“Shipping from China to Sweden – A Simple Guide
In 2021, 5.5% of Sweden’s total imports will come from China, which is the country’s seventh-largest source of imported goods.
The deal totals about $7.7 billion.
If you want to join an importer trading from China to Sweden, you are in the right place. We’re here to answer all your questions and make sure you have everything you need to start the import process.
Shipping can be a complex process, but we have done our best to simplify each stage. We have information on ocean and air freight services and the pros and cons of each.
Air freight from China to Sweden:
The biggest advantage of air freight is its speed. Items leaving China can arrive in Sweden within 3-7 days. This is the best option for high-value items as they take less time in transit. However, with this speed, there are some tradeoffs.
Air freight is usually more expensive than rail or sea. It’s also better for small items, as airlines have weight and volume restrictions. Air freight also uses more fuel than alternatives, so if carbon footprint is an issue for you and your company’s ethics, you’ll want to choose ocean or rail freight.
Keep in mind that air freight usually only involves delivering the goods to airports in Sweden, not to the final destination of the inventory. Additional shipping facilities must be provided to deliver your shipment to its final destination. The exception is, of course, if you have arranged door-to-door shipping. As mentioned above, door-to-door delivery allows arranging the transport of the goods from the airport to the final destination, as well as clearance through Swedish customs.
Air freight is divided into two categories: general cargo and special cargo. As the name suggests, most items are considered ordinary goods.
Example of general cargo:
electronic
jewelry
medicine
Personal accessories such as watches, wallets, etc.
Special cargo has different regulations than general cargo and may involve additional inspections.
Examples of special goods:
live animals
dangerous goods, such as certain chemicals
Items that require temperature control, such as seafood
Keep in mind that some airlines have restrictions and cannot handle special shipments. When getting an estimate, be sure to mention any items that may fall into this category. The type of item you’re shipping affects which airlines (and which airport destinations) your item can travel through. This, in turn, affects the price you end up paying.
Shipping from China to Sweden
Less than Container Load (LCL): If you cannot rent a full container for your cargo, then LCL is your best option. With LCL, you only pay for the space your cargo takes up in a shared container. Usually, this is the most affordable option for shipping small, light cargo from China to Sweden in containers.
Full Container Load (FCL): If you need a whole container dedicated to shipping, FCL is perfect for you. Since you will be paying a flat fee for the unit, FCL will probably be cheaper to ship large, heavy cargo than LCL.
Rail freight from China to Sweden
Rail freight is faster than ocean freight. Most rail freight is delivered within four to five weeks. This delivery schedule also includes import customs clearance and other processes. The specific mode you choose between LCL and FCL shipping also affects delivery times.
Benefits of freight by train: Faster than sea freight and cheaper than air freight, making it a good middle ground between the two. There is a direct railway between Beijing (China) and Stockholm (Sweden). Train rails can handle a wide variety of items, both by item type and by size and weight. FCL and LCL systems allow you to choose the option that works best for you.
Disadvantages of train rail freight: There are some restrictions on which items can be transported by train rail. Also, since it’s a middle ground between the speed of air freight and the low cost of ocean freight, if speed or low cost are your top priorities, then rail freight is unlikely to be your best option.
Customs procedures from China to Sweden
You import goods from China into Sweden, the hassle of customs clearance is not something they want to handle in-house. They have a service contract with a freight forwarder and you are right to do so.
An experienced freight forwarder like TJ-China freight will save you time as they are familiar with the relevant rules and regulations. Whether or not you hire a freight forwarder to handle customs clearance, you are still responsible for providing the paperwork. These include:
1. Commercial Invoice
2. Packing list
3. Certificate of Origin
4. Ocean bill of lading or air waybill
5. Letter of credit or other payment terms (depending on the contract between the parties involved)
You may also be asked to provide other documents such as licenses, permits or certificates. The freight forwarder you choose will tell you if this is the case and guide you how to proceed.
What is the import tax in Sweden?
Importing from China to Sweden is subject to import tax, depending on whether the value of your package exceeds the threshold set by the EU. For Sweden, this threshold is set at 22 euros.
Please check this before sending, as any courier company is not responsible for the cost of tax changes.
Should I choose a freight forwarder in China or Sweden?
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 procurement process, experience in quality control, experience in auditing, and experience in logistics. Local Freight forwarders (from Sweden) often need to contact other forwarders 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.”
