Shekou is the main container port on the west side of Shenzhen, together with its neighbour Chiwan. If your quote says “FOB Shenzhen” or “FOB Shekou”, or your supplier is in western Shenzhen, Dongguan or Zhongshan, your goods may well leave from here. This guide explains what Shekou and the western Shenzhen terminals are, which routes they serve, what shipping from them costs, how cargo gets there and how they compare with Yantian and Nansha.
Key points
• Shekou is part of the Port of Shenzhen’s western port area, with Chiwan, Mawan and Dachan Bay, on the east side of the Pearl River Estuary.
• Shekou Container Terminals (SCT) and Chiwan Container Terminal (CCT) are run by China Merchants Port.
• The western terminals are strong on Asian routes and feeder services, and also have services to the Americas, Europe and other regions.
• They have a large barge network linking river terminals across the Pearl River Delta.
• For suppliers in Shenzhen and Dongguan, Shekou competes with Yantian and Nansha: the best choice depends on the sailing and rate that week.
Shekou Port at a Glance
| Location | Nanshan District, western Shenzhen, Guangdong province, on the east side of the Pearl River Estuary |
| Part of | Port of Shenzhen, western port area (Shekou, Chiwan, Mawan, Dachan Bay) |
| Main container terminals | Shekou Container Terminals (SCT) and Chiwan Container Terminal (CCT), run by China Merchants Port; Dachan Bay Terminal further north |
| Berths | Shekou: about 9 deep-water berths plus dedicated barge berths; Chiwan: about 9 berths |
| Routes | Close to 100 weekly services at Shekou, many of them to Asian ports, plus ocean routes from Chiwan |
| Port of Shenzhen total | About 35 million TEU in 2025, including Yantian and the western terminals |
| On a quote | FOB Shenzhen, FOB Shekou or FOB Chiwan |
Terminal figures come from published port and industry sources and change as terminals expand. See our guide to the major ports in China for how Shenzhen compares with the other big ports.
Shenzhen’s Two Port Areas: East and West
“Shenzhen port” is not one place. It has two main port areas about 40 km apart:
| Eastern port area | Western port area | |
|---|---|---|
| Terminals | Yantian | Shekou, Chiwan, Mawan, Dachan Bay |
| Water | Mirs Bay, open sea with natural deep water | Pearl River Estuary, dredged channels and strong tides |
| Typical role | International hub for the largest ships to the USA and Europe | Asian and near-sea routes, feeder and barge services, plus long-haul services |
| Closest suppliers | Eastern Shenzhen, eastern Dongguan, Huizhou | Western Shenzhen (Nanshan, Bao’an), western Dongguan, Zhongshan, Zhuhai |
When a supplier quotes “FOB Shenzhen”, always ask which side: the trucking cost, the cut-off times and the sailings can differ. For the eastern side, see our guide to the Port of Yantian.
The Terminals in Western Shenzhen
| Terminal | What it does | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Shekou Container Terminals (SCT) | The largest container terminal in the western area, with deep-water berths and its own barge berths | Most “FOB Shekou” containers are loaded here |
| Chiwan Container Terminal (CCT) | Next to Shekou on the same peninsula, with its own ocean services | Your booking may say Chiwan; the process is the same |
| Mawan | Container terminal area a little north of Chiwan, on Qianhai Bay | Your booking may name it; the process is the same |
| Dachan Bay | Further north near the airport, with deep-water berths, a barge hub for the delta and Shenzhen’s vehicle import port | Sometimes used for barge connections and specific services |
Which terminal your container uses is decided by the shipping line and the vessel, not by you. What matters is that your forwarder delivers the container to the right terminal before its cut-off, and that the bill of lading shows the correct port of loading. See bill of lading explained.
Why Use Shekou?
- Close to western Shenzhen and the delta: factories in Bao’an, Nanshan and western Dongguan are often nearer to Shekou than to Yantian.
- Barge network: Shekou and Dachan Bay receive barges from river terminals across the Pearl River Delta, so cargo from Zhongshan, Foshan, Jiangmen or Zhaoqing can arrive by water.
- Asian and feeder routes: many services to Southeast Asia, Japan and Korea, and feeder connections to hub ports, which is useful for some routes and transshipments.
- An alternative when Yantian is full: in peak season or when one terminal is congested, moving a booking to Shekou can save a week.
How Your Goods Get to Shekou
| Supplier location | Usual port | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Shenzhen Nanshan, Bao’an, Guangming | Shekou or Chiwan | Short haul; same-day delivery to the terminal is normal |
| Shenzhen Longgang, Pingshan, Yantian | Yantian | Shekou only if it has the better sailing |
| Dongguan | Shekou, Yantian or Nansha | Depends on the town; we compare the options for each booking |
| Zhongshan, Zhuhai, Jiangmen | Shekou by barge, or Nansha | Barge can be cheaper for full containers |
| Foshan, Guangzhou | Usually Nansha | See Nansha port |
What Shipping from Shekou Costs
Typical main freight from South China, including Shekou, 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 the same destination can be priced differently from Shekou and Yantian depending on the carrier. A full quote also includes origin charges (trucking or barge, terminal handling, export customs, documents), surcharges and destination charges. For an estimate from your carton sizes, try our freight cost calculator.
Typical Transit Times from Shekou
| 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 Shekou are feeders that connect with a mainline ship at another port, which adds a few days. Ask whether the sailing is direct before you book. See shipping time from China to the USA.
Shekou vs Yantian vs Nansha
| Shekou / Chiwan | Yantian | Nansha | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where | Western Shenzhen | Eastern Shenzhen | Southern Guangzhou |
| Closest suppliers | Western Shenzhen, western Dongguan, Zhongshan, Zhuhai | Eastern Shenzhen, eastern Dongguan, Huizhou | Guangzhou, Foshan, Zhongshan |
| Strongest routes | Asia and feeder services, plus long-haul services | USA, Canada and Europe on the largest ships | Wide range, including Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America |
| Inland links | Large barge network | Mainly trucking | Barge and rail-sea network |
| On a quote | FOB Shenzhen or FOB Shekou | FOB Shenzhen or FOB Yantian | FOB Guangzhou or FOB Nansha |
Example: Choosing Between Shekou and Yantian
A buyer in the UK orders a 40ft container from a factory in Bao’an, western Shenzhen, ready on a Monday. Two sailings are available that week:
| From Shekou | From Yantian | |
|---|---|---|
| Trucking from the factory | Shorter haul | Longer haul across the city |
| Sailing | Thursday, direct to Felixstowe | Saturday, direct to Felixstowe |
| Freight rate | Quoted that week | Quoted that week |
| Result | Leaves two days earlier with lower trucking cost | Chosen only if the freight rate is clearly lower |
This is an illustration, not a schedule: sailings and rates change weekly. The point is that comparing both Shenzhen port areas for each booking often saves days or money.
LCL and Consolidation Through Shekou
If your order is too small for a full container, it travels as LCL: your cartons are delivered to a consolidation warehouse, loaded into a shared container with other shippers’ goods, and the container is then trucked to the terminal. For importers buying from several suppliers, the usual approach is:
- Each supplier delivers to one warehouse in Shenzhen or Dongguan, or the forwarder collects from them.
- The warehouse checks carton counts, labels and damage against the packing lists.
- If the total reaches about 15–20 CBM, a 20ft container may cost less than LCL. Above about 30 CBM, a 40ft often makes sense.
- The goods are loaded together and leave from Shekou, Yantian or Nansha, whichever has the better sailing.
See LCL vs FCL for how to decide.
Documents, Cut-Offs and Delays
- Cut-offs: each shipping line sets the container, document and customs cut-offs for each sailing, usually one to two days before departure. The western terminals have their own cut-off times, which can differ from Yantian’s.
- Documents: commercial invoice, packing list, export declaration, shipping instructions and VGM; for the USA, the ISF at least 24 hours before loading. See commercial invoice and packing list and ISF filing.
- Peak seasons: before Chinese New Year, before Golden Week and from July to October. Book two to three weeks ahead. See China public holidays 2027.
- Typhoons: from summer to autumn, strong typhoons can suspend operations at all Shenzhen terminals for a day or more, as Super Typhoon Ragasa did in September 2025.
Checklist Before You Ship from Shekou
- Ask your supplier where the goods are made and which Shenzhen port area they normally use.
- Make sure the quote names the port: FOB Shekou or FOB Yantian, not just “FOB Shenzhen”.
- Ask your forwarder to compare Shekou, Yantian and Nansha for your sailing date.
- Check whether the sailing is direct or a feeder connection.
- Agree the shipping marks and send them to every supplier. See shipping marks.
- 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 Shekou with JIEYI
We are based in Dongguan, about an hour from the Shenzhen ports, and Shekou, Yantian and Nansha are the three ports we use most. We can:
- Collect from your suppliers in Shenzhen, Dongguan, Zhongshan and across Guangdong.
- Check, consolidate and load the goods at our warehouses in Dongguan, Shenzhen or Guangzhou, for LCL or a full container.
- Compare the Shenzhen and Guangzhou ports for every booking, and quote the best option.
- Handle export customs, booking and the bill of lading, file the ISF for US shipments, and deliver to your door, including DDP.
Buying from several suppliers? See our freight consolidation service and sea freight from China.
FAQ
Where is Shekou port?
In Nanshan District, on the west side of Shenzhen, Guangdong province, on the east bank of the Pearl River Estuary.
Is Shekou the same as Shenzhen port?
Shekou is one of the terminals of the Port of Shenzhen. The port has a western area (Shekou, Chiwan, Mawan, Dachan Bay) and an eastern area (Yantian).
What is the difference between Shekou and Chiwan?
They are neighbouring container terminals in the western port area, both run by China Merchants Port. Many shipping lines use one or the other; for importers they work in much the same way.
Is Shekou or Yantian better?
Yantian has more large ships to the USA and Europe; Shekou is often closer for suppliers in western Shenzhen and the delta, and has many Asian and feeder services. Compare both for each booking.
How long does shipping from Shekou 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 on a direct service, plus time for trucking, customs and delivery.
Can goods reach Shekou by barge?
Yes. Barges connect Shekou and Dachan Bay with river terminals across the Pearl River Delta.
Can I ship LCL from Shekou?
Yes. LCL services leave from the Shenzhen terminals to the main ports in North America and Europe.
Does Shekou close during typhoons?
When a strong typhoon approaches, terminal operations can be suspended for safety, usually for a day or two.
Checked on 3 November 2026. Terminal figures are from published port and industry sources; rates are updated monthly and schedules change by carrier and season. Shipping from Shenzhen? Tell us where your supplier is and get a quote within 2 hours.
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