China Transports
MARTIN INTERNATIONALE SPEDITION
Your freight forwarder for international China transports
AIR FREIGHT TO CHINA – fast, secure, for commercial requirements
Our air freight to China is the ideal solution for time-critical B2B shipments – e.g. technical equipment, electronic components, or pharmaceutical goods. As a specialised freight forwarder for air freight to China, we regularly serve all major airports, including Beijing (PEK), Shanghai (PVG), Guangzhou (CAN), and Chengdu.
We take over all export processes: from shipper to airline including export documents, security checks, AWB preparation, and digital tracking. Whether standard loading, express, or temperature-controlled air freight – your air freight to China is individually supervised, transparently calculated, and handled in full legal compliance.
For smaller shipments we also offer regular consolidation options to optimise costs and bundle shipments efficiently.
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SEA FREIGHT TO CHINA – container-based, plannable, large-volume
Our sea freight to China is ideal for larger shipments or regular series loadings. As a professional freight forwarder for sea freight to China, we offer FCL, LCL, and reefer loadings via all major sea ports – such as Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen, and Qingdao.
We take care of the entire logistics chain: container booking, documentation, export handling, customs coordination, and communication with shipping lines. Your sea freight to China is handled with the utmost care and a transparent cost structure – for machinery, spare parts, or technical industrial products.
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RAIL FREIGHT TO CHINA – intercontinental, economical, quickly available
For selected routes, we also offer transports by rail freight from and to China – e.g. for part loads (LCL) or full truckloads (FCL). With a direct connection via the new Silk Road, this option offers an attractive alternative to sea and air freight – faster than sea freight, cheaper than air freight.
Freight types – China
Freight types – Air freight
STANDARD AIR FREIGHT:
Ideal for tech or production goods with moderate time priority.
EXPRESS FREIGHT:
For urgent shipments – accelerated clearance, reliable departures.
TEMPERATURE-CONTROLLED AIR FREIGHT:
For sensitive cargo – with certified cooling and monitoring.
CONSOLIDATED AIR FREIGHT:
Efficient for small volumes – economical, regular, flexible.
Freight types – Sea freight
20FT CONTAINER (FCL):
Perfect for medium volumes – machinery, tech, spare parts.
40FT CONTAINER (FCL):
Large-volume solution for series exports and project loadings.
CONSOLIDATED CONTAINER (LCL):
Ideal for smaller part loads – combinable, cost-saving.
REEFER CONTAINER:
For temperature-sensitive industrial goods – controlled and safe.
Free of charge and non-binding
We will get back to you the same day with a suitable freight quote for your China transports – transparent and without obligation.
In brief: economy and foreign trade of China
China is one of the world’s leading industrial and trading nations. Its foreign trade is closely interconnected with Europe – especially in machinery, chemicals, electronics and automation. MARTIN Spedition organises multimodal transports to China – by sea, air or rail – with full documentation, customs clearance and commercial handling. Your shipment is prepared, checked and dispatched on time.
Import China
We import your commercial consignments from China by air freight, truck or rail – including full customs clearance, document checks and delivery within Europe.
Export China
We export your goods to China – with clean export processing, safe loading and handover to the air-freight carrier, road carrier or rail operator.
International Transports
Freight forwarder for part loads and full truckloads with clear processes, dedicated points of contact, and reliable customs clearance.
We organise transports efficiently, plannably, and on schedule – from collection to delivery.
Why us? Safe & on time
Request for business customers only
China transports and logistics – briefly explained
MARTIN Spedition organises transports to and from China by sea freight (FCL 20ft/40ft/40ft HC, LCL, Reefer), air freight (standard, express, temperature-controlled, consolidated) and rail freight as a cost-effective alternative between sea and air freight (New Silk Road).
Transit times at a glance: sea freight from Hamburg to Shanghai/Shenzhen approximately 25–35 days; rail freight (New Silk Road) approximately 18–25 days; air freight approximately 3–5 working days. Rail freight offers an optimal price/time ratio for plannable shipments.
Sea-freight rates depend on container type (20ft FCL from approximately EUR 1,200), route, season and current market situation. After the turbulence of previous years, freight rates have stabilised in 2026. For peak times (before Chinese New Year, Q4), early booking is recommended.
FCL (Full Container Load) means you book an entire container exclusively. This is worthwhile from approximately 15 cubic metres of loading volume. LCL (Less than Container Load) is a groupage container in which your goods are combined with other shippers’ shipments – economical for smaller quantities under 15 CBM.
For import from China, the following are required: commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading/AWB, certificate of origin (Form A or EUR.1 if available), HS-code information for the customs declaration and EORI number. On the customs value (goods value + freight + insurance), import customs duty + 19 % import VAT are levied.
Before Chinese New Year (January/February), the Golden Week (October) and in the Q4 peak phase (October–December), sea-freight prices often rise by 30–50 %. Early bookings and flexible pre-carriage planning are therefore recommended. MARTIN Spedition proactively informs customers about market developments.
Rail freight moves cargo by train from China via Kazakhstan, through Russia or alternative routes, to Germany. Transit time is approximately 18–25 days – significantly faster than sea freight and cheaper than air freight. It is particularly suited to mid-sized shipments with defined delivery dates.
For customers with recurring freight volumes from China, MARTIN Spedition offers framework agreements with fixed terms, prioritised booking capacities and a dedicated contact. This secures plannable lead times and stable costs, including during peak periods such as Chinese New Year or the Q4 peak.
