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Europe 🚢 Sea Freight 1 KG

Sea Freight Rate for 1KG from China to Germany

The exact published rate at this weight, taken straight from the live carrier price feed.

1KG by sea freight from China to Germany takes 25–45 calendar days door to door. Pricing at this weight depends on chargeable weight and cargo class; send dimensions and we return a firm landed cost within 24 hours.

Transit time
25–45 calendar days
Customs authority
German Customs (Zoll)

Figures on this page are planning references. The final quote depends on chargeable weight, cargo class and HS code.

Current Rates — China to Germany (1 KG)

Rate data for this combination is currently on request. Contact us directly →

🔄 Calculate for a different weight:

Trade Terms Explained — Who Pays for What

The rate above is quoted on one specific trade term. Change the term and you change how much of the journey to Germany is already inside the price. The table below maps the eleven common Incoterms® against the twelve cost stages of a door-to-door shipment, so you can see exactly where our responsibility ends and yours begins.

  • Seller — Cost and arrangement sit with the seller / shipper.
  • Buyer — Cost and arrangement sit with the buyer / consignee.
  • Negotiable — Not fixed by the rule — agree it in the contract.
Responsibility for each shipment stage under each Incoterms rule
Term 1 Loading on truck 2 Export customs declaration 3 Carriage to port of export 4 Unloading at port of export 5 Loading on vessel / aircraft 6 Main carriage 7 Cargo insurance 8 Unloading at port of import 9 Loading on truck at import 10 Carriage to destination 11 Import customs clearance 12 Import duties & taxes
EXW Ex Works Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck Buyer Buyer — Export customs declaration Buyer Buyer — Carriage to port of export Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of export Buyer Buyer — Loading on vessel / aircraft Buyer Buyer — Main carriage Buyer Buyer — Cargo insurance Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes
FCA Free Carrier Seller Seller — Loading on truck Seller Seller — Export customs declaration Buyer Buyer — Carriage to port of export Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of export Buyer Buyer — Loading on vessel / aircraft Buyer Buyer — Main carriage Buyer Buyer — Cargo insurance Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes
FAS Free Alongside Ship Seller Seller — Loading on truck Seller Seller — Export customs declaration Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export Buyer Buyer — Loading on vessel / aircraft Buyer Buyer — Main carriage Buyer Buyer — Cargo insurance Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes
FOB Free On Board Seller Seller — Loading on truck Seller Seller — Export customs declaration Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft Buyer Buyer — Main carriage Buyer Buyer — Cargo insurance Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes
CFR Cost and Freight Seller Seller — Loading on truck Seller Seller — Export customs declaration Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft Seller Seller — Main carriage Buyer Buyer — Cargo insurance Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes
CIF Cost, Insurance and Freight Seller Seller — Loading on truck Seller Seller — Export customs declaration Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft Seller Seller — Main carriage Seller Seller — Cargo insurance Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes
CPT Carriage Paid To Seller Seller — Loading on truck Seller Seller — Export customs declaration Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft Seller Seller — Main carriage Negotiable Negotiable — Cargo insurance Seller Seller — Unloading at port of import Seller Seller — Loading on truck at import Seller Seller — Carriage to destination Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes
CIP Carriage and Insurance Paid Seller Seller — Loading on truck Seller Seller — Export customs declaration Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft Seller Seller — Main carriage Seller Seller — Cargo insurance Seller Seller — Unloading at port of import Seller Seller — Loading on truck at import Seller Seller — Carriage to destination Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes
DAT Delivered At Terminal (DPU) Seller Seller — Loading on truck Seller Seller — Export customs declaration Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft Seller Seller — Main carriage Negotiable Negotiable — Cargo insurance Seller Seller — Unloading at port of import Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes
DAP Delivered At Place Seller Seller — Loading on truck Seller Seller — Export customs declaration Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft Seller Seller — Main carriage Negotiable Negotiable — Cargo insurance Seller Seller — Unloading at port of import Seller Seller — Loading on truck at import Seller Seller — Carriage to destination Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes
DDP Delivered Duty Paid Seller Seller — Loading on truck Seller Seller — Export customs declaration Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft Seller Seller — Main carriage Negotiable Negotiable — Cargo insurance Seller Seller — Unloading at port of import Seller Seller — Loading on truck at import Seller Seller — Carriage to destination Seller Seller — Import customs clearance Seller Seller — Import duties & taxes

EXW Ex Works

Buyer takes over at the seller's door and carries every cost from there. Lowest quoted price, highest buyer workload.

FCA Free Carrier

Seller clears the goods for export and hands them to the carrier the buyer nominated.

FAS Free Alongside Ship

Sea and inland waterway only. Seller delivers alongside the vessel; loading is on the buyer.

FOB Free On Board

Sea and inland waterway only. Risk passes once the goods are on board. The most common buying term.

CFR Cost and Freight

Seller pays the main carriage but carries no insurance obligation; risk still passes on loading.

CIF Cost, Insurance and Freight

As CFR, plus the seller must buy and pay for cargo insurance (minimum cover unless you agree more).

CPT Carriage Paid To

Any mode. Seller pays carriage through to the named destination; insurance is not obligatory.

CIP Carriage and Insurance Paid

As CPT, plus the seller must insure the cargo through to the named destination.

DAT Delivered At Terminal (DPU)

Seller delivers unloaded at the named terminal. Renamed DPU (Delivered at Place Unloaded) in Incoterms® 2020.

DAP Delivered At Place

Seller delivers to your address ready for unloading; import clearance and duty stay with the buyer.

DDP Delivered Duty Paid

Seller carries everything through to your door, duty and tax included. Highest quoted price, least buyer workload.

Two things worth flagging. Under CIF and CIP the seller is obliged to buy cargo insurance and pay the premium; under every other term insurance is optional, and we recommend buyers arrange their own cover so a loss or damage in transit is recoverable. And this table is a working summary for planning purposes — the binding definitions are the ones published by the International Chamber of Commerce in the Incoterms® rules, so confirm the exact term wording in your sales contract before you ship.

Price Trend — Germany Sea Freight

Historical freight rates from China to Germany for 1 KG shipments. Data sourced from live carrier price feeds.

China to Germany — Shipping Reference Data

Key China-to-Germany import facts buyers should plan around:

Main sea gateways Hamburg, Bremerhaven, Wilhelmshaven
Destination customs authority German Customs (Zoll)
De-minimis / duty-free threshold EUR 150 (duty-free threshold; VAT from EUR 0)
Import tax & duty regime Import VAT 19%; duty 0–12% by TARIC code
Local currency EUR
Typical port/airport dwell time 3–6 days
Peak / busy season Sep–Nov
Conformity & certification CE marking + EU IOSS registration for B2C e-commerce

Thresholds and duty bands are buyer-planning references, not formal customs rulings — confirm the exact HS-code rate for your goods before shipping.

Small Parcel

Who Ships This Weight?

Shipments of 1 KG or under are most commonly used for product samples, quality inspection requests, documents, and single-unit e-commerce orders. At this weight range, express air freight is almost always the most cost-effective option — sea freight minimum charges would make it uneconomical.

  • Ideal for Alibaba sample orders before bulk purchasing
  • Commonly used by Shopify/WooCommerce stores for test orders
  • FedEx, DHL, and UPS express services available at this weight
  • Declared value under USD 800 may qualify for de minimis in the US

🧰 Free 3D Loading Tools for Sea Freight

This page covers Sea Freight from China to Germany. Plan your cargo with the matching tool before requesting a quote.

🚢

3D Container Loading Planner

Sea freight to Germany prices by CBM or container — plan 20GP/40GP/40HQ loading in 3D, mix different box sizes, and check utilization before booking.

Open Container Planner →

Which Shipping Method is Best for 1 KG?

Recommended
✈️

Air Freight

Transit: 5–10 business days
Best at: Under 300 KG, time-sensitive cargo
Recommended
🚢

Sea Freight

Transit: 25–45 calendar days
Best at: Over 100 KG, non-urgent cargo
Not cost-effective
🚂

Rail Freight

Transit: 18–28 calendar days
Best at: Europe destinations over 50 KG
Europe only

Transit Times — China to Germany

MethodTransit TimeNotes
Air Freight DDP5–10 business daysFrom China warehouse to Germany door
Rail Freight DDP18–28 calendar daysTrain via Central Asia to Germany
Express Courier3–7 business daysDHL/FedEx/UPS door-to-door, good option

What Affects the Shipping Cost to Germany?

  • Actual vs. volumetric weight — carriers charge whichever is higher (L×W×H÷6000 for air)
  • Cargo type surcharge — batteries, liquids, and branded goods carry additional fees
  • Peak season surcharges — Chinese New Year (Jan/Feb) and Golden Week (Oct) add 15–30%
  • Destination area — Germany may have remote area surcharges for certain postal codes
  • Declared value — customs duties are calculated on CIF value
  • Bunker adjustment factor (BAF) — fuel surcharges added quarterly
  • Port terminal handling charges (THC) — charged at origin and destination

Customs & Documentation for Germany

  • De minimis threshold — shipments below local tax threshold may clear duty-free
  • Required documents: commercial invoice, packing list, and accurate HS codes
  • DDP service includes all import duties — you pay one total price with no surprises
  • Battery and liquid goods require additional certification documents
  • EU IOSS/VAT registration may be required for e-commerce shipments above EUR 150
  • CE certification required for electronic goods sold to EU consumers

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to ship from China to Germany?

Shipping rates from China to Germany vary by weight, mode, and cargo type. Duty and tax follow the rule: Import VAT 19%; duty 0–12% by TARIC code. Send your weight and dimensions and we return a full door-to-door quote within 24 hours.

What duties and taxes apply when importing into Germany?

Imports into Germany are assessed by German Customs (Zoll). The applicable regime is: Import VAT 19%; duty 0–12% by TARIC code. The duty-free / de-minimis position is EUR 150 (duty-free threshold; VAT from EUR 0). Under our DDP service these charges are pre-paid and included in the per-KG price, so there is nothing to settle on arrival.

In what currency are rates to Germany quoted and paid?

Freight to Germany is quoted and invoiced in USD; the local currency on the destination side is EUR. Payment is typically due before departure (T/T or PayPal), and because it's DDP you settle the full landed cost once — no destination collect charges.

What is the minimum shipment size for shipping to Germany?

Minimums to Germany vary by channel: air DDP from about 21 KG (some from 12 KG), sea LCL from roughly 1 CBM, and express courier for single parcels. Below 21 KG, express is usually the most economical way into Germany.

How long does shipping from China to Germany take?

Door-to-door transit to Germany: air freight 5–10 business days, sea LCL 30–50 days, sea FCL 28–45 days, and rail 18–28 days. On arrival, allow roughly 3–6 days of clearance/dwell at the gateway. All times include customs clearance under DDP.

How is chargeable weight calculated for Germany shipments?

We compare actual gross weight against volumetric weight (L×W×H ÷ 6000 for air) and charge whichever is greater, rounded up to the next kilogram. For 1 KG this matters most when cargo is light but bulky — consolidating cartons can drop you into a cheaper bracket.

What is DDP shipping to Germany and what does it include?

DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) to Germany means one all-inclusive price covering freight, the duty/tax due to German Customs (Zoll), and last-mile delivery to your door. The EUR 150 (duty-free threshold; VAT from EUR 0) de-minimis position is handled for you, and there are no surprise charges at destination.

When is the busy season for shipping to Germany?

Capacity to Germany tightens around Sep–Nov, on top of the China-side surcharge windows of Chinese New Year (Jan/Feb) and Golden Week (early Oct). Booking 1–2 weeks earlier during these windows protects both space and rate.

Shipping to Germany by industry

Rates above are lane rates and apply to general cargo. Packing specification, HS classification and the clearance step that matters are all commodity-specific — these guides cover them industry by industry.

All 139 industry guides →