Shanghai to Hamburg: sea freight for importers
Full containers and shared-container shipments from the Port of Shanghai to Hamburg. We book the space, coordinate with your supplier, prepare the German import declaration and deliver to your door.
The lane in short
Typical values, not a quote. Dates and routing change with the carrier.
- Typical transit
- 30 to 40 days port to port via the Suez Canal. Add roughly 10 to 14 days when the ship goes around the Cape of Good Hope.
- Origin ports
- Shanghai (Yangshan deep-water port and the Waigaoqiao terminals, code CNSHA). Ningbo is a common alternative for suppliers near the Yangtze delta, and we compare both when you ask.
- Destination
- Port of Hamburg (DEHAM), with onward delivery by truck to Germany and the EU.
- Typical cargo
- Machinery and spare parts, industrial components, packaging, building products and consumer goods.
- Equipment
- 20GP, 40GP and 40HC for FCL, or LCL from a consolidation warehouse near Shanghai.
How a shipment moves on this lane
Booking and pickup
We book space, agree the cut-off with your supplier and arrange the empty container or the delivery to the LCL warehouse in the Shanghai area.
Export clearance in China
Your supplier or their agent files the Chinese export declaration. We need the final packing list and the verified gross mass before the vessel cut-off.
Ocean transit
Ships from Shanghai usually call at one or two other Asian ports first. We follow the vessel and tell you early if the arrival date moves.
Hamburg arrival and delivery
We file the import declaration before arrival, pay duty and import VAT on your behalf if you ask us to, and book the truck once customs has released the cargo.
What to know on this lane
Plan around the Chinese holidays. Factories close for Golden Week at the start of October and for Chinese New Year in January or February, and space tightens before and after. Book four to six weeks ahead for those periods.
Ask which routing applies. Some services go through the Suez Canal and others around Africa, and the difference is up to two weeks on the same lane. We tell you before you confirm.
Ask your supplier for the HS code and a clear goods description early. Under ICS2 the carrier files safety data before loading, and vague descriptions delay the shipment.
Steel and aluminium goods can fall under the EU carbon border mechanism (CBAM) and under anti-dumping duties. Check the commodity code before you order, and see the Insights section for the latest on CBAM.
Customs and costs in Germany
Every importer needs an EORI number. The import declaration is based on the commodity code, the customs value and the origin. Import duty depends on the code, and German import VAT is 19 percent at the standard rate and 7 percent at the reduced rate. A VAT-registered business can normally reclaim import VAT.
Your price is made up of ocean freight, origin charges, terminal and handling charges in Hamburg, customs clearance, and delivery. We list each of them separately in the quote. Read more about customs clearance and sea freight, or run the numbers with the CBM calculator and the container loading calculator.
Questions about shipping from Shanghai
How long does it take to ship from Shanghai to Hamburg?
Typically 30 to 40 days port to port via the Suez Canal, plus a few days at each end for pickup, export clearance and delivery. Routing around the Cape of Good Hope adds roughly 10 to 14 days.
Should I use FCL or LCL from Shanghai?
Once you are at around 13 to 15 cubic metres, a 20-foot container is often cheaper than LCL. Below that, LCL is usually the better choice. Use the CBM calculator and ask us for both quotes.
Can you collect from my supplier outside Shanghai?
Yes. Tell us the supplier’s location and the Incoterm you agreed. Inland pickups in China are possible, and some suppliers are better served from Ningbo or another port.
Who pays the import duty and VAT in Germany?
The importer of record. If you want us to pay on your behalf and invoice you afterwards, we can arrange that. The import duty and VAT calculator gives a first estimate.
Other lanes
Shenzhen to Hamburg, Nhava Sheva to Hamburg, Karachi to Hamburg. See all trade lanes.
Get a quote for Shanghai to Hamburg
Send us the origin, cargo volume and weight, and the Incoterm. You will have an itemised quote within 24 business hours.
