Shipping from China to New Zealand is a profitable business these days. Goods like furniture, vehicles, and machinery are part of major imports. This process can be complex and requires an understanding of methods like sea freight, air freight, and DDP.
Our today’s guide simplifies the options and the process to help you ship efficiently so you can align with your budget and needs.
Things To Do For Shipping From China To New Zealand
You can easily transport your shipment to New Zealand by following the steps given below.
1. Product Selection
The first thing to do is figure out which kind of item you want to sell in New Zealand. You have to do market research and thorough analysis to find out the product. Moreover, you need to remember that the product you choose should not be included in the prohibited category. You can hire a market analyst to help you in the research.
Another important thing is to do the basic maths to calculate your budget and determine how much you can invest in sourcing the product. This should include production and packaging costs, which cannot be neglected.
2. Sourcing From China
After the product selection, you need to source it in bulk quantity. For this purpose, China provides a lot of marketplaces where you can find your product suppliers, wholesalers, or manufacturers. They sell quality products at comparatively lower rates.
So, firstly, you need to visit Alibaba, Made in China, or some other platforms like these to contact the suppliers. Tell them all the details about the product and ask them for samples. If their product sample satisfies you, then you can start working with them.
3. Document Preparation
To import your items to New Zealand, you need to complete some documents and submit them to the customs in both countries. Some of the papers are provided by the producer of your product when they are ready for shipping. Here is the complete list:
- Insurance Certificate shows whether your shipment is insured or not.
- Commercial Invoice is the purchase bill for products and is required for exports.
- Certificate of Origin is the confirmation license that the products are manufactured in a certain country. In our case, it is China.
- The Customs Entry document contains all the information about the shipment and is required to be submitted to the customs authorities.
- Import permit is a permission letter for importing goods to New Zealand.
- Certificate of Inspection ensures the goods are inspected and meet the required standards for shipment.
4. Finding a Shipping Agent
Now, you must plan to select a shipping agency or person. They will ultimately import your cargo of goods from China to New Zealand. For this reason, you need to search for them on Google and reach out to request a quote. Compare their quotes and services, then select the one that suits your budget.
A freight forwarding firm like Bansar can help you in this regard. We offer efficient and reliable shipping services at economical rates. We will prepare your documents, deal with customs authorities of China and New Zealand, and safely ship your products to your desired location.
5. Customs Declaration At Chinese & New Zealand Ports
At the exporting port of China, you are unable to load your cargo on a plane or ship until it has been cleared by customs. In the same way, when your shipment arrives at the port of New Zealand, it is required to pass through the customs authority there. You can’t take your goods to your place until they are declared through them.
They will verify the quality and ensure the number of items matches the details on the documents. All the mentioned documents are required to be submitted on time. If your products are in the restricted category, you need to provide some additional documents to them.
6. Reaching The Destination Point
Now, you can hire a local carrier, or your freight forwarder will take your goods to your warehouse. It depends on which incoterm you agreed upon for shipping. Commonly, it is a contract between you and your supplier or shipping agent to distribute duties.
So, if you have agreed on door delivery, the cargo will be at your agreed location. If your contract is port-to-port, you will need to pick up your cargo from the port of New Zealand.
Import Regulations In New Zealand
You are required to clear customs 5 days before arriving at the seaport of New Zealand. In the case of duties and tariffs, you will be glad to know that there is a free trade agreement (FTA) between China and New Zealand. Due to this, a zero tariff rate is applied to all imports from China.
However, you have to pay Goods and Services Tax (GST) on shipments worth more than NZ$1000. It is 15% of the FOB value that applies to all imported products. Moreover, an excise duty is levied on alcoholic and tobacco-related products.
Another important step for importing goods for your business is to register your company in New Zealand. This is necessary because you need to provide your Tax ID, importer’s code, and physical address to the customs office at the importing port. Otherwise, you are not able to clear customs.
Methods of Importing From China To New Zealand
If you want to import your products from China to New Zealand, there are basically two easy ways to do so: either air or sea shipping. However, expedited freight can get your shipment earlier than these two means. Let’s discuss the pros and cons of each method and make your shipping easy with DDP freight.
Air Freight
Actually the best and quickest route of shipping from China to New Zealand is by air shipments. You will get your cargo within a week of loading them on an airplane. The only thing to remember is that all categories of products can’t be shipped via air shipping. Only lightweight, easily breakable, premium items and fresh produce are transported by this method.
The maximum weight limitation for air cargo from China to New Zealand is different for different airlines. However, the typical range is from 100 kg to 500 kg per shipment. Although, products exceeding this range can also be shipped, subject to specific regulations and higher charges.
Ocean Freight
Let’s talk about the most cost-effective way to ship your heavy cargo to New Zealand from China. You can do this by sea shipping option. However, you need to wait for at least a month or more to get your hands on your shipment. If your business can wait this long and has a smaller budget for shipping, this is the best way to import goods to New Zealand.
Whether your cargo includes automobiles, raw materials, frozen foods, industrial parts, or whole machinery, everything can be forwarded to New Zealand by sea freight. All the items can be imported by two ocean shipping modes:
a. FCL – Full Container Load
As the name shows, a complete container is assigned to import your goods to New Zealand. It means before loading your consignment to ship, it will be packed in a container. The container is available in two standard sizes and various designs. It may be open on one side or completely roofless, depending on the type of goods being packed.
The two typical sizes are 20-foot and 40-foot. You can contact us to find out which container will be suitable for your cargo.
b. LCL – Less than Container Load
This shipping method is for goods that are not in bulk, as you will not be provided with a complete container. Only the measured space your cargo occupies in cubic meters will be allocated to you. A single container may hold shipments from 3 to 4 different customers. Therefore, it is cheaper than FCL.
Expedited Shipping
The method through which you can get your shipment quicker than usual is called expedited shipping. It is also known as express delivery and can only be done by air. Therefore, the same types of limitations are applied in this case.
You can also use express shipping for getting urgent documents from China to New Zealand. It usually takes 1 to 3 business days to reach there.
DDP Shipping
This shipping method is ideal for businesses with a healthy budget that prefers to avoid being involved in the process. Basically, it is door-to-door shipping, which means your shipment will be picked up from the store of a Chinese supplier and dropped off at your door in New Zealand.
All the customs procedures in both countries will be handled by your appointed freight forwarder. We are happy to be your reliable shipping company to help clear customs and deliver your products to your door.
Major Airports & Seaports For Shipping From China To New Zealand
Let’s discuss the main trade ports of China and New Zealand, where your cargo will be loaded and unloaded for shipping.
Seaports of China
China has 34 major and 2000 small seaports. The following are the top busiest ports in the country.
- Shanghai Port is the busiest port not only in the country but in the whole world. It mainly exports containers worth more than 43 million TEU every year.
- Port of Dalian consists of 8 port regions and has connections with over 300 ports within 160 countries. Its annual cargo traffic is 100 million tons.
- Ningbo-Zhoushan Port is a combination of two neighboring ports: Ningbo and Zhoushan. It is among the largest seaports in terms of cargo tonnage.
Additionally, some other ports for sending goods from China include:
- Port of Shenzhen
- Port of Hong Kong
- Nantong Port
- Port of Qingdao
- Yingkou Port
- Port of Haikou
- Xiamen Port
Seaports of New Zealand
- The Port of Auckland is the busiest port serving the north of the country. It contains 17 berths, eight wharves, and the largest container terminal in New Zealand.
- Napier Port is also in the north region and mainly serves as the largest port in terms of cargo capacity.
- Wellington Port consists of 75 hectares of land and handles both container and bulk cargo.
Moreover, you can also receive your cargo from the following ports in New Zealand:
- Port of Gisborne
- Tauranga Port
- Port of Lyttelton
- Port of Dunedin
- Bluff Port
- Timaru Port
- Port of Marsden Point
Main Airports of China
- Shanghai Hongqiao Airport
- Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport
- Chengdu Shuangliu Airport
- Shanghai Pudong International Airport
- Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport
- Hong Kong International Airport
- Beijing Capital Airport
- Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport
- Xi’an Xianyang Airport
- Kunming Changshui International Airport
Main Airports of New Zealand
- Queenstown International Airport
- Kaitaia Airport
- Wellington International Airport
- Nelson Airport
- Auckland International Airport
- Dunedin International Airport
- Kerikeri Airport
- Hamilton International Airport
- Gisborne Airport
- Christchurch Airport International
- Palmerston North Airport
Estimated Time To Ship From China To NZ
The shipping time to import goods from China to New Zealand is not the same for all methods. It is actually dependent on the arrival & departure ports of both countries. Plus, your selected shipment way also affects the duration.
If you need your shipment as soon as possible, air freight is the right option. On the other hand, if you can wait for at least a month and have a tight budget, sea freight is an ideal option.
| Shipping Method | Transit Time |
| Air Freight | 4 to 10 days |
| Ocean Shipping – FCL | 13 to 26 days |
| Ocean Shipping – LCL | 16 to 28 days |
| Expedited Shipping | 1 to 4 days |
| DDP (By Air) | 6 to 12 days |
| DDP (By Sea) | 25 to 40 days |
Here is the range of estimated transit time for port-to-port shipping services.
| Departure Port to Arrival Port | Shipping Duration |
| Qingdao Port to Auckland Port | 22 to 27 days |
| Port of Shanghai to Auckland Port | 18 to 22 days |
| Xiamen Port to Port of Auckland | 22 to 25 days |
| Port of Guangzhou to Auckland Port | 17 to 20 days |
| Dalian Port to Auckland Port | 24 to 26 days |
| Port of Shenzhen to Port of Auckland | 15 to 18 days |
| Port of Ningbo to Auckland Port | 20 to 24 days |
| Tianjin Port to Auckland Port | 26 to 30 days |
Price To Ship From China To New Zealand
So, your final cost of shipping from China to New Zealand also changes with the type of cargo, its weight and other dimensions. As you know, fragile items need greater care while handling and shipping.
Therefore, the shipping charges are greater for these types of products. Moreover, some items are irregularly shaped, some are temperature-dependent, and some are time-sensitive.
Hence, it is necessary to select the right method of shipping on the basis of your imports and budget. Here is the average range of shipping rates that can go high with time due to increasing fuel prices. In addition, they also change with the exporting and importing locations of both countries.
| Shipping Method | Cost |
| Air Freight | $4 to $6 per kg |
| Ocean Shipping – FCL |
|
| Ocean Shipping – LCL | $30 to $80 per cubic meter |
| Expedited Shipping | $5 to $10 per kg |
| DDP (By Air) | $4 to $12 per kg |
| DDP (By Sea) | $180 to $200 per cubic meter |
Prohibited & Restricted Items To Import To New Zealand
The products that are not allowed and are completely banned from shipping from China to New Zealand include:
- Endangered species of animals and plants.
- Objectionable things containing items mobile phones, videotapes, publications, or USB.
- Certain weapons and firearms like swordsticks, flick knives, knuckle dusters, and butterfly knives.
- Drugs and related equipment like methamphetamine utensils, vaporizers, and certain types of cannabis.
- Tobacco products
- Buckyballs like magnets (high-powered)
- Human ashes
However, certain products can be imported from China to New Zealand but require a special permit. These are:
- High-powered handheld laser pointers
- Protected animals and plants under CITES (Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species)
- Ammunition materials
- Luxury items like seafood, vodka, gold, precious stones, and truffles originated from Russia
- Minerals like coal, oil, and gas originated from Russia
- Russian-origin electronics, clothing, and footwear having a value greater than NZ$1000
- Carnivorous species of plants
Conclusion
Whether you are importing from Hong Kong, Yingkou, Nantong, or any Chinese location, we are here for you. We at Bansarship have professional shipping experts with an experience of more than a decade.
We will ship your cargo to Lyttelton, Gisborne, Tauranga, or anywhere in New Zealand by your preferred method. Send us a message for your instant quote.
