Sea Freight from China to Reykjavik
China → Reykjavik · via KEF air / Reykjavik sea · clearance by Iceland Revenue and Customs (Skatturinn)
We move sea freight cargo from South China into Reykjavik through KEF air / Reykjavik sea. Reykjavik is capital and the destination for nearly all imports, which shapes the kind of cargo that moves on this lane and how it should be packed.
Clearance itself is handled by Iceland Revenue and Customs (Skatturinn), and typical dwell at the gateway runs 2–5 days.
What you will pay on arrival in Iceland
Imports into Iceland are cleared by Iceland Revenue and Customs (Skatturinn). The headline position is: VAT 24% standard, 11% reduced; customs duty 0% on most manufactured goods. The de-minimis threshold is ISK 2,000 for duty; VAT applies from the first króna.
Conformity is the part most first-time importers underestimate: CE marking under EEA rules; Icelandic labeling for food. Getting this wrong is expensive because it usually cannot be fixed after the cargo has landed.
Restrictions and known friction points for Iceland: Feeder frequency drives the schedule — a missed connection can cost a full week. Most duty is zero but 24% VAT dominates landed cost.
How this lane actually runs
Iceland is served by feeder services from Rotterdam, Hamburg or Aarhus rather than by direct Asian calls, so sea transit is long and sailing frequency, not vessel speed, is what determines the date. Air via Keflavík is disproportionately popular here for that reason.
| Sea gateways used | Reykjavík, Reyðarfjörður |
|---|---|
| Sea transit, China to gateway | 38–50 calendar days |
| Gateway serving Reykjavik | KEF air / Reykjavik sea |
| Inland leg to Reykjavik | Same day from the gateway |
| Typical clearance / dwell | 2–5 days |
| Peak season to plan around | Sep–Nov |
What to sort out before the cargo leaves China
- Ask for the HS code in writing from your supplier and verify the Iceland duty rate against it yourself.
- 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 Iceland lane.
- Photograph carton markings and seal numbers before departure — it makes any claim far easier to settle.
- Budget for the inland leg: same-day delivery beyond gateway clearance to reach Reykjavik.
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Reykjavik take?
China to the Iceland gateway is 38–50 calendar days. On top of that, allow 2–5 days of clearance with Iceland Revenue and Customs (Skatturinn) and a same-day inland leg to Reykjavik.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into Reykjavik?
Iceland Revenue and Customs (Skatturinn) applies: VAT 24% standard, 11% reduced; customs duty 0% on most manufactured goods. The de-minimis position is ISK 2,000 for duty; VAT applies from the first króna. Under a DDP arrangement these are pre-paid, so nothing is collected on arrival in Reykjavik.
What certification do I need for Iceland?
For regulated goods, plan for: CE marking under EEA rules; Icelandic labeling for food. 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 deliver door-to-door in Reykjavik?
Yes. Delivery to a Reykjavik address is quoted as one figure covering freight, duty and tax owed to Iceland Revenue and Customs (Skatturinn), and the same-day inland leg. Confirm whether your consignee wants the goods at a warehouse, a marketplace fulfillment center or a shop front, because the last-mile requirement differs.
Can you ship batteries or sensitive cargo to Reykjavik?
Yes. Battery cargo by sea moves under UN3480/UN3481 with an MSDS, and the dangerous-goods documentation is prepared as part of the booking into Reykjavík, Reyðarfjörður. Surcharges apply and space is more limited than for general cargo.
How is the chargeable weight calculated for Reykjavik?
We compare actual gross weight against volumetric weight — length × width × height in centimeters 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 Iceland
References & official sources
Duty rates, thresholds and conformity requirements for Iceland 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 Iceland Revenue and Customs (Skatturinn) or your broker before you ship.
- Iceland Revenue and Customs
- WTO — Tariff Profiles (applied MFN duty by country)
- ICC — Incoterms 2020 rules (DDP, DAP, FOB definitions)
- IPPC — ISPM 15 wood packaging standard
- WCO — Harmonized System nomenclature
- IMO — IMDG Code for dangerous goods by sea
Page data last reviewed: November 2026.
Shipping by industry
This page covers the route and clearance picture for the destination. Packing, classification and the compliance step that actually holds a shipment depend on what you are sending — these guides cover that by commodity.
- Sheet Metal Metal Products & Industrial Components
- Storage Tanks Metal Products & Industrial Components
- Electric Motors General Machinery & Industrial Equipment
- Agricultural Drones Agriculture & Livestock Equipment
- Wire & Cable New Energy, Power & Electrical
- Automotive Lighting Automotive & Vehicles
- Flooring Building Materials & Construction Products
- Cartons Wood, Bamboo & Paper Products
- Flexible Packaging Plastics, Rubber & Packaging
- Capacitors Electronic Components & Semiconductors
- Smart Home Products Consumer Electronics & Smart Devices
- Refrigeration Equipment Home Appliances, HVAC & Commercial
Checking the Iceland duty position yourself
Duty and tax figures on this page are planning estimates. The binding assessment is made by Iceland Revenue and Customs (Skatturinn) against your declared HS code at the time of entry; where the amount is material, verify the current rate through ITC Market Access Map before committing to an order.
If you want to sanity-check a duty figure yourself, start from the heading rather than the product name — the WCO Harmonized System is the underlying nomenclature, and the WTO Tariff & Trade Data portal holds the applied rates by country pair.
For ocean cargo, restricted commodities move under the IMO's IMDG Code, and the container has to be declared and stowed accordingly. Batteries, flammables and corrosives all have a compliant ocean path; what causes rolled bookings is finding out about them after the container is packed.
On the origin side, export declaration and any commodity inspection requirement fall under China Customs (GACC); we handle that filing as part of the service, but the requirement is theirs, not ours.
Watch: the process behind this route
This guide covers routing and clearance for Reykjavik. The video below covers the wider shipping process that sits around it.
How to Ship Internationally via Ocean Freight | Step-by-Step Process, Documents & Cost Explained — 10 Min For Supply Chain. Published on YouTube by a third party; we link it because it explains the process well, not because we produced it or endorse the provider.