Shipping Cargo from China to Europe
The European route is air shipping delivered straight to the recipient's address — no need to pick up the cargo from a warehouse. The contract and invoice are issued through our Hong Kong company, and your broker files the customs declaration in the destination country.
What we handle, and what you handle
Usually an importer puts together a shipment from three or four contractors: an agent in China, a payment service, a carrier, a broker. We cover the first three under one contract. The fourth — customs declaration in the destination country — stays with your broker by default: on paper, you remain the importer and owner of the goods. If needed, we can arrange clearance as a separate service, without changing the model.
Shipping methods
| Method | When it's chosen | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Air, first weight bracket | base rate at the start of the shipment | ¥350 per kg |
| Air, subsequent weight | further on within the same shipment | ¥120 per kg |
| Air, general goods | simple categories, large shipments | from ¥90 per kg |
Transit time — 12–20 days depending on the destination, delivery goes straight by air express to your address. The rate is in yuan — that's how the carrier calculates it, and we don't hide the exchange-rate difference inside a dollar figure. We accept shipments from 50 kg. Leave a request — we'll go through your scheme and work out the numbers.
Since July 1, 2026, the EU has abolished the €150 duty-free threshold for goods from outside the EU: duty is now charged regardless of the shipment's value. For commercial shipments, this means importing officially is no more expensive — just clearer.
Who needs this
- companies that work with VAT — the goods need to go on the balance sheet;
- those who sell through official retail and chains: the chain requires documents for the goods;
- sellers on European marketplaces, where the platform checks the legality of the import;
- manufacturers whose components go into cost of production;
- those who once lost a shipment on a grey-market scheme and don't want to again.
What gets decided before shipping, not after
In white-channel shipments, the cost of a mistake is higher than in cargo, and almost every problem comes from questions that weren't asked in time:
- who acts as the importer — the whole scheme depends on this;
- whether the goods require certification — we check before shipment, not at the border;
- how the goods are classified — your broker determines the code, and the duty depends on it;
- what set of documents is needed specifically in the destination country.
We go through this list at the quoting stage. It takes longer than just naming a price per kilogram, and that's exactly why the cargo doesn't get stuck at customs afterward.
Frequently asked questions about the European route
What does a “white-channel shipment” from China to Europe mean?
It's official import with a full set of documents: contract, invoice, packing list, export documents, and certification where required. The goods are legally entered onto the company's balance sheet and sold to legal entities and through official retail. Your customs broker files the declaration in the destination country — on paper, you remain the importer.
How are goods shipped from China to Europe?
By air, with express delivery to the recipient's address, transit time 12–20 days depending on the destination. Rate: ¥350 per kilogram for the first weight bracket, ¥120 for the next, with a possible reduction to ¥90 for general goods.
Who is the importer for shipments to Europe?
You are. The contract, declaration, and goods are registered to your legal entity, and the input VAT stays yours. We handle logistics, documents, and payment to the supplier; your broker handles the declaration. The reverse model is common on the market — import under a contractor's contract — where the goods aren't yours on paper and there's no VAT to reclaim.
Do you help with product certification?
Yes. Requirements depend on the product and the market, so we check them before shipment: goods without the required documents get stopped at the border. Some certificates come from the factory, others are prepared separately — we go through this at the quoting stage.
Can you pay the supplier on my behalf?
Yes. Payment to the supplier in China goes through our Hong Kong company and is usually arranged under the same contract as the shipment: 1.5–2.2% depending on monthly volume. Market intermediaries charge 3–20% for this.
Other destinations
We also ship from China on three other destinations — each with its own scheme, documents, and timing.
Related resources: how white import works, what documents are needed, payment to the supplier.
Tell us about the product and how you sell it — we'll propose a scheme and calculate the full cost of the shipment.