Nansha is Guangzhou’s main container port and one of the busiest in South China. If your supplier is in Guangzhou, Foshan or Zhongshan, or your quote says “FOB Guangzhou”, your goods will most likely leave from Nansha. This guide explains where the port is, which routes it serves, what shipping from it costs, how cargo gets there by truck, barge or rail, and how it compares with Yantian and Shekou in Shenzhen.
Key points
• Nansha is the deep-water container port area of the Port of Guangzhou, at the mouth of the Pearl River in Guangzhou’s Nansha District.
• It handled more than 22.6 million TEU in 2025, with more than 180 international routes.
• It is the natural port for suppliers in Guangzhou, Foshan, Zhongshan and western Guangdong, and is well connected by river barge and rail.
• Its Phase IV terminal, opened in 2022, is fully automated.
• For factories in Dongguan and Shenzhen, Nansha competes with Yantian and Shekou: the best choice depends on the sailing and rate that week.
Nansha Port at a Glance
| Location | Nansha District, southern Guangzhou, Guangdong province, at the mouth of the Pearl River |
| Part of | Port of Guangzhou (Guangzhou Port Group) |
| Volume | More than 22.6 million TEU in 2025 (Nansha port area) |
| Routes | More than 180 international routes, to over 300 ports in more than 120 countries and regions |
| Automation | Phase IV terminal, opened in July 2022, with automated quay cranes and driverless guided vehicles |
| Inland links | River barge services to 22 inland terminals in Guangdong, and rail-sea links to inland provinces such as Hunan and Guizhou |
| On a quote | FOB Guangzhou, FOB Nansha or “Nansha, Guangzhou” |
The Port of Guangzhou also has older terminals further up the river at Huangpu, used mainly for smaller ships and domestic services. For international containers, “Guangzhou” usually means Nansha. See our guide to the major ports in China for the full picture.
Why Nansha Matters for Importers
Nansha sits in the middle of the Pearl River Delta, one of the world’s largest manufacturing regions. That gives it three strengths:
- Close to western Guangdong factories: furniture and lighting in Foshan and Zhongshan, clothing, bags and cosmetics in Guangzhou, appliances and building materials around the delta.
- River and rail connections: containers can reach Nansha by barge from inland river terminals, or by train from provinces further inland, often cheaper than long trucking.
- A wide range of routes: as well as services to North America and Europe, Nansha is strong on routes to Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America.
The fully automated Phase IV terminal has added capacity and faster turnaround, which helps keep schedules reliable in busy months.
How Your Goods Get to Nansha
| Supplier location | Usual way to Nansha | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Guangzhou (Baiyun, Panyu, Huadu, Nansha) | Truck | Usually the nearest major port |
| Foshan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen | Truck, or barge from a local river terminal | Nansha is normally the first choice |
| Dongguan | Truck | Western Dongguan is close to Nansha; eastern Dongguan is often closer to Yantian. We compare both. |
| Shenzhen | Truck | Usually Shekou or Yantian, unless Nansha has a better sailing |
| Zhaoqing, Qingyuan and other inland Guangdong cities | Barge or truck | River barges can be cheaper for full containers |
| Hunan, Guizhou and other inland provinces | Rail-sea service, or truck | Check the rail schedule against the ship’s cut-off |
Under Guangzhou’s “One Port Pass” arrangement, 22 river terminals in Guangdong and several inland rail ports work as extensions of Nansha: containers can be cleared at the inland terminal and moved through to the ship with less waiting at the port. Published figures show average storage time at the port falling from about 7 days to under 2. Ask your forwarder whether this is available for your origin.
What Shipping from Nansha Costs
Typical main freight from South China, including Nansha, at November 2026 rates:
| Destination | 20ft container | 40ft container | LCL per CBM |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA West Coast (Los Angeles, Long Beach) | $6,800–8,000 | $7,600–8,500 | $120–150 |
| USA East Coast (New York, Savannah) | Quoted per shipment | $9,700–11,000 | Quoted per shipment |
| Canada (Vancouver) | $7,000–8,300 | $8,400–9,800 | $140–190 |
| United Kingdom | $2,100–2,600 | $3,550–4,050 | $60–90 |
| North Europe (Rotterdam, Hamburg) | $2,100–2,600 | $3,600–4,100 | Quoted per shipment |
Rates change every week and can differ slightly between Nansha and the Shenzhen terminals for the same destination. A full quote also includes origin charges (trucking or barge, terminal handling, export customs, documents), surcharges such as fuel and peak season, and destination charges. For an estimate from your carton sizes, try our freight cost calculator.
Typical Transit Times from Nansha
| Destination | Main ports | Port to port |
|---|---|---|
| USA West Coast | Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle | 14–20 days |
| USA East Coast | New York, Savannah, Charleston | 30–40 days |
| Canada (West) | Vancouver, Prince Rupert | 14–20 days |
| United Kingdom | Felixstowe, Southampton, London Gateway | 35–45 days |
| North Europe | Rotterdam, Hamburg, Antwerp | 35–45 days |
Some services from Nansha call at Shenzhen or Hong Kong before heading out, and some routes change ships at a hub such as Singapore. Ask whether a sailing is direct: it affects both the transit time and the risk of delays. See shipping routes from China.
Nansha vs Yantian vs Shekou
| Nansha | Yantian | Shekou / Chiwan | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where | Southern Guangzhou, mouth of the Pearl River | Eastern Shenzhen | Western Shenzhen |
| Closest suppliers | Guangzhou, Foshan, Zhongshan, western Dongguan | Shenzhen, eastern Dongguan, Huizhou | Shenzhen, Dongguan, Zhongshan |
| Strongest routes | Wide range, including Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, plus USA and Europe | USA, Canada and Europe on the largest ships | Many routes, including Southeast Asia, Latin America and some transpacific services |
| Inland links | Strong river barge and rail-sea network | Mainly trucking, some rail | Trucking and barge |
| On a quote | FOB Guangzhou or FOB Nansha | FOB Shenzhen or FOB Yantian | FOB Shenzhen or FOB Shekou |
All three have direct sailings to the USA and Europe. For a supplier in the middle of the delta, such as in Dongguan, we often compare two or three of them and choose the one with the best combination of trucking cost, sailing date and freight rate. For a detailed look at Shenzhen’s biggest terminal, see the Port of Yantian.
From Factory to Ship: A Typical LCL Timeline from Guangzhou
Many buyers in Guangzhou ship smaller orders from several suppliers by LCL. A typical timeline, with Day 0 as the day the ship sails:
| When | What happens | What you need to do |
|---|---|---|
| Day −14 to −10 | LCL space booked for a sailing from Nansha | Send product details, carton count, weight and volume |
| Day −10 to −6 | Suppliers deliver, or we collect, to the consolidation warehouse | Make sure cartons are marked with your code and order number. See shipping marks. |
| Day −6 to −5 | Cartons counted, checked and measured; problems reported | Approve repacking or relabelling if needed |
| Day −5 to −3 | Export customs declaration; for US cargo, ISF filed | Send the final commercial invoice and packing list |
| Day −3 to −2 | Shared container loaded and delivered to the terminal before the cut-off | Nothing, if documents are complete |
| Day 0 | Ship sails from Nansha | Check the house bill of lading draft |
The exact cut-off dates are set by the shipping line and the consolidator for each sailing. A full container follows a similar timeline, but the container is loaded at the factory or our warehouse and trucked straight to the terminal. See LCL vs FCL.
Peak Season, Typhoons and Delays
- Before Chinese New Year and Golden Week: space is tight and rates rise. Book two to three weeks ahead and finish production early. See China public holidays 2027.
- July to October: peak season for Christmas stock, with peak season surcharges on many routes.
- Typhoon season: from summer to autumn, strong typhoons can stop operations at all Pearl River Delta ports, including Nansha, for a day or more. In September 2025, Super Typhoon Ragasa suspended work across the region.
- Barge and rail timing: if your container comes by barge or train, plan an extra day or two so it reaches the terminal before the cut-off.
Checklist Before You Ship from Nansha
- Confirm where the goods are made and which port your supplier normally uses.
- Make sure the quote names the port: FOB Nansha or FOB Guangzhou, not “FOB China”.
- Ask your forwarder to compare Nansha with Shekou or Yantian if your supplier is in Dongguan or Shenzhen.
- For inland suppliers, ask about barge or rail-sea options.
- Agree the shipping marks and send them to every supplier.
- For the USA, make sure the ISF is filed and your importer and bond are in place. See customs bonds.
- Check the bill of lading draft before the ship sails.
Shipping from Nansha with JIEYI
We are based in Dongguan, between Guangzhou and Shenzhen, and Nansha is one of the ports we use most, together with Yantian and Shekou. We can:
- Collect from your suppliers in Guangzhou, Foshan, Zhongshan, Dongguan and across Guangdong.
- Check, consolidate and load the goods at our warehouses in Dongguan, Shenzhen or Guangzhou, for LCL or a full container.
- Handle export customs, booking and the bill of lading, and file the ISF for US shipments.
- Deliver to your door in the USA, Canada, the UK or Europe, including DDP with duties paid.
For buyers sourcing from several factories, see our freight consolidation service, and for more on sea shipping, sea freight from China.
For the Shenzhen side of the Pearl River Estuary, see our guide to Shekou port.
FAQ
Where is Nansha port?
In Nansha District, in the south of Guangzhou, at the mouth of the Pearl River in Guangdong province.
Is Nansha the same as Guangzhou port?
Nansha is the main container port area of the Port of Guangzhou. A quote for “FOB Guangzhou” usually means Nansha, although some services use the older Huangpu terminals.
How busy is Nansha port?
The Nansha port area handled more than 22.6 million TEU in 2025, with more than 180 international routes.
Is Nansha or Yantian better for shipping to the USA?
Both have direct services to the US West and East Coasts. Yantian has more large transpacific ships; Nansha is usually closer for suppliers in Guangzhou, Foshan and Zhongshan. Compare the trucking cost and the sailing schedule.
How long does shipping from Nansha to the USA take?
About 14–20 days port to port to the US West Coast and about 30–40 days to the East Coast, plus time for trucking, customs and delivery.
Can goods reach Nansha by barge?
Yes. Barge services link Nansha with inland river terminals across Guangdong, which can be cheaper than trucking for full containers.
Can I ship LCL from Nansha?
Yes. Consolidators run regular LCL services from Nansha to the main ports in North America and Europe.
Does Nansha close during typhoons?
When a strong typhoon approaches, terminal operations can be suspended for safety, usually for a day or two. Schedules recover over the following days.
Checked on 3 November 2026. Port figures are from published 2025 and 2026 port data; rates are updated monthly and schedules change by carrier and season. Shipping from Guangzhou? Tell us where your supplier is and get a quote within 2 hours.
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