Current Freight Rates
Price data updating. Contact us for current rates.
Trade Terms Explained — Who Pays for What EXW, FOB, CIF, DDP and seven more — see which costs sit with us and which sit with you
The rate above is quoted on one specific trade term. Change the term and you change how much of the journey to Pakistan 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
Pakistan Sea Freight from China: routing and transit
Sea Freight into Pakistan runs through Karachi (KICT/QICT), Port Qasim, Gwadar. Clearance is by Pakistan Customs (Federal Board of Revenue) and typical dwell before release is 5–12 days.
Karachi handles the overwhelming majority of Pakistan's sea volume, with Port Qasim as the second option. The China–Pakistan FTA phase II gives meaningful duty relief on a long list of tariff lines, but only against a properly issued certificate of origin. Regulatory duty on consumer goods changes with each federal budget, so verify the current rate rather than reusing last year's landed-cost model.
Route facts
| Destination country | Pakistan |
|---|---|
| Region | South Asia |
| Mode | Sea Freight |
| Gateways used | Karachi (KICT/QICT), Port Qasim, Gwadar |
| Transit, China to gateway | 14–22 calendar days |
| Clearance / dwell | 5–12 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 Karachi — the port city handling most national import volume. Via KHI air / Karachi sea; inland leg same day. Sea Freight guide →
- China to Lahore — Punjab commercial capital. Via LHE air / Karachi sea; inland leg +2 days. Sea Freight guide →
- China to Islamabad — federal capital and government procurement centre. Via ISB air / Karachi sea; inland leg +2 days. Sea Freight guide →
- China to Rawalpindi — twin city and northern distribution point. Via ISB air / Karachi sea; inland leg +2 days. Sea Freight guide →
- China to Faisalabad — the textile manufacturing capital. Via LHE air / Karachi sea; inland leg +2 days. Sea Freight guide →
- China to Sialkot — sports goods and surgical instrument export cluster. Via SKT air / Karachi sea; inland leg +2 days. Sea Freight guide →
- China to Multan — southern Punjab agricultural trade hub. Via LHE air / Karachi sea; inland leg +2 days. Sea Freight guide →
- China to Peshawar — north-west frontier trading city. Via ISB air / Karachi sea; inland leg +3 days. Sea Freight guide →
- China to Gujranwala — light engineering and appliance manufacturing. Via LHE air / Karachi sea; inland leg +2 days. Sea Freight guide →
- China to Quetta — Balochistan capital on the Iran and Afghan corridors. Via KHI air / Karachi sea; inland leg +3 days. Sea Freight guide →
The per-kilogram rate above applies to chargeable weight, not to what the scale says. At 166.7 kg per cubic metre, a carton of light goods can be billed at several times its actual weight, so send dimensions with the weight when you ask for a quote into Pakistan — a rate quoted without them is only ever provisional.
In practice the cargo we move on this lane clusters into a few recognisable shapes — kitchenware (HS 94), where clearance turns on timber due diligence (EUTR / EUDR) and UK upholstery fire regulations, conveyor belts (HS 39 / 40) and fasteners (HS 73 / 82 / 83). Each behaves differently against the rate: one fills the payload before it fills the space, the next does the reverse, and the packing brief we send back with the quote is written to the one you are actually shipping.
Discharge for Pakistan on this service is at Karachi (KICT/QICT), Port Qasim and Gwadar. Transit time in the rate table is measured to the port, not to the door: the inland days on top depend on which gateway the box clears through and how far inland the delivery address sits.
If your delivery address is inland rather than at the port, the destination guides are the useful read: Lahore, Karachi, Port Qasim, Rawalpindi and Multan each document their clearing gateway, typical inland transit and local customs behavior, none of which is visible in a rate table. See all Pakistan destinations we cover for the other 6.
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Additional Information
What Pakistan Customs (Federal Board of Revenue) will ask for
Sales tax 18%; customs duty 3–20% plus additional customs duty and regulatory duty on many consumer lines; withholding income tax on imports. The de-minimis position is No practical de-minimis.
Conformity: PSQCA standards mark for regulated goods; import against a bank contract or letter of credit for most commercial cargo.
Known friction points: Import payment normally has to route through a bank contract or LC, which constrains DDP structures. Regulatory duty and additional customs duty are revised frequently. Used goods and many consumer categories face import bans or heavy surcharges.
Documents we file under duty-paid
- 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 Pakistan
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 Pakistan Customs (Federal Board of Revenue) or your broker before shipping.
Where these numbers come from
Duty and tax figures on this page are planning estimates. The binding assessment is made by Pakistan Customs (Federal Board of Revenue) 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.
Classification drives everything downstream: the same carton can attract very different duty depending on the heading it lands in, and the structure those headings come from is the World Customs Organization Harmonized System. If your product sits near a boundary between two headings, resolve it before shipping rather than at the border.
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.
For a wider view of how importing into Pakistan actually works — documentation norms, inspection behavior, the paperwork that tends to hold shipments — the U.S. ITA guide to Pakistan customs regulations is a useful independent read alongside our own lane notes.
China to Pakistan — Shipping Reference Data
| Main sea gateways | Karachi (KICT/QICT), Port Qasim, Gwadar |
|---|---|
| Destination customs authority | Pakistan Customs (Federal Board of Revenue) |
| De-minimis / duty-free threshold | No practical de-minimis |
| Import tax & duty regime | Sales tax 18%; customs duty 3–20% plus additional customs duty and regulatory duty on many consumer lines; withholding income tax on imports |
| Local currency | PKR |
| Typical clearance / dwell time | 5–12 days |
| Peak / busy season | Sep–Nov |
| Conformity & certification | PSQCA standards mark for regulated goods; import against a bank contract or letter of credit for most commercial cargo |
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 Pakistan. Use the matching tool below to plan your cargo before requesting a quote.
3D Container Loading Planner
Maximize every CBM on this route: load your carton list into the 3D container planner, check space and payload utilization, and download the loading plan for your forwarder.
Open Container Planner →Pakistan Sea Freight Checklist
- Verify the receiver's customs import capability in Pakistan for DDP terms before booking.
- Declare accurate gross weight — VGM misdeclaration delays vessels and triggers fines.
- Confirm whether your Pakistan rate is per CBM or per container before comparing quotes.
- Photograph the container number, seal, and loading process for insurance evidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Sea DDP Door-to-Door from China to Pakistan take?
Sea freight on this route runs about 25–45 calendar days door-to-door, plus roughly 5–12 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 Pakistan?
Clearance is handled by Pakistan Customs (Federal Board of Revenue). The regime is: Sales tax 18%; customs duty 3–20% plus additional customs duty and regulatory duty on many consumer lines; withholding income tax on imports, with a de-minimis position of No practical de-minimis. Under DDP these are pre-paid, so nothing is collected on arrival.
When does capacity tighten on the China–Pakistan lane?
Space and rates tighten around Sep–Nov, plus the China-side windows of Chinese New Year (Jan/Feb) and Golden Week (early Oct). Book 1–2 weeks earlier in these periods.
What certification is needed to import into Pakistan?
For regulated goods, plan for: PSQCA standards mark for regulated goods; import against a bank contract or letter of credit for most commercial cargo. Missing conformity paperwork is the most common clearance hold with Pakistan Customs (Federal Board of Revenue), so confirm requirements for your HS code before shipping.
Can you ship special cargo (batteries, branded goods) to Pakistan?
Yes — battery goods by sea follow UN3480/UN3481 rules with an MSDS; we prepare the dangerous-goods paperwork as part of DDP into Karachi (KICT/QICT), Port Qasim, Gwadar. Surcharges apply.
What documents are required for customs clearance in Pakistan?
Pakistan Customs (Federal Board of Revenue) 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 (PSQCA standards mark for regulated goods; import against a bank contract or letter of credit for most commercial cargo). We file these under DDP.
Customer Reviews
What customers say about shipping to Pakistan with us.
🇵🇰 Pakistan
This was a DDP shipment to Pakistan for mixed cartons. The shipment details were handled carefully. Pickup from the supplier was arranged quickly and customs stayed under control. Would use the same line again for general cargo. Customs handling was better than with our previous forwarder.
This was a DDP shipment to Pakistan for mixed cartons. Transit took a little patience but stayed under control. Transit was close to the estimate and the destination delivery appointment was handled well. Overall a reliable experience for repeat imports.
Booked another door-to-door shipment to Pakistan through this team. Transit took a little patience but stayed under control. The landed price stayed aligned with the quote, which helped our budgeting. A practical option when we need predictable landed cost.
We used this route for a regular replenishment to Pakistan. The shipment details were handled carefully. Transit was close to the estimate and the destination delivery appointment was handled well. Overall a reliable experience for repeat imports.
Booked another door-to-door shipment to Pakistan through this team. Transit took a little patience but stayed under control. Tracking updates were not excessive, but they came when something important changed. A practical option when we need predictable landed cost.
We tested this lane to Pakistan with a mid-volume order. Transit took a little patience but stayed under control. The landed price stayed aligned with the quote, which helped our budgeting. Overall a reliable experience for repeat imports.
This was a DDP shipment to Pakistan for mixed cartons. The shipment details were handled carefully. The booking process was straightforward and the team confirmed documents early. A practical option when we need predictable landed cost.
We tested this lane to Pakistan with a mid-volume order. Transit took a little patience but stayed under control. Cartons arrived clean and labels were still readable on delivery. Better coordination than the forwarder we used before.
We used this route for a regular replenishment to Pakistan. Transit took a little patience but stayed under control. Pickup from the supplier was arranged quickly and customs stayed under control. Better coordination than the forwarder we used before.
We used this route for a regular replenishment to Pakistan. The shipment details were handled carefully. The landed price stayed aligned with the quote, which helped our budgeting. Better coordination than the forwarder we used before.
We tested this lane to Pakistan with a mid-volume order. The shipment details were handled carefully. Cartons arrived clean and labels were still readable on delivery. Would use the same line again for general cargo.
Booked another door-to-door shipment to Pakistan through this team. The shipment details were handled carefully. Transit was close to the estimate and the destination delivery appointment was handled well. Overall a reliable experience for repeat imports.
Professional service from start to finish. Clear communication throughout, and my cargo cleared customs without any problems.
Reasonable transit time. The documentation handling was professional and customs clearance was smooth.
Used this service twice now for air freight. Both times the delivery was smooth and the pricing was transparent.
Communication was a bit slow at times. The actual shipment was fine but I had to follow up several times for updates.
Efficient service for consolidation shipments. Would have appreciated more proactive updates during transit.
The DDP service is excellent — everything included in the quoted price. No additional fees upon arrival.
Mostly a smooth experience. There was a small delay at the origin port but the team communicated clearly and resolved it quickly.
Inland Delivery Coverage — Pakistan
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.
- Port Qasim KHI air / Port Qasim sea inland same day Guide only — no rates
- Karachi KHI air / Karachi sea inland same day Guide only — no rates
- Lahore LHE air / Karachi sea inland +2 days Guide only — no rates
- Islamabad ISB air / Karachi sea inland +2 days Guide only — no rates
- Rawalpindi ISB air / Karachi sea inland +2 days Guide only — no rates
- Faisalabad LHE air / Karachi sea inland +2 days Guide only — no rates
- Sialkot SKT air / Karachi sea inland +2 days Guide only — no rates
- Multan LHE air / Karachi sea inland +2 days Guide only — no rates
- Peshawar ISB air / Karachi sea inland +3 days Guide only — no rates
- Gujranwala LHE air / Karachi sea inland +2 days Guide only — no rates
- Quetta KHI air / Karachi sea inland +3 days Guide only — no rates
Shipping Pakistan 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.
- Personal Protective Equipment Fire, Safety & Traffic Products
- Beauty Equipment Beauty, Personal Care & Wellness
- Inflatable Products Toys, Sports, Outdoor & Leisure
- Artificial Flowers Consumer Goods & Gifts
- Retail Products E-commerce & Retail Channels
- 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