Sea Freight from China to Chonburi
China → Chonburi · via Laem Chabang sea · clearance by Thai Customs Department (กรมศุลกากร)
For buyers shipping into Chonburi, the practical question is not the ocean or flight time but what happens after arrival. Chonburi is port province and the main warehousing cluster for imported cargo; cargo enters through Laem Chabang sea, and the inland leg is same-day, so the clearance date is effectively the delivery date.
On the destination side, Thai Customs Department (กรมศุลกากร) handles clearance; budget 2–5 days of dwell before the cargo is released.
How this lane actually runs
Thailand is a short-haul lane: Shenzhen and Guangzhou both run daily air departures into Suvarnabhumi, and Laem Chabang is only 5–9 days from Shekou or Nansha. A land option also exists via the R3A road corridor through Laos, which is sometimes cheaper than air for semi-urgent cargo.
| Sea gateways used | Laem Chabang, Bangkok (Klong Toey), Songkhla |
|---|---|
| Sea transit, China to gateway | 5–9 calendar days |
| Gateway serving Chonburi | Laem Chabang sea |
| Inland leg to Chonburi | Same day from the gateway |
| Typical clearance / dwell | 2–5 days |
| Peak season to plan around | Sep–Nov |
What you will pay on arrival in Thailand
Thai Customs Department (กรมศุลกากร) assesses duty and tax on cargo arriving for Chonburi consignees. Current regime: VAT 7%; duty 0–30%, and 0% on most lines with an ACFTA Form E, with a de-minimis position of THB 1,500 (VAT now applies to low-value imports).
Conformity is the part most first-time importers underestimate: TISI standard mark for regulated goods; NBTC approval for radio devices; Thai FDA for food, cosmetics and supplements. Getting this wrong is expensive because it usually cannot be fixed after the cargo has landed.
Restrictions and known friction points for Thailand: Cosmetics, supplements and food need Thai FDA registration held by the consignee before arrival. Used machinery, secondhand goods and e-cigarettes are restricted or banned. Batteries move on approved air channels only.
What to sort out before the cargo leaves China
- Declare lithium batteries, magnets, liquids and powders up front — retro-declaring after booking usually means re-planning the whole shipment.
- Put the Chonburi delivery address, contact name and phone number on the invoice, not just the packing list.
- Ask for the HS code in writing from your supplier and verify the Thailand duty rate against it yourself.
- Use ISPM-15 treated pallets. Untreated wood is the most common reason otherwise-clean cargo gets held.
- Check the de-minimis position (THB 1,500 (VAT now applies to low-value imports)) against your invoice value before you decide how to split the shipment.
- Confirm the consignee in Chonburi can act as importer of record — Thai Customs Department (กรมศุลกากร) will not release cargo to an unregistered party.
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Chonburi take?
China to the Thailand gateway is 5–9 calendar days. On top of that, allow 2–5 days of clearance with Thai Customs Department (กรมศุลกากร) and a same-day inland leg to Chonburi.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into Chonburi?
Thai Customs Department (กรมศุลกากร) applies: VAT 7%; duty 0–30%, and 0% on most lines with an ACFTA Form E. The de-minimis position is THB 1,500 (VAT now applies to low-value imports). Under a DDP arrangement these are pre-paid, so nothing is collected on arrival in Chonburi.
Can you deliver door-to-door in Chonburi?
Yes. Delivery to a Chonburi address is quoted as one figure covering freight, duty and tax owed to Thai Customs Department (กรมศุลกากร), 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.
What certification do I need for Thailand?
For regulated goods, plan for: TISI standard mark for regulated goods; NBTC approval for radio devices; Thai FDA for food, cosmetics and supplements. 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.
What documents does Thai Customs Department (กรมศุลกากร) 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 (TISI standard mark for regulated goods; NBTC approval for radio devices; Thai FDA for food, cosmetics and supplements). We prepare and file these as part of the service.
Is sea freight cheaper than air freight into Chonburi?
Per kilo, yes — usually by a wide margin. The trade-off is time: 5–9 calendar days by sea versus 3–5 business days by air to the Thailand 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.
Other delivery cities in Thailand
References & official sources
Duty rates, thresholds and conformity requirements for Thailand 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 Thai Customs Department (กรมศุลกากร) or your broker before you ship.
- Thai Customs Department
- Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI)
- Port Authority of Thailand
- 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: 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.
- Automotive Electronics Automotive & Vehicles
- Sanitary Ware Building Materials & Construction Products
- Pallet Wood, Bamboo & Paper Products
- Conveyor Belts Plastics, Rubber & Packaging
- Electronic Components Electronic Components & Semiconductors
- Computer Hardware Telecom, Computing & Data Centre
- Kitchen Appliances Home Appliances, HVAC & Commercial
- Home Decor Furniture & Home Products
- Technical Textiles Textiles, Apparel, Footwear & Leather
- Wigs & Hair Products Textiles, Apparel, Footwear & Leather
- Fire Alarm Equipment Fire, Safety & Traffic Products
- Restaurant Furniture Retail, Display & Commercial Fixtures
Checking the Thailand duty position yourself
Every duty and tax figure quoted on this page is our working estimate for planning, not a ruling. The binding rate for your consignment is whatever Thai Customs Department applies against your declared HS code on the day of entry, and their published guidance is the source to check before you commit stock.
Most landed-cost surprises trace back to classification rather than freight. the WCO Harmonized System defines the heading structure every customs administration builds on, and ITC Market Access Map will show you the duty a given heading attracts in this destination.
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.
If this is your first shipment into Thailand, the Thailand Country Commercial Guide covers the practical import environment in more depth than a rate page reasonably can, and it is written by a party with no stake in your booking.
Watch: the process behind this route
This guide covers routing and clearance for Chonburi. The video below covers the wider shipping process that sits around it.
Marine Insurance Explained - Understand the Cargo Insurance You're Getting — ABTS®. 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.