Shipping from China to Poti, Georgia — Freight Guide [2026]
China → Poti · via TBS air / Poti sea · clearance by Georgian Revenue Service
We move freight cargo from South China into Poti through TBS air / Poti sea. Poti is the main container port with immediate access, which shapes the kind of cargo that moves on this lane and how it should be packed.
Clearance itself is handled by Georgian Revenue Service, and typical dwell at the gateway runs 2–6 days.
What the routing looks like in practice
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 Poti | TBS air / Poti sea |
| Inland leg to Poti | Same day from the gateway |
| Typical clearance / dwell | 2–6 days |
| Peak season to plan around | Sep–Nov |
What you will pay on arrival in Georgia
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.
Air, sea or overland into Poti?
| 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 Poti and 2–6 days of clearance.
Pre-shipment checklist for Poti
- Book earlier than the transit time suggests during Sep–Nov, when space on this lane tightens.
- Compare gross weight against volumetric weight (L×W×H ÷ 6000) — the higher figure is what gets billed on air and express.
- Check the de-minimis position (GEL 300 for personal parcels) against your invoice value before you decide how to split the shipment.
- 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.
- Get the conformity paperwork moving early: Technical regulation conformity for regulated goods; certificate of origin to claim FTA preference.
Mode guides for Poti
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Poti 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 Poti.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into Poti?
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 Poti.
How is the chargeable weight calculated for Poti?
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–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.
Is sea freight cheaper than air freight into Poti?
Per kilo, yes — usually by a wide margin. The trade-off is time: 25–35 calendar days via Suez to the Black Sea by sea versus 3–5 business days by air to the Georgia gateway, before clearance and the same-day inland leg. The crossover point is normally somewhere between 100 and 300 kg depending on the density of your cargo.
Which port or airport does cargo for Poti clear through?
Cargo for Poti is routed via TBS air / Poti 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.
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 Poti
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.