Europe
Shipping from Spain to the UK
Valencia, Barcelona and Algeciras between them cover the Mediterranean coast, the interior and one of Europe's largest transshipment hubs.
Container shipping from the UK to Spain runs full container load to Valencia (ESVLC), Barcelona (ESBCN) and Algeciras (ESALG). There is no scheduled less than container load service to Spain at present. Sea transit is 5–11 days port to port and air freight 1–2 days. We collect from any UK address and handle UK export clearance; customs charges in Spain are not included.
Where we ship
Ports in Spain
Full container load and groupage both go to Valencia, Barcelona and Algeciras. Select a port for its location, code and indicative transit.
- UK door
- UK port
- Valencia, Barcelona or Algeciras
Packed and sealed at your premises, then straight to the port — usually London Gateway.
Less than container load
There is no scheduled groupage service to Spain at present. Smaller consignments are quoted case by case — tell us the volume and we will say which option is genuinely cheaper.
Get a price for Spain
The three modes are quoted separately — they are priced on different things entirely: a container, a cubic metre and a kilo.
Indicative pricing
Starting points for sea freight from the UK, not port-specific figures — the rate for your shipment depends on the arrival port, the sailing and the commodity. Customs charges, duty and taxes in Spain are payable there and are not included.
| Service | From | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| FCL — 20ft General Purpose | £980.00 | per 20ft container |
| FCL — 40ft General Purpose | £1,450.00 | per 40ft container |
| LCL groupage | £56.00 | per cubic metre |
| Air freight | Please check with our team | per 100kg chargeable weight |
These are starting prices for the freight, not shipment totals. A groupage rate is what one cubic metre of cargo costs, so a 10 cubic metre consignment costs roughly ten times the figure shown. Figures are indicative, in GBP, and cover the sea freight from the UK only — customs charges, duty and taxes in the destination country are payable there and are not included. Your firm quote depends on the exact route, the cargo and the sailing.
What can you ship to Spain?
Machinery and spare parts, automotive components, building materials and fixtures, furniture, textiles and clothing, packaged consumer goods, electricals and household effects all move as standard palletised cargo through Valencia, Barcelona and Algeciras.
Cargo needs to be palletised, shrink-wrapped and labelled with the consignee, because groupage is handled several times between your loading bay and the delivery address. Anything containing lithium batteries, aerosols, paints, solvents or compressed gas needs declaring at booking — it usually still travels, it just changes the packing and the paperwork rather than simply the price.
What tax and duty applies on import into Spain?
Spain charges IVA at a standard rate of 21%, charged on the customs value plus any duty plus the freight cost, not on the goods value alone. Customs duty is separate and runs at 0% under the UK–EU trade agreement, otherwise 0–20%, set by the commodity code of the specific goods.
Importers who file VAT monthly can apply for the deferral scheme (diferimiento del IVA a la importación) and account for import IVA on the return rather than paying at the border. Madrid is worth a separate word: it has no port of its own and is reached by rail from Valencia, so a Madrid delivery always carries a domestic leg that belongs in the quote up front.
What are the import restrictions in Spain?
Four things are worth checking before you book rather than after the vessel sails.
What documents do I need to import into Spain?
These cover the far end of the journey and belong to your consignee. We prepare and file the transport and commercial paperwork, but their own registrations are issued to them by their own authorities and cannot be obtained on their behalf.
What documents do you need in the UK to export?
A second, separate set of paperwork — and this one is yours rather than your consignee's. It is the part first-time exporters are most often caught by, because the destination requirements get all the attention and the British side looks like a formality until it stops a booking.
Duty depends on the commodity code of the specific goods, and rates change. This is general guidance, not tax or legal advice. Customs charges, duty and taxes in the destination country are payable there and are not included in our freight quote. Rates last reviewed .
Spain to the UK shipping: FAQs
How long does shipping from the UK to Spain take?
Sea freight runs about 5–11 days port to port, and air freight 1–2 days airport to airport. Algeciras is the quickest sea gateway on this lane at around 5 days. These are indicative figures measured port to port; the transit for your exact collection address and delivery address, including the inland legs at both ends, is confirmed at quote stage.
Which ports do you ship to in Spain?
We move cargo through 3 ports in Spain: Valencia (ESVLC), Barcelona (ESBCN), Algeciras (ESALG). Full container load goes to Valencia, Barcelona and Algeciras. We have no scheduled groupage service to Spain at present, so part loads are quoted case by case. Each port page lists its location, code and indicative transit.
Do you handle customs clearance for Spain?
We handle the UK side: we file your export declaration with HMRC against your GB EORI number and raise the transport and commercial documents that travel with the shipment. Customs charges in Spain — duty, import tax and any local clearance fees — are payable there by the consignee and are not included in our rates, unless you have agreed a DDP Incoterm that puts them on you. Budget for them separately; they are the most common reason a landed cost comes in above the freight quote.
What should I know before shipping on the Spain lane?
Madrid is inland and served by rail from Valencia rather than by a port of its own, so a delivery to the capital always includes a domestic leg — worth quoting up front rather than treating as an extra. Cargo commonly moving on this lane includes machinery and equipment, automotive components, chemicals and plastics.
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Other countries we ship to and from
Rates and transit times for countries near Spain — each one works as an origin or a destination.
Netherlands
Import & export · Rotterdam
LCL from
£55.00
per cubic metre
3+ days
View lane
Germany
Import & export · Hamburg
LCL from
£58.00
per cubic metre
4+ days
View lane
France
Import & export · Le Havre
LCL from
£52.00
per cubic metre
2+ days
View lanePlan the rest of the move
Shipping from Spain? Get a quote.
Any country to any country, import or export — send us the origin, destination and cargo details and we'll come back with a competitive rate within one business day.