Shipping from China to New Zealand

With the deepening of China-New Zealand trade relations, more and more companies and individuals choose to ship goods from China to New Zealand. Whether it is a cross-border e-commerce seller, wholesaler, or a company seeking long-term supply chain cooperation, shipping goods from China to New Zealand has become a daily and important international logistics link. This article will introduce the transportation between the two countries in detail.

Why Choose to Ship from China to New Zealand

Cost advantage
China has a developed manufacturing industry, rich variety of goods and competitive prices, which is particularly suitable for the New Zealand market’s demand for cost-effective products.

Mature supply chain
China has a world-leading logistics network with diverse transportation channels to meet different timeliness and budget requirements.

Cross-border e-commerce growth
New Zealand’s e-commerce market is booming, and platforms such as Shein, AliExpress, and Temu rely on the Chinese supply chain, driving demand for direct mail and sea transportation.

Policy support
The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed between China and New Zealand allows some Chinese products to enjoy lower or even zero tariffs, saving a lot of costs for import and export companies and promoting bilateral trade.

Sea Freight from China to New Zealand

Sea Freight is one of the most commonly used international transportation methods. It has high flexibility in terms of cargo size and type. It can transport all kinds of goods with low cost and high cost-effectiveness. It is suitable for large-volume, heavy-weight and low-time cargo. There are two main types of transportation services: FCL and LCL

• Full container load (FCL): refers to a cargo owner using a standard container to transport goods alone. It is suitable for customers with large cargo volume and can fill a full container.
• Less than container load (LCL): The goods of multiple cargo owners are transported in the same container. It is suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and small batches of goods to save costs.

Sea Freight process

• Booking: Book a space with the shipping company or freight forwarder 7-14 days in advance
• Pick up/delivery to the warehouse: A trailer can be arranged to pick up the full container, and the LCL needs to be delivered to the designated warehouse
• Customs declaration: Export customs declaration, invoice, packing list, customs declaration, etc. are required
• Shipping and transportation: The goods are loaded on the container ship and shipped
• Bill exchange at the port: The bill exchange is processed after the goods arrive at the New Zealand port
• Customs clearance: Import customs declaration, payment of tariffs and GST
• Pick up and delivery: After picking up the goods, a truck can be arranged to transport them to the final address

Main import ports in New Zealand:

• Port of Auckland: The busiest and largest port in New Zealand, covering most of the country’s imported goods
• Port of Tauranga: The main transit port with good supporting facilities, handling a large number of bulk cargo and containers
• Port of Lyttelton: the largest port in the South Island, serving Christchurch
• Port of Wellington: located in the capital, the cargo transit hub of the South Island, the port plays a vital role in domestic and international trade.

Air Freight from China to New Zealand

Air freight is the fastest international logistics method, suitable for high-value, light-weight goods: especially products with high unit value and small volume. Frequent flights, increasingly dense China-New Zealand routes, more flexible transportation, simplified procedures, and more efficient customs declaration and inspection than sea and air freight.

Air freight transportation process

• Booking: Book space with an airline or freight forwarder, confirm the flight, departure time and number of cargo pieces
• Pick up/deliver to the airport warehouse: Pick up the goods at the designated air cargo terminal or freight forwarder warehouse
• Customs declaration: For export customs declaration, you need to provide a commercial invoice, packing list, air waybill (AWB) and necessary declaration materials
• Security inspection and delivery: The goods undergo aviation security inspection and are loaded on pallets and sent to the airport cargo terminal to wait for loading
• Loading and takeoff: The goods are loaded on the plane and shipped to New Zealand (direct flight or transit)
• Bill of lading at the port: After the goods arrive at the New Zealand airport, they are exchanged for the bill of lading for customs clearance preparation
• Customs clearance: Import customs declaration, payment of tariffs and GST, if special goods are involved, quarantine/approval must be cooperated
• Pick up and delivery: After customs clearance is completed, truck transportation can be arranged to the consignee’s designated address (door-to-door optional)

Major airports in New Zealand

• Auckland Airport: New Zealand’s largest and busiest airport, responsible for handling most of the country’s international air transport.
• Wellington Airport: This airport serves the capital and is an important hub for domestic and international freight.
• Christchurch Airport: The main gateway to the South Island, offering extensive freight handling facilities.

Shipping Cost from China to New Zealand

The shipping costs from China to New Zealand are mainly charged according to different service types. LCL is charged according to the size of volume and weight, FCL is charged according to the type of container, and air freight is charged according to the billing weight = actual weight vs volume weight (length × width × height ÷ 6000), whichever is greater. The following is the composition of the cost:

• Costs at the place of departure (China): export customs declaration service fees, document processing fees including bill of lading fees, handling fees, packing list preparation, pickup/trailer fees, etc.
• International transportation costs: The costs are determined according to the mode of transportation and the volume/weight of the goods.
• Destination costs (New Zealand): customs clearance tariffs, GST (goods and services tax), port/airport miscellaneous fees (applicable to sea freight/air freight), port/airport miscellaneous fees including bill exchange, container deconsolidation, and warehousing.
• Additional costs: Insurance (freight insurance) is usually 0.3% – 0.5% of the declared value of the goods, cargo inspection fee / detention fee, if customs requires inspection, or if the customs clearance of goods is delayed due to document problems, additional storage and handling fees may be incurred.

The following are reference prices for common freight modes in 2025:

Cost of Shipping 20ft and 40ft Container from China to New Zealand

Container shipping is the most common mode of transportation by sea, generally divided into 20ft and 40ft containers, and is also affected by the following factors:

Shipping route and distance
The distance between the origin port and the destination port or airport can significantly affect the shipping cost. In addition, some routes may have higher freight rates due to lower demand or limited direct services.

Cargo type
The nature of the cargo can also affect the shipping cost. Dangerous goods, perishable goods, and oversized items may require special handling, packaging, and transportation, resulting in higher fees.

Seasonality
Freight rates fluctuate based on seasonal demand. Freight rates usually increase during peak seasons due to increased demand for transportation services.

How Long Does it Take to Ship from China to New Zealand?

Sea freight from major Chinese ports (such as Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, etc.) to major ports in New Zealand usually takes about 13 to 17 days. If it includes picking up, loading, customs declaration, waiting for loading, and bill exchange, customs clearance and delivery after arriving at the port, the overall transportation cycle is generally 20 to 28 days.

Air freight departs from major Chinese airports such as Shanghai Pudong, Guangzhou Baiyun, Shenzhen Baoan, Beijing Capital, etc., and can be delivered to New Zealand airports directly or via Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, etc., plus export customs declaration, security inspection, warehousing, customs clearance at the port, etc., the overall air freight time is generally 3 to 6 working days.

New Zealand Import Customs Clearance

In international trade, customs clearance is a key link to ensure the smooth import and export of goods. As a highly regulated country, New Zealand has clear customs clearance requirements for imported goods and strict implementation, especially focusing on biosafety and tax compliance

List of information required for customs clearance

• Commercial invoice: declare the value of goods, calculate taxes and fees
• Packing list: cargo specifications and packaging information
• Transport documents: bill of lading (sea) or air waybill (air)
• Importer tax number: New Zealand registered company or individual import identification
• Product information (if any): MSDS, certificate of origin, etc. may be required for specific goods

Taxes and fees involved in New Zealand customs clearance

• Tariffs (Duty): classified by HS code, some goods such as clothing, footwear, and some furniture are levied 5–10%
• GST (Goods and Services Tax): The standard tax rate is 15%, calculated based on CIF price (value + freight + insurance)

Notes

• New Zealand has strict requirements for wooden packaging, which must be heat-treated and attached with IPPC logo
• Certain goods require pre-declaration and quarantine, such as food, wooden products, etc.

How to Choose Suitable Freight Forwarding

In international logistics, an experienced, professional and transparent freight forwarder can not only save transportation costs, but also effectively avoid customs clearance delays, cargo detention and other problems

Check whether it has a New Zealand agent network
Having a stable destination port agent is easier to assist with customs clearance and last-mile delivery.

Whether it provides one-stop service (DDP/DDU)
It can undertake the whole process service from picking up goods, customs declaration, transportation, customs clearance to delivery, saving time and worry.

Transparent prices, no hidden fees
Pay attention to whether the quotation includes destination port fees, tax payment, quarantine inspection fees, etc.

Rich export experience and compliance advice
Freight forwarders who are familiar with New Zealand customs clearance policies and proficient in MPI processes are more trustworthy.

Shipping from China to New Zealand is a mature international logistics business that still requires professional operation. Through this article, you should combine the type of goods, timeliness requirements and budget reasonably, and choose an international freight forwarding company with experience and comprehensive resources to ensure the safe and timely delivery of goods.