Sea Freight rates from China to Germany. Live pricing from USD 1.7/KG with transit times, channel comparison and DDP Service for customs & tax. Updated Jun 2026.
| Service | Mode | Rate (USD/KG) | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Value Sea DDP | 🚢 Sea Freight | USD 1.7 | View Details → |
Enter your tracking number below
Powered by 17TRACK — supports 2,000+ carriers worldwide
Detailed per-weight pricing for every active route from China to Germany. Each tier reflects the published rate at that exact weight — useful for accurate budgeting at common shipment sizes.
| Weight | Rate (USD/KG) |
|---|---|
| 21 KG | USD 3.32 |
| 22 KG | USD 3.23 |
| 23 KG | USD 3.45 |
| 30 KG | USD 2.96 |
| 50 KG | USD 2.45 |
| 100 KG | USD 1.70 |
| 150 KG | USD 1.65 |
| 200 KG | USD 1.56 |
| 505 KG | USD 1.28 |
| 850 KG | USD 1.33 |
| 1700 KG | USD 1.41 |
| 2500 KG | USD 1.39 |
| 3400 KG | USD 1.15 |
Verified reviews from importers who have shipped with us to Germany.
We tested this lane to Germany with a mid-volume order. The delivery booking matched the promised window. Tracking updates were not excessive, but they came when something important changed. Better coordination than the forwarder we used before. Alles lief planmassig bis zur Zustellung.
This was a DDP shipment to Germany for mixed cartons. The delivery booking matched the promised window. Pickup from the supplier was arranged quickly and customs stayed under control. A practical option when we need predictable landed cost. Alles lief planmassig bis zur Zustellung.
Booked another door-to-door shipment to Germany through this team. The delivery booking matched the promised window. Tracking updates were not excessive, but they came when something important changed. A practical option when we need predictable landed cost.
We used this route for a regular replenishment to Germany. The delivery booking matched the promised window. Transit was close to the estimate and the destination delivery appointment was handled well. A practical option when we need predictable landed cost.
Booked another door-to-door shipment to Germany through this team. Cost structure was transparent from day one. Cartons arrived clean and labels were still readable on delivery. A practical option when we need predictable landed cost.
We used this route for a regular replenishment to Germany. Cost structure was transparent from day one. The landed price stayed aligned with the quote, which helped our budgeting. Would use the same line again for general cargo.
We tested this lane to Germany with a mid-volume order. The delivery booking matched the promised window. 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 Germany with a mid-volume order. The delivery booking matched the promised window. Tracking updates were not excessive, but they came when something important changed. Would use the same line again for general cargo.
This was a DDP shipment to Germany for mixed cartons. The delivery booking matched the promised window. Cartons arrived clean and labels were still readable on delivery. Better coordination than the forwarder we used before.
We tested this lane to Germany with a mid-volume order. Cost structure was transparent from day one. Pickup from the supplier was arranged quickly and customs stayed under control. Better coordination than the forwarder we used before. Alles lief planmassig bis zur Zustellung.
This was a DDP shipment to Germany for mixed cartons. The delivery booking matched the promised window. Pickup from the supplier was arranged quickly and customs stayed under control. Better coordination than the forwarder we used before.
This was a DDP shipment to Germany for mixed cartons. Cost structure was transparent from day one. The booking process was straightforward and the team confirmed documents early. Better coordination than the forwarder we used before.
Historical freight rates from China to Germany. Data sourced from live carrier price feeds.
The country-specific numbers we plan every Germany booking around:
| Main sea gateways | Hamburg, Bremerhaven, Wilhelmshaven |
|---|---|
| Destination customs authority | German Customs (Zoll) |
| De-minimis / duty-free threshold | EUR 150 (duty-free threshold; VAT from EUR 0) |
| Import tax & duty regime | Import VAT 19%; duty 0–12% by TARIC code |
| Local currency | EUR |
| Typical port/airport dwell time | 3–6 days |
| Peak / busy season | Sep–Nov |
| Conformity & certification | CE marking + EU IOSS registration for B2C e-commerce |
Thresholds and duty bands are buyer-planning references, not formal customs rulings — confirm the exact HS-code rate for your goods before shipping.
At 100 KG you've crossed into commercial freight — heavy enough to earn competitive per-kilo rates, yet still in the window where air can out-perform ocean once you price in inventory time. Typical cargo on this band into Germany is electronics, apparel and general-goods replenishment.
| Method | Transit Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Air Freight DDP | 5–10 business days | From China warehouse to Germany door |
| Sea Freight LCL | 30–50 calendar days | Shared container to Germany port + delivery |
| Rail Freight DDP | 18–28 calendar days | Train via Central Asia to Germany |
| Express Courier | 3–7 business days | DHL/FedEx/UPS door-to-door, high cost for this weight |
On the current feed, China-to-Germany rates open at USD 1.70/KG via Sea DDP. For a 100 KG load that works out to a freight total of approximately USD 170. RateHive can manage the customs entry and import-tax step, while the duty itself follows the Import VAT 19%; duty 0–12% by TARIC code set by German Customs (Zoll).
Entries into Germany are assessed by German Customs (Zoll), and the regime that applies is: Import VAT 19%; duty 0–12% by TARIC code. On de-minimis, the position is EUR 150 (duty-free threshold; VAT from EUR 0). RateHive offers managed clearance and tax processing — a coordination service, not Incoterms DDP — to handle these formalities for you.
For 100 KG into Germany, air usually wins on total landed cost even at a higher per-kilo rate, because a 30–45 day ocean transit (plus 3–6 days dwell) ties up inventory. Air also opens volume pricing past 100 KG.
German Customs (Zoll) will generally want: a commercial invoice carrying HS codes and value; a packing list with weights and dimensions; the bill of lading or air waybill; a certificate of origin where it can cut duty; and any commodity-specific certification (CE marking + EU IOSS registration for B2C e-commerce). RateHive can prepare and lodge these as part of managed clearance.
Batteries by Sea Freight into Germany fall under sea dangerous-goods rules — UN3481 (in equipment) and UN3480 (packed with equipment) both need an MSDS. We prepare the DG file alongside managed clearance into Hamburg, Bremerhaven, Wilhelmshaven.
For regulated cargo into Germany, budget for: CE marking + EU IOSS registration for B2C e-commerce. A missing conformity document is the single most common reason German Customs (Zoll) puts a shipment on hold, so verify your HS-code requirements before the goods leave China.
We take the greater of actual gross weight and volumetric weight (L×W×H ÷ 6000 for air), rounded up to the next kilo. For 100 KG this bites hardest on light-but-bulky cargo — re-packing or consolidating cartons can pull you into a cheaper band.
Reckon on these door-to-door windows into Germany: air 5–10 business days, ocean LCL 30–50 days, ocean FCL 28–45 days, rail 18–28 days. Add roughly 3–6 days for clearance and dwell at the gateway, which RateHive can manage end to end.