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Shipping from China to Germany
Shipping from China to Germany
In the last decade, China and Germany's commercial and trading relationship has intensified. On one hand, the People's Republic of China hosts some of the German companies that deal in one of the largest global markets. On the other hand, Chinese commodities are well-received in Germany and the European Union.
As per the Federal foreign trade statistics, China remained Germany's largest trading partner for the sixth consecutive year in 2021, with a value of 245.97 billion euros. The amount of goods traded between China and Germany is growing day by day.
But do you ever wonder how products move so far away? That is where shipping comes in. From air freight and sea shipping to rail freight and courier services, shipping methods are becoming increasingly diverse every day.
Whether you are doing business, trading, or giving gifts to your dear ones, the article below talks about all the precise ways for shipping from China to Germany.
To understand various shipping methods, its important to look how trade has evolved overtime for both these countries. The below chart show Germany’s strong reliance on international trade and China’s steep rise in this field.
Trade as a share of GDP (China Vs Germany)
Let's talk about some top shipping methods from China to Germany.
Cargo air freight
Air freight is the quickest and most reliable mode of shipping from China to Germany, but it comes with a slightly higher cost. If budget is not a concern for you, this is hands-down the best way to ship goods from China to Germany. Whether or not to choose this method will depend on your budget, the type and amount of your products, and the package weight for shipping, among other things.
Major Routes
China Airports: Shanghai Pudong, Guangzhou Baiyun, Beijing Capital
Germany Airports: Frankfurt, Munich, Berlin
Things to Know:
Air freight is suitable for urgent deliveries or items requiring special care, such as electronics, medicine, critical documents, etc.
The delivery time between China and Germany is generally 1 to 5 days from Chinese airports to German airports.
Airports strictly follow security measures that minimize the chances of theft and damage.
The major air cargo services from China to Germany are Lufthansa, Air China, Cathay Pacific Cargo, etc.
Rail freight is becoming a key part of the logistics landscape, particularly when transporting from China to Germany. In the contemporary supply chain, rail freight is gaining popularity since it has a cost-effective price compared to air freight. Although it takes much longer than air freight, it is still one of the popular shipping methods.
Major Rail Circuits
China: Xi’an, Chongqing, Zhengzhou
Germany: Duisburg and Hamburg.
Things to Know
Rail freight from China to Germany takes 11 to 18 days to reach main hubs such as Hamburg and Duisburg.
It is capable of transporting a lot of freight (auto parts, industrial equipment, and fabric) at a lower price compared with other modes of transport.
Railways are one of the most reliable shipping methods across the globe, with fewer delays.
Cargo loading for Sea freight
Sea or maritime shipping from China to Germany is a standard way of shipping Asian products to Germany. Most companies use this option to cut costs and delivery times. It includes transporting commodities from large ports, such as Shanghai and Shenzhen in China, to Hamburg in Germany.
Major Seaports
China: Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen
Germany: Hamburg, Bremerhaven, Duisburg
Things to Know
There are two options for sea freight from China to Germany: LCL (Less than Container Load) and FCL (Full Container Load).
LCL would be best for small shipments since you only pay for the space occupied by your products.
On the contrary, FCL is suitable for huge commercial shipments. For this, you must book and pay for an entire shipping container.
Sea freight usually takes 30 to 45 days to ship, depending on the origin port, destination port, and transshipment ports.
DDP Sea Freight
DDP or Delivered Duty Paid can save shipping costs and decrease your tension about taxes and other obligations. There are multiple options for DDP shipping from China to Germany, including air, rail, road, and marine freight. When your Chinese business exports products from China, you just need to provide a few documents for them to complete.
Things to Know
It is the most common shipping method in Germany, also referred to as Door-to-Door (D2D) shipping, and allows the consignee to receive the package at their door.
Moreover, it is the most secure form of shipment because it does not allow any third-party involvement.
DDP Air freight from China to Germany can take 4-5 days, Road Freight 13-14 days, Rail freight 16-20 days, while the Sea Freight can take 35-40 days.
Lastly, the freight type and the weight of the items can affect the price of a DDP cargo from China to Germany.
Air freight for express shipping
When your shipment is small or valuable, or you need your goods delivered quickly, we recommend Express courier delivery from China to Germany. Express shipping takes between 1 and 4 days and is completed via air freight.
Things to Know
It is the most expensive form of shipping from China to Germany.
This method requires the express shipping business to manage all transportation arrangements, cargo clearance, and delivery to the final location.
The top companies offering express delivery from China to Germany are DHL, FedEx, and UPS.
Let’s compare the total costs and transit times of different shipping methods:
Here is a visual comparison of various shipping methods on cost and shipping time:
Comparison of shipping methods
This is how you can arrange a shipment from China to Germany.
Before starting shipment from China to Germany, you must be aware of the current trade regulations. Besides that, you should gather all the necessary documents to ensure a smooth process.
Determine which goods are most likely to succeed in the German marketplace. It is vital to analyze market demand and calculate possible earnings after deducting production, marketing, and distribution costs.
Always choose the shipping method that suits your product’s size, weight, and budget. If you are not sure, you can seek help from a professional, too.
It is essential to find a reliable source or vendor. You can use multiple options for locating suppliers, like Chinese sourcing companies, business-to-business platforms, or different trade fairs.
Be mindful of the European taxes and any additional costs. By being aware of these expenses beforehand, you can avoid customs clearance surprises.
Custom clearance involves multiple steps, like data entry, document declaration, assessment of products, fee clearance, and product warehousing. You should know how to handle all these steps proficiently.
You can hire a freight forwarder company to prevent any complexity during the shipment process. From logistics to shipment, they will handle the whole shipment process. VIPU Logistics is a go-to choice when looking to forward goods from China to Germany.
The following are some factors that you must consider while shipping from China to Germany.
It is the most significant thing to keep in mind when shipping. Lighter and smaller shipments may be more effectively sent by air freight or express services, but greater and heavier shipments tend to be less expensive to send by sea freight.
The speed of delivery is also another essential consideration when choosing the most appropriate shipping mode from China. If you want your products delivered in a short while, express services or air freight can be your best bets.
Budget is a major factor to consider when selecting the appropriate shipping method from China. Consider the total shipping cost, including freight, customs clearance, and other expenses, when calculating your shipping budget.
The shipping requirements and regulations of the destination country should be considered in the process of selecting the right shipping method from China. Various countries have different regulations and restrictions on some items or shipping modes. Therefore, check twice with your freight forwarder or shipping company to find out if there are any restrictions.
When choosing a shipping option from China, you ought to take into account the fragility of your goods. Fragile or high-value items can be subjected to extra handling and packing, which will affect the delivery mode you choose.
Follow these steps if you want to optimize your shipping costs from China to Germany.
Prior to organizing shipment, provide yourself with sufficient time to comply.
Choose the most appropriate delivery mode depending on your cargo weight and time.
Get in touch with a local freight forwarder or logistics firm
Ensure the right packaging of your parcel
Finally, do not forget to insure your shipment
Let’s compare DDP and DDU.
So, whether you opt for DDP or DDU, it all depends on your business type and the requirements of tailoring.
The freight prices from Germany and China are influenced by multiple factors, such as:
Most of the carriers charge for the total of actual weight and dimensional weight. Dimensional weight is the phrase used to describe how the size of the package affects its weight. Therefore, in such a situation, something big or light would be cheaper than something heavy or small.
Shipping prices differ significantly depending on whether you use air freight, sea freight, rail freight, or express courier. Though air freight is more expensive, rail freight is cheaper than any other freight.
Urgency has a huge effect on the overall shipping price. Express shipping is the quickest service but costs the most. Therefore, if you are looking for the quickest delivery, be ready to pay a higher cost.
International deliveries are subjected to customs clearance procedures as well as import duties. These charges significantly impact the overall cost of delivery.
Carriers often levy fuel surcharges that fluctuate in line with the cost of oil around the world. Charges can also increase due to higher demand during peak shipping periods, such as around holidays.
While there are several ports in Germany, the three listed below are the most significant ones:
Germany's "Gateway to the World," Hamburg Port, is the largest port in terms of volume. It handles around 40% of all Chinese freight going to and coming from Germany.
They're also known as the Bremish or Bremen Ports. These ports are most suitable for car cargoes, planes, and engines.
Duisburg-Ruhrort is the main German inland shipping port. It is recognized as the largest inland port in Europe and the world due to the total public and private port facilities. It is best for exporting oil, coal, chemicals, and industrial products.
There are various Chinese ports, but here are the key ones;
The Port of Shanghai is situated in a significant geographical area with attractive natural characteristics and a powerful hinterland economy. It is the world's number one container port and best suited for both FCL and LCL to Hamburg and Bremerhaven.
It is among the most important ports for international trade in China. It is a leading export center for mobile phones, computers, data-processing machines, mechanical and electronic products, and audio and video equipment.
The port of Guangzhou is the ideal port for South China Cargo. This port is ideal for the export of tea, silk, paper, copper, iron, gold, and silver to Duisburg.
Custom clearance is one of the headaches for any shipping provider. Here is how you can clear your goods rapidly while shipping.
Document Submission: Always submit necessary documents such as invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, import permit, insurance certificates, etc, to avoid delay.
Select the appropriate shipping method: Always use the appropriate shipping method according to your product's size, weight, and urgency of delivery.
Comply with European Regulations: Always go through the EU terms and conditions for shipping and avoid shipping forbidden items.
Obtain an EORI number: Whenever possible, obtain the Economic Operators Registration and Identification (EORI) number for smooth and timely clearance.
Hire a trustworthy forwarder: Lastly, pick a trustworthy and reliable forwarder to clear goods promptly.
You may ask yourself: Why VIPU Logistics? Here is why:
Tailored shipping solutions: Our professional team members offer tailored shipping plans according to the size, weight, and value of your cargo. We align the route of transport, packaging, and insurance for the safe delivery of all types of goods.
In-depth Experience: We are a renowned global supply chain logistics company with over 15 years of experience. Our managers understand routes, customs regulations, and cost-saving strategies to assist you in shipping smarter.
Post-Shipment Assistance: Not only do we assist in dispatching your package, but we also offer post-shipment assistance to our customers. We provide you with real-time tracking, custom clearance assistance, and legal contracts until the arrival of the shipment.
Certified Company: Our company has been certified by top international standards that promote security, credibility, consistency, and professionalism.
On-time Delivery: We possess a record of on-time, safe delivery worldwide. We anticipate risk before it occurs, which means your parcel or cargo reaches you safely on schedule.
Shipping from China to Germany is an important aspect of boosting their economic partnership. There are various shipping solutions available, including air freight, rail freight, express shipping, and others. You can choose the one that suits your product's size, weight, and budget.
Irrespective of the shipping option you use, it is important to know the cost, transit time, and regulations involved for successful shipping.
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