As businesses and individuals continue to navigate the complexities of shipment from China to Portugal, it is essential to understand the various shipping methods, costs, transit times, and customs procedures involved.
This comprehensive guide aims to provide an in-depth look at the key factors to consider when shipping from China to Portugal in 2024. We will explore the main shipping ports in China, the most popular routes to Portugal, and the advantages and disadvantages of each shipping method, including air, sea, and rail freight.
Additionally, by examining the costs associated with shipping containers, the estimated transit times for each route, and the customs regulations and import restrictions in Portugal, this guide will equip you with the knowledge necessary to make informed decisions for the best shipping from China to Portugal.
Key Takeaways
| Transport Mode | Transit Time | Price Range | Advantages / Ideal for |
| Air Freight | 6-8 days | $5+ per kg | Suitable for urgent and high-value goods |
| Rail Freight | 15-20 days | $2.00 per kg (LCL) | Cost-effective for large shipments, slower than air |
| Express Freight | 3-8 days | $14+ per kg | Prices vary based on package size and weight |
| Ocean Freight | 25-45days | $1,200 – $3,250 (20ft) $2,150 – $4,850 (40ft) | Suitable for heavy and oversized cargo |
Please note that the rates shown are only estimates to provide an indication of pricing. Actual quotes will vary depending on the specific details of the shipment, such as the goods, weight, dimensions, delivery timeline, and other requirements. We work with each customer individually to develop customized shipping solutions tailored to your needs and budget. You can expect competitive pricing that aims to deliver great value.
Please contact us to discuss your shipping needs – Luckystar looks forward to putting together an unexpected price for you. We will offer you the cheapest way to ship your goods, we are your most trustworthy shipping company.
What is the Bilateral Trade Between China and Portugal?
Bilateral trade between China and Portugal has grown substantially over the past few decades. Agriculture, vehicles, electronics, and metals are some of the key products traded.
Over the last 27 years, China’s exports to Portugal have grown at an annualized rate of 13.7%, from $193 million to $6.11 billion. In March 2024, China exported $416 million to Portugal and imported $233 million.
China’s main exports to Portugal were semiconductor devices, broadcasting equipment, and vehicle parts.
How Can I Ship From China to Portugal?
There are various sea, air, and rail shipping options available from China to Portugal.
- Fast: The quickest option, ideal for time-sensitive shipments.
- Cost: More expensive.
- Cargo Safety: Generally considered to be safer for delicate items.
- Cost-Effective: Typically more affordable than air freight, especially for larger shipments.
- Capacity: Suitable for heavy and oversized cargo.
- Speed: Slower than air transport.
- Economical and Environmental: Less expensive than air freight and more eco-friendly than road transport.
- Longer Transit: Slower than air, but faster than sea.
- Weight Requirements: Typically requires a minimum of 100 kg for the shipment to be cost-effective.
Top Shipping Routes from China to Portugal
Here are the top shipping routes from China to Portugal, categorized by shipping mode.
| Shipping Mode | Shipping Routes |
|---|---|
| Air Shipping | Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport (HGH) to Humberto Delgado Airport (Lisbon Portela Airport) (LIS) |
| Air Shipping | Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) to Humberto Delgado Airport (Lisbon Portela Airport) (LIS) |
| Air Shipping | Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) to Humberto Delgado Airport (Lisbon Portela Airport) (LIS) |
| Air Shipping | Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU) to Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport (Porto Airport) (OPO) |
| Sea Shipping | Port of Shanghai to Port of Lisbon |
| Sea Shipping | Port of Shenzhen to Port of Lisbon |
| Sea Shipping | Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan to Port of Sines |
| Sea Shipping | Port of Hong Kong to Port of Setubal |
| Sea Shipping | Port of Guangzhou to Port of Leixoes |
| Sea Shipping | Port of Qingdao to Port of Lisbon |
| Sea Shipping | Port of Tianjin to Port of Sines |
| Sea Shipping | Port of Dalian to Port of Setubal |
| Sea Shipping | Port of Xiamen to Port of Funchal Madeira |
| Sea Shipping | Port of Yingkou to Port of Leixoes |
| Rail Shipping | Yiwu to Madrid (China-Europe Railway Express), then by truck to Portugal |
How Much Would it Cost to Ship from China to Portugal?
Here is a table summarizing the estimated shipping costs from various ports in China to ports in Portugal:
| Shipping Mode | Route | Cost (per container) |
|---|---|---|
| Sea Shipping | Shanghai to Lisbon | $1,200 – $3,250 (20ft) |
| $2,150 – $4,850 (40ft) | ||
| Sea Shipping | Shenzhen to Lisbon | $2,850 – $3,850 (20ft) |
| $3,850 – $4,250 (40ft) | ||
| Sea Shipping | Ningbo-Zhoushan to Sines | $2,850 – $3,850 (20ft) |
| $3,850 – $4,550 (40ft) | ||
| Sea Shipping | Hong Kong to Setubal | $2,850 – $4,250 (20ft) |
| $3,850 – $4,250 (40ft) | ||
| Sea Shipping | Guangzhou to Leixoes | $2,650 – $4,250 (20ft) |
| $4,250 – $4,850 (40ft) | ||
| Sea Shipping | Qingdao to Lisbon | $3,150 – $4,550 (20ft) |
| $4,550 – $5,550 (40ft) | ||
| Sea Shipping | Tianjin to Sines | $3,150 – $4,550 (20ft) |
| $4,550 – $5,550 (40ft) | ||
| Sea Shipping | Dalian to Setubal | $2,850 – $3,850 (20ft) |
| $3,850 – $5,550 (40ft) | ||
| Sea Shipping | Xiamen to Funchal Madeira | $2,550 – $3,850 (20ft) |
| $3,850 – $5,550 (40ft) | ||
| Sea Shipping | Yingkou to Leixoes | $2,550 – $3,850 (20ft) |
| $3,850 – $5,550 (40ft) | ||
| Air Shipping | Hangzhou to Lisbon | $5.00 – $6.70 per kg |
| Air Shipping | Beijing to Lisbon | $5.00 – $6.70 per kg |
| Air Shipping | Guangzhou to Lisbon | $5.00 – $6.70 per kg |
| Air Shipping | Chengdu to Porto | $5.00 – $6.70 per kg |
| Rail Shipping | Yiwu to Madrid, then truck to Portugal | $2.00 per kg (LCL) |
| Express Courier | Major cities in China to Portugal | $14.50 and up for parcels up to 2kg |
Note: These are estimated costs and ranges. Actual shipping costs may vary based on specific requirements, container availability, seasonal demand, and other factors.
How Long Will Shipping Take to Ship From China to Portugal?
Here is a table summarizing the shipping transit times from various ports in China to ports in Portugal:
| Shipping Mode | Route | Transit Time |
|---|---|---|
| Air Shipping | Hangzhou to Lisbon | 6-8 days |
| Air Shipping | Beijing to Lisbon | 6-8 days |
| Air Shipping | Guangzhou to Lisbon | 6-8 days |
| Air Shipping | Chengdu to Porto | 6-8 days |
| Sea Shipping | Shanghai to Lisbon | 25-45 days |
| Sea Shipping | Shenzhen to Lisbon | 25-45 days, avg 40 days |
| Sea Shipping | Ningbo-Zhoushan to Sines | 25-45 days, avg 38 days |
| Sea Shipping | Hong Kong to Setubal | 25-45 days, avg 39 days |
| Sea Shipping | Guangzhou to Leixoes | 25-45 days, avg 40 days |
| Sea Shipping | Qingdao to Lisbon | 25-45 days, avg 42 days |
| Sea Shipping | Tianjin to Sines | 25-45 days, avg 42 days |
| Sea Shipping | Dalian to Setubal | 25-45 days, avg 28 days |
| Sea Shipping | Xiamen to Funchal Madeira | 25-45 days, avg 26 days |
| Sea Shipping | Yingkou to Leixoes | 25-45 days, avg 25 days |
| Rail Shipping | Yiwu to Madrid, then truck to Portugal | 15-20 days |
What Documents Do I Need to Ship from China to Portugal?
When you’re shipping goods from China to Portugal, having the correct documentation is key to ensure a smooth customs clearance process.
Here’s a quick guide to help you understand what you’ll need:
- Commercial Invoice: Details the value of your shipment and is essential for customs assessment.
- Packing List: Provides information about the packaging of your goods, including weight and volume.
- Bill of Lading or Air Waybill: Serves as a contract between you and the carrier and as a receipt of goods.
- Certificate of Origin: Verifies where your goods were made; necessary for customs.
What is the Import Tax in Portugal?
Customs duties in Portugal are regulated by the EU Community Customs Code, and VAT is levied on the importing of goods into Portugal from outside the EU.
The standard VAT rate in Portugal is 23%, and reduced VAT rates of 13% and 6% apply to certain goods like food, water, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, books, transport, and hotel accommodation.
Please remember that excise duties are levied on certain products like alcohol, tobacco and energy in addition to VAT.
Imports of goods up to €150 are exempt from VAT until December 31, 2024.
What are the Import Restrictions in Portugal?
Before starting shipping from China to Portugal, you should know the prohibited and restricted items in order to have a quick customs clearance.
Prohibited Items
The following items are prohibited from being imported into Portugal:
- Counterfeit goods
- Offensive weapons
- Drugs and drug precursors
- Radioactive products
- Meat, milk, and related products from most non-EU countries (with some exceptions)
- Protected species and products under CITES (e.g., ivory, tortoiseshell, coral, reptile skin, certain wood)
Restricted Items
These items are strictly regulated and usually require a permit before importing:
- Weapons, firearms, and ammunition
- Pets like cats, dogs, ferrets – require microchip, rabies vaccination, health certificate
- Other live animals like birds, and tortoises – require health certificate
- Food products
- Plant and animal origin products, including fruits and seeds
- Cultural artifacts
- Medicines – only for personal use
Other Restrictions
- Mercury is prohibited in any form
- Restrictions apply on amounts of powdered baby formula, baby food, and pet food
- Fish is limited to 20kg and must be gutted
- Strict rules apply for transporting endangered species products
Can Alibaba Ship to Portugal?
Yes, you can ship items from Alibaba to Portugal.
However, Alibaba itself isn’t a shipping company, but it acts as a B2B (business-to-business) marketplace connecting buyers and sellers.
Alibaba, known for being the world’s largest supplier base, offers Trade Assurance to provide you with a safer way to do business internationally. When purchasing from various suppliers on Alibaba, shipping methods and logistics are already in place to ensure that your goods can be delivered to Portugal.
Why Choose Us? Luckystar Logistic
Established in 2022, Luckystar is an esteemed member of the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) and operates as a Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC). The company’s mission is to deliver superior service quality at reduced costs, primarily serving China, the USA, Canada, and Europe. With core team members boasting over 20 years of experience in logistics, Luckystar brings considerable expertise to the table. Since its inception, the company has been dedicated to offering global door to door transport and logistics solutions, emphasizing dependability, adaptability, and responsiveness.
We’re not just a company; we are experts in transportation! Offering industry-leading solutions, we take pride in providing premium shipping services at a fraction of the cost of other freight forwarders, both in China and across the globe. Here’s why partnering with us is the smart move:
Accuracy You Can Count On:
Say goodbye to delivery delays and hello to timely delivery, which is vital for businesses needing to deliver goods swiftly to their customers.
Your Passport to Global Reach:
Our wide network of delivery destinations virtually covers the entire globe, offering extraordinary opportunities for businesses aiming to expand their reach. You can be assured that your package will find its way to almost any corner of the world, taking your business global!
Track with Ease:
Say goodbye to guesswork. Our stringent procedures afford you a live tracking mechanism, making it easy for you to follow your shipment’s progress at every stage of its journey. Stay informed and enjoy peace of mind, knowing exactly where your shipment is anytime you need to know.
Personalized Service, Every Step of the Way:
One of our dedicated team members will personally oversee your shipment from start to finish. This, coupled with our commitment to transparency and constant communication, ensures you are kept updated on the progress of your cargo every step of the way.
When shipping hazardous materials, it’s crucial to work with experienced service providers to ensure that your shipment is handled safely and efficiently. By partnering with us, you can have peace of mind knowing that your shipment is in good hands.
Are you looking for the best shipping service from China? Contact us. We’re always ready to help. Offering the unbeatable cheapest shipping rates for international shipping, our services are more affordable than you’d believe. Don’t hesitate! Get in touch with us today.