With the increasing trade between China and Germany in the fields of manufacturing, machinery, auto parts, electronic products, etc., Germany has become one of the key markets for China’s exports. Whether it is full container cargo, LCL cargo, or small batches of high value-added goods, there are many ways to ship from China to Germany, and the cost varies depending on the method, timeliness, season and service terms.
So how much does it cost to ship from China to Germany? What factors are related to it?
Shipping from China to Germany
Germany is the engine country of the EU economy, with a well-developed transportation network and efficient connection between ports and railway systems. There are three main ways to transport goods from China to Germany, namely sea transportation, air transportation and rail transportation (China-Europe Express).
Main transportation routes from China to Germany:
Sea freight routes generally depart from major ports in coastal cities in China (such as Shanghai, Ningbo, Qingdao, Shenzhen) and arrive at Hamburg Port (Hamburg), Bremen Port (Bremen/Bremerhaven) and other ports in Germany, and then distribute them to inland areas such as Frankfurt, Munich, Berlin, etc. by truck or rail.
Air freight can fly directly or transit through major Chinese cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou) to important hubs such as Frankfurt International Airport (FRA) and Munich Airport (MUC).
China-Europe railway transportation (China-Europe Express) has developed rapidly in recent years. It can directly reach Duisburg, Hamburg and other cities from Xi’an, Yiwu, Chengdu and other places. It is currently the choice with balanced cost and timeliness.
Which method to choose depends on your comprehensive consideration of delivery time, cost control, customs clearance capabilities, etc. Let’s break down the cost and applicable scenarios of each method in detail.
How much does it cost to ship from China to Germany
The freight from China to Germany depends on many factors, including the mode of transportation, the weight and volume of the goods, the destination port or airport, tariffs and additional charges. Different types of goods are suitable for different modes of transportation, and freight rates will also vary due to market supply and demand fluctuations.
The cost of air freight from China to Germany is usually US$4 to US$9 per kilogram, the cost of sea freight for a 20ft container is US$2,500 to US$4,500, and the cost of rail transport for a 40ft container is US$6,800 to US$8,800. You can refer to the table below:
| Shipping Method | From China to the Germany (Cost) |
|---|---|
| Sea Freight (20ft Container) | Approx. USD 2,550 for a 20ft container |
| Sea Freight (40ft Container) | Approx. USD 3,250 for a 40ft container |
| LCL Sea Freight | Approx. USD 100 per cubic meters (m3) |
| DDP Shipping | Approx. 2 USD per kg for sea freight and 8 USD per kg for air freight |
| Air Shipping | Approx. USD 500 for 100kg (Approx. USD 5 per kilo) |
| Rail Freight | Approx. USD 8500 for a 40ft container |
| Express Shipping | Approx. USD 7.5 per Kgs |
Cost of shipping 20ft and 40ft containers from China to Germany
The cost of shipping containers from China to Germany depends on a variety of factors, including the type of full container you use (20ft, 40ft, 40 high cube) and market-fluctuating shipping costs. Below is a list of the cheapest prices for shipping various goods from major Chinese ports to Germany using 20ft and 40ft containers (full container).
| Container Shipping Routes | Container Type | Sea freight rates from China to Germany |
| Shanghai, China – Germany | 20ft container FCL | Average Rates: $2750 20FT |
| 40ft container FCL | Average Rates: $3450 40FT | |
| Shenzhen, China – Germany | 20ft container FCL | Average Rates: $2650 20FT |
| 40ft container FCL | Average Rates: $3350 40FT | |
| Ningbo-Zhouhsan, China – Germany | 20ft container FCL | Average Rates: $3050 20FT |
| 40ft container FCL | Average Rates: $3850 40FT | |
| Hongkong, China – Germany | 20ft container FCL | Average Rates: $2950 20FT |
| 40ft container FCL | Average Rates: $4050 40FT | |
| Guangzhou, China – Germany | 20ft container FCL | Average Rates: $2950 20FT |
| 40ft container FCL | Average Rates: $4050 40FT | |
| Qingdao, China – Germany | 20ft container FCL | Average Rates: $3250 20FT |
| 40ft container FCL | Average Rates: $3950 40FT | |
| Tianjin, China – Germany | 20ft container FCL | Average Rates: $3150 20FT |
| 40ft container FCL | Average Rates: $4250 40FT | |
| Dalian, China – Germany | 20ft container FCL | Average Rates: $3850 20FT |
| 40ft container FCL | Average Rates: $4550 40FT | |
| Xiamen, China – Germany | 20ft container FCL | Average Rates: $3200 20FT |
| 40ft container FCL | Average Rates: $3800 40FT | |
| Yingkou, China – Germany | 20ft container FCL | Average Rates: $3250 20FT |
| 40ft container FCL | Average Rates: $4250 40FT |
The cost of shipping a full container from China to Germany is affected by many factors. Fuel surcharges, port congestion charges, market supply and demand conditions, and exchange rate fluctuations can all cause freight rates to change.
For example, a Chinese furniture manufacturer wants to export a batch of furniture to Germany with a total volume of 32 cubic meters and a weight of 17 tons. It is more appropriate to use a 40-foot container. If the market is stable, fuel prices are normal, and port operations are smooth, the freight may be around US$3,000; but if it is the peak shipping season, the port is severely congested, and fuel prices rise, the freight may soar to more than US$4,500.
LCL cost of shipping from China to Germany
LCL shipping from China to Germany is suitable for situations where the quantity of goods is small and cannot fill a container. The cost is calculated based on the weight and volume of the goods, whichever is higher.
Generally speaking, the cost per cubic meter is between US$80-220, and the cost per kilogram is about US$1-3 (the specific cost will vary depending on factors such as freight forwarding, market supply and demand, seasonal changes, etc.). You can refer to the cost price range of 10 cubic meters of goods in the table below.
| POL (port of loading) | POD (port of discharge) | LCL shipping cost |
|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | Hamburg | $85-$225 |
| Shenzhen | Hamburg | $80-$215 |
| Qingdao | Hamburg | $80-$220 |
| Ningbo | Hamburg | $95-$220 |
| Shanghai | Bremen | $95-$220 |
| Shenzhen | Bremen | $80-$215 |
| Qingdao | Bremen | $75-$225 |
| Ningbo | Bremen | $75-$225 |
For example: A Chinese e-commerce seller wants to send a batch of small accessories to Germany, with a total weight of 600 kg and a volume of 1.8 cubic meters. The cost calculated by volume is 1.8 cubic meters × 130 US dollars / cubic meter = 234 US dollars, and the cost calculated by weight is 600 kg × 1.5 US dollars / kg = 900 US dollars. In the end, the freight is charged by volume, and the freight is about 234 US dollars. The transportation time of LCL sea freight is slightly longer than that of FCL sea freight, which takes about 32-42 days.
Air freight Cost from China to Germany
Air freight is the main mode of transportation from China to Germany, suitable for medical equipment, IT products, industrial parts, sample goods, etc. As a European aviation hub, Germany has multiple airports that support direct cargo flights from China. The air freight from China to Germany is generally between 4 and 9 US dollars, please refer to the following table:
| Departure Airport (China) | Arrival Airport (Germany) | Cost Range (USD/kg) |
| Shanghai Pudong | Frankfurt | $4.8 – $10.0 |
| Guangzhou Baiyun | Frankfurt | $5.0 – $9.8 |
| Beijing Capital | Frankfurt | $5.5 – $8.8 |
| Shanghai Pudong | Munich | $4.5 – $8.0 |
| Guangzhou Baiyun | Munich | $5.0 – $9.5 |
| Beijing Capital | Munich | $5.5 – $8.8 |
| Shanghai Pudong | Hamburg | $4.0 – $8.5 |
| Guangzhou Baiyun | Hamburg | $5.2 – $9.8 |
| Beijing Capital | Hamburg | $5.0 – $9.0 |
Air freight price range:
45–100 kg: $6.5 – $8.5/kg
100–300 kg: $5.5 – $7.0/kg
More than 300 kg: $4.8 – $6.2/kg
Air freight from China to Germany’s main airport routes:
Shanghai PVG, Guangzhou CAN, Hong Kong HKG → Frankfurt FRA, Munich MUC
Transit cities such as Istanbul and Dubai are also often used for price optimization
Cost of railway transportation from China to Germany
The China-Europe Express has become an important logistics channel in the trade between China and Germany. Its time efficiency is significantly better than sea transport, and its price is more competitive than air transport. It is one of the fastest growing modes of transportation in recent years.
The cost of rail transport from China to Germany is generally between US$2.5-4.5 per kilogram, the door-to-door DDP service costs $3.8-$5.5/kg (including VAT, customs clearance, and delivery), and the cost of a 40-foot full container is between US$6,800-9,800. Please refer to the table below.
| Departure City(China) | Arrival City(Germany) | LCL Shipping Cost | FCL Shipping Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chengdu | Hamburg | $200 – $550 / CBM | $6800-$9500 /40FT |
| Chongqing | Hamburg | $220 – $530 / CBM | $7100-$9800 /40FT |
| Xi’an | Hamburg | $230 – $540 / CBM | $7000-$9600 /40FT |
| Yiwu | Hamburg | $240 – $550 / CBM | $7500-$9800 /40FT |
For example, a batch of electronic products weighing 1600 kg and a volume of 4.5 cubic meters is shipped from China to Germany, and the total freight is about US$3000-7200.
Common departure and arrival points:
Yiwu, Xi’an, Chongqing, Chengdu → Duisburg, Hamburg, Munich,
Railway transport usually has 2-5 flights per week, supports e-commerce packages and Amazon FBA warehousing, and is especially suitable for medium-sized batches of merchants who want to be on the shelves on time.
DDP or door-to-door shipping costs from China to Germany
Door-to-door transportation provides customers with a one-stop convenient service, covering the entire process from picking up goods at the place of shipment in China, to transportation, customs clearance, and door-to-door delivery at the destination in Germany. Freight forwarders play a core role in door-to-door transportation services, and undertake the coordination and management of each link. Most customers who need door-to-door transportation will choose the DDP term.
The cost of DDP shipping a 20ft container from China to Germany can be referred to the following table:
| Cost Component | Average Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Base Shipping Rate | $2,500 – $4,200 |
| Fuel Surcharge | $250 – $450 |
| Port Fees | $150 – $250 |
| Customs Duties | $200 – $400 |
| Insurance | $100 – $200 |
| Total Cost | $3,200 – $5,500 |
During the door-to-door delivery stage, the freight forwarder will arrange a professional delivery team to deliver the goods safely and accurately to the designated address in Germany, whether it is a commercial place or a private residence. The cost of door-to-door transportation is relatively high, which takes into account factors such as the weight, volume, transportation distance, transportation method and various service fees of the goods.
For example, a batch of goods weighing 1,200 kilograms and a volume of 5.5 cubic meters may cost between US$2,800 and US$4,500 if it is shipped by door-to-door sea freight service. However, this mode of transportation saves customers a lot of time and energy, and customers do not need to personally handle various tedious matters during the transportation process. It is particularly suitable for customers who have high requirements for transportation convenience.
If you are interested in the cost of shipping from China to other European countries, you can read:
- How Much does it Cost to Ship from China to France
- How Much Does It Cost to Ship from China to Italy
- How Much Does It Cost to Ship from China to the Netherlands
- How Much Does it Cost to Ship from China to Greece
- How Much does it Cost to Ship from China to Romania
- How Much Does It Cost to Ship from China to Finland
- How Much is the Shipping Cost from China to Norway
- How Much is the Shipping Cost from China to Hungary
Factors that affect the cost of shipping from China to Germany
It is not enough to just look at the freight rate when estimating the cost of shipping from China to Germany. The following variables will directly affect the total cost and must be evaluated comprehensively:
Matching the place of departure and the mode of transportation
If the goods are in inland cities in China (such as Changsha and Wuhan), it is more advantageous to export by rail; if they are in coastal cities, sea transportation is more cost-effective.
Cargo attributes and packaging methods
Products with light weight but large volume (such as household goods and plastics) are suitable for sea or rail; while high-density and high-value goods are suitable for air transportation. Reasonable compression of packaging volume can save more than 20% of costs.
Trade terms (FOB / CIF / DDP)
FOB is suitable for buyers with self-control; DDP is suitable for customers who want “one price” and “zero risk”, especially those who are new to the industry or merchants on e-commerce platforms.
German customs clearance policy and VAT rate
The German VAT standard rate is 19%. If the DDP method is adopted, the logistics company can pay and clear it on behalf of the buyer. Self-clearance requires EORI number, tax representative, etc., and the procedures are relatively complicated.
Season and space supply
Every year on Double 11, Black Friday, and Christmas Eve, the German market’s demand for Chinese products surges, and sea and air freight rates are prone to rise. Space should be booked 1-2 months in advance.
When planning the shipping of goods from China to Germany, the shipper needs to comprehensively consider the above factors and choose the most economical and appropriate transportation method and service according to the specific situation of the goods and its own needs.