As trade between China and Romania continues to grow, more and more businesses and individuals need to understand the cost of shipping from China to Romania. This article will detail the costs of various modes of transportation.

How to Ship from China to Romania
Sea Freight
Sea freight is usually the most economical and practical option for shipping large quantities of goods over long distances. Sea freight is more affordable, can accommodate a variety of sizes and types of goods, and is suitable for transporting a variety of goods. There are two main types of shipping services: FCL and LCL.
Air Freight
Air freight is the fastest mode of transportation for international freight, with high flexibility and reliability. With frequent flight schedules and strict safety measures, less handling reduces the risk of damage to goods during transportation.
Rail Freight
Rail transport is a balanced choice between sea and air freight, usually cheaper than air freight, but faster shipping time than sea freight, low carbon footprint and less environmental impact, high reliability, less impact by weather conditions than ships, thus ensuring timely delivery.
Main Factors Affecting Freight from China to Romania
Shipping costs are affected by a variety of factors, mainly including:
- Mode of Transport: Different modes of transport have different costs, with air freight having the highest cost and sea freight having the lowest cost.
- Cargo weight and volume: Air freight is calculated by weight, and sea freight is calculated by volume.
- Cargo type: Dangerous or sensitive goods require special handling and will incur additional costs.
- Peak season and off-season: The transportation cost is higher during the peak season (such as Double 11, before Christmas), and lower during the off-season
- Fuel surcharges and exchange rate fluctuations: Fuel prices and exchange rate changes can affect transportation costs.
Cost of Shipping 20ft and 40ft Containers from China to Romania
Full container shipping by sea usually has enough goods to fill the entire container, which can minimize the risk of damage or contamination of other goods. The general fee is charged according to the size of the container (mainly 20ft and 40ft containers):
POL (port of loading) | POD (port of discharge) | 20ft container cost | 40ft container cost |
---|---|---|---|
Shanghai | Constanta | $2550-$3350 | $3500-$5000 |
Shenzhen | Constanta | $2400-$3500 | $3450-$4950 |
Ningbo | Constanta | $2600-$3400 | $3650-$4850 |
Qingdao | Constanta | $2550-$3350 | $3500-$5000 |
Shanghai | Galati | $2450-$3450 | $3350-$4800 |
Shenzhen | Galati | $2500-$3300 | $3500-$5000 |
Ningbo | Galati | $2450-$3650 | $3450-$5050 |
Qingdao | Galati | $2650-$3650 | $3350-$4800 |
Shanghai | Braila | $2500-$3500 | $3650-$4850 |
Shenzhen | Braila | $2500-$3400 | $3500-$4800 |
Ningbo | Braila | $2550-$3350 | $3750-$4950 |
Qingdao | Braila | $2400-$3400 | $3500-$4800 |

LCL Shipping Cost from China to Romania
LCL by sea means that there is not enough goods to fill the container, so others share the space. It is an economical option that can save transportation costs and is generally charged according to the volume of the goods;
POL (port of loading) | POD (port of discharge) | LCL shipping cost |
---|---|---|
Shanghai | Constanta | $90-$180 |
Shenzhen | Constanta | $80-$185 |
Qingdao | Constanta | $80-$175 |
Ningbo | Constanta | $90-$190 |
Shanghai | Galati | $80-$175 |
Shenzhen | Galati | $90-$200 |
Qingdao | Galati | $80-$200 |
Ningbo | Galati | $90-$185 |
Shanghai | Braila | $80-$195 |
Shenzhen | Braila | $85-$175 |
Qingdao | Braila | $80-$185 |
Ningbo | Braila | $90-$185 |
Air Freight Cost from China to Romania
Air transport is the fastest mode of transport and is suitable for goods with high timeliness requirements. It has a higher cost and is usually calculated based on the higher of the actual weight or volumetric weight (length × width × height (cm) ÷ 6000):
Departure Airport (China) | Arrival Airport (Romania) | Cost Range (USD/kg) |
Shanghai Pudong | Henri Coande | $5.0 – $10.2 |
Guangzhou Baiyun | Henri Coande | $5.3 – $9.7 |
Beijing Capital | Henri Coande | $5.5 – $9.5 |
Shanghai Pudong | Cluj-Napoca | $5.7 – $10.0 |
Guangzhou Baiyun | Cluj-Napoca | $6.0 – $9.8 |
Beijing Capital | Cluj-Napoca | $5.3 – $10.0 |
Rail Freight Cost from China to Romania
Railway transportation is a rapidly developing mode of transportation between China and Europe in recent years. It is usually divided into container transportation and bulk cargo transportation. The charges are the same as those for sea transportation. The common cost ranges are as follows:
Departure City(China) | Arrival City(Switzerland) | LCL Shipping Cost | FCL Shipping Cost |
---|---|---|---|
Chengdu | Bucharest | $150 – $250 / CBM | $6500-$8600 /40HQ |
Chongqing | Bucharest | $180 – $260 / CBM | $6100-$8000 /40HQ |
Xi’an | Bucharest | $170 – $240 / CBM | $6500-$8200 /40HQ |
Chengdu | Constanta | $150 – $240 / CBM | $6200-$7950 /40HQ |
Chongqing | Constanta | $170 – $250 / CBM | $6150-$7980 /40HQ |
Xi’an | Constanta | $160 – $240 / CBM | $6000-$8000 /40HQ |
If you are interested in the costs of shipping from China to other countries:
How Much Does it Cost to Ship from China to Hungary?
How Much Does it Cost to Ship from China to Greece?
How Much Does it Cost to Ship from China to Turkey

How to Calculate Tariffs from China to Romania
Tariff calculation is a key part of the cost from China to Romania. Here is a detailed introduction:
Determine the customs valuation (duty-paid price)
Customs valuation is the basis for calculating tariffs: CIF = cost of goods + transportation cost + insurance cost
Find the HS code of the product
Each product has an HS code (Harmonized System Code), which is a standard for global commodity classification and is used to determine the tariff rate of the product. It can be queried through the EU TARIC tariff query system.
Value Added Tax (VAT)
The standard VAT rate in Romania is 19%. Almost all imported goods are subject to VAT. VAT = (declared value + tariff) × VAT rate
How to Reduce Shipping Cost from China to Romania
Here are some effective ways to reduce costs:
Optimize cargo packaging
Reasonable packaging can reduce the risk of damage to goods during transportation, thereby reducing compensation costs
Optimize transportation routes
By choosing shorter or lower-cost transportation routes, unnecessary costs can be reduced.
Concentrated transportation
The transportation cost of each piece of cargo can be reduced by transporting multiple pieces of cargo together.
Keep up with market trends
Understand the supply and demand situation and price fluctuations in the transportation market, and choose a period with lower costs to ship.
Simplify customs clearance procedures
Make sure all necessary documents are complete to avoid additional costs due to customs clearance issues.
Find the right freight forwarder
Compare quotes with multiple freight forwarders and choose the most competitive price and service. Negotiate costs with long-term freight forwarders to get better discounts.
Through this article, you can understand the cost structure and influencing factors of various modes of transportation, combine the characteristics of goods and business needs, choose a suitable freight forwarder to develop the best logistics plan from China to Romania, and make the goods transported efficiently.