The Port of Yantian in Shenzhen is one of the most important container ports in South China, and the main gateway for factory goods from Guangdong to the USA and Europe. If your supplier quotes “FOB Shenzhen” or your bill of lading says “Yantian, China”, this guide explains what the port is, which routes it serves, what shipping from it costs, how your cargo gets there step by step, and how to avoid the delays that catch first-time importers.
Key points
• Yantian is a deep-water container port in eastern Shenzhen, run by Yantian International Container Terminals (YICT).
• It handles some of the world’s largest container ships and has many direct sailings to North America and Europe.
• Most cargo from factories in Shenzhen, Dongguan and Huizhou can reach Yantian by truck the same day.
• A typical FCL shipment needs about 7–10 days from booking to departure; in peak season, book 2–3 weeks ahead.
• The biggest risks are missed cut-offs, peak-season space shortages and typhoons from summer to autumn. All three can be planned for.
Port of Yantian at a Glance
| Location | Yantian District, eastern Shenzhen, Guangdong province |
| Operator | Yantian International Container Terminals (YICT), a joint venture of Hutchison Ports and Shenzhen Yantian Port Group |
| Opened | 1994 |
| Berths | 16 deep-water container berths, plus new automated berths at Yantian East Port |
| Approach channel depth | About 17.4 m |
| Largest ships | Up to about 24,000 TEU at the new East Port berths |
| Volume | More than 13 million TEU a year (13.34 million TEU in 2020) |
| UN/LOCODE | CNYTN |
| Main routes | Transpacific (USA and Canada) and Asia–Europe |
| Hours | 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except during severe weather |
Yantian is one of several terminal areas that together make up the Port of Shenzhen. See our guide to the major ports in China for the full picture.
Why Yantian Matters for Shipments to the USA and Europe
Yantian was built for the largest ships on the main east–west trade routes. YICT reported that about 60% of the roughly 100 vessels calling each week were on European and American services, and that the terminal handled about a quarter of China’s foreign trade with the USA. The new automated East Port berths, with fully automated cranes and driverless yard vehicles, can take ships carrying up to 24,000 TEU.
For importers, that means:
- Many direct sailings to the US West and East Coasts, Canada and North European ports such as Rotterdam, Hamburg and Felixstowe. Most of the world’s major container lines call here.
- Choice of carriers and departure days, which helps when space is tight or a ship is delayed.
- Direct services, fewer transshipments. Cargo usually goes straight to the destination port instead of changing ships in another hub, which cuts the risk of delays and damage.
- A short trucking distance for factories in eastern Guangdong.
Where Your Goods Come From: Trucking to Yantian
Yantian sits on the east side of Shenzhen. For most suppliers in the eastern Pearl River Delta, a container can be loaded in the morning and delivered to the terminal the same day.
| Supplier location | Typical choice of port | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Shenzhen (Longgang, Bao’an, Longhua) | Yantian, or Shekou for western districts | Short haul; same-day delivery to the port is normal |
| Dongguan | Yantian or Shekou; Nansha for western Dongguan | Our home base; we compare the ports for every booking |
| Huizhou | Yantian | Yantian is usually the nearest major port |
| Guangzhou, Foshan, Zhongshan | Nansha, sometimes Shekou or Yantian | Longer haul to Yantian; worth it only for a better sailing or rate |
| Outside Guangdong | The supplier’s nearest major port | See ports in China |
Trucking times depend on traffic, the time of day and checks at the terminal gate, so we plan pickup with a buffer before the cut-off.
What Shipping from Yantian Costs
Typical main freight from South China, including Yantian, 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. Besides the main freight, a full quote includes:
- Origin charges in China: trucking to the port, terminal handling (THC), export customs declaration, documentation and seal fees.
- Surcharges: fuel (BAF) and, in busy months, a peak season surcharge (PSS) set by the shipping line.
- Destination charges: terminal handling, customs clearance, duties and taxes, and delivery to your address.
Ask for an itemised quote, so you can compare forwarders fairly. For a quick estimate from your carton sizes, try our freight cost calculator, and see container shipping cost from China.
Typical Transit Times from Yantian
| 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 |
Door-to-door times are longer: add trucking in China, customs and delivery at destination. Schedules change with each carrier and season, so we confirm the sailing for every booking. See shipping time from China to the USA.
From Factory to Ship: A Typical FCL Timeline
Here is how a full container from a factory in Dongguan usually moves through Yantian. Day 0 is the day the ship sails.
| When | What happens | What you need to do |
|---|---|---|
| Day −14 to −7 | Booking with the shipping line; space and equipment confirmed | Send the cargo details and the date goods are ready. In peak season, book earlier. |
| Day −7 to −5 | Empty container picked up from the depot | Make sure the supplier has finished packing and marking the cartons |
| Day −5 to −4 | Container loaded at the factory or our warehouse, sealed, photos taken | Check the loading photos and the carton count |
| Day −4 to −3 | Shipping instructions sent to the carrier; verified gross mass (VGM) declared | Confirm the consignee and notify party for the bill of lading |
| Day −3 to −2 | Export customs declaration filed and released; for US cargo, ISF filed at least 24 hours before loading | Provide the final commercial invoice and packing list |
| Day −2 to −1 | Container delivered to the terminal before the cut-off | Nothing, if documents are complete |
| Day 0 | Ship sails from Yantian | Arrange payment to your supplier if the B/L release depends on it |
| Day +1 to +3 | Bill of lading issued, tracking available | Check the B/L draft; see how to track a shipment |
The exact cut-off times are set by each shipping line and terminal for each sailing. Missing one by a few hours can mean waiting a week for the next ship, so we work back from the cut-off when we plan pickup.
Documents and Cut-Offs
- Commercial invoice and packing list: must match the goods and the shipping marks. See commercial invoice and packing list and shipping marks.
- Export customs declaration: filed before the customs cut-off. Suppliers without export rights can declare through their forwarder.
- Shipping instructions (SI): the details printed on the bill of lading. Changes after the SI cut-off usually cost an amendment fee.
- VGM: under international SOLAS rules, the weighed gross mass of every container must be declared before loading.
- ISF (US only): filed at least 24 hours before the container is loaded in China. See ISF filing.
- Special cargo: batteries, chemicals and other dangerous goods need extra documents and carrier approval before booking. See shipping batteries from China.
Yantian vs Shekou vs Nansha
| Yantian | Shekou / Chiwan | Nansha | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where | Eastern Shenzhen | Western Shenzhen | Southern Guangzhou |
| Strongest routes | USA, Canada and Europe on the largest ships | Many routes, including Southeast Asia, Latin America and some transpacific services | Wide range of routes, growing fast |
| Closest suppliers | Shenzhen, Dongguan, Huizhou | Shenzhen, Dongguan, Zhongshan | Guangzhou, Foshan, Zhongshan |
| On a quote | FOB Shenzhen or FOB Yantian | FOB Shenzhen or FOB Shekou | FOB Guangzhou or FOB Nansha |
All three have sailings to the USA and Europe. The best choice depends on where your supplier is and which carrier has the best schedule and rate that week. If your supplier quotes FOB Shenzhen, ask which terminal: the trucking cost and cut-off times can differ.
Peak Season, Typhoons and Other Delays
| Period | What happens at Yantian | How to plan |
|---|---|---|
| 4–6 weeks before Chinese New Year | Rush to ship before factories close; rates rise, space is tight | Book early; finish production at least two weeks before the holiday |
| Chinese New Year | Factories and trucking stop; few export bookings | Avoid ready dates during the holiday |
| Summer to autumn (typhoon season) | Strong typhoons can stop terminal operations for a day or more, as Super Typhoon Ragasa did in September 2025 | Leave a few days of buffer for urgent cargo |
| July to October | Peak season for Christmas stock; peak season surcharges | Book 2–3 weeks ahead; confirm the PSS in the quote |
| Late September (before Golden Week) | Another rush before the 1–7 October holiday | Ship before the holiday cut-off |
Other disruptions happen too. In mid-2021, a COVID-19 outbreak slowed operations at Yantian for several weeks and delayed cargo across South China. When one terminal is congested, a forwarder with options can move bookings to Shekou or Nansha. See China public holidays 2027 for planning.
Checklist Before You Ship from Yantian
- Confirm the ready date with your supplier, and add a few days of buffer.
- Agree the Incoterm and who pays which charges. See FOB vs EXW and FCA.
- Send your forwarder the product, carton count, weight and volume, and the delivery address.
- Check the carton marks and the packing list before loading.
- Ask for loading photos and the container and seal numbers.
- 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.
A Real Shipment: Furniture from Three Suppliers to Los Angeles
A US customer bought furniture from three suppliers in and around Shenzhen and shipped it as one full container to Los Angeles.
- The problem: one of the three factories finished late.
- What we did: instead of holding back the whole order, we collected the goods that were ready in batches, kept them together at our warehouse and moved the container loading date until the last order arrived.
- The result: one container, loaded once and shipped together. From the first pickup to delivery at the customer’s warehouse in Los Angeles took 38 days.
This is why the loading date matters as much as the sailing date: planning the pickups around each supplier’s ready date kept the order in one container instead of two smaller, more expensive shipments.
Shipping from Yantian with JIEYI
We are based in Dongguan, about an hour from the port, and Yantian is one of the ports we use most, especially for shipments to the USA and Europe. We can:
- Load full containers at your supplier’s factory and truck them straight to Yantian.
- Collect from several suppliers, check and consolidate the goods at our warehouse, and load one container or ship LCL.
- Handle export customs, booking, VGM 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.
If another port suits your shipment better, such as Shekou, Nansha or a port in East China, we tell you and quote both. See sea freight from China.
Supplier in Guangzhou or western Guangdong? Compare Yantian with Nansha port, Guangzhou’s main container terminal.
Shipping from western Shenzhen instead? See our guide to Shekou port and how it compares with Yantian.
FAQ
Where is Yantian port?
In Yantian District, in the east of Shenzhen, Guangdong province, close to the border with Hong Kong and about an hour by truck from Dongguan.
Is Yantian the same as Shenzhen port?
Yantian is part of the Port of Shenzhen, which also includes Shekou, Chiwan and other terminals. A quote for “FOB Shenzhen” may mean Yantian or one of the western terminals.
What is the port code for Yantian?
The UN/LOCODE for Yantian is CNYTN.
How long does shipping from Yantian 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.
How much does it cost to ship a container from Yantian?
It depends on the destination and the week. At November 2026 rates, a 40ft container to the US West Coast was about $7,600–8,500 and to North Europe about $3,600–4,100 for the main freight, plus origin and destination charges.
How far in advance should I book from Yantian?
Usually one to two weeks before the goods are ready. In peak season and before Chinese New Year, two to three weeks or more.
Can I ship LCL from Yantian?
Yes. Your cartons go to a consolidation warehouse, are loaded with other shippers’ goods and leave from Yantian or another Shenzhen terminal, depending on the service.
Does Yantian close during typhoons?
When a strong typhoon approaches, terminal operations can be suspended for safety, usually for a day or two. Ships and containers then wait, and schedules recover over the following days.
Checked on 2 November 2026. Port figures are from YICT and published port data; rates are updated monthly and schedules change by carrier and season. Shipping from Yantian? Tell us where your supplier is and get a quote within 2 hours.
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