With the deepening of the Belt and Road Initiative, the economic and trade ties between China and Azerbaijan are becoming increasingly close. More and more manufacturers, exporters, and cross-border e-commerce companies are importing from China to Azerbaijan. This article will provide a detailed introduction to the transportation between the two countries.
Introduction to Azerbaijan
Located on the west coast of the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan is adjacent to the Caspian Sea in the east, Georgia in the west, Russia in the north, and Iran in the south. Azerbaijan has a relatively weak industrial base, and a large number of consumer goods, machinery and equipment, and electronic products rely on imports. It is a transit station for Chinese goods to enter Europe, Asia, and Africa.
How to Ship from China to Azerbaijan
Sea Freight
Sea transportation is the preferred and most economical option, especially when time is not the most critical factor. Its unparalleled cost-effectiveness and capacity make it ideal for bulk and diversified goods.
Sea transportation is able to transport large quantities of goods. Container transportation dominates sea transportation, providing a variety of options from standard containers to project cargo-specific solutions. Container shipping mainly offers two types of services:
- Full container load (FCL): cargo occupies an entire container, providing exclusive transportation services for large cargoes from China to Azerbaijan and potentially speeding up transportation.
- Less than container load (LCL): cargo shares a container with other cargo from China to Azerbaijan, providing a cost-effective solution for small-volume shipments.
Air freight
Air freight from China to Azerbaijan is usually a more expensive option, but for time-sensitive goods, air freight ensures fast delivery. Typical air freight shipments include goods with tight deadlines, perishable goods, or essential medical supplies. Businesses that value the security of high-value items (such as luxury goods or specialized equipment) often choose air freight from China to Azerbaijan.
Rail freight
The China-Azerbaijan railway freight route is made possible by the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor. Compared with sea-land combined transport, it saves about two-thirds of the time. The cost is much lower than air freight and can carry containers, cold chain products, dangerous goods, truckloads and bulk cargo.
Shipping Cost from China to Azerbaijan
The cost of shipping from China to Azerbaijan is mainly determined by the mode of transportation, and is also affected by the following factors:
- Type of goods: Special goods (such as fragile goods, dangerous goods) may require additional packaging and handling, which increases costs.
- Shipping time: The higher the time requirement, the higher the cost.
- Seasonal fluctuations: During holidays or peak seasons, the demand for transportation increases, which may lead to higher costs.
- Tariffs and taxes: Azerbaijan imposes tariffs and value-added taxes on imported goods, and the specific tax rate depends on the type of goods.
Impact of Import Taxes on Overall Shipping Cost
How much will import taxes add to your shipping costs? Import taxes can significantly increase your expenses. These include customs duties, VAT, and additional surcharges based on the product type.
Key factors that influence these costs:
- Product Classification: The HS code determines the duty rate.
- Declared Value: Taxes are a percentage of the goods’ value. Be accurate to avoid penalties.
- Shipping Terms: CIF and FOB terms affect how taxes are calculated.
| Tax Type | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Customs Duty | 5% – 20% | Varies by product category |
| VAT | 18% | Applied to most goods |
| Additional Fees | Varies | Depends on specific regulations |
Sea Freight Cost from China to Azerbaijan
Sea freight is usually charged by service type. FCL is charged by container type (such as 20GP, 40GP, 40HQ). LCL is charged by volume and weight, which may include booking fees, port charges, VGM, security fees, document fees, etc. The following are common fee ranges:
| POL (port of loading) | POD (port of discharge) | LCL Shipping cost | 20ft container cost | 40ft container cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | Baku | $50-$150 | $1850-$2450 | $3000-$3800 |
| Shenzhen | Baku | $60-$145 | $1800-$2600 | $3050-$3750 |
| Qingdao | Baku | $50-$140 | $1850-$2750 | $3050-$3750 |
| Ningbo | Baku | $55-$150 | $1850-$2700 | $3050-$3650 |
Air Freight Cost from China to Azerbaijan
Air freight is usually charged by actual weight or volumetric weight (whichever is greater). It is usually charged by actual weight or volumetric weight (whichever is greater). It may also include fuel surcharges, security inspection fees, tariffs, etc. The following are common fee ranges:
| Departure Airport (China) | Arrival Airport (Azerbaijan) | Cost Per KG (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Shanghai Pudong | Heydar Aliyev | $5.8 – $10.5 |
| Guangzhou Baiyun | Heydar Aliyev | $6.0 – $10.4 |
| Beijing Capital | Heydar Aliyev | $5.7 – $10.7 |
| Shenzhen Baoan | Heydar Aliyev | $6.0 – $11.0 |
Rail Freight Cost from China to Azerbaijan
The specific fees vary depending on the origin and destination, and are usually charged based on the weight and volume of the goods, the size of the container, and may include loading and unloading fees, storage fees, tariffs, etc. The following are common fee ranges:
| Departure City(China) | Arrival City(Azerbaijan) | LCL Shipping Cost | FCL Shipping Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chengdu | Baku | $150 – $220 / CBM | $5000-$7500 /40HQ |
| Chongqing | Baku | $150 – $220 / CBM | $5100-$7400 /40HQ |
| Xi’an | Baku | $170 – $215 / CBM | $5200-$7450 /40HQ |
Learn more about fees in the following articles:
How Much Does it Cost to Ship from China to Turkey
How Much Does it Cost to Ship from China to Iran?
Shipping Time from China to Azerbaijan
The time efficiency of transporting goods from China to Azerbaijan varies greatly depending on the mode of transport, which depends on the means of transport, the origin and destination, the customs clearance process, and the number of logistics transfers.
Due to Azerbaijan’s unique geographical location, there is no direct sea route to the world’s major ports. Therefore, sea transportation from China to Azerbaijan usually adopts multimodal transport, combining sea and land routes.
Air transport usually departs from China’s first-tier cities (Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, etc.), and is delivered to Azerbaijan Capital Airport directly or via transit hubs such as Istanbul, Dubai, and Frankfurt.
Rail transport departs from China-Europe train departure cities such as Xi’an, Zhengzhou, Chongqing, Chengdu, and Yiwu, and is delivered to Baku, Ganja and other cities via Kazakhstan or Georgia.
| Mode of transport | Transport time |
|---|---|
| Sea freight (FCL) | 30-40 days |
| Sea freight (LCL) | 35-45 days |
| Railway (FCL) | 12-18 days |
| Railway (LCL) | 15-20 days |
| Air freight | 3-7 days |
Learn about shipping times from China to surrounding areas:
How Long Does it Take to Ship from China to Turkey
How Long Does it Take to Ship from China to Iran?
Detailed Process of Shipping from China to Azerbaijan
The process of transporting goods from China to Azerbaijan involves multiple links, including cargo preparation, customs declaration, transportation, transit, customs clearance and delivery. Knowing the following can better plan the transportation plan.
Preparation of goods
Make sure that the goods meet the transportation and import requirements and meet international transportation standards to prevent damage. Dangerous goods, battery products, etc. require additional certification (such as MSDS report).
Booking and transportation arrangements
Select a freight forwarder and book the goods. Choose a reliable freight forwarding company to provide the best route and space according to the situation of the goods.
International transportation
Transport goods from China to Azerbaijan through appropriate transportation methods
Import customs clearance in Azerbaijan
After the goods arrive in Azerbaijan, they need to go through import customs clearance procedures. Freight forwarders usually assist the buyer to complete customs clearance. Submit customs clearance documents
- Commercial Invoice
- Packing list
- Bill of Lading
- Certificate of Origin
- EAC certification (applicable to some industrial products)
- Insurance policy
Delivery of goods
The consignee signs for the goods and checks whether the goods are intact. If there is any damage or shortage, a claim should be made to the freight forwarder or carrier in a timely manner.
How to Choose Suitable Freight Forwarder
How to choose a freight forwarder to transport your freight from China to Azerbaijan. Here are the factors to consider when choosing a freight forwarder
- Professional experience: Familiar with the China-Azerbaijan route
- Customs clearance capabilities: Whether to provide local agents and DDP services
- Transparent service: Clear quotations and clear processes
- Timeliness guarantee: Whether to provide transportation tracking and after-sales support
- Customer reputation: Whether there are successful cases and long-term customers
Azerbaijan is an important consumer market. By choosing the right transportation method and experienced freight forwarding companies through this article, you can improve export efficiency and customer satisfaction.
If you need to obtain the latest freight rates, transportation plans or customized services, please feel free to contact professional international freight forwarding partners to provide you with one-stop logistics solutions from China to Azerbaijan.