With the continuous growth of bilateral trade between China and Slovakia and the promotion of the Belt and Road Initiative, China has become one of Slovakia’s top ten trading partners. The total import and export volume has steadily increased, making exporting goods to Slovakia a strategic choice for many Chinese exporters. This article will introduce the transportation between the two countries in detail.
Introduction to Slovakia
Slovakia is located in the heart of Central Europe, bordering Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland. It is an important channel to enter the entire Central and Eastern European market. It relies heavily on imports to meet the diverse needs of the industrial and consumer markets. The import demand for the following categories of goods in the Slovak market continues to rise:
- Electronic products and consumer electronics (mobile phones, tablets, home appliances, etc.)
- Machinery and industrial parts
- Household goods and building materials
- Clothing and textiles
- Medical equipment and protective equipment
How to Ship from China to Slovakia
To transport goods from China to Slovakia, you can choose different modes of transportation according to the type of goods, delivery time requirements and budget
Sea Freight
Sea Freight is an economical and efficient way to transport bulk goods. Goods can be shipped to Slovakia via ports in neighboring countries and then transported by road or rail. This mode of transport is ideal for transporting non-perishable items and goods that do not require immediate delivery. Sea freight usually uses containers, and you can choose full container load (FCL) or less than container load (LCL) depending on the size of the goods and your budget.
Air freight
Air freight is the fastest way to transport from China to Slovakia and is suitable for urgent orders. Regular flights ensure timely delivery and minimize delays. It is highly secure and enhanced security measures at airports reduce the risk of theft and damage, but freight is high and volume and weight are limited.
Rail Freight(China-Europe Express)
Rail transport has become an increasingly popular mode of trade between China and Europe in recent years. Through the China-Europe Express,. Compared with sea freight, it is faster (15-20 days) and has lower freight than air freight. It is suitable for medium-volume goods with certain timeliness requirements, such as electronic products, daily necessities, industrial parts, etc. Rail transport has the advantages of stable timeliness and green environmental protection.
Precautions for Special Cargo Shipping
When transporting special goods, packaging, declaration and certification in accordance with EU regulations must be done in advance. The following are the handling requirements for several types of special products:
- Fragile products: such as glass products, ceramics, etc., require multi-layer reinforced packaging and mark “FRAGILE”. It is recommended to give priority to air transportation or LCL transportation.
- Dangerous goods: such as batteries, chemicals, etc., must provide MSDS safety data sheets and comply with the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG).
- Cold chain transportation: Temperature-controlled goods such as food and vaccines must use containers with temperature control devices, and make reservations for suitable voyages in advance.
- High-value products: It is recommended to purchase insurance and choose a professional freight forwarder with customs clearance capabilities.
Shipping Cost from China to Slovakia
There are three main modes of transport from China to Slovakia: sea freight, air freight and rail freight. Logistics costs are mainly composed of the following parts:
- Basic freight: the cost of sea/rail/air transport
- Departure cost: including pick-up fee, storage fee, customs clearance fee, etc.
- International transportation cost: main journey cost of rail/sea/air/express
- Destination cost: including Slovakia customs clearance fee, VAT (value added tax), import tariffs, delivery fee, etc.
- Additional service fees: such as insurance, bill of lading, storage, packaging, distribution, etc.
| Shipping Mode | Estimated Price |
| Air Freight | $5.50 – $8.50 per kg |
| Sea Freight (LCL) | $100 – $180 per CBM |
| Sea Freight (FCL) | $2,550 – $5,350 |
| Rail Freight (LCL) | $150 – $250 / CBM |
| Rail Freight (FCL） | $6,000 – $8,500 |
Factors Affecting of Shipping Cost from China to Slovakia
The cost of shipping from China to Slovakia is more susceptible to fluctuations in various links. The following are factors that affect the cost:
Type of goods
Electrical appliances, liquids and dangerous goods require special handling and are more expensive
Destination delivery method
The service costs vary between door-to-door (DDP) and door-to-port (DAP) or port-to-port
Customs policies and taxes
Different goods are subject to different tax rates, and whether they can enjoy tariff concessions affects the total cost
Seasonality and market fluctuations
Transportation capacity is tight and prices rise during peak seasons (such as Double Eleven and before Christmas)
Cost of Shipping 20ft and 40ft Container from China to Slovakia
As a landlocked country, Slovakia still needs to rely on ports such as Hamburg, Germany and Rotterdam, Netherlands to enter Slovakia through land transportation. Ocean freight is usually charged by volume (cubic meters) or weight (tons) of the goods. Container transportation is the most commonly used service type in ocean freight, and is generally divided into 20ft and 40ft containers for charging. The following are the charges between different ports:
| POL (port of loading) | POD (port of discharge) | 20ft container cost | 40ft container cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | Hamburg | $2150-$3050 | $3000-$4900 |
| Shenzhen | Hamburg | $2000-$2900 | $3050-$4850 |
| Qingdao | Hamburg | $2050-$2950 | $3050-$4750 |
| Ningbo | Hamburg | $2100-$3000 | $3150-$4850 |
| Shanghai | Rotterdam | $1950-$2850 | $3050-$4700 |
| Shenzhen | Rotterdam | $1900-$2800 | $3100-$4800 |
| Qingdao | Rotterdam | $2050-$2950 | $3050-$4750 |
| Ningbo | Rotterdam | $2000-$2950 | $2950-$4850 |
Refer to the following shipping costs from China to other countries:
How Much Does it Cost to Ship from China to Germany?
Shipping Cost from China to Czech Republic
Shipping Time from China to Slovakia
Railway transportation departs from major cities in China (such as Yiwu, Chengdu, Xi’an, Chongqing), passes through Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, and finally arrives in Bratislava, Slovakia, about 15-20 days.
Sea transportation to major European ports (such as Hamburg, Germany, Rotterdam, Netherlands, Koper, Slovenia), and then transferred to Slovakia by truck. About 30-40 days (depending on the departure port and transit route)
Air transportation departs from major Chinese airports such as Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Beijing, and the destination is Slovakia, which takes about 3-7 days.
In addition to the selected mode of transport, the shipping time is also affected by the following factors:
- Departure city and destination location: Different cities have different logistics routes, which will affect the time;
- Customs clearance efficiency: Slovakia is a member of the European Union, and its customs clearance standards are strict. Incomplete information may cause delays;
- Seasonal factors: During peak seasons (such as Christmas, Black Friday, and e-commerce promotions), there may be clearance and delays;
- Weather and natural disasters: Extreme weather may cause delays in shipping plans or flight cancellations.
The following are the reference transportation times for sea transportation:
| POL (port of loading) | POD (port of discharge) | Shipping time (days) |
|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | Hamburg | 25-34 days |
| Shenzhen | Hamburg | 25-32 days |
| Qingdao | Hamburg | 25-35 days |
| Ningbo | Hamburg | 28-34 days |
| Shanghai | Koper | 25-32 days |
| Shenzhen | Koper | 27-33 days |
| Qingdao | Koper | 26-34 days |
| Ningbo | Koper | 25-32 days |
Learn more about shipping times from China to other regions in the following articles:
Shipping Time from China to Czech Republic
How Long Does it Take to Ship from China to Germany?
Detailed Steps for Shipping from China to Slovakia
Regardless of the mode of transportation you choose, understanding the entire process can help you better control timeliness, costs and avoid customs clearance risks.
Cargo preparation and packaging
The supplier prepares the goods according to the order and professionally packs them according to the transportation requirements to ensure the safety of the goods during long-term transportation.
Booking and pickup
The freight forwarding company will assist in booking or arranging the space for transportation and arrange vehicles to pick up the goods at the same time.
Transportation stage
Choose the appropriate mode of transportation according to the characteristics of the goods
European customs clearance
After the goods arrive in the EU, they will be cleared in Slovakia. Declare customs duties, the EU unified tariff (some goods can enjoy preferential tax rates), VAT is 20%, and some goods are subject to import duties. List of required documents:
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- Waybill (bill of lading or waybill number)
- EU importer VAT number (if the consignee has import qualifications)
- Cargo description (including HS code)
Final delivery
After completing customs clearance, the goods will be transported by truck to the destination in Slovakia to complete the delivery.
How to Choose A Suitable Freight Forwarder
- Experienced in European routes, familiar with the operation procedures of China-Europe Express or China-Europe sea-land transport
- Strong customs clearance service capabilities, can assist in handling import matters such as EORI and VAT
- Provide one-stop services such as door-to-door, customs declaration, warehousing, etc., and can recommend the best timeliness and cost matching method according to customer needs
- Transparent service, clear quotation, avoid hidden fees
The Slovak market has huge potential for Chinese companies. By choosing the right mode of transportation, cooperating with professional freight forwarders, and ensuring compliant customs clearance, risks can be effectively reduced and supply chain efficiency can be optimized.