Knowing the rules for importing goods into Germany is the first step when you want to import.
Not only will you avoid the hassle of customs authorities, but they will clear customs faster for you.
Those rules are what I'm going to show you.
So let's get started.
Requirements for German imports from China
Germany has many import requirements for Chinese importers, including an extensive list of prohibited items, required documents, and duties and taxes due upon arrival at German customs.
German import taxes and duties
German customs impose import duties and duties on all goods brought into Germany from outside the EU, including China. The exact fee you'll pay depends on the type of item you're shipping, most items are taxed at 19%, with the exception of agricultural products, which are taxed at 19%.
The exact taxes and duties payable will depend on the TARIC code (community combined tariff).
Sea freight from China to Germany
Refrigerated Shipping from China to Germany
Refrigerated shipping is a convenient way to import temperature-sensitive items.
This includes agricultural products such as flowers, fruit and fish.
Reefer containers are designed to help heat or cool your cargo.
This prevents your cargo from spoiling before it reaches its destination.
The important thing to note here is that the refrigeration process does not cool or heat your cargo, it keeps it at a given temperature.
Therefore, you should first ensure that the cargo has been heated or cooled to the desired temperature.
China to Germany FCL
FCL or Full Container Load means that your cargo fills the entire 20ft or 40ft container. If you are shipping in bulk, you can save time and money by shipping FCL. The FCL price is the same whether or not your container is completely full.
China to Germany LCL
LCL or less than container load means your cargo will not fill the whole container and will be shipped with other boxes or pallets. Please note that when you ship LCL, your shipments need to be consolidated at the port of origin and unpacked at the port of destination.
This is the reason why LCL shipping takes several days than FCL shipping.
Ro-Ro shipping from China to Germany
Importing vehicles or machines from China is an area of possible interest for you.
This is because these imports have increased.
If you are considering shipping these goods, rolling shipping needs to be a safe mode for your shipping.
Ro-Ro shipping is where a vessel design is modified to include ramps mounted on the sides or back.
This allows your cargo to be loaded and transported safely.
Use this mode to prevent shipping in containers, including securing containers.
Air Freight from China to Germany
If you need your goods quickly and use a freight forwarder, China Air Freight is a great alternative to express shipping, but there are some important details you need to keep in mind.
Air freight is not a door-to-door service, nor is it "all-inclusive", so there will be additional work and costs in logistics to and from the airport and customs clearance in Germany. Having said that, the sum of these fees will be less than the courier fee you pay, and if you use our China door to door service, the work will be managed by the freight forwarder, making air freight a great alternative to courier shipping.
As with express, the best price for air freight is for loads between 300-500 kg.
Rail freight from China to Germany
Surprisingly for most importers, rail freight is a good option for importers shipping goods from China to Germany because the transit time is faster than sea freight and, in the right conditions, The cost is also lower. The condition is that the cargo must be containerized to take advantage of rail freight, so this is not an option for anyone who cannot place an order for a container load. This makes rail transport from China ideal for bulk, dry, liquid and mechanical transport.
There are multiple train hubs in China and Germany, if you don't need very fast freight, or air freight is too expensive, consider rail freight.
