Saudi Arabia relies heavily on imports due to its vast desert landscape and limited local production. With a strong trade relationship with China, KSA imports goods worth $43 billion annually.
This creates numerous business opportunities for importers. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about shipping from China to Saudi Arabia.
Step-by-Step Process For Shipping From China To Saudi Arabia
Below is the explanation for each step involved in importing goods to Saudi Arabia.
1. Find The Source For Your Products
The first step in the importation of goods from China to Saudi Arabia is to find what you want to import. You have to select the product that is not included in the prohibited and restricted categories. Moreover, you should understand the Saudi Arabian market to choose the right kind of item for your target audience.
After that, you will find the source of your products from China because of its economical bulk market. The Chinese suppliers or manufacturers can be found on Alibaba, Global Sources, Made-in-China, or DHgate-like websites.
2. Prepare Your Cargo in China
Once your goods have been manufactured in a factory in China, you are required to package and label them. It should be customized according to your item size and use padding foams to fill empty spaces.
In addition, labeling with the receiver’s and sender’s information is also necessary for shipping to Saudi Arabia from China. You can also include the number of items, handling details, Chinese origin address, and destination point.
3. Find a Reliable Chinese Shipping Agent
Now, find a freight forwarder or a shipping company like Bansar that can ship your cargo from China to Saudi Arabia at affordable rates. A reliable and professional freight forwarder will help you navigate the complete logistics process by ensuring your peace of mind.
There are some other Chinese shipping companies that you can rely on for your freight forwarding process. These include:
- China Freight
- Wanhang International Logistics
- Aramex
- China Merchants Group
- DHL Global Forwarding
- Shenzhen Marine Shipping Co.
- Agility Logistics
- Shipkoo
- ASB Logistics Co. Ltd
- FBABee
4. Customs Clearance In China & Saudi Arabia
When your consignment reaches the seaport or airport of China, it is needed to clear the customs department. They will inspect your packaged items, count them, and verify them against the documents. For this purpose, you have to submit the required documents there. Some of these are provided by your supplier and some by your shipper.
Your cargo will be processed the same way when it reaches the Saudi Arabian port. In addition, you are also required to pay customs duties and applied tariffs to the customs authorities of KSA.
These duties are decided according to the Harmonized System of Codes. Each category of product has a specified code and a tax rate is applied based on this system.
5. Covering The Last Mile
When you have passed through all the hurdles and cleared customs on both sides, you need to transport your packages to your store in KSA. You have to take it up from the importing location of your country, it may be a seaport or airport.
Another option is to choose DDP (Delivered Duty Paid). This means your cargo will be delivered to you with minimal involvement on your part. We will handle the entire process from start to finish.
Documents Required To Ship From China To Saudi Arabia
The following paperwork must be completed before importing cargo to Saudi Arabia.
- Commercial Invoice
- Bill of Lading ( sea or airway bill)
- Packing List
- Certificate of Origin
- Insurance Certificate (if your cargo is insured)
- Export and Import permits (for specified products)
The above documents are common for Chinese and Saudi customs authorities. However, there are some specific certifications only required for KSA customs. These include:
- SABER or SASO Certificate of Conformity (Saudi Arabian Standards Organization)
- IECEE certificate (needed for electrotechnical equipment imports)
You can get your conformity certificate by applying through an online SABER application system. It is a KSA safety program for regulating imported products and is required for all types of cargo.
They will issue you PCOC (Product Conformity Certificates) and SCOC (Shipment Certification of Conformity) as proof that your items meet the country’s regulations.
KSA Import Regulations
Before reaching the port of Saudi Arabia, it is necessary for the importers to complete the declaration form and submit it at the Fasah. It is an online electronic platform created for fast and efficient customs clearance in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
You must fill out the form and submit the necessary documents at its website 48 hours before the shipment arrives at the entry port. If you are unable to do it, ask your customs broker to complete your paperwork at this website.
Following that, you have to pay 15% VAT on your imports to the customs authorities of this country. Additionally, the applied customs duties for cargo shipping from China to Saudi Arabia are 5 to 20 percent of the cost, insurance, and freight rate of your goods. Collectively it is known as CIF value. In contrast, the Gulf Cooperation Council countries are exempted from all the import duties.
The tax rate for restricted products like tobacco and cigarettes is 100%, while for soft drinks, you have to pay 50% excise tax to the customs. There is a 5% levied duty on most food items. However, some imports are duty-free no matter what their origin is. These include:
- Livestock
- Rice
- Fresh red meat
- Animal feed
- Tea
- Coffee
Furthermore, there is a 15% to 20% duty on the imports of chemical and electrical products.
Choose Your Incoterms For Shipping From China To Saudi Arabia
For international shipping, you have to decide your incoterm with the seller of your products. It is the type of contract that is important to describe the roles of both parties, buyer and seller, for shipping to Saudi Arabia. There are a total of 11 incoterms, out of which 4 are only applied for ocean shipping while the remaining are for all types of transportation. The most common incoterms are:
- EXW – Ex Works: All the obligations from the supplier’s door to the final destination are on the buyer.
- CIF – Cost, Insurance, & Freight: It puts these three duties on your Chinese seller.
- FOB – Free On Board: The seller loads the goods on the vessel. After that, all the risk will be transferred to the buyer.
Ways To Ship From China To Saudi Arabia
Importing goods to Saudi Arabia from China can be done by air or sea. The process can become fast or goods can be delivered to your door depending on your budget. Let’s discuss the shipping methods for transporting your cargo to Saudi Arabia.
Cheapest Method – Ocean Shipping
The most asked question from buyers in this process is “What is the cheapest way to ship from China to Saudi Arabia?” And here is your answer: “shipping by sea”. It is the most economical and budget-friendly option through which every category of product can be carried from one country to another. In your case, it’s to Saudi Arabia from China.
You can transport oil tankers, lumbers, industrial parts, automobiles, excavators, construction materials, and whatever you want. Pharmaceutical products or processed food that need temperature-controlled conditions can be shipped by ocean via referee containers. You don’t need to worry about anything either the weight, dimensions, or nature of the cargo.
Bansar provides you every type of container for your shipping needs. These are of 20’, 40’, or Out-of-Gauge (OOG). The third type is for oversized cargo which can’t fit into standard-sized containers. Now, according to your cargo, you have to select one ocean shipping mode from the following:
a. Full Container Load (FCL)
If you want to import cargo to Saudi Arabia that will take up a lot of space and have considerable weight, you should choose FCL mode. Because an entire container is specified for your goods through this method. There are two standard container sizes, 20-foot and 40-foot.
A 20ft container can hold up to 21,700 kg and a 40ft container can hold up to 26,730 kg weight. The smaller one is less costly than the greater one. Now it’s your decision to choose based on your shipment’s weight.
b. Less than Container Load (LCL)
Not a whole container, but a shared space is specified for your cargo. In this model, only the space your shipment can occupy in a container is measured in cubic meters and rented to you. The goods of other merchants are also present in that container. Therefore, it is cheaper than FCL and good for transporting small cargo.
For Expensive Cargo – Air Freight
Considering air freight is a good choice if your cargo falls into the category of high-value items. These include jewelry, electronic devices, fragile items, luxury goods, and medical equipment. Moreover, you can also transport medicinal and perishable goods.
It ships your consignment from China to Saudi Arabia faster than ocean freight. Because of this reason, it is an expensive option and can transport only restricted goods whose weight can’t exceed a certain limit.
Urgent Needs – Expedited Freight
For your immediate deliveries like some important documents, expedited or express freight is the best choice. Through this method, you can transport your goods to Saudi Arabia within 1 to 3 business days.
Door-to-Door Shipping
In this case, your shipment is delivered to your chosen location in Saudi Arabia. It is carried from your supplier’s store in China and then shipped by plane or vessel to your place. All the processes will be handled by our team at Bansar.
Estimated Cost To Import From China To Saudi Arabia
The cost of shipping depends on your shipment size and the chosen method. In addition to this cost, you should also consider cargo service fees, fuel surcharge, port handling fees, import inspection tax, and freight forwarder’s charges.
However, here is an average range of shipping fees as per the shipment weight and container size.
| Shipping Method | Shipping Cost |
| Ocean Freight-LCL | $30 to $150 Per CBM |
| Ocean Freight-FCL |
|
| Air Freight | $3 to $5 Per KG |
| Express Delivery | $5 to $8 Per KG |
| Door to Door (by air) | $6 to $12 Per KG |
Major Airports & Seaports For China-KSA Trade
Given below are the primary seaports and airports used for shipping from China to Saudi Arabia.
Main Airports of China
- Shanghai Pudong International Airport
- Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport
- Beijing Capital International Airport
- Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport
- Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport
- Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport
- Hong Kong International Airport
- Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport
Main Airports of Saudi Arabia
- King AbdulAziz International Airport (Jeddah)
- King Khalid International Airport (Riyadh)
- King Fahd International Airport (Dammam)
- Al-Ahsa International Airport
- Khafji Airport
Main Seaports of China
- The Port of Guangzhou is the major port for transporting cargo to KSA. It has maritime connections with over 80 countries which leads to 300 ports.
- The Port of Qingdao is ranked among the top ten busiest seaports in terms of cargo volume. It mainly handles iron ores.
- Xiamen Port is also known by the name of Port of Amoy. It accommodates next-generation machinery for handling cargo.
Some other major ports of China for sending cargo to Saudi Arabia include:
- Tianjin Port
- Zhuhai Port
- Ningbo-Zhoushan Port
- Port of Shanghai
- Port of Hong Kong
- Shenzhen Port
- Port of Dalian
Main Seaports of Saudi Arabia
- King Abdul Aziz Port is ranked among the largest seaports in Arabian Gulf. it is also known as Dammam Port.
- Jeddah Islamic Port is positioned on the Red Sea and is the busiest port ranked in second number in Saudi Arabia.
- Fahd Industrial Port consists of 34 berths and 5 terminals. It can accommodate 70 million tons of cargo on an annual basis.
Additionally, there are some other major ports of Saudi Arabia for receiving cargo from China. These include:
- King Abdullah Port
- Riyadh Dry Port
- Jizan Port
- Yanbu Commercial Port
- Dhiba Port
- Al Jubail Commercial Sea Port
- Al Khafji Port
How Long Does It Take To Ship To Saudi Arabia From China?
The duration to ship your consignment to KSA from China depends on the shipping method. In some cases, you have to face some unexpected delays due to customs, weather changes, or port congestion. Moreover, it is advised to avoid shipping in peak seasons or national holidays.
Here is the estimated delivery time frame for shipping your cargo to KSA.
| Shipping Method | Transit Time (days) |
| Ocean Freight – LCL | 17 to 28 |
| Ocean Freight – FCL | 13 to 26 |
| Air Freight | 3 to 8 |
| Express Delivery | 1 to 3 |
The following table shows the average transit time for port-to-port shipping by ocean.
| Chinese Port | Saudi Port | LCL (days) | FCL (days) |
| Guangzhou | Jeddah | 40 | 35 |
| Dammam | 42 | 20 | |
| Tianjin | Dammam | 40 | 36 |
| Qingdao | Jeddah | 42 | 36 |
| Huangpu | Jeddah | 36 | 20 |
| Dammam | 35 | 22 | |
| Shanghai | Dammam | 35 | 30 |
| Jeddah | 41 | 36 | |
| Shenzhen | Jeddah | 42 | 36 |
| Xiamen | Dammam | 34 | 28 |
Arabian Companies For Importing From China To Saudi Arabia
The following is the list of some major companies that can help you in shipping from China to Saudi Arabia:
- Basem International Shipping & Logistics Company
- BAFCO International Shipping & Logistics Co. Ltd.
- Mohammad Masud Al Khaldi Est.
- SEDRES Trading & Maritime Services Co. Ltd.
- Bahri-National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia
- Uniworld-Alam Mowahad Est
- Oriental Commercial & Shipping Company Limited (OCSCL)
- Gulf & Pacific – Shipping & Cargo Services LLC
- Arabco Logistics
- Mohammad Rasheed Al Jehani Co & Sons
- Zamil Offshore Co. Ltd
- Mohammad Masud Al Khaldi Est.
Prohibited & Controlled Saudi Arabian Imports
The prohibited items are completely banned from being imported into KSA. However, the controlled goods require certain certifications to gain entry to Saudi Arabia. Below is the list of both types of goods.
Prohibited Goods
- Alcohols
- Pork and pork-related items
- Weapons
- Narcotic drugs (Morphine, Tramadol, Heroin, Oxycodone, Opium, etc.)
- Distillery equipment (pot still, fermenters, condenser, column still, mills, whiskey tanks, etc.)
- Pornographic materials (magazines, comics, pictures, books, etc)
- Secondhand clothing
- Used and retreaded tires
- Particular sculptures
- Second-hand vehicles, specifically five-year-old cars, used taxis and police cars, and salvaged and rental cars.
Controlled Goods
- Alive animals (especially horses)
- Harmful chemicals and certain materials
- Farming seeds
- Pharmaceuticals
- Natural asphalt
- Movies and tape recordings
- Periodicals and books (especially religious books)
- Radio-operated model airplanes
- Alcohol-containing items like perfumes and other cosmetics
- Archaeological findings
- Wireless equipment
Major Saudi Arabian Imports From China
Here are the major items that most businesses ship to Saudi Arabia:
- Furniture and decorative items
- Heavy machinery
- Electronic equipment
- Electrical devices
- Nuclear reactors
- Iron and steel
- Vehicles excluding tramways and railways
Final Note
Bansar makes shipping goods from China to Saudi Arabia simple and hassle-free. We handle everything from customs and paperwork to final delivery. Whether it’s sea freight, air cargo, express options, or DDP, we ensure smooth and timely shipping to all major destinations in Saudi Arabia. Let us make it easy for you.
