Air Freight from China to Batumi, Georgia — Transit, Duty and Clearance
China → Batumi · via BUS air / Batumi sea · clearance by Georgian Revenue Service
We move air freight cargo from South China into Batumi through BUS air / Batumi sea. Batumi is Black Sea port and tourism city, which shapes the kind of cargo that moves on this lane and how it should be packed.
The clearing authority is Georgian Revenue Service. Historical dwell on this gateway is around 2–6 days, and it lengthens in Sep–Nov.
Routing and transit on this lane
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 |
| 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 |
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.
What to sort out before the cargo leaves China
- Check the de-minimis position (GEL 300 for personal parcels) against your invoice value before you decide how to split the shipment.
- Photograph carton markings and seal numbers before departure — it makes any claim far easier to settle.
- Compare gross weight against volumetric weight (L×W×H ÷ 6000) — the higher figure is what gets billed on air and express.
- Use ISPM-15 treated pallets. Untreated wood is the most common reason otherwise-clean cargo gets held.
- Book earlier than the transit time suggests during Sep–Nov, when space on this lane tightens.
- Plan around the China-side windows too: Chinese New Year and Golden Week both compress capacity on the Georgia lane.
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Batumi take?
China to the Georgia gateway is 3–5 business days. 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.
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.
When is the busiest time on the China–Georgia 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 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.
How is the chargeable weight calculated for Batumi?
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.
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.