The logistics channel for China-EU trade cooperation is crucial to the economic cooperation between China and Romania.

According to Chinese statistics, from January to November 2023, the trade volume between China and Romania was US$9.65 billion, and China’s exports to Romania were US$7.08 billion. The main export commodities were electronic appliances, mechanical equipment, vehicles and parts, furniture and bedding, optical instruments and accessories, etc. ; China imported US$2.57 billion from Romania, mainly electronic appliances, mechanical equipment, vehicles and their parts, non-knitted clothing, and optical equipment.

According to Romanian statistics, from January to November 2023, the trade volume between Romania and China was US$7.59 billion. China is Romania’s tenth largest trading partner and the largest trading partner outside Europe. The main imported goods are electronic appliances, mechanical equipment, heavy equipment, and plastics. and its products, furniture and bedding, optical equipment, vehicles and their parts, etc. Romania’s exports to China were US$860 million. Its main export commodities were machinery and equipment, wood and wood products, electronic appliances, mineral fuels, optical equipment, etc.

This article will focus on the transportation routes and methods from China to Romania, aiming to give you a deeper understanding of this critical transportation link. By exploring different transportation methods and comprehensive solutions, we aim to improve logistics efficiency and smooth trade flows, Linkshare offers competitive prices for transportation from China to Romania.

Shipping methods from China to Romania

There are a variety of options when shipping from China to Romania, each with their own pros and cons. You can ship by air, rail freight and sea freight, each method has its pros and cons.

Air Freight from China to Romania

The biggest advantage of air freight is speed. Items shipped from China can arrive in Romania within 3-8 days. Express delivery from international ports takes up to 5-10 days. This is the best option for high-value items as they spend less time in transit. However, that speed comes with some trade-offs.

Air freight is usually more expensive than rail or sea freight. It’s also better suited for smaller items since airlines have weight and volume restrictions. Air freight also uses more fuel than other modes of transportation.

Keep in mind that air freight usually only involves shipping to an airport in Romania and not to the inventory’s final destination. Additional shipping facilities must be provided to get your shipment to its final destination. The exception, of course, is if you have arranged door-to-door shipping.

Fastest Shipping: If you want to ship anything from China to Romania and you need it urgently, air shipping from China to Romania is the best option.

Transportation security: Air freight can transport your goods safely without exposing your products to any harm from China to Romania.

China to Romania Airport

The main airports from China to Romania are:

• Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport
• Hongkong International Airport
• Kunming Changshui International Airport
• Shenzhen Baoan International airport
• Beijing Capital International Airport
• Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport
• Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport
• Shanghai Pudong International Airport

The main international airports in Romania that receive air cargo are:

• Bucharest Henry Coanda Airport
• Cluj Napoca Airport
• Timisoara Airport
• Isay Airport
• Sibiu Airport

Sea freight from China to Romania

Sea freight is the most common way to ship items from China to Romania, mainly due to its versatility and reliability. While rail and air freight have restrictions on what they can transport, virtually all items can be shipped by sea, including very large and heavy items (such as cars). The main disadvantage of ocean shipping is its timing. Other shipping methods take just a few days to deliver goods, while ocean freight can take weeks. Items typically take 35-40 days to reach their destination, depending on the type of shipment and the specific departure and arrival ports.

Ocean freight and rail freight use the same FCL and LCL container system. Please consider container size when selecting a shipping size and getting a price estimate, as FCL and LCL prices differ. We can help you create commercial invoices, clear customs and purchase insurance for your goods.

Main ports for China’s exports to Romania:

major ports in china

• Shanghai port
• Shenzhen port
• Ningbo-Zhoushan Port
• Guangzhou port
• Qingdao Port
• Tianjin Port

Main seaports in Romania:

• Port of Constanta
• Port of Tulcea
• port of mediaa
• port of basarabi
• port of sulina
• port of mangalya
• port calafate

Rail Transportation from China to Romania

Advantages of China-Europe freight train services:

• Fast and reliable: Compared with sea transportation, the China-Europe train transportation time is greatly shortened, usually only 15-20 days.
• Extensive network: China-Europe trains have opened routes covering various cities in China and major cities in Romania.
• Diverse cargo categories: China-Europe trains can transport all types of cargo, including consumer goods, industrial products, temperature control products, etc.
• Traceability and security: The China-Europe train service provides end-to-end tracking and security measures to ensure the traceability and safety of cargo transportation.

Take the China-Europe train route from China to Romania

China-Europe Railway Express from Chongqing to Bucharest:
Route: Chongqing (China)-Xinjiang (China)-Kazakhstan-Russia-Ukraine-Romania-Bucharest.
Features: This line passes through Central Asia and Eastern European countries and is a major China-Europe railway connecting southwest China and Romania.

Zhengzhou to Bucharest China-Europe train:
Route: Zhengzhou (China)-Russia-Ukraine-Romania-Bucharest.
Features: This line passes through Central Asian and Eastern European countries and is an important China-Europe railway channel connecting central China and Romania.

China-Europe train from Chengdu to Bucharest:
Route: Chengdu (China)-Xinjiang (China)-Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan-Moldova-Romania-Bucharest.
Features: This line passes through Central Asia and Eastern European countries and is an important China-Europe railway channel connecting western China and Romania.

Shipping Cost From China To Romania In 2024

The final cost of shipping from China to Romania depends on several factors. Before preparing a quote, your freight forwarder may ask for the following details:

• Nature of your shipment
• Your preferred shipping method (FCL, LCL, air freight)
• The weight and dimensions of your shipment
• Origin and destination
• Service type (e.g. port-to-port, door-to-door)

Cost Of Shipping 20ft & 40ft Container From China To Romania

The average price to ship a container from China to Romania is US$2,250 to US$5,050. The shipping cost of shipping an entire container from China to Romania depends on the size of the container (20 feet or 40 feet) and the schedule route, please contact Linkshare for detailed rates on shipping containers from China to major container ports in Romania.

• How much does it cost to ship a 20ft container from China to Romania, the average price to ship a 20ft container from China to Romania is from $2250 to $3850. The shipping timeline to ship a 20 foot container from China to Romania ranges depending on the route.
• How much does it cost to ship a 40ft container from China to Romania, the average price to ship a 40ft container from China to Romania is from $3050 to $5050. The shipping timeline to ship a 40 foot container from China to Romania ranges depending on the route.

Container Shipping Rates From China To Romania

These are the average prices to ship a container from China to Romania with the cheapest rates for loading and shipping containers from the major ports in China to Romania for 20ft and 40ft containers (FCL) with all types of cargo such as: commercial cargo, vehicles, or personal effects for international shipments to Romania.

Container shipping service to Romania	Type of container	Ocean freight rates to Romania:
How much does it cost to ship a container from Shanghai to Romania	20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL	average prices from: $2850 20FT average prices from: $4250 40FT
How much does it cost to ship a container from Qingdao to Romania	20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL	average prices from: $3050 20FT average prices from: $4550 40FT
How much does it cost to ship a container from Shenzhen to Romania	20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL	average prices from: $3050 20FT average prices from: $4550 40FT
How much does it cost to ship a container from Tianjin to Romania	20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL	average prices from: $3550 20FT average prices from: $4850 40FT
How much does it cost to ship a container from Ningbo to Romania	20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL	average prices from: $3250 20FT average prices from: $4550 40FT
How much does it cost to ship a container from Hong Kong to Romania	20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL	average prices from: $3250 20FT average prices from: $4250 40FT
How much does it cost to ship a container from Guangzhou to Romania	20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL	average prices from: $3250 20FT average prices from: $4850 40FT

LCL shipping costs approximately $90-150 per cubic meter.

Air Freight Costs Per KG From China To Romania

Air freight from China to Romania costs approximately $5 to $12 per kilogram, Cargo must weigh at least 45 KG to be eligible for air freight. Air freight from China to Romania takes 3 to 8 days (including the time required for loading, unloading, inspection and other procedures). Please keep in mind that this fee includes air shipping only and does not include customs duties or other taxes that may be incurred due to importation.

How much does rail freight cost from China to Romania?

Typically, rail shipping costs about half as much as air shipping, but is about 30% faster than sea shipping, eliminating the major disadvantages of both.

Train logistics costs are approximately $70-80 per cubic meter. The combined cost of using a bulk handling terminal for rail and truck terminals is approximately $95-$100.

Although costs vary depending on the season, shipping a full container load by rail from China to Europe typically costs around $8,000.

On the other hand, the average price of rail freight for LCL cargo (including duties and taxes) is USD 1.5-3/kg. Rail freight logistics can be simplified with the help of freight forwarders, who can deliver goods door-to-door, but at a higher cost.

What is the cheapest way to ship from China to Romania?

The cheapest way to ship from China to Romania is by sea.

However, please note that sea shipping is slower than rail and air shipping. You will also need to choose between FCL shipping and LCL shipping.

FCL shipping means you rent the entire container, while LCL shipping means you rent only a portion of the container that you share with others. Your choice of FCL or LCL will depend on the quantity of your goods and your specific business needs.

If you want your goods to be kept separate from the rest of your business, then FCL shipping is for you.

For larger quantities, full container shipping may also be more economical. LCL is suitable when the quantity is small and you don’t mind the goods sharing space within the container.

How long does it take to ship from China to Romania?

From China to Romania, sea shipping takes 30-40 days, and air 3-5 days. 
The actual transit time depends on many factors, such as shipping method, departure/destination terminal, service & route chosen, weather, seasonal change of shipping market, etc.

sea freight time from China to Romania

Container shipping transit time by sea from China ports to Constanta, Romania.

POL (port of loading)	POD (port of discharge)	Transit time
Shanghai	Constanta	34 days
Shenzhen	Constanta	30 days
Qingdao	Constanta	40 days

FYI: Shanghai in East China, Shenzhen South China, and Qingdao North China, data from these 3 ports is enough to demonstrate the sea shipping time from China to Constanta, Romania.
The transit time by sea, port to port, depends on the specific origin and destination ports chosen, service route, sailing schedule and choice on carrier.
Above transit time is for full container load shipping, port to port only, for LCL shipping time estimate, pls add 7-10 days.

air freight time from China to Romania

In most cases, an air shipment takes 3-5 days to arrive in Romania from China. 
The actual shipping time could be different, depending on the service and route chosen, and in peak season, it might take longer.
Also, direct flight routes are available between some Chinese cities and Bucharest. Air cargo can arrive on the same day of departure.
Beijing – Bucharest
Guangzhou – Bucharest

How long does it take for rail freight from China to Romania?

Rail freight times from China to Romania depend on the terminal used and the route chosen.

Typically, it takes 20-25 days to ship a container from China to Romania via freight train. Therefore, the rail map from China to Romania saves about 15 days compared to shipping from China.

If you prefer door to door service for rail freight, it will take an additional 5 days and cost more.

Documents required to ship to Romania from China

• Single administrative document. This is the declaration document you write to customs.
• Bill of lading, also known as air waybill, sea waybill or express waybill. This information is required for each shipment and serves as a contract between you and the carrier.
• Entry summary statement
• Certificate of Origin
• CMR
• packing list
• CIM waybill
• Proof of shipment
• bill

Not all of these are required in every case, and documentation requirements vary depending on the shipping method. Being fully aware of current regulations and consulting with your freight forwarder will help ensure you always have the proper documentation ready for your shipment.

If you are not sure what documents are required or are confused when preparing them, please contact us. We help you prepare commercial invoices for each shipment as well as import and export customs clearance

What taxes need to be paid when importing from China to Romania?

Romanian customs imposes a 19% VAT on imported goods. However, depending on the type of items you import, additional fees and taxes may apply.

When you begin the import process, make sure you have an up-to-date understanding of customs fees in Romania and China.

This will help prevent any unforeseen charges that may arise if you were unaware of the taxes on certain items or quantities of items. If you’re unsure about this, we’ll give you expert advice on the costs, and we also offer a service to help your goods get through customs smoothly through the formalities.

Our door-to-door service means we will take care of customs and tax procedures and ship your goods directly to your address or your customer’s address. If you require this service, please let us know.