Base rate + BAF
The ocean base freight plus Bunker Adjustment (BAF) — fuel-driven and revised quarterly by carriers.
Last reviewed
Sea freight · China → Germany
Sea freight from China to Germany — FCL and LCL into Hamburg, Bremerhaven, and Wilhelmshaven.
Weekly sailings from Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Ningbo to Hamburg, Bremerhaven, and Wilhelmshaven. ATLAS declarations coordinated, 19% import VAT deferred or settled, and rail quoted alongside the ocean leg when the schedule does not fit.
28–38dPort-to-port range
FCL + LCLone quote, compared
Rail 18–22dalternative quoted
24hquote turnaround
28–38d
Sea port-to-port range
3
North Sea gateways
19%
German import VAT
18–22d
Rail alternative
Pricing factors
What moves a China → Germany ocean freight rate.
Ocean rates are published base plus surcharges, then reshaped by season and capacity. We quote all-in so the number you see is what you pay.
GRI & seasonality
Carriers file General Rate Increases around peak season (pre-Lunar New Year, summer, pre-Christmas). Booking ahead of a GRI window is the single biggest cost lever.
Low-sulphur & ECA
North European Emission Control Area surcharges apply to all vessels calling German ports. We include them at quote time rather than as a post-sailing adjustment.
FCL vs LCL economics
Above ~12–15 CBM, a full container (FCL) usually beats consolidated (LCL) on both cost and transit. We price both in every quote.
ATLAS duty deferment
Import VAT can be deferred rather than paid at entry, reducing the cash tied up in a shipment. We confirm the arrangement before the container arrives.
Rail comparison
China–Europe rail runs 18–22 days terminal to terminal for a fraction of the air rate. We price it alongside sea on this lane, because the comparison genuinely changes the decision.
On this corridor
Beyond the ocean leg — the German-side work we handle.
DDP to Germany
Import duty, 19% VAT, ATLAS declaration, and customs clearance included. Your cargo arrives cleared — no surprise invoices on arrival.
Rail alternative
China–Europe block trains into Duisburg in 18–22 days. We quote rail alongside sea so you see both on the same lane.
EU-wide clearance
Once goods are in free circulation in Germany they move within the EU without further customs formality. We coordinate onward trucking to any EU destination.
Warehousing & distribution
Devanning, transload, and onward trucking from Hamburg or Bremerhaven to your warehouse, DC, or retail address across Germany and the Benelux.
days
Documents & compliance
What German customs needs — filed through ATLAS.
Germany applies the EU Union Customs Code and the EU common tariff, but declarations go through ATLAS, the German national system. Import VAT is 19 percent and is normally paid or deferred at import rather than postponed to a return. We coordinate the declaration through a broker and prepare the full document set.
| Document | Filed by | When |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial Invoice | Shipper | With B/L |
| Packing List | Shipper | With B/L |
| Bill of Lading (B/L) | Carrier / Prodoer | At sailing |
| EU EORI number | Importer — mandatory | Before first import |
| ATLAS declaration | Broker — Prodoer coordinates | At import |
| TARIC classification | Broker — Prodoer | Before entry |
| EU common tariff duty | Importer | At entry |
| Import VAT 19% | Importer, deferment possible | At entry |
| ICS2 advance cargo data | Carrier | Pre-arrival |
| CE marking | Importer, product dependent | Before sale |
| ISPM 15 timber packaging | Shipper | At packing |
How it works
From booking to German delivery, in four moves.
01 — Compare
Sea against rail against air
We price all three on your actual volume and date. On this lane the rail comparison genuinely changes the answer rather than confirming the obvious.
02 — Book
Space and documents
Sailing or block train booked, with the invoice, packing list, and TARIC classification prepared to the deadline.
03 — Sail
Ocean transit & track
Container sails. One tracking link covers vessel ETA, transshipment, and berth — no six-portal juggling.
04 — Clear
ATLAS entry & deliver
Declaration, duty, import VAT, then drayage and last-mile to your warehouse, DC, or distribution centre.
FAQ
China → Germany sea freight FAQ
Transit days, container cost, rail comparison, EU duty and 19% VAT, EORI, and EU-wide delivery. Don't see yours? An agent answers it in minutes.
How long does sea freight take from China to Germany?
Port to port, FCL runs about 28–38 days into Hamburg or Bremerhaven. Add 5–8 days for LCL consolidation, origin pickup, and German customs plus last-mile to get the full door-to-door picture. China–Europe rail is a genuine alternative on this lane at 18–22 days terminal to terminal.
How much does a 40ft container cost from China to Germany?
Spot rates swing with carrier GRIs, BAF, the low-sulphur surcharge for the North European ECA, season, and capacity, so we don't publish a flat number. You'll get an all-in quote (base freight + BAF + ECA + origin + destination) within 24 hours. Booking ahead of a GRI window is the biggest lever.
Is rail freight from China to Germany worth it?
More often than importers expect. It runs at roughly half the ocean transit for a fraction of the air rate, which suits volume that missed the sailing cut-off but cannot justify flying. The caveats are real though: capacity fluctuates, winter temperatures across the corridor can be severe for sensitive goods, and some dangerous-goods categories are restricted. We quote rail alongside sea rather than treating it as a novelty.
What duty and VAT apply importing from China to Germany?
Duty follows the EU common customs tariff based on your TARIC classification, so it is the same rate you would pay entering any EU member state. German import VAT — Einfuhrumsatzsteuer — is 19 percent. Unlike the UK's postponed accounting, this is generally paid or deferred at import, which means the shipment ties up more cash. Under DDP we settle both and quote one landed number.
Do I need a German EORI number specifically?
You need an EU EORI number, but it does not have to be German. An EORI issued by any member state is valid throughout the union, so if you already hold one from another EU country it will work for a German import. What you do need is clarity on who the importer of record is, because that determines who is liable for the duty and VAT.
Can you deliver to addresses outside Germany after clearing in Hamburg?
Yes. Once goods are released into free circulation in Germany they move within the EU without further customs formality. We arrange onward trucking from the port to warehouses and DCs across Germany, the Benelux, Austria, Switzerland, and beyond — tell us the delivery address at quote time so the final-mile leg is priced in from the start.
China → Germany sea freight
Get an all-in China → Germany sea-freight quote in 24 hours.
Tell us the cargo, origin port, and German destination. One agent replies with compared FCL and LCL rates, the exact sailing, the rail alternative, and the ATLAS and VAT position.
Get an all-in China → Germany sea-freight quote in 24 hours.
Tell us the cargo, origin port, and German destination. One agent replies with compared FCL and LCL rates, the exact sailing, the rail alternative, and the ATLAS and VAT position.