Sea Freight from China to Germany: FCL, LCL, and Container Transport
Eva Solutions organizes your sea freight from China to Germany — as a full container (FCL) or a shared container (LCL), from pickup at the manufacturer and export handling through to customs clearance and delivery.
- FCL (20-/40-foot containers) and LCL (shared container from 1 cbm)
- Transit time: around 28–40 days depending on port and route
- Departure ports: Shanghai, Shenzhen, Ningbo, Guangzhou
- Destination ports: Hamburg and Bremerhaven
- Full service: pickup, export, consolidation, customs, and delivery
FCL or LCL: The Right Sea Freight for Your Shipment
With sea freight from China, the cargo volume decides whether a dedicated container pays off or whether the goods travel in a shared container.
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FCL (Full Container Load)
A complete container exclusively for your goods — 20-foot (approx. 33 cbm), 40-foot (approx. 67 cbm), or 40-foot High Cube (approx. 76 cbm). FCL pays off from around 15 cbm and is the most economical sea freight per cubic meter.
- Suitable from approx. 15 cbm
- Flat rate per container
- Transit time 28–35 days
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LCL (Less than Container Load)
Your goods share a container with other shipments, billed per cubic meter. LCL suits smaller volumes under 15 cbm and can be combined with our consolidation in China.
- Suitable for approx. 1–15 cbm
- Billed per cubic meter (cbm)
- Transit time 30–40 days
Ports and Routes
We ship from China's major container ports:
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Departure ports
Shanghai, Shenzhen (Yantian), Ningbo, Guangzhou
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Destination ports
Hamburg and Bremerhaven
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Onward transport
By rail or parcel carrier to your location in Germany
Sea Freight Transit Time from China to Germany
The pure transit time by sea is around 28 to 35 days, depending on departure port, shipping line, and route. On top of that come:
- 2–5 business days for port handling and customs clearance in Germany
- The onward transport from the destination port to your location
In total, you should plan around 30 to 40 days for a door-to-door delivery. LCL sits at the upper end due to consolidating and breaking down the container.
Sea Freight Costs: Prices for FCL and LCL from China
We calculate every shipment individually. The figures below are for guidance only, not flat rates.
- FCL: Price per Container
- 20-foot container from approx. €1,200–2,500, 40-foot container from approx. €2,000–4,000 — depending on route, shipping line, and capacity. Booking early secures better rates.
- LCL: Price per Cubic Meter
- Billed per cubic meter, with a minimum quantity. Cheaper than a full container for small volumes, but more expensive per cbm than a fully loaded FCL.
- THC (Terminal Handling Charges)
- Port handling at the departure and destination port.
- BAF (Bunker Adjustment Factor)
- The shipping line's fuel surcharge.
- Customs duties
- 0–12% depending on the goods category.
- Import VAT
- 19% on the customs value plus freight and duty.
- Onward transport
- Delivery to your location.
No flat rates: we disclose all cost items transparently.
Our Full-Service Sea Freight
We handle sea freight from the factory in China to delivery in Germany:
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Pickup at the manufacturer
Pickup of the goods at the manufacturer.
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Consolidation in our warehouse
Consolidation of multiple partial deliveries in our own warehouse in China.
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Export handling
Export handling with our own export license.
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Booking and container provision
Booking with the shipping line and container provision.
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Customs clearance
Customs clearance in Germany.
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Onward transport
Onward transport to your location.
- Usually within 24 hours on working days
- A first, non-binding assessment of your project
Process: How Your Sea Freight Works with Eva Solutions
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Inquiry and Quote
You tell us the type of goods, volume, weight, and target date. We recommend FCL or LCL and prepare the quote.
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Pickup and Consolidation
We pick up the goods at the manufacturer or receive them at our warehouse and bundle partial deliveries into a single shipment.
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Export Handling and Loading
We handle the export, book the container, and load the goods at the departure port.
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Sea Transport
The container travels by ship to the destination port — with shipment tracking during transit.
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Customs Clearance in Germany
We handle the customs declaration and the payment of duty and import VAT.
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Delivery
We deliver to your location — your own warehouse, fulfillment center, or Amazon FBA warehouse.
Incoterms for Sea Freight
The Incoterms define who bears freight, insurance, and risk:
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EXW (Ex Works)
You take on all costs from the factory — full control, high effort.
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FOB (Free on Board)
The supplier delivers free on board at the departure port; from there you take on freight and insurance. The most common Incoterm for sea freight from China.
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CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight)
The supplier covers freight and insurance up to the destination port — simpler, but less transparency on freight costs.
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DDP (Delivered Duty Paid)
Delivery duty paid to your door.
We advise on the right choice and coordinate it directly with the supplier in China — in their native language, without a language barrier.
Who Sea Freight from China Is For
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Importers and wholesalers
Who transport large or heavy volumes without a tight deadline.
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Retailers with predictable resupply
Who factor in 4–6 weeks of lead time and want to cut freight costs.
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Amazon sellers with lead time
Who refill FBA stock by container in good time.
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Companies with multiple suppliers
Who bundle partial deliveries in a shared container (LCL).
Eva Solutions for Your Sea Freight from China
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Our Own Office in China
Native-speaking staff, our own export license, and a team on the ground — direct handling without intermediaries.
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Consolidation in Our Own Warehouse
We bundle partial deliveries from different manufacturers into one container — this cuts freight costs and simplifies customs.
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Sea Freight and Customs from One Source
From container booking through export to customs clearance in Germany — one point of contact instead of several interfaces.
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Office and team in Germany
Our office in Waldrach, Germany (Naga Technologies GmbH) — also our contact and service address. Reachable during European business hours, personal advice, transparent communication.
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
How long does sea freight from China to Germany take?
The transit time at sea is 28–35 days. With port handling, customs, and delivery, you should plan 30–40 days for a door-to-door delivery.
What does sea freight from China to Germany cost?
Guide values: 20-foot container from approx. €1,200–2,500, 40-foot container from approx. €2,000–4,000, LCL per cubic meter with a minimum quantity. On top come THC, BAF, customs, import VAT, and onward transport. We prepare a precise calculation on request.
What does a 40-foot container from China to Germany cost?
As a guideline, approx. €2,000–4,000 depending on route, shipping line, and capacity. A 40-foot container holds around 67 cbm, a 40-foot High Cube about 76 cbm.
What is the difference between FCL and LCL?
FCL is a complete container exclusively for your goods, economical from approx. 15 cbm. LCL is a shared container with other shipments, billed per cubic meter — more flexible for smaller volumes, but more expensive per cbm.
At what point does a dedicated container (FCL) pay off?
From around 15 cbm, FCL is cheaper per cubic meter than LCL. Below that, the shared container is usually more economical.
Which ports does the sea freight run through?
Departure ports are Shanghai, Shenzhen, Ningbo, and Guangzhou. Destination ports in Germany are Hamburg and Bremerhaven, from where the onward transport to your location takes place.
Which Incoterms are common for sea freight from China?
FOB (Free on Board) is the most common Incoterm: the supplier delivers free on board, and from there we take on freight and handling. CIF and EXW are also possible.
Can Eva Solutions bundle multiple suppliers into one container?
Yes. We consolidate partial deliveries from different factories in our warehouse in China and ship them bundled as FCL or LCL — one shipment, one customs declaration.
Does Eva Solutions offer shipment tracking?
Yes. You receive a tracking number and follow the status of the container during the sea transport.
Request sea freight from China
Tell us the type of goods, volume, and target date — we'll recommend FCL or LCL and calculate your sea freight transparently.
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.