“China to Switzerland – Shipping Method
For more than a decade, Switzerland has been China’s largest trading partner in Asia. China is also Switzerland’s third-largest trading partner after the European Union and the United States. If you intend to participate in an active exchange of goods between the two countries, then you should find a lot on this page that interests you.
To successfully import from China to Switzerland, you need some key information. Here, you will learn about the different shipping methods, shipping costs, shipping times, customs clearance procedures.
Shipping method
Shipping from China to Switzerland
LCL (LCL): When multiple shipments belonging to multiple shippers are combined into one container, the process is called LCL or LCL shipping. This is ideal for businesses that don’t want to rent an entire container. Especially for smaller shipments, LCL is often the most affordable way to ship from China to Switzerland.
Full Container Load (FCL): FCL shipping involves paying a flat fee for the use and transportation of the container. When you ship an entire container from China to Switzerland, you can use the space and transport a lot of products or materials.
Switzerland is a landlocked country because it has no access to the sea in central Europe. However, there are two main ways to ship goods from China by sea and air.
1. From the ports of Antwerp, Rotterdam, Hamburg, Genoa or Marseille/Foz, by ship, then by rail or truck across the EU to a location in Switzerland.
2. By direct shipping from China to Swiss ports along the Rhine. The containers are placed on numerous barges that travel up the river to entry points in Switzerland, especially to the city of Basel.
Air Freight from China to Switzerland
If your cargo must be shipped quickly, air freight is a better method than rail freight or sea freight. This way of doing things is also safer in terms of the risk of damage to the item.
Switzerland now has 7 international airports. They are all spread across the country, so choosing the best airport for your cargo can save you a lot of ground transportation time.
How much does it cost to ship goods from China to Switzerland?
In order to determine the final cost of shipping your goods from China to Switzerland, the freight forwarder will consider several different factors, including the following:
cargo type
Selected shipping method (FCL, LCL, Air)
cargo weight
Cargo size
distance between origin and destination
Type of service (eg port-to-port, door-to-door)
While all of these factors are important, the weight of your shipment may have the biggest impact on the final price. For cargoes weighing more than 100kg, most shippers consider ocean shipping to be the most cost-effective option. However, if you are shipping less than 100kg, you may find that there is not much difference between the air freight quote and the ocean freight quote.
Want to ship cargo up to 35kg? If so, you should use an international courier service instead of a freight forwarder. Most freight forwarders do not handle shipments in this weight range.
Transportation time
Transit time between Chinese and Swiss ports
It is difficult to predict the exact transit time from a Chinese port to Switzerland
Switzerland is not surrounded by any ocean, which means that transit times vary greatly depending on the European port of destination, the Swiss cities served, and the type of transport used in between. It usually takes 30-40 days.
How long does it take to ship from China to Switzerland?
Most air shipments from China to Switzerland take five to eight days. Considering the actual flight time is only a few hours, you might wonder why it takes so long. Just because there are other steps in the shipping process, such as loading and unloading, as well as customs and security checks, each of which takes some time.
Customs clearance in China and Switzerland
Whether you’re air freight or shipping a container from China to Switzerland, customs clearance is always part of the process. In order for your goods to leave China and enter Switzerland, the customs authorities of both countries must approve the goods to cross their respective borders.
Even the most experienced shippers typically hire an agent or freight forwarder to perform this critical task because they don’t want to risk any delays or issues. When you work with a professional service provider, you can rest assured that all formalities will be carried out in accordance with Chinese and Swiss customs regulations and international shipping laws.
To start the customs clearance process, you must ensure that the required documents are present and in order. At least the following documents are required:
commercial invoice
packing list
Certificate of Origin
Letter of credit or other payment terms (depending on the contract between the parties involved)
Ocean Bill of Lading or Air Waybill (Shipa Freight will provide it for you)
In most cases, these documents are sufficient to obtain customs clearance. However, customs authorities sometimes require additional documents such as licenses, permits and certificates. Your freight forwarder will provide you with guidance and advice in this regard.
If you need to ship your goods from China to Switzerland, you can give us a call or email us and we will give you a quote and advice on the best shipping plan.”
