China to Germany Railway shipping service

China to Germany Railway shipping service

Rail freight from China to Germany is an attractive alternative to sea and air freight. It operates year-round, providing supply chain stability. Freight trains travel at speeds of over 100 km/h, significantly exceeding the speed of sea freight. In addition, rail freight is a more cost-effective option compared to air freight.

It is safer to use rail transport: the risk of cargo damage is much lower than with sea or air freight. While rail freight is less dependent on weather conditions, it is more susceptible to obstacles along the way. In the event of a breakdown or track repair, there may be no other rail routes available.

Railway transportation:

The rapid development of railway container full container transportation from China to Germany originated from the "Belt and Road" and "China-Europe Express" proposed by China. Since the first container railway transportation train departed from Chongqing to Germany in 2013, by 2024, more than 10 Chinese cities have provided railway container transportation services to Germany, with an average of more than 10 trains per day.

China-Germany railway container transportation accounts for more than 50% of the "China-Europe Express" cargo, since the country has developed the "Belt and Road" proposal. International railway transportation is the main force connecting the "New Silk Road". Germany has developed railway transportation. There is Hamburg in the north of the German railway station. The Hamburg train connects its surrounding countries such as Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, etc. In the south, there is the Munich Railway Station in Germany, which connects Western European countries such as France, Italy, Austria, and Switzerland.

Germany has a developed logistics industry, whether it is international railway or international shipping, truck transportation. It can be said that choosing the German railway station as the loading and unloading point for railway transportation from China to Germany is the best choice for the China-Europe Express to the European market. When the railway container reaches the German railway station, the highly developed German truck transportation can express loading and unloading and deliver it to the surrounding countries.

Railway transportation routes from China to Germany

Zhengzhou-Germany

Zhengzhou-Europe Express: On July 18, 2013, the Zhengzhou-Europe Express (Zhengzhou-Hamburg, Germany) was first launched. The train from Zhengzhou to Hamburg takes about 16 days to run.

Railway route map from China to Germany: "Zhengzhou-Europe Express" route:

Zhengzhou - Almaty - Malavicchi - Munich - Hamburg

Zhengzhou - Erenhot - Novosibirsk - Munich

Chongqing-Xinjiang-Germany

The fastest railway line from China to Germany -- "Yuxinou Express"

Chongqing (starting station) - Germany (Duisburg) does not stop in the middle, and the whole journey takes about 13 days. It is the fastest train among all "China-Europe Express"! If you are in a hurry to transport goods to Germany, you can choose this railway line.

Wuhan-Germany

The China - Europe Railway Express (Wuhan), released on October 24, 2012, is a rail freight transport line between Wuhan and Europe. Starting from Wuhan, the express train crosses Xi'an, Lanzhou, Urumqi and leaves China by Alataw Pass to finally arrive in Europe.

Suzhou-Manzhouli-Germany

The route is from western Jiangsu through Manzhouli to Hamburg and Duisburg in Germany. The transportation time required is about 18 to 19 days, which is relatively long. This route was opened to German railway transportation relatively late.

Chengdu-Germany

The entire journey takes about 18 days from Sichuan, China to Hamburg, Germany.

Railway route map from China to Germany -- "Chengdu-Europe Express"

Chengdu→Urumqi→Alashankou→Moscow→Lodz -- Hamburg. The entire journey takes about 18 days from Sichuan, China to Hamburg, Germany.

Railway freight from China to Germany

Among the international railway multimodal transport routes of the Belt and Road China-Europe Express, the railway transport between China and Germany is the most, and the freight is the cheapest. The price of a container train is equivalent to twice that of international sea transportation. This is 50% lower than the transportation cost of international railway transportation.

Railway transportation prices from China to Germany -- Full container load

Rail transportation prices from China to Germany -- DDU

Rail transportation prices from China to Germany -- DDP

Import taxes and duties

Import taxes and duties have a significant impact on the total cost of importing goods from China to Germany. Charges such as VAT and duties are calculated based on the value, classification and terms of shipment of the goods. Germany's standard VAT rate is 19%, which is applied to shipping costs and the value of the items. Duties vary by product category, with rates ranging from 0% to more than 10%. 

How much does it cost to ship from China to Germany?

Freight from China to Germany is calculated individually. Factors considered include mode of transport, season, size and urgency.

Estimated costs for LCL shipments:

● Ocean LCL: $75-125 per cubic meter

● Rail LCL: $150-200 per cubic meter

● Air freight: $6-9 per kilogram

● Express: from $10 per kilogram

Estimated costs for shipping full container loads (FCL) from China to Germany:

● Ocean FCL (20-foot container): about $1500 to $3000

● Ocean FCL (40-foot container): about $2500 to $4500

● Rail freight FCL: about $6000 to $8000

What is the cheapest way to ship goods from China to Germany?

Ocean shipping is the most economical way to ship goods from China to Germany. Compared with air and rail shipping, ocean shipping also offers more options for bulky goods and large goods. However, ocean shipping involves longer routes and takes more time.

How long does it take for goods to be shipped from China to Germany?

The shipping time for goods from China to Germany depends on the mode of transportation:

● Ocean shipping: usually 30-50 days

● Rail shipping: 15-30 days

● Air shipping: 3-5 days

● Express delivery: 1 to 3 days

Can I express from China to Germany?

We work with leading international couriers such as UPS, DHL and FedEx. Through their services, we offer express delivery from China to Germany. Your shipment will be delivered within 1-3 days.

What duties and taxes are required for shipping from China to Germany?

Importing goods from China to Germany is subject to duties and VAT. We recommend that you calculate the specific duties and taxes for your shipment in advance to avoid unforeseen expenses.

Do I need to pay duties when shipping goods from China to Germany?

As the owner of the goods, you are responsible for handling customs clearance formalities, including paying fees. However, as a freight forwarder, we can handle this on your behalf to save time.

Who pays the import duties for shipping from China to Germany?

Similar to customs fees, import duties are paid by the owner of the goods. But we can also handle this on your behalf.

If you have any question about shipping goods from China to Germany please feel free to consult Viputrans  Lora Yang E-mail: sales02@viputrans.com

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