Sea Freight from China to Nadi, Fiji — Transit, Duty and Clearance
China → Nadi · via NAN air / Lautoka sea · clearance by Fiji Revenue and Customs Service
For buyers shipping into Nadi, the practical question is not the ocean or flight time but what happens after arrival. Nadi is the international airport and tourism corridor; cargo enters through NAN air / Lautoka sea, and the inland leg is same-day, so the clearance date is effectively the delivery date.
Clearance itself is handled by Fiji Revenue and Customs Service, and typical dwell at the gateway runs 3–8 days.
What the routing looks like in practice
Fiji is the hub of the South Pacific and the transshipment point for cargo continuing to Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu and Kiribati. Direct Asian calls exist but most volume routes via Singapore, Auckland or Brisbane. Biosecurity screening is thorough — wood packaging and any cargo with soil or plant residue is inspected.
| Sea gateways used | Suva, Lautoka |
|---|---|
| Sea transit, China to gateway | 18–26 calendar days |
| Gateway serving Nadi | NAN air / Lautoka sea |
| Inland leg to Nadi | Same day from the gateway |
| Typical clearance / dwell | 3–8 days |
| Peak season to plan around | Sep–Nov |
What you will pay on arrival in Fiji
Fiji Revenue and Customs Service assesses duty and tax on cargo arriving for Nadi consignees. Current regime: VAT 15%; duty 0–32%, plus import excise on selected goods, with a de-minimis position of FJD 400 for personal consignments.
Conformity is the part most first-time importers underestimate: Biosecurity Authority of Fiji clearance; conformity for regulated goods. Getting this wrong is expensive because it usually cannot be fixed after the cargo has landed.
Restrictions and known friction points for Fiji: Biosecurity clearance is required for wood packaging and agricultural-risk goods. Onward island transshipment adds time and a separate handling cost.
Before you book: Nadi checklist
- Photograph carton markings and seal numbers before departure — it makes any claim far easier to settle.
- Book earlier than the transit time suggests during Sep–Nov, when space on this lane tightens.
- Put the Nadi delivery address, contact name and phone number on the invoice, not just the packing list.
- Use ISPM-15 treated pallets. Untreated wood is the most common reason otherwise-clean cargo gets held.
- Compare gross weight against volumetric weight (L×W×H ÷ 6000) — the higher figure is what gets billed on air and express.
- Ask for the HS code in writing from your supplier and verify the Fiji duty rate against it yourself.
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Nadi take?
China to the Fiji gateway is 18–26 calendar days. On top of that, allow 3–8 days of clearance with Fiji Revenue and Customs Service and a same-day inland leg to Nadi.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into Nadi?
Fiji Revenue and Customs Service applies: VAT 15%; duty 0–32%, plus import excise on selected goods. The de-minimis position is FJD 400 for personal consignments. Under a DDP arrangement these are pre-paid, so nothing is collected on arrival in Nadi.
Can you deliver door-to-door in Nadi?
Yes. Delivery to a Nadi address is quoted as one figure covering freight, duty and tax owed to Fiji Revenue and Customs Service, and the same-day inland leg. Confirm whether your consignee wants the goods at a warehouse, a marketplace fulfilment centre or a shop front, because the last-mile requirement differs.
How is the chargeable weight calculated for Nadi?
We compare actual gross weight against volumetric weight — length × width × height in centimetres divided by 6000 for air — and bill the greater of the two, rounded up to the next kilogram. Light, bulky cargo is almost always billed on volume.
When is the busiest time on the China–Fiji lane?
Space and rates tighten around Sep–Nov, plus the China-side windows of Chinese New Year in January or February and Golden Week in early October. Book one to two weeks earlier in those periods.
What documents does Fiji Revenue and Customs Service require?
A commercial invoice with HS codes, a packing list, the bill of lading or air waybill, a certificate of origin where it lowers duty, and any product certification (Biosecurity Authority of Fiji clearance; conformity for regulated goods). We prepare and file these as part of the service.
Other delivery cities in Fiji
References & official sources
Duty rates, thresholds and conformity requirements for Fiji change by ministerial decision, sometimes mid-year. The figures on this page are buyer-planning references, not a customs ruling — confirm the current position for your own HS code with Fiji Revenue and Customs Service or your broker before you ship.
- Fiji Revenue and Customs Service
- WTO — Tariff Profiles (applied MFN duty by country)
- IATA — Lithium battery shipping guidance (PI 965–970)
- World Bank — Logistics Performance Index
- ICC — Incoterms 2020 rules (DDP, DAP, FOB definitions)
Page data last reviewed: July 2026.
Get a rate for Nadi
This lane is quoted per shipment rather than from a published rate card, because the landed cost depends on the commodity, its density, the conformity requirements above and the delivery point. Send the cargo details and we will come back with a full DDP figure.