Shipping from China to Ireland is not just about the shipping process. It also involves the customs clearance, trade laws, freight methods, and every other information in between.

You are supposed to do research to understand the trade laws guiding both countries, know products that can be imported, understand the best shipping methods and their timelines, and have an idea of the total shipping cost to budget. These are the topics we’ll address in this comprehensive guide on shipping from China to Ireland.

First things first, there are some things you should understand about the shipping process, even if you won’t be handling it yourself. Here they are:

Like you must already know, every country follows certain regulations and prohibitions on importation and exportation of goods. China and Ireland have shipping restrictions that may change frequently, so you have to keep up with updated information.

It’s a great thing that China has a huge market of affordable products for you to purchase. Before importing however, you should have a solid plan of what products you’re importing and why. As a business owner, your imported products should be in high demand in Ireland.

Again not all products can be imported. In deciding what products or not to import, you also want to check on the goods allowed to be imported into Ireland and prohibited goods. Below are lists of popular products that can be imported into Ireland from China and some goods that are prohibited from entering Ireland. It’s not a comprehensive list, so confirm with your freight forwarder before importing.

Permitted Goods

• Electrical and electronic equipment
• Machinery, Nuclear reactors
• Toys, games, sporting equipments
• Cars, Furnitures
• Clothing, Fabrics, Footwears
• Metals, Cottons, Wool
• Some foods and food products
• Telecommunications and sound recording equipment.
• Petroleum and petroleum products, etc.

Prohibited/Restricted Goods

• Endangered animals
• Medicinal and Pharmaceutical produce.
• Live plants and animals
• Meat, milk, and fish products
• Ilegal drugs
• Items considered indecent or obscene
• Firearms or weapons of any kind, etc.

Now, you need a reliable supplier that can provide the goods you’ve decided to import in the quantities you need. Since there are lots of suppliers in the Chinese market, it’s easy for you to get confused. A simple search on the internet may do the trick, but you need to research extensively most times. You can also use supplier databases like Alibaba to make your search easier. You can check out our guide to finding the best Alibaba Suppliers.

To import anything into the Irish borders, you need a permit from its government. Likewise, to export any goods from China into Ireland, you need a valid export license, amongst other documents. But these are not all. There are several other documents you or your freight forwarder must possess before your goods can be cleared at customs. We’ll be listing these documents as we proceed in the article. What you should remember is that shipping documents take time and some process to acquire, so it’s best to start way ahead of time.

Customs taxes or import tariffs are unavoidable in shipping. This is one part of shipping that often confuses importers. So we usually advise to leave it to your customs broker or freight forwarder. “Your taxes are calculated based on the type or classification of your goods, their total value, and their origin.” If you are considering importing from China into Ireland, you should know your estimated duties beforehand.

This way, you can plan your budget, see if your goods fall under any tariff discount, and also avoid importing goods that fall into the EU anti-dumping products against China. Here is how to calculate your customs taxes:

• Step 1: Find the HS code assigned for your goods: “HS (Harmonised System) is a system set up to classify goods solely for customs purposes.” Each product has a unique 6-digit assigned to it. Check here to find the HS codes for your goods.
• Step 2: Get tariff rates: On the same website, you can input the HS code or product name, country from [China], and country to [Ireland]. Click “search” and scroll through the given tariff rates for your goods.
• Step 3: Calculate duty payable: Multiply the value of your goods [costs of shipping + insurance] by the tariff rate obtained above. If the value of goods is €2500 and its applicable tariff rate is 10%, the duty payable would be €250.
• Step 4: Add VAT and any other charges. The VAT rate in Ireland is currently 23%. However, some products do not have this charge added or required, while some of them are at a lower rate. To calculate this, pay attention to this example: value of goods, €2500 + custom duty, €250 + no other charges; 23% of these values gives us a VAT of €632.5. The total amount now payable is €3382.5 [€2500 + €250 duty + €632.5 VAT].
• Step 5: Pay your taxes: Now that you know the amounts payable at the customs, the next thing is to pay them when you should to avoid delay in the collection of your goods.

Freight forwarders are international shipping experts. They can help arrange your China to Ireland shipping with express shipping, air freight, sea or ocean freight, and railway freight. If you choose a reputable freight forwarder like Winsky Freight, you can opt for our all-inclusive door-to-door option that includes import and export clearance and doorstep delivery.

Hiring a good freight forwarder simplifies your shipping and gives you an edge over your business competitors. With good China freight forwarders like Winsky, all you have to do is sit back and watch the job get done for you.

One of your first choices is to decide between handling logistics by yourself or outsourcing to a freight forwarding company. Whichever choice you make, you still get to decide exactly what shipping method you would go for. Choosing an appropriate shipping method may depend on shipping time, shipping costs, weight of goods, etc.

Here are some available shipping methods from China to Ireland:

This is the fastest way to ship your goods straight from China to your doorsteps in Ireland, taking only about 3-6 days. This shipping mode is carried out by courier services such as DHL, UPS, TNT, EMS, and FedEx. It is more suitable for small and lightweight goods because it’s an expensive mode of shipping. If you want less stress, consider this shipping option. The heavier your goods, the higher you pay. However, if your goods are bigger in size or heavier in weight, then it will take a longer period for it to be delivered to you, and it will definitely cost a lot more.

Is it very urgent? Are you able to foot the expensive bills that may come with air shipping? Are your goods fragile or perishable? Are they pretty light weight? Are they high-value items? Is having a carbon footprint of no concern to you or your business? If your answer to ALL these questions is YES, then air freight may just be perfect for you.

It is a safe, easy, and fast shipping method from China to Ireland, but these advantages come at an expensive cost. Except you make further arrangements to transport your goods from the airport in Ireland to your doorsteps, the final destination for your goods is at the airport.

Top airports in China: Beijing Capital, Hong Kong, Guangzhou Baiyun, Shanghai Pudong, Chengdu Shuangliu, and Shenzhen Baoan International Airports.

Top airports in Ireland: Dublin, Cork, Knock, Shannon, and Belfast International Airports.

It is still the most popular and cheapest way to ship to Ireland from China. It is also the mode of shipping that takes the longest time [30-44 days].

In addition to being the cheapest, it is also capable of carrying larger quantities of goods! Up to 40 ft containers. And speaking of containers, there are two modes of sea freight based on the containers carrying goods. They are:

• LCL: LCL stands for “less than container load. In this shipping, you share container space with goods belonging to other importers. It is suitable for goods smaller that the capacity of a full container ( i.e. < 500cbm).
• FCL: This is the opposite of the LCL. It stands for full container load. All the goods in a container belong to you. In other words, your goods are plenty enough to fill up a container. Even if your goods don’t fill up the container, you can still choose FCL if they’re big enough and you don’t want the stress and delays that comes with consolidation and deconsolidation of other shippers goods.

Here are the major seaports in China and Ireland:

Top seaports in China: Shanghai, Shenzhen, Qingdao, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, etc.

Top seaports in Ireland: Cork, Belfast, and Dublin

It is the least common and the second cheapest way to ship to Ireland. It takes the train about 16–25 days through these routes: Kazakhstan→Russia→Belarus→Poland→Germany/Netherlands or France/Czech Republic before finally arriving at its destination in Ireland. It is a more recent shipping mode from China to Ireland, but it is becoming popular for its effectiveness. Your goods arrive Ireland in half the time of sea freight and at half the cost of air freight.

Incoterms, otherwise known as international commercial terms, are 3-letter terms that allow both buyers and sellers to understand their roles and responsibilities in a global trade. In whatever you do, please, know and understand your incoterms. The process of importation and exportation can be quite complex and cumbersome; hence, the need for it to be broken down into roles.

They cover important elements of your contract like where the goods will be delivered to, who arranges transport, who handles customs procedures, who pays any duties and taxes, etc.

China is a non-EU member state; therefore, certain leniency in regulations and laws that guide shipping within all 27 EU member states, including Ireland, do not apply. Upon entry into the borders of Ireland, i.e., EU customs territory, all goods are subjected to customs supervision until all necessary clearances are completed.

The Automated Import System (AIS) is used for electronically declaring goods to customs in Ireland. Some of the important documents you or your customs broker must have are:

• Summary of declaration
• A bill of lading or air waybill, for sea and air freight respectively.
• Commercial invoice
• Packing list
• Certificate of origin: This is a document that proves the very origin of the products.

These are only some of the documents required. There are several others, depending on the type of goods being imported. E.g., chemicals, batteries, food products, etc.

Like we have mentioned, Ireland follows the EU’s unified customs and tariff system. You’ll pay a customs duty that depends on the HS code of your good, a VAT charged at the point of importation (23% for most goods). Your VAT is applied to the value of the goods plus any customs duty and additional costs like transportation. If you ship goods like alcohol or tobacco, you may be liable to excise taxes. Your goods may also be subject to anti-dumping duties.

Check the TARIC database or Trade.gov​ for more information about required import taxes in Ireland.

Your overall cost varies with the incoterm chosen, ports used, weight of goods, and transport method. To make it easier for you to budget, let’s give a brief breakdown of costs to prepare for:

• Shipping Costs: The shipping mode, cargo size, and shipping route determines your shipping costs. There’s no fixed price for this, but know that express and air freight will cost you much more than sea freight for the same cargo, if other factors remain constant.
• Freight Forwarder Costs: A freight forwarder helps you manage the entire shipping process, from pickup in China to delivery in Ireland. Their fee depends on the scope of service offered. They can book cargo space, handle documentation, customs clearance, and ship to your doorstep, but you’ll have to pay for that. Choose affordable freight forwarders like Winsky to facilitate your shipment.
• Local Transportation Costs: First, you need to ship your goods from the supplier’s factory to the port in China. This is why we often advise importers to choose manufacturers closes to the port of origin. Once your goods arrive in Ireland, you’ll also need to pay local transportation costs to move the goods from the port to their final destination. It can be truck or rail transport depending on the distance and type of goods transported.
• Insurance Costs: We recommend cargo insurance to cover any damages or loss during transit. The cost of insurance is usually about 0.5–1% of the total value of the goods and the shipping costs. You can see it is a small price to pay, compared to what you spend if your goods are damaged. If you ship valuable or fragile items​, make sure you add this to your China to Ireland shipping budget.
• Customs Clearance Costs: We’ve explained the customs duties you’re liable to pay during clearance. It’s an important part of your shipping cost, so budget for it. If you find the process hectic, contact Winsky. We’ll give you an accurate estimate for your goods and help you settle your clearance procedures.

For most importers, nothing sounds nicer than sitting in the comfort of their homes and having their goods delivered right at their doorstep. Door-to-door shipping affords you a stress-free and simple experience when you import from China into Ireland. If you choose DDP with us, we’ll process your shipments right from your supplier’s factory all the way to your doorstep. You only need to pay and wait for your goods to arrive.

If you’re interested in a door-to-door service, who better to hire than an experienced and renowned freight forwarder like Winsky? We offer you the best low shipping rates, speedy delivery, and DDP shipment in various shipping methods:

• DDP Air Freight = 12 ~ 15 days
• DDP Sea Freight = 35 ~ 48 Days
• DDP Train Freight = 25 ~ 35 days

We have provided this step-by-step guide to explain the procedures for shipping from China to Ireland. With this information, you can plan your next shipment knowing what to expect. Whenever you’re ready to ship, reach out to Winsky and let’s give you a perfect shipping experience.