In 2020, China was Italy’s third largest import partner, after Germany and France, with imports exceeding US$36 billion. China’s competitive prices and wide product selection make it an ideal trading partner for many countries, including Italy
The trade volume between China and Italy has grown steadily, and China has become one of Italy’s largest trading partners outside the EU. Both countries are engaged in the import and export of a variety of commodities.
Italy’s exports to China include machinery, automobiles, fashion and luxury goods, food, etc. Instead, China exports electronics, furniture, machinery, textiles and other goods to Italy.
Linkshare has focused on shipping from China to Italy since 2013. We provide professional and convenient air, sea, rail and Amazon transportation services from any location in China to Italy. We provide door-to-door delivery from China to Italy and promise to be fast, reliable and on time.
What Shipping Methods are Available for Shipping from China to Italy
Most countries have 2 available shipping methods from China but being an European country Italy has 3. Air freight, Ocean freight, and Rail freight. Every shipping method has its pros and cons. Let’s discuss in brief how you can ship your goods from China to Italy.
Air Freight
Air freight is the fastest and most expensive way to ship items from China to Italy. This is the right choice when a business needs fast delivery and time is of the essence. Although air freight costs more than sea freight, there are many benefits to air freight, especially for high-value or time-sensitive shipments.
Sea Freight
Ocean freight remains the most popular mode of transportation among importers due to its ability to transport less-than-truckload (LCL) and full container loads (FCL) and lower shipping costs. At the same time, sea shipping is also the slowest shipping method and may not be ideal for those who want to receive their orders quickly. It can take 30 to 40 days for a ship to travel from China to Italy, but transit times often vary depending on the port of departure and port of arrival.
Train Freight
Since rail freight was first launched to many European destinations in 2013, it has become a favorite shipping option for many importers. The main reason is that its transportation cost is lower than air transportation, and the transportation time is much shorter than sea transportation. Additionally, rail freight has a much lower environmental impact than sea and air freight. However, despite China’s highly developed railway network, many freight forwarders in China do not yet offer rail freight as a mode of transportation to European countries. But with the development of the New Silk Road, rail freight will be welcomed in the future.
Sea freight from China to Italy
Sea freight is the most common and cheapest way to ship goods from China to Italy. Sea shipping is slow but affordable. If you are running a project with a limited budget, you should probably choose sea shipping. Sea freight from China to Italy is not only cost-effective, but also because it is the only feasible (or economically viable) way to transport bulk goods. One advantage of sea shipping is that it accepts almost all types of cargo.
Most of the ocean freight handled by Linkshare is FCL, and sometimes LCL.
Less than Container Load (LCL): Less than Container Load (LCL) is ideal if you’re shipping a small amount and don’t need a full 20-foot or 40-foot container. Your shipment will share a container with other shippers’ products and will require more moving and handling than shipments shipped in full containers.
Full Container Load (FCL): With FCL shipping, your shipment doesn’t have to share space with anyone else. Your shipment can use a single container from its origin to its final destination. FCL shipping is generally the most cost-effective option for shipments that occupy at least 12 standard pallets in a 40-foot container or 6 standard pallets in a 20-foot container.
In addition to regular FCL and LCL services, we also offer specialty container shipping to Italy. Flat rack and open containers for OOG cargo from China, refrigerated containers for temperature sensitive products. For bulk transport and wheeled cargo we choose breakbulk solutions and ro-ro vessels.
Air freight from China to Italy
When time is of the essence, maybe you’re expediting delivery via air freight to make up for time lost in project delays, maybe you have a tight deadline, or the goods being shipped are perishable products. Whatever it is, when shipping from China to Italy, you have speed guaranteed as your shipment will only take 3 to 7 days to arrive at the Italian airport, albeit at a higher shipping cost.
When shipping small quantities of goods, air freight may be more convenient and advantageous. Express shipping via international express companies (UPS, FedEx, etc.) bypasses the complex processing typically involved in air shipments, significantly reducing shipping time and documentation.
However, you will find two types of air freight. One of them is the standard air freight service. Express air shipping is also an option. If you choose air shipping, you need to pay attention to the billing weight. Express air freight is the fastest option. If you choose express air shipping, you need to pay additional charges. On the other hand, standard air freight is cheaper than express delivery. If your shipment is larger, we recommend using standard air freight. You can ship multiple items at once.
Sometimes speed isn’t the only reason people choose to ship by air. When the supply chain has sufficient transportation budget for high-value goods or luxury goods, and people just want fast transportation with a higher level of security, then air freight is the right choice.
However, not everything can be flown by air, and not everything is worth shipping by air. Some oversized cargo may not fit on the aircraft, and some may be classified as hazardous or sensitive cargo.
Consult experienced China freight forwarders Linkshare before proceeding to get shipping solutions and freight quotes from us.
China to Italy train rail freight
Train Rail freight is the best medium between sea and air freight. Generally speaking, rail freight is about half the price of air freight but about 40% faster than sea freight, mitigating the main disadvantages of both. Using a faster method than sea freight can reduce your inventory in Italy because you can ship smaller quantities more frequently. This also allows you to tailor your inventory to meet your customers’ changing needs with smaller, faster, and more frequent shipments.
This method is versatile; it can transport pallets, cartons, crates, temperature-controlled items, frozen and fresh foods, pharmaceuticals, and other items that require special care and handling. Rail freight can also handle a variety of small and large products.
However, rail freight also has limitations. High value and hazardous items cannot be shipped via rail freight, so you will need to consider other options if these terms apply to your goods.
Train rail freight is divided into two types: Full Container Load (FCL) and Less than Container Load (LCL).
Full Container Load (FCL): Shipping in which all contents of the container are owned by one company. This is a good option when you are transporting a volume large enough to fill an entire container yourself. This applies to bulk items and bulky products. If you are filling the entire container, this is the most cost-effective option.
Less than Container Load (LCL): Items from multiple shippers are packed into a single container. This method is used when the quantity you are shipping is too small to fill an entire container. This allows for smaller, more adaptable inventories.
Most of the trains from China to the EU pass through Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland, and Germany, and then are further diverted to other parts of Europe. Deliveries are based on the same Incoterms as ocean freight, which means goods can be shipped in LCL (Less Container Load) and FCL (Full Container Load). On average, rail freight from China to Italy takes approximately 15 days, but transit times naturally depend on your choice of arrival and departure terminals.
Airport from China to Italy
Milan-Malpensa
Airport overview:
Built nearly 50 kilometers north of Milan
Next to the Ticino River
An airport with two runways and two terminals
Italy’s busiest cargo airport
Connected airports in China: Beijing Capital Airport, Shanghai Pudong Airport to Milan Malpensa Airport Cargo operator: FedEx. IATA code: MXP.
Rome-Fiumicino/Leonardo da Vinci
Airport overview:
The busiest airport in the Italian capital
Europe’s eighth busiest airport
Headquarters of Alitalia, Italy’s largest airline
Has five terminals, one of which is called Cargo City
China Internet Airport: Beijing Capital Airport, Shanghai Pudong Airport, Guangzhou Airport, Chongqing Airport, Shenzhen Airport, Wuhan Airport, Chengdu Airport.
Top Sea ports in Italy
la spezia
Port overview:
Established as a port at the end of the 19th century
Deep and natural breakwater harbor
Now one of the major container ports in the Mediterranean
Owner: Port of La Spezia Authority. Annual container throughput: >1.4 million TEUs. UN/Article Code: ITSPE.
Ancona
Port overview:
Located in the heart of Italy’s Adriatic coastline
Benefit from advanced container and freight handling facilities
The port area is 1.4 million square meters
Container traffic volumes are growing every year as major global carriers are attracted to the port
Owner: Central Adriatic Port Authority. Annual container throughput: >150,000 TEU. UN/Article Code: ITAOI.
Venice
Port overview:
Located in northeastern Italy
Italy’s eighth busiest commercial port
23 cargo terminals handle all types of cargo
An extensive rail freight network connects the port to the rest of Italy
Owner: Venice Port Authority. Annual container throughput: >1.4 million TEUs. ***UN/Code:***ITVCE.
Naples
Port overview:
main mediterranean seaport
Located in the center of the city on the southern coast of Italy
Important container hub with 38 berths and nearly 5,000 employees
Owner: Naples Port Authority. Annual container throughput: >500,000 TEU. UN/Article Code: ITNAP.
Genoa
Port overview:
Italy’s busiest port in terms of cargo tonnage throughput
One of the three major ports in the Mediterranean
An artificial port with over 1,000 years of history
Providing some of the most modern logistics and freight forwarding services in Europe
Owner: Genoa Port Authority. Annual container throughput: >2 million TEU. UN/Article Code: ITGOA.
Main railway stations in China and Italy
The main railway stations in China are:
Chengdu is China’s westernmost railway hub and is considered the most important when shipping goods to Europe due to its good connections to all other railway stations in China.
Yiwu is located in eastern China. It is primarily known for its far-reaching freight services to London and Madrid, but the train travels across international routes to more than 30 countries, including Italy.
In 2020, Wuhan ushered in the 10th anniversary of the first China-Europe freight train from Wuhan to Europe. It is expected that there will be more than 400 round-trip flights from Wuhan to Europe in 2021.
Xi’an is located in northwest China. With the development of the Belt and Road Initiative, it will become one of the largest distribution centers in China.
Suzhou – located next to Shanghai, has only recently begun shipping goods to Europe. Containers are shipped to Europe via the Trans-Siberian Railway.
In Italy, most trains go to the rail hub of Milan (the largest city in northern Italy) and then further to the south of the country.
Cost of Shipping 20ft and 40fr Container from China to Italy
How much does it cost to ship a container from China to Italy? The average price to ship a container from China to the UK is US$3,050 to US$5,850.
Shipping costs to ship an entire container from China to Italy depend on the size of the container (20ft or 40ft) and the timetable route, Please contact Linkshare for detailed rates for shipping containers from China to Italy.
Cost Of Shipping 20ft Container From China To Italy
The average price to ship a 20ft container from China to Italy is from $3050 to $4550. The shipping timeline to ship a 20 foot container from China to Italy ranges depending on the route.
Cost Of Shipping 40ft Container From China To Italy
The average price to ship a 40ft container from China to Italy is from $4150 to $5850. The shipping timeline to ship a 40 foot container from China to Italy ranges depending on the route.
Container shipping rates from China to Italy
These are the average prices to ship a container from China Italy with the cheapest rates for loading and shipping containers from the major ports in China to Italy for 20ft and 40ft containers (FCL) with all types of cargo such as: commercial cargo, vehicles, or personal effects for international shipments from China to Italy.
| Container shipping service from China to Italy | Type of container | Ocean freight rates from China to Italy: |
|---|---|---|
| How much does it cost to ship a container from Shanghai China to Italy | 20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL | average price from: $3150 20FT average price from: $5550 40FT |
| How much does it cost to ship a container from Shenzhen China to Italy. | 20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL | average price from: $3150 20FT average price from: $5550 40FT |
| How much does it cost to ship a container from Ningbo-Zhoushan China to Italy. | 20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL | average price from: $3150 20FT average price from: $5350 40FT |
| How much does it cost to ship a container from Hong Kong China to Italy. | 20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL | average price from: $3250 20FT average price from: $5650 40FT |
| How much does it cost to ship a container from Guangzhou China to Italy. | 20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL | average price from: $3550 20FT average price from: $5850 40FT |
| How much does it cost to ship a container from Qingdao China to Italy | 20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL | average price from: $3550 20FT average price from: $5850 40FT |
| How much does it cost to ship a container from Tianjin China to Italy | 20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL | average price from: $3250 20FT average price from: $5150 40FT |
| How much does it cost to ship a container from Dalian China to Italy | 20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL | average price from: $3850 20FT average price from: $5850 40FT |
| How much does it cost to ship a container from Xiamen China to Italy | 20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL | average price from: $3850 20FT average price from: $5850 40FT |
| How much does it cost to ship a container from Yingkou China to Italy | 20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL | average price from: $3850 20FT average price from: $5850 40FT |
How much is the Air Freight Per KG from China to Italy
The cost of air freight from China to Italy is approximately US$8-20 per kilogram. For example, for a 100kg standard cargo, the cost of air freight from China to Italy is approximately US$1,150, and the transit time is 7 days. It costs just $11.50 per kilogram.
We discussed billable weight in the air freight section. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you know your billing weight before using air shipping from China to Italy. The following other factors also affect shipping costs:
Fuel Surcharge
screening surcharge
risk surcharge
Automatic manifest surcharge
Cargo Danger Surcharge (You must pay before shipping as dangerous goods require special permits and handling.)
These fees are set by airlines based on their operating costs. Airlines often modify these fees to reflect market changes based on factors such as seasonality, international fuel prices and time of year. Air freight costs vary depending on the airline, route, and season. For example, if two airlines both fly from China to Italy, the cost of cargo shipped during peak season may be different than the cost of cargo shipped during low season.
Rail Freight Cost From China to Italy
Rail transportation from China to Italy will be cheaper than air transportation and a little more expensive than sea transportation.
Although costs vary by season, shipping a full container load by rail from China to Europe typically costs about $4,000 to $6,000.
On the other hand, the average rail freight price (including customs duties and customs duties) for LCL cargo is $3/kg. Rail freight logistics can be streamlined with the help of freight forwarders, who can move goods door-to-door, but at a higher cost.
How long does it take to ship from China to Italy
Sea freight from China to Italy takes 25-55 days, air freight takes 4-8 days, and rail freight takes 15-20 days.
Final shipping time may vary slightly depending on shipping method, origin and destination terminals, services and routes selected, etc.
Sea shipping time from China to Italy
Container shipping transit time by sea from China to Italy (Genoa, Gioia Tauro)
| POL (Port of Loading) | POD (Port of Discharge) | Transit time |
| Qingdao | Genoa | 34 days |
| Qingdao | Gioia Tauro | 43 days |
| Shanghai | Genoa | 30 days |
| Shanghai | Gioia Tauro | 32 days |
| Shenzhen | Genoa | 24 days |
| Shenzhen | Gioia Tauro | 24 days |
For reference only: Shanghai in East China, Shenzhen in South China, and Qingdao in North China. The data of these three ports are sufficient to prove the shipping time from China to Italy.
The Italian ports with the largest cargo volume are Genoa and Gioia Tauro, so we use them as examples.
Ocean freight, port-to-port transit times depend on the specific origin and destination ports selected, service routes, sailing schedules and carrier selection.
The above shipping times are for FCL shipping, port to port only, for LCL shipping time estimates please add 7-10 days.
Air shipping time from China to Italy
Generally speaking, it takes 4-8 days to ship by air from China to Italy.
Some airlines offer direct flights to Milan from Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shanghai. If your supplier is from or near these cities, shipping time may be reduced to just one day.
Flight routes and cabin classes are subject to change and availability, please check with our team for the latest information and shipping rates from China.
Transit time for freight trains from China to Italy
Shipping a container from China to Italy via freight train takes approximately 20 days.
Actual transit times may vary depending on the origin and destination terminals, services and routes selected.
How to choose sea or air shipping from China to Italy
Sea shipping from China to Italy
Shipping a container from China to Italy is a lengthy process, generally taking 25 to 41 days. Your ocean freight may be shipped in a standard container that is 20 feet or 40 feet long and open at one end. Other types of containers may be used if your cargo requires ventilation, refrigeration, or other special conditions in port and during transportation. Your freight forwarder can provide advice.
The freight forwarder will also help you choose between LCL and FCL ocean shipping. Below, we outline some of the main advantages and disadvantages of these two shipping methods:
Things to note when shipping LCL shipments
LCL shipping may be the best option for your shipment if:
Occupies no more than 6 standard pallets
Italy does not need your goods urgently
Your goods can be transported safely in shared containers
You can’t load and automatically seal containers in China
It is best to avoid LCL shipping if:
Your shipment needs to arrive in Italy by a specific date
Your goods are fragile and may be damaged if moved too frequently
Your shipment is large, awkwardly shaped, or not suitable for shipping in a shared container
Your cargo is perishable and is unlikely to arrive in good condition after being at sea for at least four weeks
Precautions for FCL Freight
Importing from China to Italy using an FCL service may be best for your business if the following conditions are met:
Your shipment needs to reach the recipient by a specified date
Your shipment cannot share a shipping container with other products
Suppliers can load and seal containers in China, while recipients can unload in Italy
Your shipment is large enough to fill at least half the capacity of a standard 20-foot container
Advantages of air freight from China to Italy
Although air freight costs more than FCL or LCL, there are many benefits to shipping products from China to Italy by plane:
1 Urgent order: Those demanding customers who need your products urgently will not wait for ocean shipment. With air freight, transport time from airport to airport is only a few hours, and the entire shipment can be completed in days, as opposed to weeks for LCL or FCL, so you can meet these needs.
2 Time-sensitive freight: To ensure that goods that perish easily or quickly spend as little time as possible in transit, the higher shipping costs are worth it. In these cases, air freight is the answer.
3 Reduce delays: Shipping a percentage of your freight by air will help ensure that all of your products are not held up by issues that sometimes affect ocean shipping, such as delays that occur around public holidays in China and Italy.
4 Small shipments: If you are shipping smaller quantities of goods that only take up a few pallets, air freight may be more convenient and may be only a little more expensive than LCL freight.
The shorter the time, the lower the risk: the faster goods travel from supplier to buyer, the fewer risks they face along the way.
DDP from China to Italy
Shipping your goods on DDP terms saves you money on shipping costs and saves you time and money by not having to worry about taxes and duties. Using a freight forwarder like Super In’l Shipping will make every step easier for you. DDP shipping from China to Italy can be done in many different ways: sea freight, road freight, rail freight or air freight. You will need to prepare some documents for your Chinese factory to fill out when exporting your goods from China.
DDP shipping is a popular shipping method in Italy. It is also known as door-to-door (D2D) shipping. In this type of shipping, the consignee can receive the shipment at their doorstep without any additional charges.
The recipient needs to arrive at the address where they wish to receive the shipment and sign for delivery. The company then delivers it to them and is responsible for any damage or loss that may occur during shipping. DDP is a very secure mode of transportation as it does not require the involvement of any third party for successful delivery of goods.
DDP stands for Delivered Duty Paid. This means that the seller pays all costs associated with the delivery of your goods. This includes shipping and insurance costs. This is in contrast to FOB (free on board), which means you pay for everything up to a specific point in time. After that, the buyer takes over and must pay the remaining fees.
This is a very popular method of transporting goods between Italy and China, used by businesses from all walks of life
Goods need to be cleared through customs in China before being exported. They will be sent to our warehouse in Shenzhen, or you can specify us to pick them up from your China factory. In Italy we use our business partners as importers for import declarations, so VAT and EORI are not required. We manage all customs clearance procedures from China and Italy. Arrange door-to-door delivery by express companies such as UPS and DPD.
DDP shipping is best for Amazon FBA shipping, business addresses, private addresses.
How to get the lowest FBA Amazon shipping costs from China to Italy
Shipping goods from China to Italy Amazon FBA can be a complicated process. At Linkshare, we have developed a dedicated Amazon Freight Services team to ship your goods from China to the global Amazon FBA distribution center of your choice. With our Amazon FBA service, we’re confident you’ll find what you’re looking for with every shipment. Schedule safe, fast delivery with Amazon from start of collection to finish. We guarantee you prompt, safe and professional shipment of your goods. We provide hassle-free shipping solutions for your e-commerce business.
We are the fastest and safest shipping service from China to Amazon FBA warehouse.
Exclusive shipping to Amazon FBA warehouse, delivery by different express companies. We strategically cooperate with different operators to provide the most competitive prices for your business.
Shipping takes 2-5 business days and customers will receive a tracking number within 24 hours of shipment. Orders shipped by express delivery
Customs clearance from China to Italy
All items leaving China and arriving in Italy need to go through the import and export process. This means you need to consider your need for customs clearance.
Although the process is complicated, it becomes simple once you know what you are doing. Without adequate research, you may find yourself the victim of unexpected delays and holdups at the border.
Many freight forwarding companies like us offer a service to help simplify customs procedures and get your goods through safely and worry-free. As long as you provide us with the necessary details, we will provide you with the service. This way, you will save a lot of time and be able to focus on core business functions.
The documents you need to provide us with are:
commercial invoice
Packing List
Certificate of Origin
Letter of credit or other payment terms (depending on the contract between the parties involved)
Air waybill for air freight or bill of lading for sea freight (provided by the carrier or freight forwarder)
Also keep in mind that depending on your shipment, there may be additional requirements in terms of paperwork. This may be because your product is on a special list of goods that require an additional license or permit to import.
If you have any questions about this, please feel free to contact SINO Shipping and speak to our team of experts and we will guide you through the entire process so that you are ready to import from China to Italy.
Why Linkshare is the best freight forwarder from China to Italy
Linkshare is one of the most reputable Chinese freight forwarders. In order to save time and money, it is necessary to choose a freight forwarder with the required expertise and knowledge to transport goods from China to Europe more efficiently.
We have offices in Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Ningbo, Tianjin and Shanghai. If your supplier’s factory is located anywhere in mainland China, no matter which city, we provide free pick-up service within three hours after pick-up authorization.
What differentiates us from our competitors is:
24/7 customer support.
low insurance premiums
Free packaging and repackaging
Free warehousing
Renowned logistics expertise
Strong network of freight forwarders and customs brokers in Italy
Shipping costs are lower due to our excellent relationships with carriers
Free quality inspection service.
Learn the correct route to ship your products to your destination port.
No matter what the requirements or unusual shipping is, we will do our best to accommodate your needs.