Shipping from China to Batumi, Georgia — Freight Guide [2026]
China → Batumi · via BUS air / Batumi sea · clearance by Georgian Revenue Service
Freight from China into Batumi clears through BUS air / Batumi sea. Batumi is Black Sea port and tourism city, and the inland leg is same-day, so the clearance date is effectively the delivery date.
On the destination side, Georgian Revenue Service handles clearance; budget 2–6 days of dwell before the cargo is released.
Import duty and tax position for Batumi
Imports into Georgia are cleared by Georgian Revenue Service. The headline position is: VAT 18%; customs duty of 0%, 5% or 12% only — and 0% on most goods under the China–Georgia free trade agreement. The de-minimis threshold is GEL 300 for personal parcels.
Conformity is the part most first-time importers underestimate: Technical regulation conformity for regulated goods; certificate of origin to claim FTA preference. Getting this wrong is expensive because it usually cannot be fixed after the cargo has landed.
Restrictions and known friction points for Georgia: The FTA preference requires a correctly issued certificate of origin; without it the standard 0/5/12% tariff applies. Black Sea sailing schedules can be affected by regional shipping conditions.
How this lane actually runs
Georgia has had a free trade agreement with China since 2018 — the only one in the Caucasus — so most goods enter duty-free with a valid certificate of origin, leaving only 18% VAT. Poti and Batumi also serve as the Black Sea end of the Middle Corridor for cargo continuing to Armenia, Azerbaijan and Central Asia.
| Air gateways used | TBS (Tbilisi), BUS (Batumi) |
|---|---|
| Air transit, China to gateway | 3–5 business days |
| Sea gateways used | Poti, Batumi, Anaklia (under development) |
| Sea transit, China to gateway | 25–35 calendar days via Suez to the Black Sea |
| Gateway serving Batumi | BUS air / Batumi sea |
| Inland leg to Batumi | Same day from the gateway |
| Typical clearance / dwell | 2–6 days |
| Peak season to plan around | Sep–Nov |
Before you book: Batumi checklist
- Get the conformity paperwork moving early: Technical regulation conformity for regulated goods; certificate of origin to claim FTA preference.
- Photograph carton markings and seal numbers before departure — it makes any claim far easier to settle.
- Confirm the consignee in Batumi can act as importer of record — Georgian Revenue Service will not release cargo to an unregistered party.
- Budget for the inland leg: same-day delivery beyond gateway clearance to reach Batumi.
- Ask for the HS code in writing from your supplier and verify the Georgia duty rate against it yourself.
- Use ISPM-15 treated pallets. Untreated wood is the most common reason otherwise-clean cargo gets held.
Air, sea or overland into Batumi?
| Mode | Transit to gateway | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| ✈️ Air Freight | 3–5 business days | time-critical, high-value and low-volume cargo |
| 🚢 Sea Freight | 25–35 calendar days via Suez to the Black Sea | volume cargo where cost per kilo matters more than speed |
Transit shown is China departure to the Georgia gateway and excludes the same-day inland leg to Batumi and 2–6 days of clearance.
Mode guides for Batumi
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Batumi take?
China to the Georgia gateway is 3–5 business days by air, 25–35 calendar days via Suez to the Black Sea by sea. On top of that, allow 2–6 days of clearance with Georgian Revenue Service and a same-day inland leg to Batumi.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into Batumi?
Georgian Revenue Service applies: VAT 18%; customs duty of 0%, 5% or 12% only — and 0% on most goods under the China–Georgia free trade agreement. The de-minimis position is GEL 300 for personal parcels. Under a DDP arrangement these are pre-paid, so nothing is collected on arrival in Batumi.
Which port or airport does cargo for Batumi clear through?
Cargo for Batumi is routed via BUS air / Batumi sea. Sea gateways for Georgia are Poti, Batumi, Anaklia (under development); air gateways are TBS (Tbilisi), BUS (Batumi). We pick whichever gives the shortest total door time for your address.
Can you deliver door-to-door in Batumi?
Yes. Delivery to a Batumi address is quoted as one figure covering freight, duty and tax owed to Georgian Revenue 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.
What certification do I need for Georgia?
For regulated goods, plan for: Technical regulation conformity for regulated goods; certificate of origin to claim FTA preference. Missing conformity paperwork is the single most common cause of a hold, and in most cases it cannot be remedied once the cargo has arrived.
Can you ship batteries or sensitive cargo to Batumi?
Yes. Battery cargo by air follows IATA PI 965–970 depending on how the cells are packed, and moves on certified channels via TBS (Tbilisi), BUS (Batumi). Surcharges apply and the declaration has to be made before booking.
Other delivery cities in Georgia
References & official sources
Duty rates, thresholds and conformity requirements for Georgia 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 Georgian Revenue Service or your broker before you ship.
- Georgian Revenue Service
- WTO — Tariff Profiles (applied MFN duty by country)
- IPPC — ISPM 15 wood packaging standard
- WCO — Harmonized System nomenclature
- IMO — IMDG Code for dangerous goods by sea
Page data last reviewed: July 2026.
Get a rate for Batumi
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.