Whether your business is already importing from China to Germany or is looking to do so for the first time, Get clear shipping costs, fast transit options and customs support for your business.
As long as you have cooperated with a single order, you can experience the value of "being a better shipper than the shipper", and it is highly likely that you will not look for a second one.
Ship your cargo from China to Germany by air, sea, rail, truck or DDP (Door to Door).
China to Germany Shipping Costs and Times
For shipping from China to Germany, the best method depends on how fast you need the cargo and how large the shipment is. Air freight from China to Germany is the fastest option, usually taking 4–7 working days, with sample rates from Shenzhen to Berlin around $4.34–$10.03 per kg depending on shipment weight. Sea freight from China to Germany is better for large or heavy cargo, usually taking 20–35+ days, with sample container rates from Shenzhen to Hamburg starting around $2,379 for 20FT and $3,182 for 40FT.
For a balance between speed and cost, rail freight usually takes 14–25 days, while truck freight takes about 13–18 days and route examples range around $3,800–$6,000. DDP shipping from China to Germany can include pickup, export documents, transport, Germany customs clearance, duties/taxes handling, and door-to-door delivery. Final shipping cost from China to Germany depends on cargo weight, CBM, product type, pickup city, delivery address, customs needs, and season.
Choose the Best China to Germany Shipping Method：
Compare China to Germany shipping methods by speed, cost and cargo type. Choose the right option based on your shipment weight, CBM, delivery deadline, customs needs and final German delivery address.
Air Freight from China to Germany
Fastest option • High GSC demand
Best for: Urgent cargo, high-value goods, samples and time-sensitive B2B shipments.
Transit time: Usually 4–7 working days depending on airline, cargo type, route and customs.
Cost guide: Sample Shenzhen to Berlin air rates are around $4.34–$10.03 per kg depending on shipment weight.
Choose this if: You need fast China to Germany delivery and can accept a higher shipping cost.
Major Departure Airports in China：Guangzhou\Shenzhen\Beijing\Shanghai
Choosing an airport like Frankfurt can speed up not just arrival, but also customs clearance and inland distribution across Germany.
If you prefer a specific airline, this should be mentioned when requesting a quote.
Air Freight Transit Time to Germany
Air freight shipments to Germany are generally much faster than other modes of transportation. Air freight can arrive in days rather than weeks.
For nearly 30 years, Sunny Worldwide Logistics has never been late. Unless there is a natural disaster or force majeure event, our on-time delivery rate is 99%.
Air Freight Cost – Shenzhen (SZX) to Berlin (BER)
Route: Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport → Berlin Brandenburg Airport
Airport-to-Airport Time: 1–2 days
Rates are approximate and may change monthly. For an exact quotation, shipment details are required.
Sea Freight from China to Germany
Lower cost • Best for bulk cargo
Best for: Heavy cargo, large shipments, LCL cargo and 20FT / 40FT / 40HC containers.
Transit time: Usually 20–35+ days depending on port, carrier, service type and route.
Cost guide: Sample Shenzhen to Hamburg rates start around $2,379 for 20FT and $3,182 for 40FT.
Choose this if: You want a lower shipping cost for large or non-urgent cargo.
Sea freight is widely used for:
Industrial machinery
Production lines
Vehicles
Large commercial shipments
Sea freight becomes most efficient when your shipment fully utilizes container space, otherwise hidden LCL costs can add up quickly.
Sea Freight Rates (2026) – Shenzhen to Hamburg
These rates include:
Origin terminal handling
Documentation charges
Local origin charges
Ocean freight
Destination local charges
Destination documentation
Final pricing depends on cargo type and Incoterms.
sea freight can be a cost-effective and reliable option for shipping goods to Germany.
The Rhine and the Elbe serve as the main arteries for inland waterway traffic in Germany: from the Czech Republic, Austria and Switzerland, via Duisburg, Cologne, Hamburg and Bremen, to the deep-water ports in the river deltas along the north and north-west coasts, Emden, Bremerhaven and Rotterdam in the Netherlands. In 2022, the total volume of sea and rail container exchanges between the Port of Hamburg and China was approximately 2.46 million TEUs, far exceeding other European destinations.
Other major Germany ports are:
Port of Bremen and Bremerhaven
Port of Wilhelmshaven
Port of Duisburg
Port of Emden
Port of Kiel
Port of Lubeck
Port of Frankfurt
Generally, shipping to Germany can take rough 1 month.
Starts from 2025, the express ship from Ningbo China to Wilhelmshaven Germany, could sail in just 26 days.
With Wilhelmshaven as the distribution hub, the goods can be transported to Northern Europe and the Baltic Sea coast through water-to-water transit. They can also be transported by land to the entire northwest Europe such as Germany, France, Belgium, and major Central and Eastern European countries such as Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Poland. The whole journey takes only 30 days.
Rail Freight from China to Germany
Balanced speed & cost
Best for: Commercial cargo that needs faster delivery than sea freight but lower cost than air freight.
Transit time: Usually 14–25 days depending on northern route, middle corridor, season and customs.
Cost guide: Mid-range shipping cost, usually cheaper than air freight and faster than sea freight.
Choose this if: Sea freight is too slow but air freight is too expensive for your cargo.
Rail Freight from China to Duisburg Germany
As the largest inland port in Europe, Duisburg’s success stems from the deep integration of “water-rail transport + industrial cluster”. 60 China-Europe trains meet here every week, carrying 30% of China-Europe trade.
the Port of Hamburg is not only the largest seaport in Germany and the third largest in Europe, but also Europe’s largest rail port – even leading worldwide in many areas of hinterland connections by rail. At the same time, it is the largest industrial area in northern Europe.
As the Europe’s No. 1 rail port, Hamburg also plays a key role in the New Silk Road to China, with 200 scheduled connections per week.
Rail freight offers a balance between cost and transit time.
Estimated Transit Time
Northern Route: 14–18 days
Kazakhstan → Russia → Belarus → Poland → Germany
Middle Corridor: 18–25 days
Kazakhstan → Caspian Sea → Azerbaijan → Georgia → Turkey → Europe → Germany
Rail freight is typically faster than sea freight and more economical than air freight.
2026 FTL Price from china to Germany
Transit time may vary depending on border and customs procedures.
Other regular routes include:
Chongqing China – Duisburg Germany (One train per week)
Yiwu China – Duisburg Germany (One train per week)
Wuhan China – Duisburg Germany (One train per week)
The starting stations for return freight trains from Europe to China are concentrated in Duisburg, Germany and Lodz, Poland.
Truck Freight from China to Germany
Flexible routes • FTL & LTL
Best for: Flexible road delivery, mixed cargo types, full truck load and less-than-truckload shipments.
Transit time: Usually 13–18 days, depending on border process, customs and final German destination.
Cost guide: Route examples range around $3,800–$6,000 depending on origin city and destination.
Choose this if: You need a flexible China to Germany road freight option with direct routing.
DDP Shipping from China to Germany
Door-to-door • Customs included
Best for: Importers, eCommerce sellers, Amazon sellers and first-time buyers who want easier delivery.
Includes: Pickup in China, export documents, transport, Germany customs clearance, duties/taxes handling and final delivery.
Cost guide: DDP Air rates are listed by kg, and DDP Sea is priced by CBM depending on cargo type and route.
Choose this if: You want customs clearance and door-to-door delivery handled together.
DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) shipping means Sunny Worldwide Logistics manages the entire logistics process from pickup in China to final delivery in Germany.
Services Include:
Pickup from supplier
Export documentation
Customs declaration (China)
International transport
Customs clearance (Germany)
Final delivery
Available DDP Options：
DDP Air(6–8 Working Days)
DDP Sea– LCL (30–55 Days)
DDP Rail
DDP Road
DDP Rail & DDP Road
Required documents:
Packing List
Proforma Invoice
Product description
Estimated Transit Time
DDP Rail: 20–25 days (sometimes up to 30 days)
DDP Road: 15–20 days
Transit times may vary depending on season and customs conditions.
Express Shipping from China to Germany
Small parcels • Courier delivery
Best for: Small parcels, product samples, documents and light high-value goods under 30 kg.
Transit time: DHL / UPS / TNT usually take 3–5 days, while FedEx can take 5–13 days.
Cost guide: Express courier cost depends on package weight, courier company, dimensions and service level.
Choose this if: Your shipment is small and you need fast courier delivery to Germany.
Transit Time：
DHL / UPS / TNT: 3–5 days
FedEx: 5–13 days
EMS: 14–20 days
China Post: 20–40 days
Shipping from China to Germany is one of the core logistics services offered by Sunny Worldwide Logistics, a professional freight forwarder based in China. We work closely with German importers, traders, and business owners who source products from Chinese suppliers and need reliable transportation to Germany.
Established shortly after Shenzhen’s economic reforms, our company has operated steadily for 28 years, employs 113 colleagues, and enjoys an impeccable reputation.
We can provide you with the following services：
Available shipping methods
Estimated costs
Transit times
FCL vs. LCL comparison
DDP (Door-to-Door) solutions
Express courier options
Major airports and seaports
How the process works
The goal is simple: give you a clear, structured overview so you can choose the most suitable shipping method for your business.
