Sea FCL Port-to-Port (Spot)
🚢 Sea Freight → Busan| Bracket | Rate (USD/KG) |
|---|---|
| 20GP | USD 170.00 |
| 40HQ | USD 200.00 |
Asia Pacific
🚢 Sea Freight
How Much Does It Cost to Ship from China to South Korea?
Live published rates by air, sea and rail, with duty, clearance and final delivery already inside the figure.
Shipping from China to South Korea starts at USD 170.0/kg by sea (25-45 days). A 100 kg air shipment works out at roughly USD 17,000 door to door. Every rate on this page already covers freight, the duty and tax due to the national customs authority, and delivery to your address.
- Sea freight
- USD 170.0/kg, 25-45 days
- Customs authority
- the national customs authority
- Clearance dwell
- 4–10 days
Rates last updated 2026-08-14. Figures are published channel prices for planning; the final quote depends on chargeable weight, cargo class and HS code.
Current Rates — China to South Korea
🟢 Updated 2026-08-14| Service | Mode | Rate (USD/KG) | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Value Sea · FCL Port-to-Port (Spot) | 🚢 Sea Freight | USD 170.0 | View Details → |
| Sea · FCL Port-to-Port (Spot) | 🚢 Sea Freight | USD 285.0 | View Details → |
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Full Weight-Tier Rate Cards
Detailed per-weight pricing for every active route from China to South Korea. Each tier reflects the published rate at that exact weight — useful for accurate budgeting at common shipment sizes.
Sea FCL Port-to-Port (Spot)
🚢 Sea Freight → Incheon| Bracket | Rate (USD/KG) |
|---|---|
| 20GP | USD 285.00 |
| 40HQ | USD 530.00 |
🚢 Sea Freight Options
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 South Korea 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.
Price Trend — South Korea
Historical freight rates from China to South Korea. Data sourced from live carrier price feeds.
China to South Korea — Shipping Reference Data
Key China-to-South Korea import facts buyers should plan around:
| Main sea gateways | the main commercial seaport |
|---|---|
| Destination customs authority | the national customs authority |
| De-minimis / duty-free threshold | varies by country |
| Import tax & duty regime | Import duty and local tax apply; rates vary by commodity |
| Local currency | USD |
| Typical port/airport dwell time | 4–10 days |
| Peak / busy season | Sep–Nov |
| Conformity & certification | Confirm local conformity and labelling rules per HS code |
| Main air gateways | the primary international airport |
Thresholds and duty bands are buyer-planning references, not formal customs rulings — confirm the exact HS-code rate for your goods before shipping.
Commercial Freight — Mid Volume
At 100 KG, you're in the commercial freight category — large enough for competitive rates but still within the range where air freight often beats sea freight on cost per delivery cycle. This weight is common for electronics, clothing, and general merchandise restocking shipments going to South Korea.
- Air freight channels offer volume discounts from 100 KG
- Sea freight LCL (shared container) becomes viable above 150 KG
- Most channels require volumetric weight check (L×W×H÷6000)
- Rail freight viable for European destinations at this weight
🧰 Free 3D Loading Tools
Shipping to South Korea by air or sea? Plan cartons and container loading in 3D before requesting a quote.
3D Carton Packing Calculator
Air rates to South Korea bill by chargeable weight — simulate your carton fill in 3D (including mixed products in one box) and cut dimensional-weight waste before you book.
Open Packing Tool →3D Container Loading Planner
Squeeze more out of every CBM to South Korea: load your carton list in 3D, verify space and payload utilization, and export the loading plan.
Open Container Planner →Which Shipping Method is Best?
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Transit Times — China to South Korea
| Method | Transit Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Air Freight DDP | 5–10 business days | From China warehouse to South Korea door |
| Sea Freight LCL | 30–50 calendar days | Shared container to South Korea port + delivery |
| Express Courier | 3–7 business days | DHL/FedEx/UPS door-to-door, high cost for this weight |
What Affects the Shipping Cost to South Korea?
- 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 — South Korea may have remote area surcharges for certain postal codes
- Declared value — customs duties are calculated on CIF value
Customs & Documentation for South Korea
- 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
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to ship from China to South Korea?
Current rates for shipping from China to South Korea start at USD 170.00/KG via Sea FCL Port-to-Port (Spot). For 100 KG, the estimated total is approximately USD 170, duty included. Final landed cost depends on the Import duty and local tax apply; rates vary by commodity applied by the national customs authority.
What duties and taxes apply when importing into South Korea?
Imports into South Korea are assessed by the national customs authority. The applicable regime is: Import duty and local tax apply; rates vary by commodity. The duty-free / de-minimis position is varies by country. Under our DDP service these charges are pre-paid and included in the per-KG price, so there is nothing to settle on arrival.
Can I track my shipment from China to South Korea?
Yes. Air shipments to South Korea get an air waybill (AWB) trackable within 24 hours of departure; sea shipments are tracked by bill-of-lading through the carrier portal. We push status at key milestones: departure, arrival at the gateway, clearance by the national customs authority, and final delivery.
What certifications are required to import into South Korea?
For regulated goods entering South Korea, plan for: Confirm local conformity and labelling rules per HS code. Missing conformity paperwork is the most common cause of clearance holds with the national customs authority, so confirm requirements for your HS code before the cargo leaves China.
How long does shipping from China to South Korea take?
Door-to-door transit to South Korea: air freight 5–10 business days, sea LCL 30–50 days, sea FCL 28–45 days. On arrival, allow roughly 4–10 days of clearance/dwell at the gateway. All times include customs clearance under DDP.
When is the busy season for shipping to South Korea?
Capacity to South Korea 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.
What is DDP shipping to South Korea and what does it include?
DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) to South Korea means one all-inclusive price covering freight, the duty/tax due to the national customs authority, and last-mile delivery to your door. The varies by country de-minimis position is handled for you, and there are no surprise charges at destination.
What documents are required for customs clearance in South Korea?
the national customs authority typically requires: (1) commercial invoice with HS codes and declared value; (2) packing list with weights and dimensions; (3) bill of lading or air waybill; (4) certificate of origin (may lower duty); and (5) any product-specific certification (Confirm local conformity and labelling rules per HS code). Under DDP we prepare and file these for you.
Inland Delivery Coverage — South Korea
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.
- Seoul ICN air / Incheon sea inland same day Guide only — no rates
- Incheon ICN air / Incheon sea inland same day Guide only — no rates
- Busan PUS air / Busan sea inland same day Guide only — no rates
- Gyeonggi ICN air / Incheon sea inland same day Guide only — no rates
- Daegu ICN air / Busan sea inland +1 day Guide only — no rates
- Daejeon ICN air / Incheon sea inland same day Guide only — no rates
- Gwangju ICN air / Gwangyang sea inland +1 day Guide only — no rates
- Ulsan PUS air / Ulsan sea inland +1 day Guide only — no rates
- Changwon PUS air / Busan sea inland same day Guide only — no rates
- Cheonan ICN air / Pyeongtaek sea inland same day Guide only — no rates
Shipping to South Korea 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.
- 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
- Tableware Furniture & Home Products
- Apparel Textiles, Apparel, Footwear & Leather
- Hospital Equipment Medical, Laboratory & Precision Instruments
- Parking Equipment Fire, Safety & Traffic Products
- Massage Equipment Beauty, Personal Care & Wellness
- Arts & Crafts Toys, Sports, Outdoor & Leisure