💰 Current Freight Rates
Price data updating. Contact us for current rates.
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 Hong Kong 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.
| 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.
📋 Service Details
Hong Kong Sea Freight from China: routing and transit
Sea Freight into Hong Kong runs through Kwai Tsing container terminals, River trade terminal (Tuen Mun). Clearance is by Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department and typical dwell before release is Same day to 2 days.
Hong Kong is a free port with no import duty and no VAT, which is why it functions as the region's re-export and consolidation hub. Cross-border trucking from Shenzhen runs several times a day, and HKG offers the widest long-haul air capacity in Asia — many battery and sensitive-cargo channels depart from Hong Kong rather than mainland airports for exactly this reason.
Route facts
| Destination country | Hong Kong |
|---|---|
| Region | Asia Pacific |
| Mode | Sea Freight |
| Gateways used | Kwai Tsing container terminals, River trade terminal (Tuen Mun) |
| Transit, China to gateway | 1–2 calendar days |
| Clearance / dwell | Same day to 2 days |
| Peak season | Sep–Nov |
Delivery cities on this lane
Each city below has its own guide covering the gateway that serves it, the inland leg after clearance and the local delivery requirements.
- China to Kowloon — dense commercial and trading district. Via HKG air / Kwai Tsing sea; inland leg same day. Sea Freight guide →
- China to New Territories — warehousing, logistics parks and cross-border trucking base. Via HKG air / Kwai Tsing sea; inland leg same day. Sea Freight guide →
- China to Hong Kong Island — central business district deliveries. Via HKG air / Kwai Tsing sea; inland leg same day. Sea Freight guide →
- China to Tsuen Wan — container terminal hinterland and light industry. Via HKG air / Kwai Tsing sea; inland leg same day. Sea Freight guide →
- China to Yuen Long — logistics yards closest to the Shenzhen land crossings. Via HKG air; inland leg same day. Sea Freight guide →
- China to Sha Tin — commercial and residential distribution area. Via HKG air; inland leg same day. Sea Freight guide →
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ℹ️ Additional Information
Clearance requirements into Hong Kong
No VAT or GST and no import duty, except on liquor, tobacco, hydrocarbon oil and methyl alcohol; a trade declaration charge applies. The de-minimis position is Not applicable — Hong Kong is a duty-free port.
Conformity: No general conformity regime; a trade declaration must be lodged within 14 days of import.
Known friction points: A trade declaration is required even though no duty is payable. Strategic and dual-use commodities need a licence from the Trade and Industry Department. Onward re-export to the mainland is a separate customs event.
Documents we file under DDP
- Commercial invoice showing HS codes and the true transaction value
- Packing list with carton count, gross and net weight, and dimensions
- Bill of lading
- Certificate of origin where it reduces the duty rate
- Product certification or conformity documents where the commodity requires them
Packing notes
- Chargeable weight is the greater of actual gross weight and volumetric weight (L×W×H ÷ 1000 for LCL chargeable volume)
- Use ISPM-15 treated wood for any pallet or crate — untreated timber is a common hold
- Mark every carton with the consignee name, city and carton number of total
- Declare lithium batteries, magnets, liquids and powders before booking, not after
Other modes into Hong Kong
Duty rates, thresholds and conformity rules change by ministerial decision. The figures here are buyer-planning references, not a customs ruling — confirm the current position for your HS code with Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department or your broker before shipping.
📊 China to Hong Kong — Shipping Reference Data
| Main sea gateways | Kwai Tsing container terminals, River trade terminal (Tuen Mun) |
|---|---|
| Destination customs authority | Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department |
| De-minimis / duty-free threshold | Not applicable — Hong Kong is a duty-free port |
| Import tax & duty regime | No VAT or GST and no import duty, except on liquor, tobacco, hydrocarbon oil and methyl alcohol; a trade declaration charge applies |
| Local currency | HKD |
| Typical clearance / dwell time | Same day to 2 days |
| Peak / busy season | Sep–Nov |
| Conformity & certification | No general conformity regime; a trade declaration must be lodged within 14 days of import |
Thresholds and duty bands are buyer-planning references, not formal customs rulings — confirm the exact HS-code rate for your goods before shipping.
🧰 Free 3D Loading Tools for This Sea Route
This page covers a Sea freight service from China to Hong Kong. Use the matching tool below to plan your cargo before requesting a quote.
3D Container Loading Planner
Sea freight to Hong Kong prices by CBM or container — plan your 20GP/40GP/40HQ loading in 3D, compare utilization, and see exactly how many cartons fit before you commit to a booking.
Open Container Planner →✅ Hong Kong Sea Freight Checklist
- Photograph the container number, seal, and loading process for insurance evidence.
- Ask whether the quote includes destination port charges in Hong Kong or only ocean freight.
- Check pallet vs floor-loading: floor loading typically fits 8-12% more cartons per container.
- Declare accurate gross weight — VGM misdeclaration delays vessels and triggers fines.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Sea DDP Door-to-Door from China to Hong Kong take?
Sea freight on this route runs about 25–45 calendar days door-to-door, plus roughly Same day to 2 days of clearance/dwell once it reaches the gateway. All times include customs clearance under DDP terms.
What duties and taxes apply when importing into Hong Kong?
Clearance is handled by Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department. The regime is: No VAT or GST and no import duty, except on liquor, tobacco, hydrocarbon oil and methyl alcohol; a trade declaration charge applies, with a de-minimis position of Not applicable — Hong Kong is a duty-free port. Under DDP these are pre-paid, so nothing is collected on arrival.
What does DDP shipping to Hong Kong include on this route?
DDP means one price covering freight, the duty/tax owed to Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department, and last-mile delivery to your door in Hong Kong. There are no surprise charges at destination.
What documents are required for customs clearance in Hong Kong?
Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department typically requires a commercial invoice with HS codes, a packing list, the bill of lading/air waybill, a certificate of origin (may lower duty), and any product certification (No general conformity regime; a trade declaration must be lodged within 14 days of import). We file these under DDP.
In what currency is this route priced and paid?
Freight is quoted and invoiced in USD; the destination-side currency is HKD. Payment is typically due before departure, and DDP means you settle the full landed cost once.
What certification is needed to import into Hong Kong?
For regulated goods, plan for: No general conformity regime; a trade declaration must be lodged within 14 days of import. Missing conformity paperwork is the most common clearance hold with Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department, so confirm requirements for your HS code before shipping.
Inland Delivery Coverage — Hong Kong
We deliver beyond the arrival gateway. Each city below has its own destination guide covering the gateway it clears through, typical inland transit time and the local customs picture.
Note — these are reference guides, not quotes. The city pages describe routing, gateways and clearance for each destination. They do not carry rate tables. For pricing to any city listed here, use the rate table on this page or ask us for a quote.
- Kowloon HKG air / Kwai Tsing sea inland same day Guide only — no rates
- New Territories HKG air / Kwai Tsing sea inland same day Guide only — no rates
- Hong Kong Island HKG air / Kwai Tsing sea inland same day Guide only — no rates
- Tsuen Wan HKG air / Kwai Tsing sea inland same day Guide only — no rates
- Yuen Long HKG air inland same day Guide only — no rates
- Sha Tin HKG air inland same day Guide only — no rates
Shipping Hong Kong cargo by industry
This rate is for the lane. What decides whether the cargo arrives intact is the commodity — how it prices, how it must be packed and loaded, and which compliance step holds it at the border. These guides cover that per industry.
- Metal Fabrication Metal Products & Industrial Components
- Cutting Tools Metal Products & Industrial Components
- Compressors General Machinery & Industrial Equipment
- Automated Storage Equipment Construction, Mining & Material Handling
- Electrical Cabinets New Energy, Power & Electrical
- Automotive Glass Automotive & Vehicles
- Doors & Windows Building Materials & Construction Products
- Paper Packaging Wood, Bamboo & Paper Products
- Packaging Materials Plastics, Rubber & Packaging
- Connectors Electronic Components & Semiconductors
- Consumer Electronics Consumer Electronics & Smart Devices
- Air Conditioning Equipment Home Appliances, HVAC & Commercial
📞 Contact Us
Ready to ship? Our team responds within one business day. We also handle sourcing and purchasing.