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Shipping from China to Sweden

With the continuous development of Sino-European trade, shipping goods from China to Sweden has become a hot topic for many companies and individuals. This article will introduce in detail the shipping from China to Sweden, and transport goods from China to Sweden efficiently, safely and economically.

Shipping from China to Sweden

Introduction to Sweden

Sweden is one of the most economically dynamic countries in Northern Europe, with strong consumption capacity and high import dependence. It is an important target for Chinese companies to transport goods to Europe.

Located in the center of Northern Europe, bordering Norway to the west and Denmark and Germany across the sea, it is an important gateway to the entire Scandinavian Peninsula and even the entire European market, providing a good springboard for Chinese exporters.

Import Demand in Sweden

Swedish consumers’ acceptance of Chinese manufacturing has increased year by year. Sweden is a highly developed industrial country, and imported goods are mainly concentrated in the following industries:

Mechanical equipment

  • Industrial machinery: Sweden imports a large number of industrial machinery and equipment, including engines, generators and construction machinery. This category is crucial to supporting Sweden’s advanced manufacturing industry.
  • Electronic equipment: There is a high demand for electronic products such as computers, telecommunications equipment and electrical appliances, reflecting Sweden’s technology-oriented market.

Automotive

  • Passenger vehicles: Sweden imports a wide range of passenger vehicles, including sedans, SUVs, and trucks, to meet the needs of its automotive market.
  • Auto parts and accessories: In addition to finished vehicles, Sweden imports a large number of auto parts and accessories to support its automotive industry.

Chemicals and pharmaceuticals

  • Chemicals: This category includes industrial chemicals used in the manufacturing process and agricultural chemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides.
  • Pharmaceuticals: Sweden imports a wide range of pharmaceuticals to support its healthcare system and meet the needs of its population.

Food and beverages

  • Processed foods: To supplement local production, Sweden imports processed foods and beverages, including packaged snacks, dairy products, and alcoholic beverages.
  • Fresh produce: A wide range of fresh fruits and vegetables are imported to ensure that Swedish consumers have access to them year-round.

Clothing and textiles

  • Clothing: Sweden imports a wide range of clothing, from everyday clothing to high fashion, to meet the needs of its diverse fashion market.
  • Textile materials: Fabrics and textile materials are imported for use in the Swedish textile and fashion industries.

How to Ship from China to Sweden

Common modes of transport from China to Sweden mainly include: sea transport, air transport. Each mode of transport has its own different transport characteristics. The following is a detailed introduction:

Sea Freight
Sea transport is a popular and economical choice for transporting goods from China to Sweden. It is cost-effective and very suitable for bulk transport. Ships can carry a large amount of cargo and accommodate large and heavy items that cannot be transported by air. Sea transport mainly provides two different transportation needs: FCL and LCL:

  • Full container load (FCL): refers to a single transport using a full container of cargo. This service is suitable for companies with large cargo volumes and is exclusive, safe and cost-effective.
  • Less than container load (LCL): allows multiple shippers to share container space. For small pieces of cargo that do not need to fill a full container, it is flexible and cost-effective.

Main ports:

  • Port of Gothenburg: The largest port in Scandinavia, handling more than 800,000 containers per year.
  • Port of Stockholm: It is of great significance to trade in the Baltic region.
  • Port of Helsingborg: An important hub for container and ro-ro transport.

Air Freight
Air freight is the fastest mode of transport and is ideal for urgent shipments. It is flexible, with fewer delays and frequent departures ensuring timely delivery. The high security level at the airport reduces the risk of theft or damage.

Major Airports:

  • Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN): Sweden’s largest airport, handling a large volume of freight to and from international destinations.
  • Gothenburg Landvetter Airport (GOT): Serving the Gothenburg region, it is an important air cargo hub.
  • Malmö Airport (MMX): An important cargo gateway in southern Sweden.

Shipping Cost from China to Sweden

​The cost of shipping goods from China to Sweden varies depending on factors such as the mode of transport, type of goods, weight, volume, starting and ending locations, and market conditions. It is important to understand the cost structure of shipping goods from China to Sweden.

In addition to the main transportation costs, some additional costs may also be incurred:

  • Loading and unloading charges: the costs associated with loading, unloading and handling of goods at the port or airport.
  • Port fees: fees levied by the port for the use of its facilities and services.
  • Customs clearance: the cost of customs clearance services, including document fees and handling fees.
  • Warehousing: the storage fees for goods stored in warehouses before or after transportation.
  • Delivery to final destination: the transportation costs of transporting goods from the port or airport to the final destination in Sweden.
Shipping Cost from China to Sweden

Sea Freight Cost from China to Sweden

Ocean freight is usually the most economical mode of transport, especially for bulk, large volume and heavy weight goods. FCL is calculated by container size (20ft and 40ft containers), and LCL is calculated by cargo volume. The specific charges are as follows:

POL (port of loading)POD (port of discharge)LCL shipping cost20ft container cost40ft container cost 
ShanghaiGothenburg$90-$180$2050-$3350$3500-$5000
ShenzhenGothenburg$85-$190$2000-$3500$3450-$4950
NingboGothenburg$70-$180$2000-$3400$3650-$4850
QingdaoGothenburg$90-$190$2050-$3350$3500-$5000
ShanghaiStockholm$85-$190$1950-$3450$3350-$4800
ShenzhenStockholm$75-$170$2000-$3300$3500-$5000
NingboStockholm$80-$190$2050-$3650$3450-$5050
QingdaoStockholm$80-$180$2050-$3650$3350-$4800
ShanghaiHelsingborg$75-$170$2100-$3500$3650-$4850
ShenzhenHelsingborg$85-$190$2000-$3400$3500-$4800
NingboHelsingborg$80-$190$2050-$3350$3750-$4950
QingdaoHelsingborg$90-$180$2000-$3400$3500-$4800

Air Freight Cost from China to Sweden

Air transport is relatively fast, but the transportation cost is higher. It is suitable for small quantities of high-value goods that need to be transported urgently. Usually the larger of the actual weight and the volume weight (length cm × width cm × height cm ÷ 6000) is charged. The following are the transportation costs:

Departure Airport (China)Arrival Airport (Sweden)Cost Range (USD/kg)
Shanghai PudongStockholm Arlanda$5.0 – $10.0
Guangzhou BaiyunStockholm Arlanda$5.0 – $11.8
Beijing CapitalStockholm Arlanda$5.5 – $10.8
Shanghai PudongGothenburg Landvetter$5.5 – $12.0
Guangzhou BaiyunGothenburg Landvetter$5.0 – $11.5
Beijing CapitalGothenburg Landvetter$5.5 – $10.8
Shanghai PudongMalmo$5.5 – $12.0
Guangzhou BaiyunMalmo$5.5 – $10.8
Beijing CapitalMalmo$5.0 – $11.8

If you are interested in the costs of shipping from China to other countries:

How Much Does it Cost to Ship from China to Norway

How Much Does it Cost to Ship from China to Denmark?

How Much Does it Cost to Ship from China to Germany?

Shipping Time from China to Sweden

Shipping time directly affects inventory management, customer satisfaction, and overall operational efficiency. Understanding typical shipping times and factors that influence them can help plan and optimize your supply chain. Shipping time from China to Sweden is affected by a variety of factors:

  • Mode of transport: The choice of ocean and air freight can significantly impact transit time.
  • Distance and route: Geographic distance and the chosen route can impact transit time. Direct routes are generally faster, while indirect routes may require additional transit time.
  • Customs clearance: Efficient customs clearance can expedite the delivery process, while delays in customs processing can increase transit time.
  • Port or airport congestion: Busy ports and airports can cause delays in cargo loading and unloading.
  • Seasonality: During peak seasons, such as holidays or major trade events, increased cargo volumes can lead to longer transit times due to capacity constraints.
  • Weather conditions: Severe weather can affect air and sea transport, potentially causing delays.
Shipping ModeShipping TimeDescription
Sea Freight (LCL)30 to 40 daysLonger due to consolidation with other shipments.
Sea Freight (FCL)25 to 35 daysGenerally faster, as containers are shipped directly.
Air Freight5 to 7 daysPerfect for urgent or high-value items.
Express Shipping3 to 5 daysThe quickest option, but also the most expensive.

Learn more about shipping times from China to other regions in the following articles:

How Long Does it Take to Ship from China to Denmark

How Long Does it Take to Ship from China to Poland?

How Long Does it Take to Ship from China to Germany?

Door-to-door Shipping from China to Sweden

Door-to-door service is a logistics solution in which the transportation company is responsible for the entire transportation process from the Chinese seller’s warehouse to the Swedish buyer’s doorstep. The service covers a range of logistics tasks, including pickup, transportation, customs clearance and final delivery. Its main goal is to provide an easy and worry-free transportation experience by managing all aspects of the supply chain.

Advantages of door-to-door:

  • One-stop service, no need to worry about the intermediate links
  • Save time and communication costs
  • Particularly suitable for e-commerce sellers, Amazon FBA suppliers, and first-time exporters
  • Improve customer satisfaction (door-to-door delivery/no customs clearance experience required)
Door-to-door Shipping from China to Sweden

Step-by-step Guide to Shipping from China to Sweden

International freight shipping can be a complex process. Understanding the detailed process can help customers perfect their shipping plan. Below is a detailed step-by-step guide.

Initial consultation and quotation
Evaluate your specific shipping requirements, including the type of goods, quantity, preferred mode of transportation (sea or air) and desired delivery time. Provide a detailed and transparent quotation, listing all related costs.

Booking and preparing goods
Confirm the booking and arrange the shipment according to your preferred schedule. Provide professional packaging services to ensure that your goods are safely packaged and affixed with all necessary labeling information.

Shipping and monitoring goods
Ship according to the booked mode of transportation, provide real-time tracking and monitoring of the shipment. Use the tracking system to track the entire process of the goods from pickup to final delivery.

Swedish customs clearance
Completed by the Swedish consignee or its agent (such as freight forwarder), declare import duties and import value-added tax (VAT) to the Swedish customs

  • VAT: 25% (standard)
  • Tariff: depends on the type of product (such as clothing, electronic products, etc.)

Customs clearance documents

  • Invoice
  • Packing list
  • Contract
  • Certificate of origin
  • Export license

Final delivery and confirmation
After arriving in Sweden, we are responsible for the unloading and handling of your goods at the port or airport, providing a comprehensive last-mile delivery service to ensure the safe transportation of goods from the port or airport to the final destination.

How to Choose A Suitable Freight Forwarder?

Choosing a reliable freight forwarder is crucial for exporting to Sweden. It is recommended to consider the following points:

  • Familiar with Swedish customs clearance requirements and logistics network
  • Can provide end-to-end service (door-to-door/DDP service)
  • Whether there are stable routes and space resources
  • Whether it supports multi-language communication and real-time cargo tracking
  • Whether it has the ability to handle special cargo

Through this article, you can choose the right mode of transportation, understand the market demand dynamics, comply with the customs clearance process, and cooperate with professional freight forwarders to efficiently transport goods from China to Sweden.

If you need to transport goods from China to Sweden, we can provide you with professional door-to-door/DDP sea and air transportation services, covering one-stop solutions for customs clearance and delivery.

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