In recent years, with the development of Sino-Thai trade, the logistics demand between the two countries has continued to increase. More and more individuals and companies are paying attention to the cost of transportation. This article will introduce the cost of transporting from China to Thailand in detail.
Introduction to Thailand
Located in the central part of the Indochina Peninsula, Thailand has a superior geographical location and connects China, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia and other countries. It is a key node of the “Indochina Peninsula Economic Corridor”. Its dependence on international logistics continues to deepen. The logistics demand in cross-border e-commerce, B2B transactions, machinery and equipment, auto parts and electronic products is particularly strong.
Shipping Methods from China to Thailand
There are mainly the following ways to transport goods from China to Thailand: sea transportation and air transportation. Different methods have their own characteristics in terms of timeliness, cost, and applicable types of goods, which are suitable for the needs of different customers.
Sea Freight
Sea Freight is the most common mode of transportation. It is low-cost and suitable for large-volume cargo transportation. Sea transportation is more environmentally friendly and helps reduce carbon emissions. It can transport multiple pallets or full containers of goods each time, mainly through container full container (FCL) or less than container load (LCL).
Air Freight
The main advantage of air transportation is fast speed. For industries such as e-commerce, pharmaceuticals, and perishable goods, the ability to ship products quickly is critical to maintaining customer satisfaction.
With higher security and tracking capabilities, it is closely monitored throughout the entire transportation process, minimizing the risk of loss or damage.
Composition of Logistics Cost from China to Thailand
Logistics costs vary depending on the mode of transportation and service items, and mainly include the following parts:
- Basic freight: charged by volume (CBM) or weight (KG), and the unit price varies significantly depending on the mode of transportation.
- Port of departure costs: including trailer fees, storage fees, customs clearance fees, loading fees, etc.
- Destination costs: customs clearance, tariffs, value-added tax, port miscellaneous fees, deconsolidation fees, etc.
- Additional costs: such as remote delivery fees, fuel surcharges, peak season surcharges, special packaging fees, etc.
- Insurance costs: calculated based on the proportion of the value of the goods, generally 0.3% to 0.5%.
- Transshipment/transshipment costs: If transit transportation is used, transit warehousing and loading and unloading fees must be paid.
Factors Affecting of Shipping Cost from China to Thailand
Logistics cost fluctuations are affected by many factors, mainly including:
- Nature and category of goods: Dangerous goods, heavy goods or large items require special transportation and additional fees.
- Transportation time requirements: The faster the transportation method, the higher the cost.
- Transportation season: Prices rise significantly before holidays or during peak seasons (such as Double Eleven).
- Cargo volume and loading method: The unit cost of a full container is lower than that of a container, and the larger the volume, the greater the room for negotiation.
- Whether tax is included: The service fee of DDP (including tariffs) is higher than that of DDU (excluding tax).
- Customs clearance complexity: If certification (COC, FORM E, etc.) or sensitive products are involved, additional fees will be incurred.
LCL Shipping Cost from China to Thailand
For small and medium-sized sellers or traders whose cargo volume is less than one container, it is especially suitable for light cargo, small multi-category cargo, and the general cost is calculated by volume (CBM, cubic meters)
| POL (port of loading) | POD (port of discharge) | LCL Shipping Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | Bangkok | $850-$1250 |
| Shenzhen | Bangkok | $800-$1300 |
| Ningbo | Bangkok | $800-$1300 |
| Shanghai | Laem Chabang | $850-$1150 |
| Shenzhen | Laem Chabang | $800-$1200 |
| Ningbo | Laem Chabang | $900-$1350 |
| Shanghai | Songkhla | $850-$1250 |
| Shenzhen | Songkhla | $950-$1250 |
| Ningbo | Songkhla | $950-$1300 |
Cost of Shipping 20ft and 40ft Container from China to Thailand
Full container shipping is suitable for large-volume shipments, heavy goods, and large-volume goods. It is more cost-effective and more effective in controlling costs. The charges are mainly based on the size of the container (20ft and 40ft).
| POL (port of loading) | POD (port of discharge) | 20ft container cost | 40ft container cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | Bangkok | $850-$1250 | $1100-$1600 |
| Shenzhen | Bangkok | $800-$1300 | $1150-$1550 |
| Qingdao | Bangkok | $950-$1250 | $1150-$1550 |
| Ningbo | Bangkok | $800-$1300 | $1150-$1650 |
| Shanghai | Laem Chabang | $850-$1150 | $1250-$1600 |
| Shenzhen | Laem Chabang | $800-$1200 | $1100-$1500 |
| Qingdao | Laem Chabang | $850-$1350 | $1250-$1550 |
| Ningbo | Laem Chabang | $900-$1350 | $1150-$1550 |
| Shanghai | Songkhla | $850-$1250 | $1150-$1650 |
| Shenzhen | Songkhla | $950-$1250 | $1200-$1600 |
| Qingdao | Songkhla | $800-$1300 | $1100-$1600 |
| Ningbo | Songkhla | $950-$1300 | $1250-$1550 |
Air Freight Cost from China to Thailand
Air transport is suitable for urgent items, small batches of high-value goods, such as electronic products, clothing samples, etc. Generally, the price is calculated by chargeable weight (Chargeable Weight). Chargeable weight = actual weight or volume weight, whichever is larger. Volume weight (KG) = length cm × width cm × height cm ÷ 6000.
| Departure Airport (China) | Arrival Airport (Thailand) | Cost Range (USD/kg) |
| Shanghai Pudong | Suvarnabhumi | $3.0 – $8.6 |
| Guangzhou Baiyun | Suvarnabhumi | $4.0 – $8.8 |
| Beijing Capital | Suvarnabhumi | $3.5 – $8.8 |
| Shanghai Pudong | Don Mueang | $3.5 – $8.0 |
| Guangzhou Baiyun | Don Mueang | $4.0 – $8.5 |
| Beijing Capital | Don Mueang | $3.5 – $7.8 |
| Shanghai Pudong | Chiang Mai | $4.0 – $8.8 |
| Guangzhou Baiyun | Chiang Mai | $4.5 – $7.5 |
| Beijing Capital | Chiang Mai | $3.0 – $7.6 |
Read below for shipping costs to other countries to help you understand more:
How Much Does it Cost to Ship from China to the Philippines
How Much Does it Cost to Ship from China to Singapore
How Much Does it Cost to Ship from China to Indonesia
Strategies to Reduce of Shipping Cost from China to Thailand
Enterprises can effectively reduce logistics costs in the following ways:
Concentrated shipments
Integrate orders and try to use full container or LCL shipments to reduce unit freight.
Off-peak transportation
Avoid peak seasons and pre-holiday peaks and choose off-season shipments.
Optimize packaging
Reduce gaps and redundant volume and control billing weight.
Choose the best route
Consider cost and timeliness and choose the right mode of transportation.
Strive for long-term cooperation prices
Cooperate with fixed freight forwarders to obtain long-term preferential contract prices.
Apply for a certificate of origin (FORM E)
Enjoy preferential tariffs or duty-free treatment under the China-Thailand Free Trade Agreement.
How to Find the Best Freight Forwarding Company
A high-quality freight forwarding company can not only save costs, but also ensure the safe and fast arrival of goods. The following factors should be considered when choosing a freight forwarding company:
- Whether it has experience in China-Southeast Asia logistics
- Whether it provides one-stop service (pickup, customs declaration, transportation, customs clearance, delivery)
- Customer feedback and word-of-mouth evaluation
- Price transparency, whether the quotation includes all additional fees
- Whether it can provide tax-inclusive door-to-door service
- Whether it has a dedicated customer service team and whether the communication is efficient
Through this article, we can understand that the optimization of China-Thailand logistics costs needs to take into account both transportation efficiency and compliance. Transportation strategies should be formulated based on the characteristics of the goods and market fluctuations to ensure the smooth arrival of the goods.