Container Shipping from China to Germany: Container Types, Loading, and Handling
Eva Solutions organizes your container shipping from China to Germany — from choosing the right container type through loading and sealing at our warehouse in China to customs clearance and delivery.
- Standard containers in 20 and 40 foot, High Cube, reefer, open top, and flat rack
- We recommend the container type and load format (FCL or LCL) that suits your goods
- Loading at our own warehouse in China, with stowage planning, cargo securing, and a photo record
- Containers by ship, rail, or truck — we price all three routes for your shipment
- Container tracking, customs clearance in Germany, and delivery to your dock
Which Container Suits Your Goods?
Containers are standardized to ISO, but not interchangeable: height, door opening and payload decide what fits. The figures apply to common types in sea freight.
| Container type | Internal dimensions (L × W × H) | Volume | Max. payload |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20-foot standard | 5.90 × 2.35 × 2.39 m | 33.2 cbm | 28,130 kg |
| 40-foot standard | 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.39 m | 67.7 cbm | 28,750 kg |
| 40-foot High Cube | 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.70 m | 76.3 cbm | 28,600 kg |
| 20-foot open top | 5.90 × 2.35 × 2.34 m | 32.5 cbm | 30,050 kg |
| 40-foot flat rack | 12.01 × 2.23 × 1.98 m | — | approx. 40,000–45,000 kg |
Guide values based on shipping line specifications; they vary by series, especially for flat racks.
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Standard containers (dry van) in 20 and 40 foot
For most consumer goods from China: electronics, textiles, furniture, tools, household items. Door opening roughly 2.34 × 2.29 meters. 20-foot = 1 TEU, 40-foot = 2 TEU.
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40-foot High Cube
One foot taller, roughly 8 cubic meters more at 76.3 cbm, with practically the same payload. For bulky, lightweight goods: lamps, upholstered furniture, packaging materials, plastic articles.
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Reefer (refrigerated container)
Keeps cargo temperature-controlled for the entire journey, with power on board, at the terminal and on the chassis. For food, cosmetic raw materials, adhesives and anything that will not survive frost or heat. The insulation costs interior space.
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Open top and flat rack for oversized cargo
Loaded from above or from the side: open top with a tarpaulin cover for craned machinery and pipes, flat rack without side walls for heavy single pieces, around 40 to 45 metric tons. Cargo beyond the container outline: out-of-gauge surcharges.
Other special containers
- Platform A bare loading floor with no superstructure, for extreme dimensions.
- Hardtop An open top with a removable steel roof, more secure than a tarpaulin cover.
- Ventilated container Ventilation grilles against condensation, used for coffee or timber products.
- Flexitank A plastic bladder inside a standard container for non-hazardous liquids.
We choose the right type by dimensions, weight and sensitivity of the goods, before the container is booked.
How Much Fits into a Container?
Two limits decide when a container is full: volume and permitted payload. Which one you hit first depends on the goods.
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Volume limit first
Light, bulky goods such as furniture, packaging, or textiles: the container is full even though it weighs only a few metric tons.
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Weight limit first
Tiles, batteries, metal parts, or machinery: the container is at its weight limit while space remains free above the cargo.
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Weight on the onward leg limits your payload
Almost nobody uses the technically permitted payload in full. Once the container travels on by truck in Germany, the permitted gross weight of the vehicle combination applies: 40 metric tons as standard, 44 metric tons in combined transport — only on pre- and on-carriage to the nearest suitable terminal, or within a 150-kilometer radius of a sea or inland port. We check total weight and weight distribution before loading.
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FCL or LCL: who decides the container type?
FCL (Full Container Load): the container belongs to your shipment alone, you choose the type, we plan the loading. LCL (Less than Container Load): your goods travel in a shared container, the consolidation service sets type and stowage — reefers and open tops are off the table.
Rule of thumb: a 20-foot container takes around 11 euro pallets or 9 to 10 industrial pallets, a 40-foot container about 25 euro pallets. The High Cube gains height but no extra pallet positions — more pallets fit only if you double-stack.
The volume at which a dedicated container pays off: sea freight from China
Containers by Sea, Rail, or Truck
A container is a transport unit, not a transport route: the same box travels by sea, on the China–Europe rail service or by road, and the cargo stays untouched when the mode changes. Loading takes place at Shanghai, Shenzhen, Ningbo, Guangzhou and Qingdao; for rail and truck, at the terminal nearest your factory.
| Mode | Transit time | Cost level | When it makes sense |
|---|---|---|---|
| Container ship | 28–40 days | low | large volumes, predictable resupply |
| Container train (rail) | 15–25 days | medium | a compromise between time and cost |
| Truck | 14–22 days | medium | door to door, flexible departure day |
We price all three routes for your shipment and recommend the one that fits your deadline and budget. A container that starts as sea freight continues from the destination port of Hamburg or Bremerhaven by rail or truck; the modes can be combined within one shipment.
Container Loading in China: Stowage Planning, Cargo Securing, Sealing
You only see what is in the container when you open it in Germany — so we load at our own warehouse in China and document every step.
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Stowage planning
Heavy cartons at the bottom, weight spread evenly across the floor, no voids. Loading one side more heavily shifts the center of gravity and can push the vehicle over the permitted axle load on the road leg.
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Cargo securing
Pallets and cartons are lashed down, gaps filled with airbags or dunnage. Sensitive goods get edge protectors and desiccant bags against container sweat.
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Sealing and seal number
After loading, we close the container with a numbered security seal. The seal number goes into the shipping documents and is checked on opening — proof that nobody interfered with the container.
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Photo record of loading
Photos of the empty container, the loading in progress, the finished load and the fitted seal, plus container and seal numbers. If cargo is damaged in transit, this shows the condition it was loaded in.
Container Tracking: Where Is Your Container?
Every container has a unique number of four letters and seven digits. Use it to follow the shipment: position reports and port calls for a container ship, terminal stations for the rail service, GPS for a truck.
We also send updates proactively: at loading, departure, transshipment, arrival at the destination port and customs release.
Customs and Documents for Container Imports
We prepare the import clearance while the container is in transit, so it is cleared at the destination port instead of waiting on paperwork.
- Bill of lading (B/L) The shipping line's transport document and document of title. Without the original or a telex release, the port won't release the container.
- Commercial invoice The basis for the customs value and import VAT.
- Packing list Contents per carton and pallet — the basis for customs inspection and goods receipt.
- Proof of origin Needed for preferential rates or anti-dumping checks, depending on the product group.
- Product documentation CE declaration of conformity, test reports, further evidence depending on the product group.
To import into the EU you need an EORI number. The duty rate follows the commodity code in TARIC: 0 to 12% for the common product groups, individual headings above that, plus anti-dumping duties on certain goods from China. On top comes 19% import VAT on the customs value plus duties and transport costs up to the first destination in Germany (Section 11 of the German VAT Act).
We file the customs declaration, calculate the charges and pay them. We settle the commodity code in advance — a wrong classification costs time and demurrage at the port.
Costs: What Determines the Price of Your Container
- Container type and size
- A 40-foot container costs more than a 20-foot container but carries just over twice as much — per cubic meter it is cheaper. Reefers, open tops and flat racks sit well above the standard rate.
- Capacity utilization
- A half-filled container is expensive air. Before booking, we check whether your volume justifies the container or whether LCL is the better call.
- Mode and route
- Ship, rail and truck are priced differently; the departure port and destination add to that.
- Season and capacity
- Demand and rates climb ahead of Chinese New Year and Golden Week. Booking early secures both the slot and the price.
- Port charges
- Terminal handling, documentation fees, the shipping line's fuel surcharges and onward transport to your location are itemized separately.
- Demurrage and detention
- Demurrage is the charge for a container still in the terminal after the free time has expired; detention is the charge for returning it late from outside the terminal. Both almost always come from missing documents — we prepare the customs declaration before the ship berths, so your goods stay within the free time.
No flat rates, every shipment is calculated individually: sea or inland freight, handling, customs and delivery separately, every item disclosed.
Process: How Container Shipping Works with Eva Solutions
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Inquiry and container selection
You tell us the type of goods, dimensions, volume, weight and target date. We recommend container type, size and FCL or LCL, and prepare the quote.
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Pickup and consolidation
We collect the goods from your manufacturers and bundle partial deliveries at our warehouse in China: one container, one customs declaration.
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Loading and sealing
Stowage planning, cargo securing, closing with a numbered security seal. You also receive the photo record of the loading.
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Export handling and booking
Our office in China handles the export under our own export license, books the slot, and hands the container over to the shipping line, the rail operator, or the road carrier.
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Transport and tracking
You follow the container by its container number; we report transshipment and arrival as they happen.
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Customs clearance and delivery
Prepared customs declaration, payment of duty and import VAT, delivery to your warehouse.
- Usually within 24 hours on working days
- A first, non-binding assessment of your project
Who Is Container Shipping from China Right For?
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Importers and wholesalers
Regular shipments of half a container or more — lower freight cost per unit.
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Retailers with multiple suppliers
Partial deliveries from different factories that only fill a container once bundled.
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Amazon sellers
Predictable resupply by the container instead of many small shipments.
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Machinery and plant importers
Oversized cargo on open tops or flat racks.
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Importers of temperature-sensitive goods
Food, cosmetic raw materials, adhesives — only a reefer will do.
Why Eva Solutions for Your Container Shipping?
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Loading under our own supervision
We load at our own warehouse in China and document it with photos, so you see what goes into the container.
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Consolidation before loading
Partial deliveries from several manufacturers are bundled into one shipment: the container fills up, freight cost per unit drops, and several customs declarations become one.
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Our own office in China
Native-speaking staff, our own export license, and in-house lawyers coordinate pickup dates and prepare the export paperwork directly with your factories — no chain of intermediaries and no language barrier.
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Every mode compared
We price sea, rail and road for your container and recommend the route that fits your deadline, even if it is not the standard one.
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A German company with a real contact person
An office and a dedicated contact in Waldrach, Germany (Naga Technologies GmbH) — also our contact and service address. Your contact is reachable during German business hours and knows the container number and status of your shipment.
Four locations in China
Offices and warehouses in the north and south of China – where we collect and check goods and prepare them for export.
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Harbin
Head office and warehouse
Logistics park in Harbin where our warehouse is located
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Guangzhou
Office and warehouse
Guangzhou: the building that houses our warehouse
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Shenzhen
Office and warehouse
Shenzhen: the building that houses our office and warehouse
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Sanya
Office, IT and technology
Yazhou Bay Science & Technology City in Sanya, home to our office
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a container from China to Germany cost?
The price depends on container size, mode, route, season, and how well the container is filled. You will find price ranges for 20- and 40-foot containers on our sea freight page; for your specific shipment we calculate individually and break down every line item.
How long does it take to ship a container from China to Germany?
By container ship, 28 to 40 days door to door; by rail, 15 to 25 days; by truck, 14 to 22 days. Customs clearance and delivery in the destination country come on top.
How much fits into a 20-foot container?
Around 33 cbm of volume and technically up to about 28 metric tons of payload, with room on the floor for roughly 11 euro pallets. Whether volume or weight runs out first depends on the goods: furniture fills the space, tiles hit the weight limit.
How much fits into a 40-foot container?
About 67 cbm and up to roughly 28.7 metric tons, or 76 cbm as a High Cube. The floor takes around 25 euro pallets — the High Cube gains height, but no additional pallet positions.
How do I import a container from China?
You tell us the type of goods, dimensions, volume, weight, and target date; we recommend the container type and load format, collect the goods from your manufacturers, load and seal at our own warehouse in China, and handle export, transport, and import clearance. All you need is an EORI number; we take care of the rest.
What changes between FCL and LCL for my container?
With FCL (Full Container Load), the container is yours alone: you decide the type, we plan the stowage around your goods, and reefers, open tops, or flat racks are all available. With LCL (Less than Container Load), you share a container — the consolidation service dictates the type and the stowage plan, and special containers are not an option.
What container types are there?
Standard containers (dry van) in 20 and 40 foot, the 40-foot High Cube with extra height, reefers, open tops for loading from above, flat racks and platforms for oversized cargo, plus special designs such as hardtops, ventilated containers, and flexitanks for liquids.
Can I track my container from China?
Yes. You follow the shipment using the container number, made up of four letters and seven digits — position and terminal reports by sea, GPS by road. We also report loading, transshipment, arrival, and customs release without being asked.
Can goods from several suppliers go into one container?
Yes. We receive partial deliveries from different factories at our warehouse in China, check quantity and condition, and load them into a shared container — one shipment with one customs declaration instead of several separate imports.
What are demurrage and detention?
Demurrage is the charge for a container still standing in the terminal after the free time has expired. Detention applies when the container is used outside the terminal for longer than agreed and returned late. Both usually come from incomplete customs documents — we prepare the declaration before the ship arrives.
What documents do I need for a container import?
A bill of lading, commercial invoice, packing list, and — depending on the product group — proof of origin and product documentation such as a CE declaration of conformity. To import into the EU, you also need an EORI number.
Are my goods in the container insured?
The shipping line's liability is capped by law and rarely covers the value of the goods in a claim. On request, we arrange cargo insurance for the full value across the entire journey — loading, main leg, and onward transport. The photo record of loading and an intact seal help substantiate a claim with the insurer.
Can temperature-controlled or oversized goods travel by container?
Yes. Temperature-controlled goods travel in a reefer with continuous power, and oversized cargo on an open top, flat rack, or platform. Where cargo projects beyond the container profile, we check surcharges and feasibility before booking.
Is the container sealed?
Yes. Once loading is complete, we close it with a numbered security seal. The seal number appears in the shipping documents and is checked when the container is opened — an intact seal proves it was not opened in transit.
A Quote for Your Container from China
Tell us the type of goods, dimensions, volume, weight, and target date — we recommend the container type and mode and itemize every cost separately.
Need every detail in one place? Download the questionnaire, fill it in and send it to contact@versendex.de.
Planning a project in China?
Send us your enquiry with the product, quantity and destination. We'll work out which steps you need and come back to you with a proposal.