Shipping from China to Poland is a complex process that can be overwhelming if you don’t know what you’re doing. There are many things to consider, and it’s easy to make mistakes.

So, in this article, we are going to provide you with an updated complete guide for China to Poland shipping in 2024(including the method of shipping, time, cost, custom clearance, documentation, and many more ) so that you can smoothly deliver your parcel without any stress. So keep reading and enjoy learning!

Whenever you need to ship any item from China to Poland, the biggest confusion you may face is which method will be suitable for your goods; no issue, here we will evidently disclose all the available shipping options with their pros and cons, prices, delivery timing, and other aspects also, so that you may choose most appropriate one:

Sea freight will always remain the most popular method of shipping, and you will be amazed to know that almost 90% of the global freight volume is constituted by sea freight because it is the cheapest method( 10-100 times reduced cost than air freight ), so if you are dealing in a business, and want to make more profits with minimum investment, then this method may prove best for you.

Generally speaking, sea transportation is basically of three types;

i) Container ships: Truck-sized standardized containers are used for loading, unloading, and transportation of cargo in container shipping. 

ii) Break-bulk ships: In break-bulk shipping, cargo is directly loaded on the ship’s ground, and it is mostly used for massive goods such as grains, ore, jumbo bags, etc.

iii) Ro-ro ships:  Ro-ro ( roll-on roll-off ships ) is particularly designed for transportation of vehicles such as cars, trucks, etc.

Moreover, while shipping in containers, you will be given two options to put your cargo for transportation,;

1. LCL ( Less Than Container Load ): As is evident by the name, you will be given space less than a whole container ( like a sharing box ), so if your items are not too bulky to occupy a whole container, then you can choose this option, and you will be charged only for the space inhabited by your items, but the only disadvantage is that your stuff will be a little less secure in a sharing container.
2. FCL ( Full Container Load ): In this option, you are given a whole container ( not any sharing ) to fill just your items in it. You can use it in your own way, so if you are shipping some expensive and sensitive items that you can’t lose in any way, then FCL should be given priority.

There are a lot of seaports in China ( almost 180+ major and 2000+ minor ), and the most popular among them are Shenzhen, Xiamen, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Ningbo, Dalian, Qingdao, etc.

But there are fewer no. of ports in Poland as compared to China, and some famous of them are given below:

• Port of Gdansk
• Port of Gdynia
• Port of Szczecin
• Port of Swinoujsice
• Port of Kolobrzeg, etc.

Still, if you are a bit unclear in choosing the right port, then there are further guidelines available for you:

Whenever you are short of time, air freight is the best solution ever because it provides the 2nd fastest and safest delivery service as you can receive your parcel in around 3-8 days, which is an astonishing speed because China is 6989km (4342 miles ) distant from Poland, so if you are in a hurry and want to convey cargo in minimum time then air freight is best for you!

Air freight is a bit more costly ( 10-50 times higher ) than other freights, but it’s a no-loss situation because your items can reach the target door safely without any damage, breakage or delay. Now, we will discuss the main airports of both countries ( China and Poland ) for your convenience:

Shipping cargo from China to Poland could be challenging if you don’t have any know how about international trade regulations, shipping procedures, and documentation! From now on, it will be a piece of cake for you as here we will discuss how you can choose airports:

• Firstly, check out your budget and timelines.
• Make sure that Airports are well connected ( China and Poland ports ).
• Choose the one with on-site repair service, advanced biometric system, inspection, etc.
• Make sure that the Airport is open 24/7 so that you can load your cargo anytime.
• Make sure the space is available ( if you are shipping some massive cargo ) to avoid any complications.
• Keep an eye on the Documentation and choose the one for which you are fulfilling the eligibility criteria.

You know,  Airfreight costs are calculated on the basis of CBM ( Cubic Meter ), you can put only 167kg per cubic meter, so if your luggage is more than 167kg, then you will have to pay extra charges.

Here’s one thing to notice, you don’t have to pay for just gross weight ( actual weight of cargo ) but also for the volumetric weight ( Volume occupied by your goods in CBM ), for example;  your cargo weight is 167kg,  but apparently it is occupying more than one cubic meter, so you will have to pay extra amount.

But the good news is that LCL allows you 1000kg/cubic meter of cargo, so if are transporting some massive goods ( grain, oil tanks, large vehicles, etc.), then you can choose Sea Freight to minimize your cost.

Shipping companies hire personnel for door-to-door delivery of goods through road freight which accomplishes this task in almost 12 days; moreover, it is cheaper than air freight but more costly than sea freight; therefore, you can choose road freight if there is no other method available at the time spot.

For your information, according to the Chinese BRI ( Belt and Road Initiative Scheme), there are several roads established for smoother road freight, and those direct routes are equipped with the fastest investigation system, which saves both your time and money.

“Express freight is the no.1 fastest shipping method in which courier shipping companies ( TNT, UPS, FedEx, DHL, etc. ) hand over your cargo and deliver it to the target door ( China to Poland ) in a minimum time frame.”

In this modern era, Express Freight has developed technological transportation that can deliver parcels in about 1-10 days. Moreover, if you have to deliver the parcel to the most distant place from China, it will still take a maximum of 1 week, so Express Freight is the top option if you want an urgent delivery for some important documents, decomposable items, product samples,  etc.

Express Freight is the most expensive one ( 2 ~5 times more costly than air freight ), so if you are running a business by shipping your goods, then this freight would be less beneficial because your shipping expenses can exceed profits.

• 24/7 service
• Private labour, vehicles, Airplanes, and so on.
• Link with Govt. agents to make investigation easier and quick.
• Firm security measures ( zero chances of robbery, damage, and other potential risks )

A few lucky countries are linked with China through railways, and Poland is one of them, which follows the following route;

Shenzhen pick up > Chengdu/Chongqing > Alashankou > Kazakhstan > Russia > Polish Mara > Custom clearance in Hungary/Czech > UPS pick up > and final delivery to Poland.

You can use rail freight for finished products, raw materials, forestry products, and vehicles (cars, bikes, etc.). Moreover, there are many discussional features of train freight, the most important of which are described below:

• Time efficiency: Train freight properties are between sea and air freight, so it takes almost 14-16 for parcel delivery. 

• Cost saving: Rail freight is more economical than air freight by up to 50%. 

• One-stop shop: Rail freight provides you with friendly shipping by picking up a parcel right from your door and delivering it to the next target doorstep without any damage. 

• Flexible: In train Freight, you have both options available ( LCL or FCL ), so you can make a suitable choice according to your cargo; moreover, there are almost 3-4 trains scheduled per week; therefore, you can load your goods on any of these days.

Shipping of cargo from China to Poland is not very easy; you know several formalities are to be fulfilled before accomplishing this task, so certain important factors that could be the reason for variation in delivery timing are mentioned below:

• Capacity of suppliers
• Geographic area
• Volume of goods
• Logistical constraints
• Natural disasters ( floods, blizzards, storms, rain, etc. )
• Traffic problems
• Investigation procedures
• Custom clearance duration
• Up-to-date or ancient technology system

Okay! now, we will discuss each shipping mode separately to know how long it takes to ship from China to Poland through different ports:

i) Sea Freight delivery time

ii) Air Freight delivery time

iii) Train Freight delivery time

iv) Express & road Freight delivery time

It is obvious that express freight is the no. 1 fastest shipping method because of unbelievable advancements in technology, so the route of shipping, loading center, and other factors don’t cause an observable change in delivery timing, but if we talk about road freight then many factors can be the reason of delayed delivery ( traffic, weather, unavailability of workers, etc.

Moreover,  China has many railway stations with different delivery timings, which can be a bit confusing while choosing a station, but we can consider the rough idea that it takes almost 30 days to ship the parcel;

• 3-5 days to ship a parcel from the factory to the train station
• Train transit time 14 ~ 16 days
• Custom clearance is 3 ~ 5 days
• Delivery to doorstep 3 ~ 7 days

One more thing to notice, shipping can be delayed because of the inspection procedure, bad weather, and other natural disasters, you know it’s a natural phenomenon, so if it happens by any chance, then cooperation is the only best option you have to observe!

No doubt, International shipping is a challenging and risky task, and due to the lack of information, you can go through a lot of problems. So, there are some important factors that you should keep in mind like:

• Nature/mode of Freight ( Air, sea, road, train or express )
• FCL/LCL method
• Weight and volume of cargo
• Final doorstep distance from China port
• Kind of service ( Port-to-port or Door-to-Door )
• Inspection procedure
• Incomplete documentation fees
• Shipping season peak
• Weather conditions, etc.

The genuine cost depends upon the above-mentioned factors but, we can consider a rough estimation of the cost per unit weight;

1. Express Freight cost from China to Poland
2. Air Freight cost from China to Poland
3. Sea Freight cost from China to Poland
4. Train Freight from China to Poland

It is understood that Express freight is the fastest and safest mode of shopping; therefore, it costs a bit more than other methods of shipment, below is the latest Express freight rates from China to Poland dated 8-June,2024 for you information:

Air freight is 2nd fastest and most costly shipping method after express freight, therefore it costs less than express freight but more than sea and other types of shipping; moreover, the cost of air freight also depends upon the port you choose, below is the latest Air freight rates from China to Poland dated 8-June,2024 for you information:

Sea freight is the most inexpensive freight ever, and its cost mainly depends upon the route taken by ship ( direct or indirect ), the port you choose, fuel rates, etc. Below is the latest Sea freight rates from China to Poland dated 8-June,2024 for you information:

Rail freight is also one of the best shipping methods, which is less expensive than air freight but more costly than sea freight; moreover, you can choose the LCL or FCL method for putting your cargo in a container, which could be a factor in the variation of the cost. Below is the latest DDP Train freight rates from China to Poland dated 8-June,2024 for you information:

“Getting your order passed from customs is a bit of a headache, and sometimes, in case of missing documents, it takes weeks or months for approval.”

Every Import document has its own set of purposeful information, which is a means of communication between shippers, shipping companies, consignees, etc. So, International shipping(e.g., China to Poland ) requires proper documentation for the smooth transportation of our cargo and guarantees compliance according to international trade law.

But you don’t need to worry because here, we will make it manageable for you by providing a step-by-step guide for important documents required for China to-Poland shipping, so keep learning!

• Commercial Invoice: This document provides details about the value, description, and terms of sale of items.

• Bill of Lading ( sea freight) or airway bills ( air freight ): It is a type of contract between provided by the seller which states type, quantity, and consignee details.

• Packing List: This includes content, weight, HS codes, and dimensions of shipment.

• Chinese Govt. Export Declaration Document.

• Certificate of origin: It certifies the origin of cargo, which can affect the regulations and tariff rates ( fixed rate/ energy consumed ).

• Export License: It should be in accordance with China’s export regulations.

• Import License: This document is filled out by importers in Poland for sensitive items such as chemical tanks, food items, etc.

So, if you are pre-planned with these documents, then hopefully, your parcel will reach its destination without any hurdle, otherwise, failure in approval of these documents can cause a delay in shipping.

“Duties are the taxes imposed by the governments on imported and exported cargo.”

 The prices of duties change from time to time and from country to country. You can find out the duties from the HS codes ( Harmonized System (HS) code ) by searching it through the website https://hts.usitc.gov/ or with the help of Flexport’s HS Code Lookup Tool.

Therefore, each type of good has a specific duty rate from China to Poland, so here we will look at some of the most common of them:

“In door-to-door shipping, a parcel is picked up from the sender’s door and is delivered to the receiver’s doorstep.” 

Now let’s explore the main types of door-to-door shipping from China to Poland ( DDU and DDP ) one by one:

DDU stands for Deliver Duty Unpaid, in which the seller has to deal with shipping procedures until the parcel reaches its destination, after that it’s all upon the buyer to pay all the duties, customs clearances, import documentation in Poland, etc. 

DAP ( this term was introduced in 2010 to replace DDU ) is a joint responsibility process in which all the tasks are divided among sellers and buyers, the seller is accountable only for the shipping operations before reaching Poland, they are not responsible for taxes, duties, such as Express freight DHL, UPS, etc.

Now, you will be thinking of how it’s a joint responsibility. Okay! Look, once cargo enters Poland’s first mile, all assignments ( unloading, preparation of importing documents, duties, and taxes imposed by Poland’s government, etc. ) will be handed over to the buyer; there will be no headache for the seller.

“DDP stands for Deliver Duty Paid, in which the sellers take advanced payment from the buyer and are responsible for looking after the whole shipment process in the loading country as well as after reaching the buyer’s country.”

DDP is a more risky and hectic process than DDU, as the seller becomes bound to deliver the parcel safely on time. Moreover, he has to keep a check on every major and minor detail, such as:

• Documentations
• Customs clearance
• Insurance policy
• VAT duties and taxes
• Local operations
• Loading cargo from China
• To prevent goods from damage, breakage, loss, etc.
• Unloading in Poland till the last mile

One point needs to be mentioned here: if you want any shipping service ( DPP or DPU ), we ( Winsky Freight ) will provide you with excellent door-to-door shipping from China to Poland with the maximum facilities possible.

As we discussed just a moment ago, Winsky Freight provides its customers with the best shipping services, so let’s converse about a bit more than how many days DDP service will require if you deliver from China to Poland through Winsky Freight.

Winsky Freight do all of the shipping tasks in a very organised manner,  some highlights of our work are presented for you:

• Firstly, we pick up your parcel from the Chinese factory
• Load cargo of different clients into the LCL/FCL container
• Preparation of customs clearance documents
• Now, shipping starts from China to Poland’s destination point
• Then, agents from Poland import customs clearance clear all the duties and taxes
• Finally, cargo is unloaded from the carrier and delivered to the buyer’s doorstep through courier service.

“Cargo insurance is a way of protecting goods from unpredictable complications such as damage, breakage, loss, and other potential risks during any type of freight.”

In international shipping, cargo insurance is an essential task, because if by any chance you are haunted by any other complications ( damage, loss, theft of expensive products ), then it can ruin your whole order.

To be honest, we recommend that you should not take a risk when delivering your cargo for international freight. Moreover, cargo insurance is not very costly; you just have to pay about 0.3% ~ 0.5% of the total shipment, so it is better to pay freight insurance instead of losing the whole cargo.

As modernisation advances, tracking your shipping status is no longer a big deal. You know, the quality of service varies with the type of freight and service you are availing of; for example, Express Freight is the most costly one, but it provides you with updates of your parcel every few hours by searching at DHL, UPS, FedEx.

But, if we talk about sea freight, you will learn about parcel location after some weeks of completing the shipment because it is cheaper than other modes of freight.

Moreover, you can check the shipping status by entering the tracking number on your cargo company’s official website, or follow up it by https://www.17track.net/en

Winsky freight provides the best affordable service at a minimum shipping time, let’s take a look at our shipping feature:

• Reliability and safety: Winsky Freight protects your cargo from damage, loss, and other potential risks. 

• Customer service: Clients are continuously informed and assisted through the whole shipping process. 

• Experience and expertise: We have decades of experience and have shipped to over 100+ countries. 

• Custom compliance and regulations: International freight requires complete trade knowledge before shipping. So Winsky Freight knows each aspect of delivery to provide you with a smooth shipment. 

• Additional services: Warehousing, packaging and distribution support is also available.

To ship Whinsky Freight from China to Poland is not very complex, but there’s a need for some basic understanding of the whole procedure, which is given below:

• First, the supplier will arrange for a carrier to pick up the cargo.
• Winsky Freight will ask the supplier to complete their documentation.
• We’ll ensure the exact weight and dimension of the goods.
• Payment will be certified through a shipping invoice.
• We will be responsible for customs clearance and then cargo will be sent.
• Now, you will get a tracking number of your parcel.
• A local agent in Poland will clear all of Poland’s import documentation.
• Cargo will be delivered to the buyer’s door through a courier service.

To sum up the discussion, it is concluded that no matter which freight you want to avail yourself of, from the most expensive to the cheapest one, Winsky Freight will provide you with the best shipping experience ever.

We hope this  ‘China to Poland shipping guide’ is useful for you. However, if you don’t find a solution to your issue or have a project in mind, please contact us or ask for a shiping quote, one of our shipping specialists will reply you within 8 working hours.