Shipping from China to Europe takes between 5 and 45 days and costs anywhere from EUR 1 per kg in a container to EUR 8 per kg by courier. The freight itself is the easy part. What catches most importers out is the European side: EORI registration, import VAT, TARIC duty, product compliance under CE and GPSR, and, for the UK, a separate set of rules since Brexit.
Our team ships weekly consolidations and full containers from Shenzhen, Ningbo and Yiwu to Rotterdam, Hamburg, Felixstowe and inland rail terminals. Here is how we explain the options, paperwork and costs to a first-time client.
Key takeaways
- Four modes: express (5 to 8 days), air (7 to 12), rail (18 to 25), sea (35 to 45). Rail is the practical middle ground for 2 to 15 CBM when sea is too slow.
- You need an EORI number before anything can clear, plus a TARIC code to calculate duty and import VAT at the destination country rate.
- IOSS covers B2C parcels up to EUR 150 only; bulk stock goes through standard import clearance.
- Consumer products need CE marking where applicable and an EU-based responsible person under GPSR.
- The UK is a separate customs territory: GB EORI, UK VAT with postponed accounting, and UKCA or CE marking as currently accepted.
Shipping from China to Europe: options compared
| Mode | Door-to-door time | Best for | Indicative 2026 cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Express courier | 5 to 8 days | Samples, under 100 kg, urgent restocks | EUR 5 to 8 per kg at 50 to 200 kg |
| Air freight | 7 to 12 days | 100 to 500 kg, high-value goods | EUR 3.5 to 6 per kg plus clearance and delivery |
| China to Europe rail | 18 to 25 days | 2 to 15 CBM, Germany, Poland, Central Europe | EUR 200 to 400 per CBM door to door; roughly a third to a half of air |
| Sea LCL to Rotterdam, Hamburg, Felixstowe | 35 to 45 days | 2 to 13 CBM | EUR 120 to 300 per CBM door to door |
| Sea FCL 20ft / 40ft | 35 to 45 days | 15 CBM and above | 20ft EUR 1,500 to 3,000; 40ft EUR 2,200 to 4,500 port to port |
All prices are indicative and move with fuel, capacity and season. Rail is often ignored: a container from Chengdu, Xi'an or Yiwu reaches Duisburg or Hamburg in about three weeks, a useful compromise when sea would miss a launch and air would eat the margin. Rail availability has varied with geopolitical conditions, so confirm current routing with your forwarder.
For a detailed look at the crossover points between modes, read our comparison of sea vs air freight from China.
EU customs: EORI, duty, import VAT and IOSS
EORI number
Every business importing into the EU needs an Economic Operators Registration and Identification (EORI) number. One EORI from any member state is valid across the Union. Apply before your first shipment leaves China; some countries take weeks.
Duty by TARIC code
Goods are classified under a 10-digit TARIC code, which determines the duty rate and any anti-dumping measures. Many consumer goods carry low or zero duty, while categories such as bicycles and some steel and ceramic products carry significant anti-dumping duties. Check the current TARIC database rather than a supplier's guess.
Import VAT
Import VAT is charged at the rate of the country of clearance on the customs value plus duty plus freight and insurance. If you are VAT-registered in that country, you can reclaim it or, where the member state offers postponed accounting, declare and deduct it on the same return without paying cash at the border. Clearing in the Netherlands with an Article 23 license is popular for exactly this reason.
IOSS for low-value B2C consignments
There is no VAT exemption on low-value imports into the EU. For B2C parcels up to EUR 150, the Import One-Stop Shop lets you collect VAT at checkout and remit it monthly, so the customer gets no VAT bill on delivery. Non-EU sellers usually need an EU intermediary to register. IOSS does not apply to bulk freight, and the EU has discussed changes to low-value parcel duty, so verify current rules.
CE marking and GPSR: compliance before the goods ship
Customs clearance does not make a product legal to sell. Products covered by EU harmonization directives, including toys, electronics, PPE and machinery, need CE marking backed by a technical file and a Declaration of Conformity. Customs authorities target shipments from China for CE checks, and non-compliant goods can be held or destroyed.
The General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR), in force since December 2024, added a further requirement: consumer products placed on the EU market need an economic operator established in the EU, often called the responsible person, whose name and address appear on the product or packaging. For sellers outside the EU this usually means appointing an authorized representative, and marketplaces including Amazon enforce it at listing level. Regulations evolve, so treat this as a map of what to check and confirm the current requirements for your product category.
Shipping from China to UK: what is different
Shipping from China to UK follows its own process. You need a GB EORI number. Import VAT at the UK standard rate applies, but VAT-registered businesses can use postponed VAT accounting (PVA) to declare and reclaim it on the same return rather than paying at the border. Duty follows the UK Global Tariff, which is close to but not identical with the EU's.
On product marking, the UK introduced UKCA as its own conformity mark but has extended recognition of CE marking for many product categories indefinitely. Check the current position for your category before printing packaging. Northern Ireland follows EU goods rules and uses an XI EORI.
Felixstowe, Southampton and London Gateway are the main deep-sea ports. Sea transit from South China is 35 to 45 days door to door.
DDP vs DAP and the double clearance warning
DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) means the forwarder handles clearance, duty and VAT and delivers to your door for one price. DAP means they deliver, and you clear and pay. DDP suits a first small order; for regular stock, DAP with your own EORI and broker gives you proper VAT invoices and a clean audit trail.
The warning concerns very cheap DDP offers. Some forwarders run what is called double clearance or a grey channel: goods are cleared in one EU country under a nominee importer at a declared value far below reality, VAT is never properly paid, and the goods move on to you by truck. Tax authorities have pursued buyers for unpaid VAT, and you will have no import documents to reclaim VAT or prove the origin of stock. If a DDP rate looks like freight with duty and VAT thrown in for free, that is what you are being sold. Our guide to DDP shipping from China lists the questions that expose it.
Cost drivers, timeline and a step-by-step plan
Three variables set the cost of shipping from China to Europe: chargeable weight for air and express (volumetric divisor 6,000 for air, 5,000 for express), cubic meters for sea and rail, and destination charges such as terminal handling, brokerage and the final truck leg. Peak season surcharges hit from August to October and again before Chinese New Year. An itemized door-to-door quote is the only fair way to compare forwarders, and it is how our freight and customs service quotes.
A typical sea timeline from order completion: 2 to 4 days factory to port, 3 to 5 days awaiting vessel, 28 to 35 days at sea, 2 to 5 days clearance, 1 to 3 days delivery.
- Register. Get your EU or GB EORI and, if relevant, VAT registration or a fiscal representative in the country of clearance.
- Classify and check compliance. Tariff code, duty and anti-dumping, CE or UKCA, GPSR responsible person.
- Agree Incoterms. FOB from the Chinese port is the standard; EXW if your forwarder collects.
- Book freight. Provide weight, dimensions, value, code and delivery address; ask for door-to-door pricing.
- Inspect and label. Confirm packaging and labels before loading.
- Prepare documents. Commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, Declaration of Conformity, test reports, any certificates of origin. ENS filing happens before loading for EU-bound sea freight.
- Clear and deliver. Your broker lodges the declaration, VAT is paid or postponed, goods are released and trucked to you.
If you want one team handling the factory side and the freight side together, tell us what you are shipping on WhatsApp and we will send a door-to-door quote.
Amazon EU and UK FBA routing
Amazon.co.uk stock must clear into Great Britain. EU inventory can enter through any member state and, under Pan-European FBA, Amazon moves it between countries for you, though that creates VAT registration obligations in each storage country.
Amazon will not act as importer of record, so you need your own EORI and VAT setup or a DDP forwarder who clears in your name. The same logic applies that we describe for shipping from China to USA: fix labeling in China, route through a 3PL if you need to split across fulfillment centers, and never let a container arrive at an FC without a booked appointment.
Common mistakes when shipping from China to Europe
- No EORI when the goods land. Demurrage starts while you wait for the number.
- Ignoring anti-dumping duty. It can be several times the standard rate.
- Taking a grey-channel DDP rate. Cheap until the tax authority writes to you.
- No responsible person or CE file. Listings get suppressed or goods are stopped.
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Europe take?
Express courier takes 5 to 8 days door to door. Air freight takes 7 to 12 days. China to Europe rail takes 18 to 25 days to terminals such as Duisburg or Malaszewicze plus local delivery. Sea freight to Rotterdam, Hamburg or Felixstowe takes 35 to 45 days door to door. Add a week or two in peak season and before Chinese New Year.
How much is import VAT on goods from China to the EU?
Import VAT is charged at the standard rate of the EU country where the goods are cleared, typically between 17 and 27 percent depending on the member state, on the customs value plus duty plus freight. VAT-registered businesses can usually reclaim it or use postponed accounting where available. Rates and schemes change, so confirm with your broker or tax adviser.
What is IOSS and do I need it?
IOSS (Import One-Stop Shop) lets sellers collect VAT at checkout on B2C consignments valued up to EUR 150 and declare it through one monthly return, so the parcel clears without the buyer paying VAT on delivery. It is relevant for direct-to-consumer parcels, not for bulk B2B freight. Non-EU sellers generally need an EU intermediary to register.
Do I need an EORI number to import from China?
Yes. Any business importing into the EU needs an EORI number issued by one member state, valid across the Union. The UK has a separate GB EORI for imports into Great Britain, and Northern Ireland uses an XI EORI. Without it the broker cannot lodge your declaration and the goods wait at the port.
What is the cheapest way to ship from China to Europe?
Per unit, a full container by sea is the cheapest, followed by LCL sea freight at roughly EUR 120 to 300 per CBM door to door. Rail sits between sea and air on price and time. For small orders under 50 kg, express is often cheaper once you include minimum charges and clearance fees on LCL.
Need a hand with this?
Talk to our team in China today
Send us a product photo or a link on WhatsApp and we will come back within one business day with a free project assessment: realistic prices, MOQs, lead times and shipping options.
