According to the latest data, goods worth more than 47 billion dollars are imported to Spain from China. The reason behind this huge amount is the lower prices of quality products in the Chinese market.
As a business owner, you should also take advantage of this. Therefore, we have written a complete guide for shipping from China to Spain.
Step-by-Step Process For Shipping From China To Spain
Here is the complete process of how to import goods to Spain from the Chinese market.
1. Find Manufacturer of Your Products in China
Initially, you have to select what type of product you want to ship from China. Once the item is decided, you need to find a supplier or manufacturer of your products. China is a huge marketplace for the supply of any type of commodity in bulk at lower prices. What you have to do is search online supplier marketplaces of China.
You will see a lot of websites, but the most famous are Aliexpress and Alibaba. Browse those platforms, contact various vendors, tell them your requirements, get quotes, and ask them for samples. After that, you need to compare those quotes and samples to filter out the right one for your Spanish business.
2. Incoterm Agreement With Chinese Supplier
Once the supplier is selected, you have to make an incoterm agreement with them. In addition to manufacturing, shipping responsibilities are also defined under this contract. It is necessary for the international shipping of your products. There are eleven incoterms in total, but the following are primarily used in China-to-Spain shipping.
Delivered At Terminal (DAT)
In DAT, the supplier will do everything and pay costs until the shipment reaches the port of Spain. He or she is also responsible for unloading your cargo from the vessel. After that, you have to clear customs fees and import duties. You will also have to transport the cargo from the Spanish port to your own location.
Carriage Paid To (CPT)
Under this trade deal, your Chinese supplier will do local transport and pay for export clearance. After that, he will book a freight carrier for shipping your cargo to Spain. The supplier’s duty ends here and yours (means buyer) starts from here. You have to pay for cargo insurance, unloading, import taxes, and domestic transport in Spain.
Delivered Duty Paid (DDP)
If you don’t want to get involved in the shipping process, DDP incotrem is made for you. After agreeing upon it, you will be free from the hassle and confusion of the entire process. Because all the responsibilities and charges of shipping your cargo are on your supplier. He will complete each step in both countries and deliver your shipment at your door in Spain.
EX-works (EXW)
This incoterm is the complete opposite of DDP. Your supplier will only manufacture your products. After that, you have to pick it up from their warehouse in China and move it to your place in Spain. You have to pay for all the duties, taxes, and services involved.
Cost and Freight (CFR)
This incoterm will pose the transport duty of your cargo on your supplier. His task is to do everything until your consignment reaches the port of Spain. However, your supplier is not responsible for your freight insurance. If any damage occurs to the products during transit to Spain, the cost is up to you. After that, all the duties from the import site are yours.
It should be kept in mind that your shipping charges are decided based on your chosen incoterm. If it assigns more responsibility to the seller, then the cost is definitely greater for the shipment.
2. Packaging, Labeling, & Transport to Export Site
After your products are manufactured and the agreement is made, it’s time for cargo packaging. You have to make sure that your packaging is sturdy and customized according to the size of your items. It is because you are required to pay more if your boxes take up greater space in the shipping vehicle than the actual item size.
Following that, labeling with the necessary details must be done before shipping. The labeling information includes the sender’s and receiver’s details with the handling instructions. The next step is to send your shipment from the supplier’s location to the nearby Chinese port or railway station.
3. Customs Clearance At Chinese Port
When your cargo reaches the Chinese exporting site, the customs will start its inspection. They will check whether your products are allowed to be imported to Spain or not. Moreover, if your imports include some restricted items, special licensing is required for them.
If your cargo passes their inspection, you have to clear some customs charges and submit the required documents. At this point, you can hire a customs broker or freight forwarder like Bansar for customs handling and the next shipping process. After this, your products are ready to start their journey towards Spain.
4. Loading, Shipping & Tracking Of Your Cargo
Now, you can take services for loading your cargo onto the ship, plane, or rail. You can take cargo insurance from your carrier for the safety of your products while shipping from China to Spain. Your shipping agent will give you a tracking number to check the current position of your products.
You have to put that number in their online tracking page on their website. The latest status of your shipment will be shown here.
5. Customs Declaration At Spanish Port
When your cargo is reached at the Spanish import site, you need to do unloading of your packages. After that, you can’t take your cargo anywhere until the customs authorities are satisfied. Therefore, you have to pay import duty, VAT, and customs fees to these authorities. They will also check your imports before declaring your cargo for final take-off.
You have to take into account another thing before reaching customs in Spain. This is an Import Control System (ICS) defined by the European Union. Prior to clearing your items through customs, you will pass through ICS. If your cargo passes there, they will give you an Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) form.
You have to submit this form to the customs of Spain to declare your items by them. Now, ICS2 has been introduced to update the system for security reasons and to keep up the flow of goods.
6. Local Delivery To Your Given Address
Now you can take your consignment to its final place in Spain with the help of a local carrier. It may be your own retail store, warehouse, or Amazon or eBay warehouse.
Documents Required To Ship From China To Spain
As you know, Spain is a part of the European Union. Therefore, it needs some additional import licenses from its importers. The following papers are required by the customs of Spain for shipping from China:
1. EORI Number
It stands for Economic Operator Registration and Identification Number. The shipping company which transports items from China to Spain must have this number. Because the customs need this at the time of import declaration.
Moreover, on behalf of this, the importer or shipping agencies can request the status of Authorized Economic Operator. Once they obtain this status, the customs declaration will become an easier process for them.
2. Import Authorization Letter
This letter is required from businesses that involve third parties in their shipping process. It is basically the permission letter by the buyer of the product to the freight forwarders who handle their imports.
3. Import License
The import license is necessary for the Spanish importers. If you are importing your items without this license to Spain, there is a chance that your custom process will slow down, and your shipment may be delayed.
4. Single Administrative Document (SAD)
The European Union authorities need SAD for import customs clearance. It is the document that includes all types of details of the imported items. This document is necessary for Spain and other EU countries if the import is from non-European countries.
In addition, some other documents are also necessary if you want to transport your cargo to Spain. These include:
- Commercial invoice
- Inspection certificates
- Certificate of origin
- Inspection certificates
- Packing list
- Bill of lading
- Export declaration
- Dangerous goods form (for hazardous items)
- Letter of credit
Shipping Modes From China To Spain
You can do shipping in various ways. Here we will discuss each method through which you can do shipping from China to Spain.
Shipping By Air – Premium Shipments
It means your shipment will be transported to Spain from China by airplane. This method of shipping is also known as airfreight. Fragile items, high-value cargo, small packages, and time-sensitive products are usually transported through airfreight. You can also move your documents to Spain by air.
It usually takes a complete week to ship your items to your destination airport. After that, you can take your goods from there. For your ease, we also provide door-to-door delivery. Instead of the airport, we will deliver your shipment to your given location in Spain.
Expedited Shipping – Fastest Delivery
Expedited or express delivery is also done by airplane. The difference between express shipping and airfreight is the transit time and shipping cost. Its cost is higher than regular airfreight, but the shipping duration is shorter.
You will get your package at the Spanish airport within 1 to 3 business days. Therefore, it is used for last-minute orders and important documents.
Train Freight – Economical Shipping
Train freight is a cost-effective method to ship from China to Spain. However, its transit time is 22 to 30 days but you can ship heavy cargo that is not allowed on air freight.
If you have a heavy shipment, booking a whole container (FCL) will be the right choice. However, if you have small packages, you can opt for shared space in a container. This is called LCL shipment and you have to pay according to per kg weight.
Ocean Freight – Cheapest Shipping
Shipping through the ocean is the cheapest method for carrying your cargo to Spain. But, this benefit comes with a downside, which is its shipping duration. It will take 25 to 40 working days or sometimes more for shipping due to some genuine reasons.
There are also 2 modes of sea shipping, similar to rail freight. Moreover, the same conditions are applied for choosing the right one for your consignment. These are LCL for small shipments and FCL for large shipments.
But, the different thing here is the unit of measure for LCL cost, which is per cubic meter (CBM). You have to pay on the basis of per CBM rate.
How Much Does It Cost To Ship From China To Spain?
Below is the latest transit cost according to the method of shipping.
| Type of Shipping | Shipping Cost |
| Expedited Delivery | $7 to $10 per kilogram |
| Air Shipping | $4 to $7 per kg for weight of equal to or greater than 100 kilograms |
| $3 to $6 per kg for weight of equal to or greater than 500 kilograms | |
| Ocean Shipping – LCL | $170 to $200 per cubic meter |
| Ocean Shipping – FCL | $2000 to $2500 for 20-foot container |
| $2500 to $3000 for 40-foot container | |
| $3000 to $4000 for 40 High Cube container | |
| Railway Freight | $2 to $3.5 per kg for cargo of greater than 300 kilograms |
| $3 to $5 per kg for cargo of greater than 20 kilograms | |
| $1000 to $1500 per container |
In addition to the freight cost, you must consider the following charges while making your budget.
- Port handling fees
- Customs charges in both countries
- Trade duties for export and import
- Shipping agent fees
- Local delivery charges in Spain and China
- Freight insurance cost
Import Duties & Taxes At Spanish Port
The Spanish authorities impose 0 to 17% import duties on your goods. The number varies based on the HS code classification of your products. The following is the range of percentages according to the category of the product.
- The custom duty rate in Spain for furniture is from 0 to 2.7% of your goods.
- The duty charges are zero to 14 percent for imported electronic devices.
- In the case of toys, the duty rate is 0 to 4.7% for imports to Spanish cities.
- For the import of automotive parts, the applied duty ranges from 0 to 4.5%.
- Textile items like clothing and accessories have 12% duty charges.
- Zero to 17.6% duties are applied for the import of agricultural products.
- The duty rate is 0 to 2.5% for industrial machinery.
- For footwear, 8% to 17% duties are applied on their imports in Spain.
Moreover, you also have to pay 21% Value Added Tax (VAT) on your Spanish imports. It is mostly fixed for all types of products. However, it is ten percent for food items and four percent for drugs.
Transit Time For Shipping From China To Spain
The shipping period is different for different ways of shipping. Moreover, it also depends on natural disasters, port congestion, customs delays, peak seasons, and political disruptions. However, here is the estimated transit time to ship from China to Spain.
1. Air Freight Transit Time
Below is the duration of shipping from different Chinese airports to different Spanish airports.
| Departure Airport | Destination Airport | Shipping Duration |
| Shenzhen | Valencia | 5 to 8 days |
| Shenzhen | Madrid | 5 to 7 days |
| Shenzhen | Barcelona-El Prat | 6 to 8 days |
| Beijing | Barcelona-El Prat | 4 to 7 days |
| Beijing | Madrid | 4 to 6 days |
| Guangzhou | Valencia | 5 to 8 days |
| Guangzhou | Barcelona-El Prat | 5 to 7 days |
| Guangzhou | Madrid | 4 to 7 days |
| Shanghai | Barcelona-El Prat | 4 to 7 days |
| Shanghai | Valencia | 5 to 8 days |
| Shanghai | Madrid | 4 to 8 days |
2. Sea Freight Transit Time
The following table shows the shipping duration from Chinese seaports to Spanish seaports.
| Ocean Shipping Routes | Shipping Time |
| Guangzhou to Valencia | 27 to 29 days |
| Guangzhou to Algeciras | 29 to 35 days |
| Guangzhou to Barcelona | 28 to 30 days |
| Shanghai to Barcelona | 30 to 32 days |
| Shanghai to Valencia | 29 to 30 days |
| Shanghai to Algeciras | 31 to 35 days |
| Hong Kong to Algeciras | 30 to 32 days |
| Hong Kong to Valencia | 27 to 30 days |
| Hong Kong to Barcelona | 28 to 30 days |
| Ningbo to Algeciras | 30 to 34 days |
| Ningbo to Barcelona | 29 to 35 days |
| Ningbo to Valencia | 26 to 28 days |
| Shenzhen to Barcelona | 24 to 28 days |
| Shenzhen to Valencia | 25 to 29 days |
| Shenzhen to Algeciras | 29 to 33 days |
| Tianjin to Valencia | 33 to 37 days |
| Tianjin to Barcelona | 32 to 38 days |
| Qingdao to Valencia | 30 to 35 days |
| Qingdao to Barcelona | 31 to 35 days |
| Dalina to Barcelona | 30 to 36 days |
| Dalina to Valencia | 29 to 34 days |
3. Railway Routes & Their Transit Time
Here is the estimated delivery duration of your cargo container for different train routes of Spain and China.
| Railway Routes | Shipping Duration |
| Chongqing to Madrid | 25-30 working days |
| Ningbo to Madrid | 28-32 working days |
| Shanghai to Barcelona | 26-30 working days |
| Wuhan to Madrid | 36-40 working days |
| Yiwu to Madrid | 25-28 working days |
Airports & Seaports For Importing From China To Spain
The following are the major airports and seaports used for shipping from China to Spain.
Chinese International Airports
- Beijing Airport
- Hong Kong Airport
- Guangzhou Baiyun Airport
- Shanghai Hongqiao Airport
- Kunming Changshui Airport
- Ningbo Airport
- Shanghai Pudong Airport
- Chengdu Shuangliu Airport
Spain International Airports
- Gran Canaria Airport
- Tenerife South Airport
- Tenerife North-Ciudad de La Laguna Airport
- Barcelona-El Prat Airport
- Sevilla Airport
- Fuerteventura Airport
- Palma de Mallorca Airport
- Ibiza Airport
- Alicante–Elche Miguel Hernández Airport
- Málaga–Costa Del Sol
Seaports of China
- Shanghai Port is a major seaport in China for shipping. It can accommodate container traffic of more than 43.3 million TEU.
- The Port of Guangzhou is the busiest port of the country. It ships all kinds of products with an annual capacity of 201 million tons.
- The Port of Yingkou is placed in second position in northeast China in terms of its size. Its annual cargo throughput is 21 million metric tons.
In addition, you can use other ports of China for transporting your cargo to Spain.
- Ningbo Zhoushan Port
- Port of Hong Kong
- Port of Qingdao
- Port of Rizhao
- Port of Dalian
- Port of Shenzhen
- Port of Ningbo
Seaports of Spain
- The Port of Barcelona occupies 1,065.3 hectares of land. It is one of the busiest ports in Spain with an annual cargo traffic of 67.8 million tonnes and 3.4 million TEUs.
- The Port of Algeciras is mostly used as a container port with a yearly TEU of over 5.1 million.
- The Port of Bilbao is also known as an exterior port. It covers 313 hectares of land and 1,694 hectares of water.
The other seaports of Spain used for importing cargo from China are:
- Valencia Seaport
- Port of Castellon
- Cartagena Seaport
- Port of Las Palmas
- Huelva Port
- Port of Seville
- Vigo Seaport
Prohibited Items To Import From China To Spain
In Spain, some items are not allowed as imports due to legal restrictions. These include:
- Alive animals, their skins, and all types of their products
- Wild plants, their parts, and seeds (especially mushrooms and cottonseed)
- Drugs especially narcotics and biocide dimethyl fumarate (DMF) containing medicines
- Non-prescribed medicines
- Alcohol and tobacco
- Fish oil, Emu oil, and bunker oil
- Weapons
- Mercury-containing thermometers
- Lottery tickets
- Cultural Artifacts
- Saccharine-containing food items
- Playing cards
However, alcohol and tobacco can be imported in certain limited amounts with import certifications.
Major Shipping Companies From China To Spain
The following are the major shipping companies that ship your cargo from China to Spain.
- Bansarship experts in China
- Mediterranean shipping company
- American president lines
- Orient overseas container lines
- Evergreen shipping company
- COSCO shipping company
Does Alibaba Ship To Spain?
Yes, Alibaba ships various items from China to Spain for countless businesses. Spanish merchants prefer this platform for finding suppliers for product manufacturing due to its affordable rates for bulk stock. You can also order your products from there. They can also ship your products to Spain.
However, if you are in any confusion about shipping from Alibaba, we are here to guide you. We can also ship your cargo from Alibaba to your warehouse in Spain.
Conclusion
If you want to avail shipping services in any Chinese location, Bansar is here to assist you. We will deliver your consignment to any Spanish city. You don’t have to worry about customs, it’s upon us for your peace of mind. We also provide express shipping if you have an urgency. Contact us today to get your instant quote!
