Air Sea Train which is the best Shipping from China to EU

For eCommerce sellers and distributors who import from China might always seek for best way shipping from China to EU, fast, stable and cost effective. There are 3 shipping ways available currently, air, sea and train, thus it comes to the topics which is the best way Shipping from China to EU. We can take a look the advantages and disadvantages of air, sea and train delivery, then select the best way shipping from China to EU based on the shipping rates and delivery time.

Advantages and disadvantages of air shipping from China to EU

The air delivery refers to the first leg shipping from China to EU via traditional airlines, the second leg deliver via local courier service like DPD, UPS and FedEx or deliver via truck. The air delivery belongs to the DDP(Delivered Duty Paid) service, including double customs clearance and tax. The consignee only needs to sit at home to receive the goods. It is very convenient for those who dont want to waste time on customs clearance, or the consignee has no import authority or customs clearance ability.

Pros:

Fast delivery, usually 5 to 8 days shipping from China to EU, then deliver door to door in 3 days, slightly slower than courier service;
Cheaper shipping rates than courier service and tax free;
Double customs clearance, hassle free.
Stable, regular airline shipping from China to EU countries;

Cons:

It has 10 to 30kg weight volume restriction on carton box, not friendly for heavy weight and large volume goods;
Package only can be tracked after custom clearance in destination country.

Advantages and disadvantages of Sea shipping from China to EU

The sea delivery refers to the first leg shipping from China to EU via sea, the second leg deliver door to door via courier service like DPD, UPS and FedEx or deliver via truck.The sea delivery also belongs to DDP service, double customs clearance, door to door delivery and duty free.

Pros:

Cost effective.Low shipping rates will significantly reduce logistics costs for goods shipping from China to EU;
Large shipping capcity. Each container volume upto 68 cubic meters;
Double customs clearance, duty free, door to door delivery, hassle free;

Cons:

Slow shipping delivery. It usually takes 30 to 40 days shipping from China to EU countries;
Delivery delay frequently due to Bad weather, port congestion, customs spot checks.

Advantages and disadvantages of Train shipping from China to EU

The train delivery refers to the first leg shipping from China to EU via train, the second leg delivery to door via courier service or truck. Same as air and sea delivery, it belongs to DDP service, double customs clearance, door to door delivery and duty free.

Pros:

Shipping time between air and sea. Slower than air but faster than sea;
Large shipping capcity;
The outlets are widely distributed. The traditional sea shipping points are concentrated in ports, but the railway LCL points are distributed in various inland cities in China and Europe;
The frequency is dense and there are many choices. Some domestic departure stations have almost every day;

Cons:

Affected by port congestion, reloading will be affected by many factors, and the transportation time will be delayed;
There are many restrictions on goods categories;
The delivery time is unstable. China National Railway Group will adjust the schedule according to port congestion and special material needs. In general, the schedule will be postponed, ranging from two to three days, and ranging from a week to ten days;

The best way shipping from China to EU

After saw the pros and cons for air delivery, sea delivery and train delivery, you may wondering which is the best way shipping from China to EU, actually it depends on goods weight and volume, delivery time and shipping rates.

Air sea and train delivery time

Generally air delivery is the fastest one, then train delivery and sea delivery. Air delivery from China to EU usually around 8 to 12 days, sea delivery from China to EU usually takes 35 to 45 days, train delivery from China to EU usually takes 30 to 40 days. If you have delivery time requirements you can choose air delivery as it is much more stable than sea and train delivery.

Air sea and train shipping rates

Base on the international shipping rule, the faster delivery time the higher shipping rates, since train delivery and sea delivery time are similar the shipping rates between them are similar, but generally train delivery are cheaper than sea delivery.

Weight and volume restrictions on air sea and train delivery

Since air sea and train delivery are DDP service, the carton box volume weight restrictions are more strict, the carton box weight usually between 12 to 30kg, length usually less than 120cm, and girth less than 270cm. Air delivery has more strict volume weight restriction than sea and train delivery.

Thus if you ship general goods from China to EU, you need to take the weight volume into consideration and choose the proper way to ship.

Can I ship heavy weight extra large volume goods from China to EU via air sea or train delivery service?

Of course you can, heavy weight extra large volume goods can be shipped via air, sea and train delivery, but it will be charged surcharges for heavy weight and extra large volume besides the shipping rates. You can inquire Xforwarder for more details.

What’s the best way shipping from China to EU?

It is very hard to say air delivery or sea delivery is the best way besides the shipping rates, delivery time and weight volume. Here we use a few cases to help you select the best way shipping from China to EU.

If you need fast and stable way shipping from China to EU, for example, you need to ship from China to Germany Amazon FBA warehouse, then air delivery is the best way;
If you ship less than 100kg goods from China to EU, air, sea and train delivery all available, if you need faster delivery, you can ship via air, if you need cheaper shipping rates you can ship via train;
If you ship 300kg or above then air delivery might be not good choice anymore, sea and train should be the best way;
If you need certain sensitive goods cannot being ship via air, sea delivery might be the best way;
If you have no delivery time requirements and prefer more on cheap shipping rates, then train or sea delivery might be the best way based on goods weight volume;

Thus when you import from China to EU, you need to determine the best shipping way based on goods name, weight, volume, shipping rates, delivery time instead of single factors. You are welcome to inquire Xforwarder for the best way shipping from China to EU.