Asia
Container Shipping from the UK to China
One of our busiest long-haul lanes in both directions — weekly FCL and LCL sailings to and from Shanghai, Ningbo and Shenzhen, with inland collection and delivery across the coastal manufacturing provinces.
Container shipping from the UK to China runs full container load to Shanghai (CNSHA), Ningbo-Zhoushan (CNNGB) and Shenzhen (CNSZX). Less than container load runs to Shanghai, Ningbo-Zhoushan and Shenzhen. Sea transit is 32–42 days port to port and air freight 2–4 days. We collect from any UK address and handle UK export clearance; customs charges in China are not included.
Where we ship
Ports in China
Full container load and groupage both go to Shanghai, Ningbo-Zhoushan and Shenzhen. Select a port for its location, code and indicative transit.
- UK door
- UK port
- Shanghai, Ningbo-Zhoushan or Shenzhen
Packed and sealed at your premises, then straight to the port — usually Felixstowe.
- UK door
- UK loading warehouse
- Shanghai, Ningbo-Zhoushan or Shenzhen
Consolidated first at our UK loading warehouses: Belfast, Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Essex, Glasgow, Manchester or Newcastle.
Get a price for China
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 China are payable there and are not included.
| Service | From | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| FCL — 20ft General Purpose | £1,800.00 | per 20ft container |
| FCL — 40ft General Purpose | £2,900.00 | per 40ft container |
| LCL groupage | £95.00 | 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 China?
Machinery and spare parts, automotive components, scientific and medical equipment, cosmetics and branded consumer goods, and packaged chemicals move on the UK–China lane as routine palletised cargo through Shanghai, Ningbo and Shenzhen.
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 China?
China charges VAT at a standard rate of 13%, charged on the customs value plus duty plus any consumption tax. Customs duty is separate and runs at 0–20% on most manufactured goods at MFN rates, set by the commodity code of the specific goods.
The consignee must be registered with China Customs before anything can be cleared in their name, and an unregistered buyer is the most common reason a first shipment sits at Shanghai. Many product categories also need CCC certification (China Compulsory Certification) held before arrival, not applied for afterwards — electricals, toys and automotive parts among them.
What are the import restrictions in China?
Four things are worth checking before you book rather than after the vessel sails.
What documents do I need to import into China?
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 .
UK to China shipping: FAQs
How long does shipping from the UK to China take?
Sea freight runs about 32–42 days port to port, and air freight 2–4 days airport to airport. Shanghai is the quickest sea gateway on this lane at around 32 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 China?
We move cargo through 3 ports in China: Shanghai (CNSHA), Ningbo-Zhoushan (CNNGB), Shenzhen (CNSZX). Full container load goes to Shanghai, Ningbo-Zhoushan and Shenzhen. Groupage runs to Shanghai, Ningbo-Zhoushan and Shenzhen. Each port page lists its location, code and indicative transit.
Do you handle customs clearance for China?
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 China — 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 China lane?
Space and equipment tighten noticeably around Chinese New Year, when factories close for an extended period and the whole market moves cargo beforehand. If your shipment lands in that window, book earlier than you normally would. Cargo commonly moving on this lane includes industrial machinery and parts, scotch whisky and premium beverages, pharmaceuticals and medical devices.
Compare lanes
Other countries we ship to and from
Rates and transit times for countries near China — each one works as an origin or a destination.
Singapore
Import & export · Singapore
LCL from
£90.00
per cubic metre
26+ days
View lane
India
Import & export · Nhava Sheva (JNPT)
LCL from
£72.00
per cubic metre
22+ days
View lane
South Korea
Import & export · Busan
LCL from
£98.00
per cubic metre
30+ days
View lanePlan the rest of the move
Shipping to China? 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.