Shipping From China to Greece — Air and Sea
Air freight to Athens, sea freight to Piraeus — Greece's largest port. All available with DDP. Latynex is an independent forwarder, unaffiliated with any port operator.
Freight Options
How to Ship From China to Greece
Air or sea — the right mode depends on your timeline, cargo weight and budget. Both available with DDP delivery to any Greek address.
Air Freight — 5–12 Days
Shanghai Pudong (PVG), Shenzhen Bao'an (SZX) and Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN) to Athens International Airport (ATH). Best for time-sensitive, high-value or low-weight cargo. DDP door-to-door available.
Sea Freight — 28–40 Days
FCL and LCL from Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen and Guangzhou to Piraeus, Greece's largest port and a major Mediterranean transshipment hub. Cost-effective for regular volume cargo.
Balkan & Southeast Europe Gateway
Piraeus's transshipment role makes Greece a plausible entry point for onward distribution into the Balkans and Southeast Europe. We advise on whether this fits your specific distribution plan.
Express — 3–6 Days
Urgent shipments via express air courier. Samples, prototypes and time-critical consignments delivered door-to-door across Greece in 3–6 days.
DDP — Delivered Duty Paid
Where available, import customs clearance, EU duty and Greek VAT (ΦΠΑ, 24% standard rate) can be pre-paid by Latynex as part of an all-inclusive landed cost quote — and you typically don't need to register your own EORI for that shipment. Exact eligibility depends on shipment structure and destination.
Independent Freight Forwarding
Latynex is an independent freight forwarder. We route cargo through Piraeus because it is Greece's primary container port — we have no partnership, affiliation or commercial relationship with COSCO or the Piraeus Port Authority, and don't claim one.
FCL — Full Container Load
Your cargo fills an entire container and travels without being mixed with other shippers' goods — typically suited to larger shipment volumes to Piraeus.
LCL — Less Than Container Load
Your cargo shares a container with other shippers' goods and you pay only for the space you use, including consolidation/deconsolidation steps — useful for smaller, regular shipments.
Choose Sea If...
Your cargo is larger or heavier, timing is flexible, and freight cost matters more than speed — sea to Piraeus is often the most economical option for suitable shipments.
Choose Rail If...
You want to explore a middle-ground option between cost and speed — China–Europe rail routing can continue with onward delivery toward Greece depending on current corridor and service conditions. Ask us to check current options for your shipment.
Choose Air If...
Cargo is urgent, higher-value or lower-volume — air to Athens is typically the fastest option but materially more expensive for bulky or heavy freight.
See Sea Freight, Rail Freight and Air Freight for full mode detail, or compare exact transit times with the Transit Time Estimator.
The Process
How China to Greece Shipping Works
Eight stages from your Chinese supplier to final delivery in Greece — all managed by Latynex.
Request a quote with your cargo details
Send us your supplier's collection address in China, cargo description, weight and dimensions, destination address in Greece, and preferred freight mode. We calculate the all-in DDP cost — including EU duty and Greek VAT — and confirm the quote.
Supplier collection from China
Our China-based team collects from your supplier's factory or warehouse anywhere in mainland China. Multi-supplier consolidation is available.
China export warehouse and consolidation
Cargo arrives at our China export warehouse for consolidation and quality checks before export.
Export customs clearance in China
We prepare and file Chinese export documentation and clear cargo for export at the relevant Chinese port or airport.
International freight: air or sea
Your cargo travels via your agreed mode. Air: 5–12 days to Athens. Sea FCL/LCL: 28–40 days to Piraeus.
Arrival in Greece
Cargo arrives at Piraeus (sea) or Athens (air). Our arranged Greek customs process is notified on arrival and import filing begins immediately.
Greek import customs clearance
The import declaration is filed with Greek customs (AADE) as part of our arranged customs process. Under DDP, where applicable, EU duty and Greek VAT are paid on your behalf; under DAP, we notify you of the amount payable.
Final delivery to your Greek address
Cleared cargo is delivered to your specified address: warehouse, office, or 3PL fulfilment centre.
Transit & Cost
China → Greece: Transit Time and DDP Cost Guide
Indicative all-in DDP rates for the China–Greece corridor — freight, EU duty, Greek VAT and delivery included. Exact quotes depend on cargo details and current market rates.
All figures are indicative ranges including freight, EU import duty, Greek VAT (24%), 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.
For a broader planning estimate, try the Shipping Cost Estimator or estimate duty/VAT with the Import Duty Calculator (supports Greece) — both are planning tools, not live carrier rates or an official tariff lookup.
What Determines Shipping Cost From China to Greece
DDP vs DAP
DDP vs DAP Shipping to Greece — What's the Difference?
For most importers without a Greek EORI or in-house customs team, DDP is the simpler choice.
Still unsure which fits your shipment? Compare in more detail with the DDP vs DAP tool.
Customs
Importing Into Greece — What You Need to Know
A practical guide to Greek import requirements for businesses shipping from China — duty, VAT, EORI, and honest context on Piraeus's ownership structure.
EU Import Duty (TARIC)
Greece is part of the EU Customs Union — import duty rates follow the EU's Common External Tariff (TARIC), identical to the rest of the EU. The exact rate depends on your product's HS code. We calculate your duty rate before confirming any DDP quote.
Greek VAT (ΦΠΑ)
Import VAT is charged at Greece's standard rate of 24% — the highest standard VAT rate in the EU — on most goods, with reduced rates for certain categories. Under DDP, Latynex pre-pays this on your behalf. VAT-registered Greek businesses can typically reclaim it on their regular return.
EORI Number
An EORI number is generally required to file import customs declarations in Greece. Under DDP, where available, import customs clearance is arranged on your behalf so you typically don't need one for that shipment. Under DAP, you would register an EORI with Greek customs (AADE) before your first import.
Piraeus Ownership — Context, Not a Partnership
Piraeus Port Authority is majority-owned by China's COSCO Shipping (67% stake, per the 2021 revised agreement). This is a real, publicly documented fact about the port's ownership structure — it is not an indication of any relationship between Latynex and COSCO. We use Piraeus because it is Greece's primary container port, the same reason any independent forwarder would.
Get an Accurate Quote
What We Need to Quote Your Shipment to Greece
Not sure which mode or FCL/LCL fits your cargo? That's fine — it can be assessed from your weight and dimensions.
FAQ
China–Greece Freight — Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about shipping from China to Greece, transit times, documentation and cost.
Related
Related Services & Routes
DDP Shipping
EU duty and VAT pre-paid on any route, including Greece.
Air Freight Service
Express and standard air cargo from China to Athens.
Sea Freight Service
FCL and LCL from China to Piraeus.
Rail Freight Service
China–Europe rail — a possible middle option depending on corridor and routing.
Warehouse & Consolidation
Coordinate multi-supplier consolidation in China before export to Greece.
China → Europe
Mode comparison and destinations across the full China–Europe corridor.
Transit Time Calculator
Estimate delivery windows for air and sea freight to Greece.
Shipping Cost Estimator
Directional cost estimate by mode and cargo volume.
Logistics Assessment
Before you ship — review your route, Incoterms and Greek import duties. From €99.
Get a Quote
Cargo details to quote — weight, mode and destination. Same-day response.