shipping from China to Italy – Simple Guide

available transportation
Since March 2019, Italy has become the first EU member state to become China’s new Silk Road partner, demonstrating Italy’s desire to continue fruitful trade cooperation with China. As China’s Belt and Road Initiative continues to develop, trade routes between Asian and European countries will be improved. Currently, the three main shipping methods from China to Italy are:
sea ​​freight
Air freight (including courier service)
rail freight
Shipping from China to Italy

Less than Container Load (LCL): LCL is ideal if you’re shipping a small amount of cargo that doesn’t require a full 20-foot or 40-foot container. Your shipment will share a container with other shippers’ products and will require more movement and handling than FCL-shipped shipments.
Full Container Load (FCL): With FCL shipping, your shipment doesn’t need to share space with others. From the point of origin to the final destination, your cargo can use a single container exclusively. For shipments that occupy at least 12 standard pallets in a 40-foot container or 6 standard pallets in a 20-foot container, FCL is usually the most cost-effective option.
Air Freight from China to Italy
Of all your shipping options, air shipping is undoubtedly the fastest option. However, be aware that speed comes at a price and air freight can be expensive too.
On the other hand, if you’re shipping small shipments, or if fast shipping is a significant part of your business’s value-add, then air freight may still be a valid economical option.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss further, please feel free to send us a message and our dedicated customer service team will contact you to discuss your options and find a solution that is right for you.
Rail freight from China to Italy

Since rail freight first entered many European destinations in 2013, it has become the preferred mode of transport for many importers. The main reason is that it offers lower shipping cost than air freight, and shorter transit time than ocean freight. Also, rail freight has a much lower environmental impact than ocean and air freight. However, despite China’s highly developed rail network, many freight forwarders in China have not yet adopted rail freight as a means of shipping to European countries. But with the development of the new Silk Road, rail freight will be very popular in the future.
Most trains from China to the EU pass through Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland and Germany before being further distributed to the rest of Europe. Delivery is based on the same Incoterms as ocean freight, which means that cargo can be shipped as LCL (less than container load) and FCL (full container load). On average, rail freight from China to Italy takes about 15 days, but the transit time naturally depends on the arrival and departure terminals you choose.
China and Italy customs clearance
All items leaving China and arriving in Italy are subject to an import and export process. This means that you need to consider the need for customs clearance.

While the process is complicated, it’s easy once you know what you’re doing. Without adequate research, you may find yourself a victim of unexpected delays and border barriers.
Many freight forwarders like us offer services to help facilitate customs and allow your shipments to pass safely and without worry. We will serve you as long as you provide us with the necessary details. In this way, you will save a lot of time and be able to focus on your core business functions.
The documents you need to provide us are:
commercial invoice
Packing List
Certificate of Origin
Letter of credit or other payment terms (depending on the contract between the parties)
Air waybill or ocean bill of lading (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 item is on a special list of items that require additional licensing or import licenses.
Precautions
air transport
While air freight costs more than FCL or LCL, there are many benefits to shipping products from China to Italy by plane:
1. Urgent order: high-demand customers who urgently need your products will not wait for shipping. With air freight, the transit time from airport to airport is just a few hours, and the entire shipment can be done in days, while LCL or FCL takes weeks, so you can meet those needs.
2. Time-sensitive freight: To ensure that easily or quickly lost goods take as little time as possible in transit, it pays to increase shipping costs. In these cases, air freight is the answer.
3. Reduce delays: Sending a percentage of shipments by air will help ensure that not all products are delayed due to issues that sometimes affect ocean freight – such as delays that occur before or after public holidays in China and Italy.
4. Small goods: Air freight will be more convenient, if you ship a small quantity of goods and only take up a few pallets, the cost of air freight may only be a little higher than the LCL freight.
The shorter the time, the lower the risk: the faster the goods travel from the supplier to the buyer, the less risk you face along the way.
sea ​​freight
Shipping a container from China to Italy is a long process. A minimum of 29 days is required, but it may take up to 41 days. Your ocean shipment will likely be in a 20-foot or 40-foot standard container that is open at one end. Other types of containers are available if your cargo requires ventilation, refrigeration or other special conditions in port and in transit. Your freight forwarder will provide advice.
The freight forwarder will also help you choose between LCL and FCL sea freight. Below, we outline some of the main advantages and disadvantages of both shipping methods:
1. Precautions for LCL freight
LCL shipping may be the best option for your consignment if:
It occupies no more than six standard trays
Italy does not need your goods urgently
Your cargo can be transported safely using shared containers
You cannot load and self seal containers in China
LCL shipping is best avoided if:
Your shipping is required in Italy by a certain date
Your cargo is fragile and can be damaged if moved too often
Your consignment is bulky, irregular or not suitable for transport in a shared container
Your cargo is perishable and unlikely to be intact after at least four weeks at sea
2. Precautions for FCL shipment
Importing from China to Italy using the FCL service may be best for your business when:
Your shipment needs to reach the recipient by the specified date
Your shipment cannot share a container with other products
Suppliers can pack and seal in China, and consignees in Italy can unload
Your cargo is large enough to fill at least half the capacity of a standard 20-foot container
Should I choose a freight forwarder in China or Italy?
When importing from China, it is always best to choose a freight forwarder in China, regardless of the shipping method. China freight forwarders are ideal for overseas shippers because it has language and geographical advantages, and you also need a warehouse for storage and preparation. An experienced Chinese freight forwarder will have the following competencies: Fluency in Mandarin and Cantonese, a thorough understanding of Chinese business culture, experience in managing Chinese suppliers, experience in category and purchasing process, experience in quality control, experience in auditing, and experience in logistics. Local Freight forwarders (from Italy) often need to contact other agents in China to handle picking, preparation, storage and customs clearance.
TJ-chinafreight is your right choice, with more than 20 years of experienced staff adhering to the mission of “we deliver faster, safer and easier”, to provide customers with high-quality, professional and fast logistics solutions.