Trade between China and Switzerland has continued to grow in recent years. As a global manufacturing center, China has provided Switzerland with a large number of industrial products, electronic products and consumer goods. The transportation cost is what every merchant who wants to import from China wants to calculate. This article will introduce the cost of shipping from China to Switzerland in detail.
Switzerland Trade Status
Switzerland is one of China’s important trading partners in Europe. In 2023, the bilateral trade volume between China and Switzerland exceeded $40 billion. Switzerland occupies an important position in the ranking of China’s European trading partners. Switzerland borders Germany, France and Italy, and international freight mainly relies on air and rail.
Shipping from China to Switzerland
Since Switzerland is a landlocked country, freight from China to Switzerland usually requires multimodal transport. The main modes of transportation include air, rail, and sea (transshipment via neighboring countries).
Sea Freight
Sea Freight is the most common mode of transportation. Switzerland has no direct port, so China’s exports to Switzerland usually pass through ports in neighboring European countries, such as Hamburg Port in Germany, Rotterdam Port in the Netherlands, Antwerp Port in Belgium, etc., and then transship to Switzerland by rail or truck.
Air Freight
Air Freight is the fastest mode of transport with a short transportation time. It usually takes 2-5 days to reach major Swiss airports (such as Zurich Airport). It is suitable for high-value, light and small, and time-sensitive goods. The flight density is high, and there are direct or stopover flights from major cities such as Shanghai, Guangzhou, Beijing, and Shenzhen.
Rail Freight
Rail Freight is mainly through the China-Europe Express, with a transportation time of about 15-20 days, which is faster than sea transport and cheaper than air transport. It is suitable for goods with medium time requirements, such as machinery and equipment, auto parts, and household goods. The transportation is stable and not affected by weather, and it is suitable for large-scale transportation.
Shipping Cost from China to Switzerland
The transportation cost from China to Switzerland depends on the mode of transport, cargo weight, volume, route, customs clearance costs, etc. The following is a detailed description of the costs of different modes of transportation
Sea Freight Cost from China to Switzerland
The main shipping routes are mainly from Chinese ports (Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen, Qingdao) – Hamburg (Germany)/Rotterdam (Netherlands)/Antwerp (Belgium) and then transferred to Switzerland (Zurich, Geneva, Bern, etc.) by rail. The transportation cost is the cost of sea transportation + the cost of rail transportation. The following is a detailed cost range:
| POL (port of loading) | POD (port of discharge) | LCL shipping cost | 20ft container cost | 40ft container cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | Zurich | $60-$125 | $2050-$3550 | $3000-$4800 |
| Shenzhen | Zurich | $55-$130 | $2100-$3600 | $3050-$4850 |
| Qingdao | Zurich | $70-$120 | $2050-$3450 | $3050-$4750 |
| Ningbo | Zurich | $55-$135 | $1900-$3300 | $3150-$4850 |
| Shanghai | Geneva | $65-$120 | $2950-$3650 | $3050-$4700 |
| Shenzhen | Geneva | $50-$135 | $2000-$3500 | $3000-$4800 |
| Qingdao | Geneva | $60-$135 | $2150-$3450 | $3050-$4750 |
| Ningbo | Geneva | $55-$125 | $2000-$3550 | $2950-$4850 |
| Shanghai | Bern | $60-$130 | $2000-$3500 | $3150-$4750 |
| Shenzhen | Bern | $75-$120 | $1900-$3300 | $3000-$4900 |
| Qingdao | Bern | $60-$130 | $2000-$3500 | $3100-$4800 |
| Ningbo | Bern | $75-$125 | $2150-$3450 | $3050-$4950 |
Air Freight Cost from China to Switzerland
The air freight route flies directly from major airports in China to Switzerland. The cost is based on the larger value of the actual weight and volumetric weight (volume weight = length cm × width cm × height cm ÷ 6000). Sensitive goods (such as batteries, liquids, chemicals) require additional surcharges. The common cost range is as follows:
| Departure Airport (China) | Arrival Airport (Switzerland) | Cost Range (USD/kg) |
| Shanghai Pudong | Zurich | $6.0 – $11.2 |
| Guangzhou Baiyun | Zurich | $6.3 – $10.8 |
| Beijing Capital | Zurich | $6.5 – $11.7 |
| Shanghai Pudong | Geneva | $6.8 – $10.6 |
| Guangzhou Baiyun | Geneva | $6.5 – $12.5 |
| Beijing Capital | Geneva | $6.5 – $10.5 |
Rail Freight Cost from China to Switzerland
As a compromise between sea and air transport, the China-Europe Express departs from inland cities in China (such as Chongqing, Chengdu, and Xi’an), goes directly to Europe via Kazakhstan, Russia, Poland, and finally arrives in Switzerland. The following are the costs of railway transportation from China:
| Departure City(China) | Arrival City(Netherlands) | LCL Shipping Cost | FCL Shipping Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chengdu | Basel | $150 – $250 / CBM | $6000-$8000 /40HQ |
| Chongqing | Basel | $180 – $260 / CBM | $6100-$8000 /40HQ |
| Xi’an | Basel | $170 – $240 / CBM | $6000-$8000 /40HQ |
| Chengdu | Zurich | $150 – $240 / CBM | $6200-$7950 /40HQ |
| Chongqing | Zurich | $170 – $250 / CBM | $6150-$7980 /40HQ |
| Xi’an | Zurich | $160 – $240 / CBM | $6000-$8000 /40HQ |
Refer to the following shipping costs from China to other countries:
How Much Does it Cost to Ship from China to Germany?
How Much Does it Cost to Ship from China to France?
Shipping Cost from China to Belgium
How Much Does it Cost to Ship from China to the Netherlands?
Factors Affecting Shipping Cost from China to Switzerland
- Transportation mode: Air freight is the most expensive but fastest, sea freight is the cheapest but slowest, and rail is a compromise.
- Cargo weight and volume: air transport is charged by weight, sea transport and railway are charged by volume.
- Fuel surcharge: shipping and air transport costs are greatly affected by international oil prices.
- Customs clearance efficiency: incomplete documents or incorrect classification of goods may result in demurrage
- Timeliness requirements: expedited services may increase costs by 50%-100%
- Seasonal factors: transportation demand is strong during holidays (such as Christmas and New Year), and freight rates may increase.
- Customs clearance and taxes: Swiss import tariffs, value-added tax (VAT), etc. affect the overall cost.
Import Taxes and Duties for Shipping from China to Switzerland
When shipping goods from China to Switzerland, import taxes and duties play a big role in determining the total shipping cost. Here’s how they affect your bottom line:
Import Duty
Switzerland has relatively low duties on imported goods, with most industrial products charging between 0-5%. For example:
- Electronics: 0-2%
- Clothing Textiles: 5-10%
- Machinery: 0%
Value Added Tax (VAT)
The standard VAT rate applicable in Switzerland is 7.7%, which must be factored into the total cost of your imported goods. This rate affects the final price you pay once the product arrives.
How to Reduce Shipping Cost from China to Switzerland
Strategies to reduce shipping costs include:
Optimize packaging
Through reasonable packaging, the volume of goods can be reduced, thereby reducing shipping costs.
Flexible delivery time
Avoid peak periods or peak seasons to avoid high freight costs. Choosing the right delivery time can greatly save shipping costs.
Bulk shipping
If there are multiple orders, you can reduce the shipping cost of each order by consolidating the goods.
Optimize customs clearance and taxes
Ensure that the goods are correctly classified according to Swiss and EU regulations to avoid additional costs due to customs errors. Make sure all documents are complete at the time of import to reduce delays or additional costs caused by customs clearance errors.
Choose the right shipping company
Compare different freight forwarders or shipping companies. Quotations between different companies may vary greatly. Choose those that have a good reputation and offer favorable prices.
The logistics plan from China to Switzerland through this article needs to be considered comprehensively based on the mode of transportation, type of goods and cost factors in order to choose the most cost-effective mode of transportation.