to Hamburg, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Felixstowe and other European container ports.
EU-Wide Destination Coverage
Germany, UK, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Italy, Spain, Czech Republic and more — we deliver across Europe.
Amazon FBA Europe
Direct to Amazon EU fulfilment centres: FRA1, MAN1, CDG1, MAD4 and others. FNSKU prep and DDP included.
EU Customs Clearance
EU import customs handled at port of entry: import duty, VAT, EORI filing and customs declaration prepared by our team.
Transit Times
China → Europe: Mode Comparison
Sea, rail, air and the road last-mile that follows every shipment — practical guidance for choosing the right mode. Exact cost and transit figures for your specific destination are on that country's route page.
Sea Freight
- Transit
- 25–35 days
- Relative cost
- Lowest cost per kg
- Best for
- Regular volume, full or shared containers (FCL/LCL), non-urgent cargo
- Typical cargo
- Bulk goods, furniture, machinery, general merchandise
- Limitations
- Longest transit time; least suited to time-sensitive or low-volume shipments
- DDP
- Available on all sea routes
Choose this when: Cost per unit matters more than speed, and you can plan 4–6 weeks ahead
Rail Freight
- Transit
- 18–25 days
- Relative cost
- Mid-range — below air, above sea
- Best for
- Regular volumes needing a faster alternative to sea, especially from inland Chinese cities
- Typical cargo
- General cargo, electronics, industrial goods — most non-hazardous freight
- Limitations
- Fewer direct destinations than sea or air; best suited to Central/Eastern Europe and Germany given the New Silk Road corridor's entry point
- DDP
- Available
Choose this when: You want a meaningful speed advantage over sea without air's cost, particularly shipping to or via Poland/Germany
Air Freight
- Transit
- 5–14 days
- Relative cost
- Highest cost per kg
- Best for
- Urgent, high-value, or low-weight/high-value-density cargo
- Typical cargo
- Electronics, samples, time-critical restocks, high-value goods
- Limitations
- Cost scales quickly with weight — usually uneconomical for bulky, low-value cargo
- DDP
- Available
Choose this when: Timeline matters more than per-kg cost, or the cargo is light relative to its value
Road (Last-Mile Delivery)
- Transit
- Final leg only — same day to a few days after customs clearance
- Relative cost
- Included in the freight quote, not a separate international mode
- Best for
- Delivery from the arrival port/airport/rail terminal to your final European address
- Typical cargo
- Whatever arrived by sea, rail or air — road only moves it the last leg
- Limitations
- Not an option for the China-to-Europe leg itself — this is domestic European delivery only
- DDP
- Included in DDP quotes as the final delivery step
Choose this when: Always — every shipment ends with a road delivery leg regardless of the international mode chosen
Not sure which mode fits your shipment? Use the transit time calculator or the shipping cost estimator for a directional estimate, then request a quote for exact figures on your route. Service-specific detail: sea freight, air freight, rail freight.
Destinations
European Countries We Serve
Dedicated transit-time, cost and customs guides for our most-requested European destinations. Shipping to another European country? Get in touch — quotes are available EU-wide.
China → Germany
Air, sea and rail via Duisburg/Hamburg. DDP and Amazon FBA Germany.
China → Poland
Air, sea to Gdańsk/Gdynia and rail via the Małaszewicze EU gateway.
China → Netherlands
Air to Schiphol, sea to Rotterdam — Europe's largest container port.
China → UK
Air to London, sea to Felixstowe — UK-specific customs since Brexit.
China → France
Air to Paris CDG, sea to Le Havre or Marseille-Fos.
China → Italy
Air to Milan Malpensa, sea to Genoa.
China → Spain
Air to Madrid, sea to Valencia or Algeciras.
China → Belgium
Air to Brussels, sea to Antwerp-Bruges — Europe's 2nd-largest port.
China → Greece
Air to Athens, sea to Piraeus — Greece's largest port.
China → Romania
Air to Bucharest, sea to Constanța — the Black Sea's largest port.
Shipping to a non-EU Southeast European destination? See China → Serbia for routing, customs and Serbia–China FTA detail specific to a non-EU market.
EU Customs
Importing Into the EU — What to Know
A practical overview of how EU customs clearance works for China-origin freight. Not legal or tax advice — specific requirements depend on your product, HS code and destination country.
Importer of Record
Someone must be legally responsible for the customs declaration — the "importer of record." Under Latynex DDP, we act as importer of record using our own EU customs authorisation, so you don't need one. Under DAP, you (or your appointed broker) are the importer of record and take on that responsibility directly.
EORI Number
An EORI (Economic Operator Registration and Identification) number is required to file EU customs declarations. Each EU member state issues its own, though one EU EORI is generally valid across the bloc. Not needed if using Latynex DDP; required if self-managing customs under DAP.
HS Code & Customs Value
Duty and VAT are calculated from your product's HS (Harmonized System) tariff code and the customs value — broadly, the cost of goods plus international freight and insurance (CIF value), though exact rules vary by country. An incorrect HS code is one of the most common causes of customs delay or under/overpayment.
Duty & Import VAT
EU import duty follows the Common External Tariff (TARIC) — the same schedule bloc-wide, varying by HS code. Import VAT rates are set individually by each member state (for example, Germany 19%, Poland 23%, Netherlands 21%) and charged on customs value plus duty. See the relevant country route page for that country's specific rate.
DDP vs DAP — Who Handles What
Under DDP (Delivered Duty Paid), Latynex pre-pays duty and VAT and files the import declaration — you receive one all-in quote and no charges at delivery. Under DAP (Delivered At Place), you or your broker handle customs clearance and pay duty/VAT directly on arrival. Most first-time importers and FBA sellers choose DDP for simplicity and cost certainty.
Required Documents
Standard EU import documentation includes a commercial invoice, packing list, and — depending on the product category — a certificate of origin or conformity documentation (e.g. CE marking for many electronics, toys and machinery categories). We advise on what's needed for your specific product before booking.
Who is responsible for what: Under DDP, Latynex is responsible for accurate customs filing, duty/VAT payment and import compliance — you are responsible for providing accurate product information (description, value, HS code if known) so we can classify your goods correctly. Under DAP, customs responsibility sits with you or your appointed broker. In both cases, EU import requirements vary by country and product category — the summary above is general guidance, not a substitute for advice on your specific shipment. See each country's route page for that country's specific duty and VAT rates.
DDP Shipping
Full detail on how DDP works and what it includes.
China → Germany
Country-specific duty and VAT (19%) detail.
China → Poland
Country-specific duty and VAT (23%) detail.
Import Duty Calculator
Estimate customs value, duty, VAT and indicative landed cost.
Logistics Assessment
A human review of your route, Incoterms and duty exposure before you ship. From €99.
Already have a supplier quote?
Get it checked before you pay — €99, within 2 business days.
When DDP Makes Sense — and What to Verify
Good Fit for DDP
First-time importers, sellers without an EU EORI, and anyone who wants one all-in landed cost with no charges at delivery — including most Amazon FBA sellers.
Verify Before Booking
Confirm your product's category/HS code, your delivery address type (business, FBA fulfilment centre, or residential) and your total cargo value — these drive the customs valuation and duty calculation.
When DAP Might Fit Better
Established importers with an existing EU EORI and an in-house customs team sometimes prefer DAP so they can manage clearance and duty payment directly.
Not sure which fits your shipment? Use the DDP vs DAP tool for a side-by-side comparison, or see the full DDP Shipping service page for detail.
FAQ
China–Europe Freight — Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about shipping from China to Europe: mode choice, transit times, DDP and customs responsibility.