Shipping From China to Germany — Air, Sea and Rail
Three freight modes from any Chinese supplier to any German address. Air for speed, rail for balance, sea for volume — all available with DDP, EUSt and import duty included.
Freight Options
How to Ship From China to Germany
Air, rail and sea — the right mode depends on your timeline, cargo weight and budget. All three available with DDP delivery to any German address.
Air Freight — 5–12 Days
Shanghai Pudong (PVG), Shenzhen Bao'an (SZX) and Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN) connect directly to Frankfurt Rhein-Main (FRA) and Munich (MUC). Best for time-sensitive, high-value or low-weight cargo. DDP door-to-door available.
Rail Freight — 18–25 Days
China–Europe rail via the New Silk Road corridor reaches Hamburg (HAM) and Duisburg — Germany's two main rail terminals — in 18–25 days. Weekly departures from Chengdu, Xi'an, Zhengzhou, Chongqing and coastal cities. Competitive rates and lower CO₂ than air.
Sea Freight — 25–35 Days
FCL (full container: 20ft / 40ft / 40HC) and LCL (shared container) from Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen and Guangzhou to Hamburg — Europe's largest container port. Most cost-effective for regular volume cargo and full containers.
Amazon FBA Germany
Direct delivery to Amazon DE fulfilment centres (FRA1 Bad Hersfeld, LEJ1 Winsen/Luhe). FNSKU labeling, carton compliance and FBA prep included. DDP available — German EUSt (import VAT) and import duty pre-paid by Latynex.
Express — 3–5 Days
Urgent shipments via express air courier or charter. Samples, prototypes, replacement stock and time-critical consignments delivered door-to-door across Germany in 3–5 days from Shenzhen or Shanghai.
DDP — Delivered Duty Paid
Import customs clearance, EU import duty and German Einfuhrumsatzsteuer (EUSt) — all pre-paid by Latynex. No EORI number required from you. One all-inclusive landed cost quote before your cargo leaves China.
The Process
How China to Germany Shipping Works
Eight stages from your Chinese supplier to final delivery in Germany — all managed by Latynex.
China-to-Germany freight involves two customs clearances — export in China and import in Germany — plus at least one international freight leg. Each stage has documentation requirements that differ by mode. Latynex manages all of this as a single service so that your cargo moves without gaps or handoff failures between parties.
Request a quote with your cargo details
Send us your supplier's collection address in China, cargo description, weight and dimensions, destination address in Germany, and preferred freight mode. We calculate the all-in DDP cost — including EU import duty and German EUSt — and confirm the quote.
Supplier collection from China
Our China-based team collects from your supplier's factory or warehouse — from any city in mainland China. We photograph and count goods at collection. Multi-supplier consolidation is available if you're ordering from several factories.
China export warehouse and consolidation
Cargo arrives at our China export warehouse. For FBA shipments, FNSKU labeling and carton prep are completed here. For standard shipments, we verify quantities and packaging before export. Your shipment is held until the export plan is confirmed.
Export customs clearance in China
We prepare and file all Chinese export documentation: commercial invoice, packing list, export customs declaration and customs release. Your cargo is cleared for export at the Chinese port (Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen) or airport (PVG, SZX, CAN).
International freight: air, rail or sea
Your cargo travels via your agreed mode. Air: 5–12 days to Frankfurt or Munich. Rail: 18–25 days to Duisburg or Hamburg. Sea FCL/LCL: 25–35 days to Hamburg. You receive tracking milestones for each stage.
Arrival at German port or airport
Cargo arrives at Hamburg (sea), Duisburg or Hamburg (rail), or Frankfurt / Munich (air). Our German customs broker is notified on arrival and begins the import customs filing immediately — no delays waiting for documents.
German import customs clearance
Our licensed German customs broker files the import declaration with the Zoll (German customs authority). EU import duty and German Einfuhrumsatzsteuer (EUSt) are paid on your behalf under DDP. For DAP shipments, we notify you of the duty amount for self-payment.
Final delivery to your German address
Cleared cargo is collected by local haulage and delivered to your specified address: warehouse, office, Amazon FC, or 3PL fulfilment centre. For Amazon FBA, we book the FC delivery appointment and manage the handoff to the Amazon dock.
Transit & Cost
China → Germany: Transit Times and DDP Cost Guide
Indicative all-in DDP rates for the China–Germany corridor — freight, EU import duty, German EUSt and last-mile delivery included. Exact quotes depend on cargo details and current market rates.
All figures are indicative ranges including freight, EU import duty, German EUSt (19%), customs handling and delivery. Import duty rate depends on product HS code — confirmed before booking. Fuel surcharges, port congestion and seasonal rate changes apply. Contact Latynex for a specific quote.
How to choose between air, rail and sea: For most importers, the choice comes down to urgency and volume. Air freight makes commercial sense for high-value cargo (electronics, premium goods) where stock-out cost exceeds freight premium, or for samples and urgent restock. Rail freight is the default for regular importers who need predictable 18–25 day transit at competitive rates. Sea freight is optimal for full containers, seasonal stock and price-sensitive categories where lead time flexibility exists.
DDP vs DAP
DDP vs DAP Shipping to Germany — What's the Difference?
For most importers new to Germany or without an established customs broker, DDP is the correct choice. Here is how the two Incoterms compare for China–Germany shipments.
German EUSt (Einfuhrumsatzsteuer, currently 19%) is reclaimable for both DDP and DAP imports if you are a German VAT-registered business. Under DDP, Latynex pays EUSt upfront and you reclaim it; under DAP, you pay EUSt directly to the Zoll and reclaim it the same way. The cash flow timing differs, but the net tax position is the same for VAT-registered businesses.
Ports & Airports
China Origin Points to German Destinations
The main port and airport pairings for China–Germany freight — by freight mode.
- Shanghai Pudong (PVG) → Frankfurt (FRA)
- Shenzhen (SZX) → Frankfurt (FRA)
- Guangzhou (CAN) → Frankfurt (FRA) / Munich (MUC)
- Any airport → any German address, door-to-door
- Chengdu / Xi'an / Zhengzhou → Duisburg (DUI)
- Chongqing → Hamburg (HAM)
- Shanghai / Suzhou → Hamburg or Duisburg
- Door-to-terminal + final haulage available
- Shanghai (SIPG) → Hamburg (HAM)
- Ningbo → Hamburg / Bremerhaven
- Shenzhen (Yantian) → Hamburg
- Guangzhou (Nansha) → Hamburg (feeder)
German Customs
Importing Into Germany — What You Need to Know
A practical guide to German import requirements for businesses shipping from China — duties, EUSt, EORI and CE marking explained.
EU Import Duty (TARIC)
Germany is part of the EU Customs Union. Import duty rates are set by the EU's Common External Tariff (TARIC). Most electronics: 0–3.5%. Clothing and textiles: up to 12%. Household goods: 3–6.5%. We calculate your exact duty rate from your HS code before confirming any DDP quote.
German EUSt (Einfuhrumsatzsteuer)
Import VAT (EUSt) is charged at 19% (7% for certain food, books and medical items) on the customs value plus import duty. Under DDP, Latynex pre-pays EUSt on your behalf. German VAT-registered businesses can reclaim EUSt on their regular VAT return (Umsatzsteuererklärung).
EORI Number
An EORI (Economic Operator Registration and Identification) number is required to file import customs declarations in Germany. You do not need an EORI when using Latynex DDP — we file under our own customs authorisation. If you prefer DAP, you will need to register an EORI with the German Zoll (customs authority).
CE Marking — Product Compliance
CE marking is a product compliance requirement for many categories sold in Germany — electronics, toys, machinery, PPE and others. CE marking is not a customs matter but is enforced at the German market level. Ensure your supplier can provide CE conformity documentation before shipping. Latynex can advise on documentation requirements.
Customs information is for guidance only. Import duty rates, EUSt and CE marking requirements change regularly. Latynex calculates exact duty and tax amounts for every DDP shipment from your confirmed HS code — we do not estimate. This page is for general orientation only and does not constitute legal or customs advice.
Amazon FBA Germany
Shipping From China to Amazon FBA Germany
Latynex handles the complete FBA supply chain from China to German Amazon fulfilment centres — prep, customs, DDP delivery.
Amazon DE Fulfilment Centres
We deliver to FRA1 (Bad Hersfeld, Hessen), LEJ1 (Winsen/Luhe, Niedersachsen) and other Amazon-assigned German FCs. FC assignment comes from your Seller Central shipment plan — we deliver to whatever FC Amazon specifies.
FNSKU Labeling & FBA Prep
FNSKU labels are applied per unit in our China warehouse before export. Cartons are built to Amazon's weight limit (≤23 kg per carton) and dimension requirements. Box content information is filed in Seller Central.
DDP FBA — EUSt Pre-Paid
Under DDP, Latynex pre-pays German EUSt (19%) and EU import duty as part of the FBA shipment cost. German VAT-registered sellers can reclaim EUSt on their regular VAT return.
Transit Time to Amazon DE
Air freight: 7–16 days China departure to Amazon FC receipt (includes FBA prep, customs and delivery). Sea freight: 32–45 days total. Add FBA pick window timing to your restock calculation.
FBA Germany — Indicative Timelines
Ready to quote your China → Germany shipment?
Tell us your cargo details — mode, weight and destination. We'll send an all-in DDP quote same day.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions — Shipping From China to Germany
Common questions from importers and businesses setting up China–Germany freight for the first time.
Related
Related Services & Pages
DDP Shipping
How Delivered Duty Paid works — duties, EUSt and customs all pre-paid.
Amazon FBA Logistics
FNSKU prep, carton checks and direct Germany FC delivery from China.
Air Freight Service
Express and standard air cargo from China. Full transit time and cost guide.
Sea Freight Service
FCL and LCL from China to Hamburg. Container types, port pairs and rates.
Rail Freight Service
China–Europe rail freight. New Silk Road corridor to Duisburg and Hamburg.
Warehouse Consolidation
Multi-supplier pickup and consolidation in China before Germany export.
Logistics Assessment
Before you ship — review your route, Incoterms and German import duties. From €99.
Get a Quote
Cargo details to quote — weight, mode and destination. Same-day response.