With the deepening of trade relations between China and Malaysia, logistics and transportation have become a key link in the trade between the two countries. The flow of goods between the two countries has increased year by year, and the cost has become the focus of attention for enterprises and individuals. This article will introduce the transportation costs between the two countries in detail.
Sea Freight from China to Malaysia
Sea Freight is the most common mode of transportation, with low cost and suitable for large quantities, heavy goods and large items. China to Malaysia belongs to the mainstream route in Southeast Asia, with frequent flights and relatively stable shipping schedules. The full container usually arrives at the port in about 7-10 days, and the LCL may be slightly longer by 1-2 days.
The types of shipping services from China to Malaysia are mainly divided into FCL transportation and LCL transportation
- Full container shipping: a mode of transportation in which the entire container is reserved for a single shipper to transport goods. The most common containers are 20 feet and 40 feet.
- LCL shipping: goods from multiple shippers are integrated into one container, and companies with smaller cargo volumes share container space.
Main Factors Affecting Sea Freight Cost
Ocean freight costs fluctuate, mainly affected by the following factors:
Type of transport service
FCL is suitable for large quantities of goods, with lower unit costs, while LCL is suitable for small quantities of goods, but the charges at the destination port are relatively high.
Type of goods
Special categories such as dangerous goods, batteries, and liquids will incur surcharges.
Freight rate fluctuations during peak and off-seasons
The cost increases significantly during peak seasons (such as Double 11 and before Christmas). Prices are relatively stable during off-seasons.
Exchange rate changes
Ocean freight costs are denominated in US dollars, and changes in the RMB exchange rate will affect costs.
Changes in port policies
Tightening customs clearance requirements at the destination port may result in additional documents and delay costs.
Sea Freight Cost from China to Malaysia
Shipping costs from China to sea mainly consist of the following costs
- Trailer fees (from factory to port)
- Customs clearance fees
- Document fees
- Sea freight (LCL is calculated by volume (CBM), FCL is charged per container (such as 20GP, 40HQ), destination port fees (Malaysia section)
- Destination port terminal handling fee (THC)
- Customs clearance fees
| Shipping Mode | Description | Cost Estimate |
| LCL (Less than Container Load) | Perfect for smaller shipments that don’t fill a container. | $80-$110 per cubic meter |
| 20ft Container FCL (Full Container Load) | Ideal for large shipments, offering more cost efficiency. | Container rate $500-$800 |
| 40ft Container FCL (Full Container Load) | The volume is twice that of 20ft, suitable for loading large-volume cargo | Container rate $800-$1300 |
Cost of Shipping 20ft and 40ft Container from China to Malaysia
Below are the reference prices from major ports in China such as Shenzhen, Ningbo, and Shanghai to Port Klang, Penang, and Johor in Malaysia to help you understand the cost of shipping between the two countries:
| POL (Port of China) | POL (Port of Malaysia) | 20ft Container Cost | 40ft Container Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | Klang | $500–$750 | $900–$1200 |
| Shenzhen | Klang | $650–$850 | $900–$1300 |
| Ningbo | Klang | $550–$800 | $950–$1250 |
| Shanghai | Penang | $520 – $750 | $950–$1300 |
| Shenzhen | Penang | $600 – $840 | $900–$1350 |
| Ningbo | Penang | $550 – $850 | $900 – $1450 |
| Shanghai | Gudang | $600 – $800 | $920 – $1340 |
| Shenzhen | Gudang | $550 – $770 | $940 – $1250 |
| Ningbo | Gudang | $530 – $850 | $950 – $1300 |
Air Freight from China to Malaysia
Air Freight is fast and frequent. First-tier cities such as Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Hong Kong have direct or transit flights to Malaysia every day. Usually the delivery time is 1-3 working days, which is suitable for goods with high timeliness requirements.
Flexible service, you can choose door-to-door, door-to-airport or airport-to-airport, and can cooperate with dedicated delivery, DHL, FedEx and other services. Fast customs clearance Malaysia’s customs clearance procedures are relatively simple, and some goods can be released on the same day.
Main Factors Affecting Air Freight Cost
Air freight costs fluctuate, mainly affected by the following factors:
Cargo weight and volume
Air transport is based on “billed weight”. Large but light cargo will be charged according to volume weight, resulting in higher costs.
Cargo nature
General cargo is cheaper than charged/dangerous goods; special cargo requires a surcharge, such as UN-numbered cargo, lithium batteries, etc.
Flight conditions and peak season fluctuations
Fare prices rise during peak seasons (such as Eid al-Fitr, Double Eleven, and before Christmas), and “dumping” or delays may occur when flights are tight
Airline and transit conditions
Direct flights have higher fares but better timeliness, while transit flights are cheaper but take slightly longer to transport
Air Freight Cost from China to Malaysia
Air freight costs are mainly divided into the following parts:
Origin Charges
- Document Fees (Bill of Lading, Invoice, Packing List, etc.)
- Airport Service Fees (such as security checks, warehousing, etc.)
- Domestic Pickup Fees (if door-to-door pickup is required)
Air Freight Rate
- Charged based on actual weight or volume weight, whichever is greater (volumetric weight calculation formula: length × width × height (cm) ÷ 6000)
- Divided into different quotations for general goods, sensitive goods (such as electric goods), special goods, etc.
Destination Charges
- Customs Clearance Fees (can be operated by agents or customers)
- Delivery Fees (if door-to-door delivery is required)
| Departure Airport (China) | Arrival Airport (Malaysia) | Cost Range (USD/kg) |
| Shanghai Pudong | Kuala Lumpur | $5.0 – $8.6 |
| Guangzhou Baiyun | Kuala Lumpur | $5.0 – $8.8 |
| Beijing Capital | Kuala Lumpur | $5.5 – $7.8 |
| Shanghai Pudong | Penang | $5.0 – $8.8 |
| Guangzhou Baiyun | Penang | $5.0 – $8.5 |
| Beijing Capital | Penang | $5.5 – $7.8 |
Read below for shipping costs to other countries to help you understand more:
How Much Does it Cost to Ship from China to Thailand
How Much Does it Cost to Ship from China to Singapore
How Much Does it Cost to Ship from China to Indonesia
Duties for Shipping from China to Malaysia
The impact of import taxes you need to know when importing goods from China to Malaysia. Different taxes such as Value Added Tax (VAT) and import duties such as customs duties also help determine the final cost.
The tariff rate depends on the HS code (Harmonized System Code). The correct HS code determines:
- Tax payable (customs duty and SST)
- Is an import license required
- Is it a controlled product (e.g., medicines, chemicals)
The following table lists common product categories, their HS codes, and the corresponding tariff and VAT rates for transportation services:
| Product Category | Import Tariff | SST | Description |
| Electronic products | 0% | 6% | Generally applicable to zero tariff policy |
| Clothing | 5%-20% | 6% | Taxes are determined by fabric and garment type |
| Furniture (wood, metal) | 0%-20% | 6% | Most office furniture is duty-free |
| Batteries, live product | 0%-5% | 6% | Must comply with import and export certification standards |
| Food (packaged food) | 0%-15% | 6% | Must comply with import license and labeling regulations |
Strategies to Reduce of Shipping Cost from China to Malaysia
Use the following strategies to reduce logistics costs between the two countries:
Choose the right mode of transportation
Choose the best solution based on the characteristics of the goods and timeliness requirements
Optimize packaging size and weight
Reduce volume weight to avoid unnecessary surcharges
Avoid peak transportation seasons
Book space in advance to avoid price increases during peak seasons
Use LCL and shared resources
Ship together with other sellers to save costs
Long-term cooperation with professional freight forwarders
Get bulk prices and customized services
Rationally plan the departure point and port selection
Try to be close to coastal ports to reduce inland transportation costs
Improve loading efficiency
Use standardized packaging to maximize the use of container space and load light and heavy goods together
Shipping from China to Malaysia has become more efficient and convenient. Through this article, you can plan the type of goods, cost budget and delivery cycle of your company. Ensure that your goods are delivered safely and on time.
If you need a logistics solution from China to Malaysia, choose Ubestshipping to provide you with a one-stop sea and air freight service. We will contact you within 24 hours!