Shipping from China to Germany
Shipping from China to Germany gives you four practical options. Air freight: 3–6 days at about $3.50–8.00 per kg into Frankfurt. Sea: 28–38 days at $50–90 per CBM for LCL, 20ft containers from roughly $2,000–3,200 into Hamburg or Bremerhaven. Rail to Duisburg is Germany's special advantage — 18–28 days, priced between sea and air.
DDP shipping from China to Germany includes pickup, freight, EU customs clearance with the 19% import VAT, and door delivery anywhere in Germany — one all-in price from one team.
Sea freight from China to Germany
| Route | Transit | Reference price |
|---|---|---|
| Shenzhen/Guangzhou → Hamburg | 28–38 days | 20ft from ~$2,000 · 40HQ from ~$3,000 |
| Shenzhen/Guangzhou → Bremerhaven | 30–40 days | 20ft from ~$2,100 |
| LCL (any origin → DE hubs) | 28–38 days | $50–90 per CBM |
| Rail: China → Duisburg | 18–28 days | Ask for current rail rates |
Reference ranges — live rates change weekly; ask for today’s price.
Air freight from China to Germany
Air freight to Germany runs 3–6 days at roughly $3.50–8.00 per chargeable kg into Frankfurt or Munich — chargeable weight is the higher of actual weight or CBM × 167.
DDP door-to-door to Germany
One all-in price covering pickup in China, freight, customs clearance, duties and final delivery — properly declared, no creative customs.
- Step 1 · Pickup in China
We collect from your supplier, inspect, and consolidate at our Ningbo warehouse.
- Step 2 · Export & freight
Export declaration, loading, and the route you chose — documents shared at every step.
- Step 3 · Customs clearance
Our destination partner clears the shipment and pays duties properly — correct values, real declarations.
- Step 4 · Final delivery
To your door, warehouse, or FBA center — with tracking that works the whole way.
DDP reference: sea ≈ $4–6/kg · air ≈ $7.5–9/kg
Customs in Germany — what to know
EU import VAT 19% (on goods + freight + duty), duty 0–12% by HS code. China–Europe rail to Duisburg (18–28 days) is a real cost/speed middle ground. Main ports: Hamburg, Bremerhaven.
FAQ — China to Germany
+How does German import VAT work?
EU import VAT is 19% on (goods + freight + duty) for most goods. Under DDP we clear and pay it; registered businesses can reclaim it as input tax — we provide the full documentation pack.
+Why is rail so popular for Germany?
Duisburg is the western terminus of the China–Europe rail bridge: about 18–28 days door-to-door, roughly half of air's cost — a genuine middle option for electronics and mid-value goods.
+Can you deliver to other EU countries through Germany?
Yes — Germany is our EU gateway. We deliver DDP to all EU member states, or hand over to your EU carrier under DAP terms.