China to Greece shipping services by air freight, ocean freight, Chinese-European railway and express mail. Enjoy affordable logistic services with custom clearance assistance by GWT Worldwide who is your trusted freight forwarder.
Freight Shipping Cost from China to Greece

Overview of Costs by Shipping Mode
Understanding the price of various means of getting goods shipped out of China to Greece allows companies to make wise decisions.
Shipping Mode | Estimated Cost | Details |
LCL | $300–$500/m³ | Shared containers for small shipments. |
FCL (20 ft) | $1,500–$2,000 | Entire container, lower cost per item. |
FCL (40 ft) | $2,500–$3,500 | Best for bulk shipments. |
Express | $5–$8/kg | Fast, ideal for urgent packages. |
Air Freight | $4–$6/kg | Fastest, best for high-value goods. |
Transportation of large shipments through FCL is cheaper than through several LCL shipments.
Estimating Shipping Costs and Effective Budgeting
When budgeting it is important to take into consideration the following:
- Fuel Surcharges – can be additional $100-300, depending on the oil prices.
- Customs Duties: 6% to 20 per cent, according to goods.
- Other Fees: Another $100 300 may be paid in documentation, insurance and processing.
Use online freight calculators to prevent surprises and handle the finances properly by assessing the costs of freight forwarders.
Understanding Import Tax and Duties

Impact of Import Taxes on Overall Shipping Costs
Taxes can significantly increase total shipping costs:
- VAT in Greece: 24%
- Duties:
- Electronics: 6%–12%
- Textiles: 10%–20%
- Example: For €10,000 goods:
- VAT = €2,400
- Duties = €600–€2,000
- Total extra costs = €1,600–€3,200
Navigating Legal Compliance in International Shipping
Remember to be compliant as not to be fined and delayed:
- HS Codes: Adopt proper classification of products.
- Declared Value: It has to be the true market price.
- Key Documents: Invoice, packing list and bill of lading.
- Customs Brokers: facilitating easy clearance.
Delays, or fines of up to 1,000 are possible due to errors.
Shipping from China to Greece: Transit Times

Transit Times by Shipping Mode
Shipping Mode | Time Estimate | Notes |
LCL | 30–40 days | Slower due to extra handling. |
FCL | 25–35 days | Faster for large shipments. |
Air Freight | 5–10 days | Best for urgent/high-value items. |
Express | 3–5 days | Fastest for critical deliveries. |
Pick based on urgency and type of goods.
Mitigating Factors Affecting Transit Times
There are a number of factors that may cause delays in shipments:
- Weather: Donnot travel during high season of storms.
- Port Congestion: Use off-peak times in the Port.
- Customs: Hand in proper properly filled paperwork.
- Logistics Partners: Select forwarders that can be trusted..
Delays are minimized by systematically thoughtful plans and cooperation with competent partners.
Door to Door Shipping from China to Greece
Advantages of Door-to-Door Services
Door-to-door shipping takes care of the picking up and the delivery:
- Less paperwork: There is only one provider to deal with.
- Reduced risk: There are reduced handovers and, therefore, fewer damages.
- Cost saving: Combined services tend to be affordable.
Not bad at all in case of companies that desire smooth full-service.
Choosing the Right Door-to-Door Service
When choosing a reliable service:
- Check reputation: Search positive reviews.
- Price compare: Obtain several quotations.
- Full cover: Both pick up and delivery should be covered.
- Customs: Import rules should be done by the provider.
By putting on such sites as Alibaba, it allows comparison between suppliers and includes protection in terms of legislation such as Trade Assurance.
Sea Freight from China to Greece

Prices and Transit Times for Sea Freight
Shipping Mode | Cost | Transit Time | Description |
LCL | $300–$500/m³ | 30–40 days | Shared container for small loads. |
FCL (20 ft) | $1,500–$2,000 | 25–35 days | Private container for mid-size shipments. |
FCL (40 ft) | $2,500–$3,500 | 25–35 days | Ideal for bulk shipments with better unit rates. |
Benefits of LCL and FCL Shipping
Goods that are non-urgent and in bulk should use sea freight since it is cost effective.
- LCL: It suits volumes that are small. Share, pay less.
- FCL: Suitable to larger consignment. Less unit price and less hazardous to handle.
Selecting a Sea Freight Forwarder and Top Shipping Routes

The selection of the proper forwarder guarantees an easier delivery:
- Reputation: Read reviews and performance records.
- Services: Paperwork, customs, and complete logistics support.
- Expertise: Favour those who have experience in China-greece.
- Network: More partners and routes will result in improved options and fares.
Common Routes:
- In China: Shanghai, Shenzhen, Ningbo
- Piraeus, Thessaloniki, Heraklion To Greece:
- Normal FCL: 25-35 days | LCL: 30-40 days
Air Freight from China to Greece
Shipping Mode | Cost | Transit Time | Description |
Air Freight | $4–$6/kg | 5–10 days | Fastest method for urgent or high-value goods. |
Advantages and Considerations of Air Freight
Air transport is speedy and is reliable enough to carry:
- VOC or sensitive goods (ex. electronics, fashion, pharmaceuticals)
- Small lead times
Note: More expensive and little capacity of bulky products.
Choosing the Right Air Freight Forwarder
Choose a forwarder that provides:
- Broad network: Tolerant route and improved fares
- Experience: Don’t waste time with right papers
- Pricing: requests and comparison
A quality forwarder guarantees a rapid deliverance of goods through the air in a non-stop flow with fewer hustles.
China’s Principal airports
- Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)
- Shanghai Pudong international Airport (PVG)
- Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN)
- The airport of Shenzhen Bao An International (SZX)
- Chengdu Tianfu international airport (TFU)
Greece’s Principal airports
- July, 2012 Athens International Airport (ATH)
- SKG Thessaloniki Airport
- Heraklion International Airport (HER)
- Rhodes International Airport (RHO)
- Chania International Airport (CHQ)
Express Shipping from China to Greece

Benefits and Use Cases for Express Shipping
Ideal for:
- Last minutes order or time sensitive orders
- High-value products
- Goods that require fast and secured delivery and tracking of the goods.
Understanding Costs and Transit Times, Including DDP Options
Shipping Mode | Cost | Transit Time | Description |
Express Shipping | $5–$8/kg | 3–5 days | Fast option for urgent or valuable goods. |
Express (DDP) | $6–$9/kg | 3–5 days | Includes all duties and taxes for smoother delivery. |
Benefits of DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) Option
DDP streamlines custom formalities making payment of duty/tax in advance:
- No delays: Reduced clearance
- Clear charges: Nothing hidden
- Ideal when shipping high-priced goods such as electronics that requires prompt and easy deliver.
Key Ports in China and Greece for Shipping

Major Chinese Ports for Exports to Greece
Shanghai, Tianjin, Shenzen, Qingdao, Zhuhai, Ningbo, Hangzhou and Wuhan are:
- Shanghai Port: Most active port in the world that has first-rate facilities and rapid custom clearance.
- Shenzhen Port: The port is efficient and located near major manufacturing centers which are good to ship electronics.
- Guangzhou Port: Ideal when handling bulk items and machinery and its trade services are well.
They provide good logistics in these ports and this allows the business to select the port on the basis of its cargo and point of origin.
Major French Ports for Imports from China
The most important ports through which the goods are purchased by the Chinese are:
- Pyreus harbour: The biggest in Greece, close to Athens, and central to distribution in Europe.
- Thessaloniki Port: Suitable to ship to Balkan and the regional goods with good services.
- Heraklion Port: Facilitates Crete and the surrounding areas with well prepared port.
Selecting the appropriate port would cut down transit time and charges hence facilitated delivery.
Freight Forwarders from China to Greece

Role of Freight Forwarders in the Shipping Process
The freight forwarders are the people who deal with the logistics of international shipping. They manage the registration, documentation and tracking of shipments and thus shipping across borders is facilitated and becomes more stable.
Selecting the Right Freight Forwarder for Your Needs
Look for:
- Practice of China-Greece shipments.
- High levels of logistics partners.
- Full range services, such as door to door and insurance.
- Quality of customer services with good reviews.
Last minute selections can be avoided by selecting the right partner to enable an efficient delivery.
How to Ship from China to Greece: A Step-by-Step Guide

Preparing Your Shipment: Documentation, Packaging, and Labeling
- requirements: Get ready commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading.
- Packaging: Pack the materials in strong materials; make them attached so that they do not get damaged.
- Labeling: Write a clear sender/receiver information and item-specifications.
These are followed to have quick processing and safe transit.
Navigating Customs and Tracking Your Shipment
- Customs: Present proper HS codes, pay duties and are comply fully.
- Monitoring: Spy on the shipments using carriers or forwarders platforms to prevent unwanted surprises.
Proper customs and real time tracking enhanced delivery reliability.
Alibaba and Shipping: Streamlining the Process

Leveraging Alibaba for Efficient LCL, FCL, and Door-to-Door Shipping
- LCL: Cost-efficient in small loads in which the load is shared with others.
- FCL: Ideal when making bulk shipments that require a container.
- Door to door: Facilitates easy logistics between the factory and destination place.
Alibaba assists to find the trusted provider of any shipping need.
Tips for Reducing Costs and Enhancing Efficiency through Alibaba
- Select the appropriate mode in regard to volume and urgency.
- Find and negotiate with more than one supplier.
- Tracking on Alibaba Logistics is improved.
- Trade Assurance provides safe and secured transactions.
It makes expenses lower and the shipping process better with such practices.
Conclusion
Transport from China to Greece provides several choices based on your company’s needs—cost, speed, or flexibility. Ocean shipping is best for bulk, cost-effective shipments, and air transport is best for expedited or high-priority cargo. Rail transport, though less popular, offers a compromise between speed and price. For small packages or online shopping, express shipping provides quick and secure delivery. By selecting the appropriate shipping mode and using an efficient freight forwarder, you can optimize your supply chain and make delivery from China to Greece seamless.