With the advancement of the “Belt and Road” initiative, the growth of trade between China and Austria has also increased transportation demand. More and more companies want to import from China, and timeliness has become the focus of transportation from China to Austria. This article will introduce this in detail.
Introduction to Austria
Austria is located in the center of Europe, connected to Italy in the south, Switzerland and Germany in the west, with a highly developed economy. It is one of the important members of the European Union. It has become an important trade channel connecting Western Europe, Eastern Europe and Southern Europe. The following are Austria’s trade hubs connecting other regions:
- Vienna International Airport: Austria’s most important international air cargo hub, connecting many major trading cities in the world, suitable for high-value and time-sensitive cargo transportation.
- Linz Airport: Located in central Austria, it mainly serves the freight needs of industrial areas.
- Innsbruck Airport: Suitable for air cargo needs in western Austria.
- Vienna South Terminal: Austria’s largest railway freight hub, which can carry out fast railway transportation with other European countries.
- Bregenz Railway Freight Center: Connecting Germany, Switzerland, Italy and other places, suitable for internal logistics transportation in Europe.
Shipping Time from China to Austria
There are mainly sea Freight, rail Freight and air Freight for transporting goods from China to Austria. Different modes of transport have different time limits and are also affected by many factors.
Sea Freight Time from China to Austria
Sea transport is the most common mode of transport with the lowest cost, but the transportation time is longer. It is suitable for large quantities and heavy goods, such as machinery and equipment, furniture, building materials, etc. It is suitable for less urgent orders and for planned corporate procurement.
Austria has no seaports. Generally, it departs from major ports in China, chooses Hamburg (Germany), Rotterdam (Netherlands) or Trieste (Italy), and then transfers to Austria by rail or road. It usually takes 30-45 days.
Influencing factors
- Port congestion: Peak seasons (such as Black Friday and Christmas) may cause delays.
- Route adjustments: Weather, war, trade policies, etc. may cause route changes.
- Customs clearance and inland transshipment: The railway or truck transshipment time from the port to Austria is uncertain.
| POL (port of loading) | POD (port of discharge) | Shipping time (days) |
|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | Hamburg | 30-43 days |
| Shenzhen | Hamburg | 30-42 days |
| Qingdao | Hamburg | 31-45 days |
| Ningbo | Hamburg | 30-44 days |
| Shanghai | Rotterdam | 30-42 days |
| Shenzhen | Rotterdam | 33-43 days |
| Qingdao | Rotterdam | 31-44 days |
| Ningbo | Rotterdam | 30-42 days |
| Shanghai | Trieste | 30-45 days |
| Shenzhen | Trieste | 30-43 days |
| Qingdao | Trieste | 30-42 days |
| Ningbo | Trieste | 31-41 days |
Air Freight Time from China to Austria
Air freight is the fastest mode of transportation, suitable for goods with high timeliness requirements, light goods, and high value, such as electronic products, medical supplies, luxury goods, and urgent replenishment. The cost is higher than sea and rail, but it provides the fastest delivery time.
Mainly from major airports in China such as Shanghai Pudong, Guangzhou Baiyun, Beijing Capital, Shenzhen Baoan, etc. It usually takes 3-7 days to arrive at Vienna International Airport (VIE).
Influencing factors
- Number of flights: There are fewer direct flights, and more flights that require transfers, which increases transportation time.
- Airport customs clearance efficiency: Different airports have different customs clearance times, which may affect the overall timeliness.
- Logistics peak period: Black Friday, Christmas, New Year and other peak seasons, flights are full and costs rise.
| Departure Airport (China) | Arrival Airport (Austria) | Shipping time (days) |
|---|---|---|
| Shanghai Pudong | Vienna | 3-6 days |
| Guangzhou Baiyun | Vienna | 4-6 days |
| Shenzhen Bao’an | Vienna | 4-7 days |
| Beijing Capital | Vienna | 5-7 days |
| Hong Kong | Vienna | 3-7 days |
Rail Freight Time from China to Austria
The timeliness is between sea and air transport, cheaper than air transport, faster than sea transport, less affected by weather, more stable transportation time, suitable for medium and high value goods such as electronic products, auto parts, clothing, home appliances, etc.
Railway transportation generally starts from Yiwu, Chongqing, Chengdu, Xi’an, etc. in China. It is transported to Duisburg, Germany, and then transferred to Austria, which generally takes 14-20 days.
Influencing factors
- Eurasian railway network conditions: such as congestion of China-Europe trains, rail maintenance, etc.
- Customs inspection: Railway goods still need to pass through multiple countries, and the customs clearance time of each country is different.
- Seasonal impact: Extreme weather in winter may affect railway transportation.
| Departure City(China) | Arrival City(Austria) | Shipping time (days) |
|---|---|---|
| Chengdu | Vienna | 14-19 days |
| Chongqing | Vienna | 14-18 days |
| Xi’an | Vienna | 15-18 days |
| Chengdu | Linz | 15-20 days |
| Chongqing | Linz | 14-18 days |
| Xi’an | Linz | 15-18 days |
| Chengdu | Graz | 14-19 days |
| Chongqing | Graz | 15-20 days |
| Xi’an | Graz | 14-19 days |
Learn more about shipping times from China to nearby areas:
How Long Does it Take to Ship from China to Italy?
How Long Does it Take to Ship from China to Germany?
How Long Does it Take to Ship from China to the Netherlands?
Ways to Shorten Shipping Time from China to Austria
Optimize transportation routes
Choose the most appropriate combination of shipping methods, such as sea + rail or air + road, to balance cost and time.
Optimize customs clearance process
Ensure that all documents are complete, such as commercial invoices, bills of lading, certificates of origin, etc., to reduce the possibility of customs inspection.
Plan transport routes reasonably
Choose direct routes or suitable transit points based on the type of goods, cost and timeliness requirements.
Choose suitable freight forwarding company
Choose experienced freight forwarding companies that can provide one-stop services and improve transportation efficiency.
Use digital logistics platforms
Track the status of goods in real time through logistics management systems and optimize transportation plans.
Strengthen the use of China-Europe Express
China-Europe Express is an efficient railway transportation method connecting China and Europe. By increasing the frequency and optimizing the routes, efficiency can be further improved.
Cost of Shipping 20ft and 40ft Containers from China to Austria
The cost of shipping from China to Austria will affect the choice of transportation method. The transportation method is the decisive factor in determining the timeliness. The following is the range of container costs from China to Austria:
| POL (port of loading) | POD (port of discharge) | 20ft container cost | 40ft container cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | Vienna | $2050-$3550 | $3000-$4800 |
| Shenzhen | Vienna | $2100-$3600 | $3050-$4850 |
| Qingdao | Vienna | $2050-$3450 | $3050-$4750 |
| Ningbo | Vienna | $1900-$3300 | $3150-$4850 |
| Shanghai | Linz | $2950-$3650 | $3050-$4700 |
| Shenzhen | Linz | $2000-$3500 | $3000-$4800 |
| Qingdao | Linz | $2150-$3450 | $3050-$4750 |
| Ningbo | Linz | $2000-$3550 | $2950-$4850 |
| Shanghai | Graz | $2000-$3500 | $3150-$4750 |
| Shenzhen | Graz | $1900-$3300 | $3000-$4900 |
| Qingdao | Graz | $2000-$3500 | $3100-$4800 |
| Ningbo | Graz | $2150-$3450 | $3050-$4950 |
Learn more: How Much Does it Cost to Ship from China to Austria?
Detailed Process of Shipping from China to Austria
Understanding the detailed process of transport from China to Austria and the time of each step can strengthen the grasp of the time of transport from China to Austria.
Determine the mode of transport
Choose air, rail or sea transport according to the type of goods, cost and timeliness requirements.
Cargo preparation and packaging
Comply with Austrian and EU import standards to ensure transportation safety.
Booking and arranging transportation
Contact the freight forwarding company to book flights, rail space or sea space.
Customs declaration and export procedures
Submit export customs declaration materials, including invoices, packing lists, etc., to complete the release of Chinese customs.
International transportation
The goods are transported to the destination in Austria according to the established route.
Austrian customs clearance
Submit import documents to complete tariff payment and customs clearance. Customs clearance documents include:
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- Bill of lading
- Export license (if applicable)
- Certificate of origin
- Insurance policy (if insured)
Final delivery
Deliver the goods to the consignee through the domestic logistics network in Austria.
This article explains how the choice and efficiency of transport methods directly affect trade time. By optimizing transport routes, using digital tools and strengthening cooperation, the efficiency of transport from China to Austria can be significantly improved.