Shipping from China to Greece is a common demand of many companies and individuals, especially in the context of increasingly close trade between China and Greece. Understanding the shipping costs from China to Greece is the key to planning a logistics budget. This article will introduce the cost structure of shipping from China to Greece in detail to help you better choose the appropriate transportation method.
Shipping from China to Greece
The main modes of transportation from China to Greece include sea, air and rail. The cost and timeliness of each mode vary. Choosing the right mode can significantly reduce costs and improve efficiency.
Sea Freight from China to Greece
Sea transportation is the most economical mode of transportation, suitable for large quantities of goods or customers with low timeliness requirements. From major Chinese ports (such as Shanghai and Ningbo) to the Port of Piraeus in Greece, the sea transportation time is usually 25-35 days. In terms of cost, the cost of a 20-foot container is about US$2,200-4,500, and the cost of a 40-foot container is about US$2,800-5,500.
Air Freight from China to Greece
Air transportation is the fastest mode of transportation, suitable for high-value or urgently needed goods. From major Chinese airports (such as Beijing and Guangzhou) to Athens International Airport in Greece, the air transportation time is usually 3-7 days. The cost is calculated by weight or volume, usually US$5-10 per kilogram.
Railway transportation from China to Greece
Railway transportation is an efficient mode of transportation that has emerged in recent years, especially suitable for cargo transportation between China and Europe. Through the China-Europe Express, the railway transportation time from China to Greece is usually 18-25 days. In terms of cost, the cost of a 40-foot container is about US$6,500-9,500.
Cost of shipping from China to Greece
The cost of shipping from China to Greece depends on many factors, including mode of transportation, weight and volume of goods, 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 fluctuations in market supply and demand. You can refer to the following table:
| Shipping Method | Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Air Freight | $5 – $10 per kg |
| Express charge | $8 – $15 per kg |
| Sea Freight (20ft) | $2,200 – $4,500 |
| Sea Freight (40ft) | $2,800 – $5,500 |
| Sea freight LCL (per cubic meter) | $100 – $200 |
| Rail transport FCL (40ft container) | $6,500 to $9,500 |
Cost of Shipping 20ft & 40ft Container from China to Greece
Sea freight is the most economical option from China to Greece, suitable for large quantities of goods, and can choose full container (FCL) or less than container (LCL). Sea freight costs mainly include basic freight, fuel surcharge, port handling fees and customs clearance fees.
| POL (port of loading) | POD (port of discharge) | 20ft container cost | 40ft container cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | Piraeus | $2550-$4550 | $3500-$4800 |
| Shenzhen | Piraeus | $2500-$4500 | $3550-$4750 |
| Ningbo | Piraeus | $2500-$4500 | $3450-$4650 |
| Shanghai | Patras | $2450-$4650 | $3250-$4800 |
| Shenzhen | Patras | $2300-$4300 | $3500-$5000 |
| Ningbo | Patras | $2350-$4450 | $3450-$4850 |
| Shanghai | Thessaloniki | $2400-$4300 | $3450-$4650 |
| Shenzhen | Thessaloniki | $2500-$4500 | $3500-$4800 |
| Ningbo | Thessaloniki | $2550-$4550 | $3450-$4850 |
Miscellaneous charges at the port of destination: $100 – $250/ticket
Transportation time: It takes about 30-40 days to ship by sea to Piraeus Port, depending on the route arrangement.
LCL Shipping Cost from China to Greece
| Departure Port (China) | Arrival Port (Greece) | LCL (USD/CBM) |
|---|---|---|
| Shanghai Port | Port of Piraeus | $80–$220 |
| Ningbo-Zhoushan Port | Port of Piraeus | $70–$210 |
| Shenzhen Port | Port of Piraeus | $90–$230 |
| Guangzhou Port | Port of Piraeus | $80–$220 |
| Qingdao Port | Port of Piraeus | $100–$240 |
| Tianjin Port | Port of Piraeus | $110–$250 |
Additional costs of shipping from China to Greece
- Customs clearance costs:
China export customs clearance costs: 50 – 150 USD.
Greece import customs clearance costs: 60 – 200 USD, depending on the type of cargo. - Insurance:
Optional but recommended, costs 0.15% – 0.25% of the cargo value. - Port handling fees:
Port handling fees at Greece arrival ports are usually 80 to 150 USD per container. - Documentation fees:
Preparing bills of lading and other documents usually costs 20 to 40 USD.
Air Freight Cost from China to Greece
Air freight is the fastest mode of transportation from China to Greece, suitable for high-value or urgently needed goods, usually costing $5-12 per kilogram.
Air freight costs are calculated based on the higher of actual weight or volume weight. The formula for calculating volume weight is: length × width × height (cm) / 6000. You can refer to: How is the Cost of Air Freight from China Calculated
| Departure Airport (China) | Arrival Airport (Greece) | Estimated Cost (USD/kg) |
|---|---|---|
| Shanghai Pudong (PVG) | Athens International (ATH) | $4.50–$9.00 |
| Beijing Capital (PEK) | Athens International (ATH) | $4.50–$9.00 |
| Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN) | Athens International (ATH) | $5.00–$9.50 |
| Shenzhen Bao’an (SZX) | Athens International (ATH) | $5.00–$9.50 |
| Chengdu Shuangliu (CTU) | Athens International (ATH) | $5.50–$10.00 |
| Hong Kong International (HKG) | Athens International (ATH) | $4.50–$9.50 |
Air freight reference (per kg):
General cargo: $4.5 – $8/kg
Sensitive cargo (with batteries, chemicals): $6 – $12/kg
Express service (DHL/UPS/FedEx): $8 – $15/kg
Destination airports from China to Greece:
Athens International Airport (ATH)
Thessaloniki Airport (SKG)
Air freight time from China to Greece: 3-10 days (about 5 days for direct flights, 7-10 days via transshipment).
Railway transportation costs from China to Greece
Railway transportation is an efficient mode of transportation from China to Greece. It is faster than sea transportation and cheaper than air transportation. It is suitable for medium-volume goods, especially for customers who have certain requirements for timeliness and cost.
Railway transportation costs are calculated by container, and the cost of a 40-foot container is about US$6,500-9,500. In addition, additional costs such as customs clearance fees and terminal handling fees may also be incurred.
Door to door cost Shipping from China to Greece
Door to door shipping service from China to Greece provides customers with full logistics services from the place of delivery to the destination, which greatly facilitates customers.
The cost of door to door shipping from China to Greece usually includes transportation fee, customs clearance fee, delivery fee, etc. The specific fee depends on the type, weight and destination of the goods. Usually, the cost of door to door transportation is 20-30% higher than that of ordinary transportation.
The biggest advantage of door to door transportation is convenience. Customers do not need to worry about each link in the transportation process. The logistics company will be responsible for the whole process from picking up the goods to delivering the goods.
DDP cost Shipping from China to Greece
DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) means that the seller bears all transportation costs and risks until the goods arrive at the destination specified by the buyer.
The cost of DDP usually includes transportation fee, customs clearance fee, tariff and VAT, etc. The specific cost depends on the type, weight and destination of the goods. Usually, the cost of DDP is 30-40% higher than that of ordinary transportation.
The biggest advantage of DDP is that the buyer does not need to worry about transportation and customs clearance, and the seller will take care of all the links. In addition, DDP can provide a more accurate cost budget and avoid additional costs.
DDP Shipping requires the seller to be very familiar with the customs clearance policy of the destination country, so it is recommended to choose an experienced logistics company to cooperate.
If you are interested in the cost of shipping from China to other European countries, you can read:
Main factors affecting the cost of shipping from China to Greece
Transportation mode selection: Sea freight is the most economical and suitable for bulk goods; air freight is the fastest, but the cost is higher; rail transportation is a compromise choice, suitable for customers who have requirements for both timeliness and cost.
Cargo volume and weight: International transportation is usually calculated based on actual weight (kg) or volume weight (volume ÷ 6000), whichever is greater.
Different destinations have different costs: The main ports in Greece are Piraeus and Thessaloniki, and the additional charges in different ports may vary.
Tariffs and Value Added Tax (VAT): Greece is a member of the European Union, and imported goods are usually subject to tariffs and 24% VAT (different tax rates apply to different products).
Additional costs of Shipping from China to Greece
In addition to the basic freight, other costs may include:
- Fuel surcharge (FSC): adjusted with international oil prices.
- Customs clearance fee: $100 – $300, depending on the type of goods and customs declaration method.
- Storage fee: If the goods stay at the destination port for too long, additional storage fees may be incurred.
- Miscellaneous charges at the destination port: LCL goods generally need to pay port handling fees (THC), document fees, etc.
How to reduce the shipping cost from China to Greece?
Although international freight rates are greatly affected by the market, the following strategies can help optimize costs:
Booking space in advance, especially during peak seasons, can avoid high surcharges.
Choose the right mode of transportation. For non-urgent goods, try to choose sea or rail transportation to reduce air freight costs.
Optimize packaging, reduce volume weight, and reduce volume weight charges.
Find a reliable freight forwarder, such as Bestlink Logistics, we can provide preferential prices and one-stop logistics services.
The shipping cost from China to Greece depends on factors such as the mode of transportation, cargo weight, destination, taxes, etc. Ocean transportation is the most economical, air transportation is the fastest, rail transportation is a compromise, and express delivery is suitable for small batches of high-value goods. Bestlink Logistics can provide the best logistics solution according to your needs. Please contact us for the latest quotation.