North Sea ports
The busiest gateways in Europe, with the most sailings from China. A good base for the Benelux, Germany, northern France and Scandinavia.
- Most sailings
- FCL and LCL
Shipping from China to Europe
Sea, rail and air freight from China to every EU country, cleared once at the right entry point and delivered to one or many addresses across Europe.
- One customs clearance for the whole EU
- North Sea, Mediterranean or rail entry
- Pallet distribution to several countries
One Clearance, 27 Countries
The EU is a single customs territory. When shipping from China to Europe, goods are cleared once, in the country where they enter, and can then travel by truck to any other EU country without a second customs check.
So the real question is not which country you sell in, but where your goods should enter. The right entry point depends on where your customers or warehouses are, how fast you need the stock, and whether one container has to be split between several countries. As your freight forwarder from China to Europe, JIEYI plans that route from your suppliers in China to the final addresses in Europe.
Plan My Europe Shipment
Shipping Routes from China to Europe
Four main routes lead into the EU. Each entry point suits a different part of Europe and a different deadline.
Mediterranean ports
Closer for customers in Spain, Italy, southern France and Greece, which cuts the truck leg after the port.
- Shorter delivery in the south
- FCL and LCL
China–Europe rail
Trains enter the EU at the Polish border and run on to terminals in Poland, Germany and other countries. Usually weeks faster than sea and much cheaper than air.
- Good for central Europe
- FCL and LCL departures
Air freight hubs
For launches, samples and urgent replenishment, with customs clearance at the arrival airport and road delivery onward.
- Fastest option
- Best for light goods
China to Europe Shipping Times by Country
Typical entry points and door-to-door times from South China. We confirm the schedule for each booking.
| Destination | Usual entry | Sea, door to door | Rail, door to door |
|---|---|---|---|
| Netherlands and Belgium | Rotterdam, Antwerp | 40–50 days | 25–35 days |
| France | Le Havre, or Antwerp plus truck | 40–55 days | 28–38 days |
| Italy | Genoa, La Spezia | 40–55 days | 30–40 days |
| Spain and Portugal | Valencia, Barcelona | 40–55 days | 30–40 days |
| Poland and central Europe | Gdańsk, or rail via Małaszewicze | 45–60 days | 22–32 days |
| Nordic countries | Rotterdam or Hamburg plus truck or ferry | 45–60 days | 30–40 days |
Sea times depend on whether vessels sail through the Suez Canal or around Africa. We check the current routing when we quote.
Shipping Cost from China to Europe (November 2026)
Typical rates in November 2026 for the main freight from South China. Rates change weekly; send your details and we reply with today’s price within 2 hours.
| Method | Typical cost | Door-to-door time |
|---|---|---|
| Sea FCL, 20ft to North Sea ports | about $2,100–2,600 | 40–55 days |
| Sea FCL, 40ft to North Sea ports | about $3,600–4,100 | 40–55 days |
| Sea FCL, 40ft to Mediterranean ports | about $4,200–4,700 | 40–55 days |
| Sea LCL | quoted per shipment | 45–60 days |
| Rail freight, 40ft to Duisburg or Małaszewicze | about $4,600–6,600 | 25–40 days |
| Air freight (100 kg+) | about $4.5–7 per kg | 5–10 days |
Sea rates are for the ocean freight from South China. EU customs, import VAT, duties and delivery are extra unless you ship DDP. See the container shipping cost guide or ask for today’s price.
Compare Cost and Speed to Europe
Door-to-door times to an EU address, with a rough guide to cost per kilo.
| Option | Best for | Door-to-door time | Cost per kg | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea freight FCL | Full containers to one warehouse | 40–55 days | $$$$ | Sea freight |
| Sea freight LCL | Pallets for EU distributors and stores | 45–60 days | $$$$ | Shared containers |
| Rail freight | Regular restocking in central Europe | 25–40 days | $$$$ | Rail freight |
| Air freight | Urgent goods, from about 100 kg | 5–10 days | $$$$ | Air freight |
| Express courier | Samples and small parcels | 3–7 days | $$$$ | Express |
Sea, Rail or Air? Find Your Starting Point
Pick the weight and the deadline. For Europe we include rail whenever it fits.
EU Customs and VAT: What Applies Everywhere
The same customs rules apply at every EU border. VAT is set by each country.
EORI number
Every business importing into the EU needs an EORI number. One EORI, issued by any EU country, works at every EU border.
Import VAT by country
Import VAT is charged at the rate of the country where goods are cleared. Standard rates range from 17% to 27%, and VAT-registered businesses can usually reclaim it.
Customs procedure 42
Goods can be cleared in one EU country and delivered straight to a VAT-registered buyer in another, with import VAT accounted for in the destination country instead.
One EU tariff
Customs duty uses the same EU tariff (TARIC) everywhere, so the duty is the same whichever port you use.
ICS2 advance data
Safety data for every shipment is filed before departure: accurate goods descriptions, HS codes and full consignee details.
Selling in several EU countries?
Tell us where your buyers are and we suggest the entry point and clearance setup.
Ask for a Europe quoteOne Container, Several EU Countries
How a mixed shipment for buyers in different countries usually moves.
- 1
Consolidate in China
We collect from your suppliers and load one container, labelled by destination.
- 2
One main transport
Sea or rail to the entry point that suits most of the delivery addresses.
- 3
Clear once
EU customs clearance at the entry point, using procedure 42 where the buyers are VAT registered.
- 4
Break down into pallets
The container is unloaded and split by destination at a cross-dock near the port.
- 5
Truck to each country
Pallets go by road to each address, usually within 2–5 days across the EU.
- 6
Proof of delivery
You receive delivery confirmation for every address.
Amazon Across Europe
Amazon runs marketplaces in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden and Belgium. You can send all stock to one country and let Amazon fulfil orders across Europe from there, or split each shipment so every marketplace has stock close to its customers. Holding stock in a country usually means registering for VAT there, so decide the stock plan before booking.
- One shipment split by fulfilment centre
- Labels checked in China
- Rail or sea for restocks, air for launches
- Delivery appointments booked
Cost Example: 8 CBM from China to Europe
8 CBM of general goods in 60 cartons, 1,200 kg in total. By air the chargeable weight is about 1,334 kg (8 CBM × 1,000,000 ÷ 6000), because volume weighs more than the goods.
| Option | Main freight (November 2026) | Door to door |
|---|---|---|
| Rail LCL | about $1,360–1,760 | 25–40 days |
| Air freight | about $6,003–9,338 | 5–10 days |
| Sea FCL, 20ft to North Sea ports | about $2,100–2,600 | 40–55 days |
Main freight only. Pickup, customs, duties and delivery are added in your quote. Under about 13 CBM, LCL is usually the cheaper option; between about 13 and 28 CBM we compare LCL with a 20ft container, which is faster and has lower destination charges.
China to Europe Shipping: FAQ
How long does shipping from China to Europe take?
Door to door, sea freight usually takes about 40–60 days depending on the country and routing, rail freight 25–40 days, air freight 5–10 days and express 3–7 days.
How much does shipping from China to Europe cost?
In November 2026, the ocean freight for a 40ft container from South China is about $3,600–4,100 to North Sea ports such as Rotterdam and Hamburg, and about $4,200–4,700 to Mediterranean ports. A 20ft container to North Sea ports is about $2,100–2,600. Rail is about $4,600–6,600 for a 40ft container. Air freight is about $4.5–7 per kg for 100 kg or more. Rates change weekly, so we quote today’s price within 2 hours.
What are the main shipping routes from China to Europe?
There are three main routes. Most ships sail through the Suez Canal to Mediterranean and North Sea ports. When that route is disrupted, ships go around the Cape of Good Hope, which adds about one to two weeks. The third route is the China–Europe railway, which enters the EU at the Polish border and is usually weeks faster than sea.
Which European port is best for goods from China?
Choose the port closest to most of your delivery addresses. Rotterdam, Antwerp and Hamburg suit northern and central Europe, while Valencia, Barcelona and Genoa are closer for Spain, Italy and southern France.
Do I need to clear customs in every EU country?
No. Goods are cleared once when they enter the EU and can then move to any other EU country without another customs clearance.
Can one container go to buyers in several countries?
Yes. We clear the container at the entry point, split it into pallets and deliver each pallet by truck to its address.
Is the UK part of this?
No. The UK left the EU, so shipments to the UK need their own customs clearance. See our China to UK page for details.
Does Switzerland or Norway follow EU customs?
No. Switzerland and Norway are outside the EU customs union, so goods need a separate import clearance there.
Related Services for Europe
- China–Europe Rail Freight
- Sea Freight from China
- DDP Shipping from China
- Amazon FBA Shipping
- China–Europe Rail Freight Guide
- Container Shipping Cost from China
- Shipping Routes from China
- Shipping from China to Germany
- Shipping from China to France
- Shipping from China to the Netherlands
- Shipping from China to Italy
- Shipping from China to Spain
- Shipping from China to Poland
Shipping to Europe?
Send the product, volume and delivery countries. We suggest the entry point and reply with sea, rail and air prices.
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