China is placed in the 8th position for being the biggest importer of Estonia. This is because Estonian merchants prefer Chinese manufacturers for greater profit margins.
If you want to take advantage of this and simplify your shipping process, we have prepared a complete guide for shipping from China to Estonia. This will help you easily understand the shipping process.
How To Ship From China To Estonia?
You can do shipping from China to Estonia by following the given steps.
1. Find Your Product Manufacturer in China
The most important step is finding the right Chinese supplier for your product. Because your business’s foundation relies on the type and quality of the product you want to sell in Estonia. Therefore, before choosing the supplier, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, negotiate with multiple suppliers at a time on an online marketplace like Alibaba.
This will give you an idea of the market rate of your items. After that, check their experience level and ask them for a sample. They will send you the product sample within a few days. Now, compare their quality from different suppliers and select the right one that provides quality products within your budget.
2. Do Packaging & Labeling
Next, you have to do proper packaging of your bulk cargo. You should use small boxes for small items and pallets for large or heavy shipments. The packaging material must be sturdy enough to prevent any damage to your items during their shipment from China to Estonia.
The next step is labeling, which is stamping handling symbols and other information on your packages. Other details might include the manufacturer’s contact information, barcodes, sender’s details, receiver’s address and number. Moreover, it also includes your order number and product description.
3. Select Your Shipping Method
Now, it’s time to choose your way of shipping to Estonian ports. You have to choose from the four methods of shipping. This selection will depend on your budget, urgency, cargo dimensions, and volume. These methods include air freight, ocean shipping, rail freight, and courier or express delivery.
4. Choose The Right Freight Forwarder From China
To select the right freight forwarder, you need to do the same thing for choosing the right supplier. That thing is to discuss your requirements and get quotes from numerous Chinese freight forwarders. Moreover, ask them for certain certifications and licenses. This will show their credibility and trustworthiness.
Your shipping agent will handle your cargo at the exporting place of China. He or she also deals with loading of your cargo onto the train, ship, or plane for importing from China to Estonia.
5. Customs Declaration in China & Estonia
Before the cargo is loaded, your products need to be passed through customs. The customs authority of the Chinese port checks your shipment and requires some documents from you. They also charge their fees and apply taxes on your exports. You can start loading your cargo after passing through these authorities. Now, it can start moving towards Estonia.
After that, you can start tracking your order until it reaches its destination. You have to pass through the same customs process when your imports reach the Estonian port. Clearing those customs requirements is necessary to release your cargo from there. A shipping company like Bansar can do customs clearance on your behalf in both countries.
6. Cargo Transport From Estonia Terminal to Your Door
Now, you can transport your product from the importing site in Estonia to your storehouse. However, if you want to deliver your cargo to the Amazon warehouse, we can do it for you. If you want us to take over the whole shipping process for you, contact us today, tell us your requirements, and get your quote.
Required Documents To Import From China To Estonia
Here are some papers and certificates that are necessary to enter your cargo into Estonian boundaries.
- Certificate of Origin
- SAD-Single Administrative Document (obligatory for European Union members)
- Commercial Invoice
- Economic Operators Registration and Identification Number (EORI) (compulsory for members of the EU)
- Packing List
- Import License
- Bill of Lading (Airway, railway, or sea freight bill)
- Harmonized System (HS) code
- Letter of Credit
- Conformity declaration certificate
- Restricted cargo permit (for restricted items)
- Insurance certificate
Methods of Shipping From China To Estonia
You can transport your shipment to Estonian cities by using the following methods:
1. Sea Freight
The cheapest way to ship to Estonia is by transporting your consignment through ocean shipping. However, it may take more transit time for cargo movement from the seaports of China to Estonia. Additionally, you have two shipping options: LCL (Less than Container Load) and FCL (Full Container Load) in sea freight.
Commonly, LCL is used for small packages. Your cargo will get shared space with other’s cargo within the same container. On the other hand, FCL is used for large shipments like heavy machinery, vehicles, electronics, furniture, liquid bulk, etc.
2. Rail Freight
It is more expensive than ocean freight but offers a shorter shipping time. All types of products can be transported via train freight. Here, you also have to select from consolidated (FCL) or non-consolidated (LCL) containers for importing your cargo to Estonia from China.
3. Air Freight
Shipping by air is a costly method to Estonia, but it is faster than rail or sea freight. However, all types of products are not allowed to ship through this mode. Only lighter or fragile items can be transported from China by airplane.
4. Expedited or Express Shipping
This is the most expensive shipping method. You will get your hands on your package within 2-4 business days. As it is also done by airplane, the same conditions for weight restrictions are applied here. Moreover, we can also provide door-to-door express delivery from China to Estonia for your shipment.
Major Seaports For Importing From China To Estonia
The following are the major seaports used for shipping from China to Estonia.
Seaports of China
- The Port of Guangzhou is the biggest port in South China. It deals with 4.774 million TEU containers and 201 million tons of cargo annually.
- The Port of Hong Kong sits on 279 hectares of land which consists of 24 berths. It is mostly used for the transport of containerized cargo.
- The Port of Tianjin is a deep-water port with a total of 217 berths. It can accommodate more than 500 million tonnes of cargo on an annual basis.
Moreover, there are some other seaports of China for importing cargo to Estonia.
- Port of Shenzhen
- Jinan Port
- Port of Qingdao
- Shanghai Port
- Xiamen Seaport
- Port of Dalian
- Seaport of Ningbo-Zhoushan
Seaports of Estonia
- Port of Tallinn is the largest seaport of Estonia. It consists of Paldiski South Harbour, Saaremaa Harbour, Muuga Harbour, Old City Harbour, and Paljassaare Harbour.
- The Port of Sillamae occupies 390.5 hectares of land with 13 berths. It deals with all types of cargo including ro-ro, liquid bulk, dry bulk, and containers.
- Heltermaa Seaport covers 7.1 hectares of land with a waterfront of 21.67 hectares. It deals with a substantial amount of cargo every year.
Other seaports of Estonia used for trade with China are:
- Rohukula port
- Port of Kunda
- Port of Dirhami
- Kopli-Port Of Tallinn
- Roomassaare Seaport
- Kuivastu Port
Major Airlines & Airports For Importing From China To Estonia
Below are the major Chinese airlines and the airports of both countries used for transporting goods between them.
Chinese Airlines For Transporting Cargo To Estonia
These airlines commonly transport packages to Estonia from China:
- Cargolux airlines
- Lufthansa airlines
- Air China Cargo
- Qatar Airways Cargo
- Cathay Pacific Airlines
- China Airlines
Chinese International Airports
- Shanghai Pudong Airport
- Xi’an Xianyang Airport
- Guilin Liangjiang Airport
- Guangzhou Baiyun Airport
- Hong Kong Airport
- Beijing Capital Airport
- Shenzhen Bao’an Airport
- Chengdu Shuangliu Airport
- Zhengzhou Xinzheng Airport
- Xiamen Gaoqi Airport
Airports of Estonia For Receiving Cargo From China
- Tallinn Airport
- Kärdla Airport
- Tartu International Airport
- Pärnu Airport
- Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport
- Kihnu Airfield
- Kuressaare Airport
Cost of Shipping From China To Estonia
The shipping rates to Estonian cities depend on the means of transportation. The size of the cargo, the nature of your goods, the origin point, and your delivery location also play their role in increasing or decreasing the cost. However, here are the updated prices for your shipment:
| Shipping Method | Latest Rates |
| Express or courier delivery | $5 to $7 per kg |
| Air Shipping | $3 to $5 per kg |
| Ocean Freight-LCL | $50 to $100 per cubic meter |
| Ocean Freight-FCL |
|
| Rail Freight |
|
In addition, here is the estimated price for port-to-port ocean shipping. The cost may vary with time due to increased fuel prices.
Shipping Price For a 20-foot Container
| Port of Origin (China) | Port of Destination (Estonia) | Shipping Cost |
| Shanghai | Dirhami | $2200 |
| Ningbo | Tallinn | $2000 |
| Shekou | Heltermaa | $1900 |
| Qingdao | Tallinn | $2100 |
| Xiamen | Heltermaa | $2150 |
Shipping Price For a 40-foot Container
| Departure Port | Arrival Port | Price |
| Shanghai | Dirhami | $2300 |
| Ningbo | Tallinn | $2100 |
| Shekou | Heltermaa | $2000 |
| Qingdao | Tallinn | $2050 |
| Xiamen | Heltermaa | $2300 |
Shipping Price For a 40 HC Container
40 HC means “High Cube” container whose height is greater than the standard 40-foot container.
| Chinese Seaport | Estonian Seaport | Shipping rates |
| Shanghai | Dirhami | $2300 |
| Ningbo | Tallinn | $2100 |
| Shekou | Heltermaa | $2000 |
| Qingdao | Tallinn | $2100 |
| Xiamen | Heltermaa | $2400 |
Estimating Import Duties & Taxes In Estonia
Estonian customs apply duties at the rate of zero to 17 percent. This percentage may vary on the basis of the value of goods and their category. If the cost of your items is not more than €150, there would be zero custom duty and value-added tax. However, here are the rates of import duties for Estonia:
- It is 12 percent for clothes.
- The duty rate is 17.3% for perishables and processed food.
- For mobile phones, the applied duty is 0%.
- It is also zero percent for importing books.
In addition, you also have to pay 22% VAT for importing your cargo to Estonian ports. Furthermore, you have to clear excise duty if you are importing alcohol, motor fuel, or tobacco.
Transit Time From China To Estonia
The transit for different shipping types is:
| Shipping Type | Shipping Time |
| Ocean Shipping | 1 to 2 months |
| Train Freight | 20 to 30 days |
| Air Freight | 5 to 8 days |
| Express or Expedited Delivery | 2 to 5 days |
Now, we will see how much time it takes for shipping between the major seaports of Estonia and China.
| Ocean Shipping Route | Shipping Duration |
| Tianjin Port to Heltermaa Harbour | 55 to 60 days |
| Shanghai Port to Port of Tallinn | 56 to 59 days |
| Qingdao Port to Heltermaa harbor | 57 to 61 days |
| Jinan Port to Abruka Harbour | 58 to 63 days |
| Shenzhen Port to Port of Dirhami | 52 to 55 days |
| Xiamen Port to Tallinn Bekker Port | 53 to 56 days |
| Guangzhou Port to Port of Haapsalu Jahtklubi | 51 to 54 days |
| Tianjin to Tallinn Bekker Port | 57 to 60 days |
| Port of Shenzhen to Heltermaa Harbour | 51 to 55 days |
| Qingdao Port to Port of Haapsalu Jahtklubi | 56 to 59 days |
| Guangzhou to Tallinn Bekker Port | 52 to 56 days |
How To Ship Amazon FBA From China To Estonia?
Amazon provides you an opportunity to start your e-commerce business from the comfort of your home. Your only duty is clear communication at the right time with the right individuals. So, if you choose fulfillment by Amazon, they will do inventory management, order processing, and final delivery to the consumer on your behalf.
But before that, you are required to manufacture and ship your cargo to their Estonian warehouse. Therefore, you need a reliable freight forwarder like Bansar for affordable shipping services from China to Estonia.
Prohibited Imports In Estonia
Here is the list of the items that are strictly not allowed to be transported to Estonia.
- Counterfeit money
- Plants and their parts (seeds, bulbs, fruits)
- Cereals and grains
- Milled products (flour, cornmeal, soybean, semolina, etc)
- Alcoholic beverages (allowed in limited amounts with certain licenses)
- Medical equipment
- Inorganic chemicals, combustible materials, and explosive items
- Ivory
- Trademarks
- Premium metals and stones
- Pornographic articles
Major Shipping Companies For Shipping To Estonia
The following are the reliable logistic companies to do your shipping from China to Estonia.
- Bansarship
- Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation
- Evergreen Marine Corp
- NYK shipping Line
- A.P. Moller-Maersk Group
- Orient Overseas Container Line
- Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd
- COSCO Shipping Co. Ltd
- Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC)
- Hapag-Lloyd shipping company
- CMA CGM Group
Final Words
We hope our shipping guide will help you in your shipping journey towards Estonia from China. However, if you have any confusion or need any shipping service, we are just a click away. Our expert shipping team offers airplane, railway, ocean, and express shipping from your local Chinese location to any delivery point in Estonia.
