China and Switzerland have close trade relations. Chinese-made goods are of good quality and low price, and can provide diversified products to meet the needs of the Swiss market. Therefore, the time, cost and process of transporting from China to Switzerland are of concern to many companies and merchants. This article will introduce the basic situation of transporting from China to Switzerland in detail.
Introduction to Switzerland
Switzerland is located in central Europe, bordering Germany, France and Italy. It has a long history of economic and trade cooperation between China and Switzerland. In 2013, the two sides signed a free trade agreement (FTA), making China one of Switzerland’s most important trading partners in Asia. Switzerland has developed infrastructure, through which goods can be transported quickly, and it is an important logistics and transportation hub.
How to Shipping from China to Switzerland
The main modes of transportation from China to Switzerland include sea freight, air freight and rail freight, which can be selected according to the characteristics of different goods.
Sea Freight
Sea transportation is the most economical mode of transportation, suitable for large-scale, non-urgent cargo transportation, with a long transportation time and greatly affected by weather and port congestion. There are two main types of shipping services, FCL and LCL.
- Full Container Load (FCL): refers to goods filling an entire container. This service provides dedicated space for your goods, minimizing the risk of damage and ensuring faster shipping times.
- Less-than-Container Load (LCL): refers to goods from multiple customers being consolidated into one container, which is an affordable option for small-volume importers.
Switzerland is a landlocked country, which means its main seaports are located in neighboring countries. The main entry points for Chinese sea freight are Hamburg and Rotterdam, which are among the largest ports in Europe, and then delivered to Switzerland by rail.
Air Freight
Air freight is the fastest mode of transportation and is suitable for high-value, urgent goods. With high security, less contact with the outside world and low possibility of damage, air freight provides higher reliability in scheduling and less possibility of flight delays.
Rail freight
Rail freight is between sea and air transport, suitable for medium-value, medium-urgency goods with moderate costs, short transportation times, and greater impact from the railway network and border clearance. The carbon footprint per unit of goods is small and environmentally friendly.
Shipping Cost from China to Switzerland
The cost of shipping from China to Switzerland is affected by many factors. The following is a cost analysis of shipping from China to Switzerland and the factors that affect it.
- Fuel prices: Fuel is a key factor in transportation costs, especially for air and sea transportation. Fluctuations in fuel prices will directly affect transportation costs.
- Weather: Railways can be affected by bad weather (such as snow and ice), resulting in transportation delays and additional costs. Shipping is also usually affected by bad weather, and the voyage may become longer and the cost increased.
- Peak season: For example, during the Christmas shopping season at the end of the year, transportation demand increases, leading to higher freight rates.
- Type of goods: Dangerous goods and temperature-controlled goods (such as food and medicine) require special handling, which will increase transportation costs.
- Freight market conditions: Market supply and demand will affect freight levels.
Sea Freight Cost from China to Switzerland
Shipping from China to Switzerland is charged mainly according to the type of service. FCL charges according to the size of the container, which is mainly divided into 20ft and 40ft containers. LCL charges mainly according to the volume of the goods. The following is a common range of fees:
| POL (port of loading) | POD (port of discharge) | LCL shipping cost | 20ft container cost | 40ft container cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | Zurich | $60-$125 | $2050-$3550 | $3000-$4800 |
| Shenzhen | Zurich | $55-$130 | $2100-$3600 | $3050-$4850 |
| Qingdao | Zurich | $70-$120 | $2050-$3450 | $3050-$4750 |
| Ningbo | Zurich | $55-$135 | $1900-$3300 | $3150-$4850 |
| Shanghai | Geneva | $65-$120 | $2950-$3650 | $3050-$4700 |
| Shenzhen | Geneva | $50-$135 | $2000-$3500 | $3000-$4800 |
| Qingdao | Geneva | $60-$135 | $2150-$3450 | $3050-$4750 |
| Ningbo | Geneva | $55-$125 | $2000-$3550 | $2950-$4850 |
| Shanghai | Bern | $60-$130 | $2000-$3500 | $3150-$4750 |
| Shenzhen | Bern | $75-$120 | $1900-$3300 | $3000-$4900 |
| Qingdao | Bern | $60-$130 | $2000-$3500 | $3100-$4800 |
| Ningbo | Bern | $75-$125 | $2150-$3450 | $3050-$4950 |
Air Freight Cost from China to Switzerland
The cost of air freight is usually charged based on the larger of actual weight and volumetric weight (length cm × width cm × height cm ÷ 6000).
| Departure Airport (China) | Arrival Airport (Switzerland) | Cost Range (USD/kg) |
| Shanghai Pudong | Zurich | $6.0 – $11.2 |
| Guangzhou Baiyun | Zurich | $6.3 – $10.8 |
| Beijing Capital | Zurich | $6.5 – $11.7 |
| Shanghai Pudong | Geneva | $6.8 – $10.6 |
| Guangzhou Baiyun | Geneva | $6.5 – $12.5 |
| Beijing Capital | Geneva | $6.5 – $10.5 |
Rail Freight Cost from China to Switzerland
The cost of rail transportation is between that of sea transportation and air transportation. Like sea transportation, it is charged according to FCL and LCL. The following is the range of charges:
| Departure City(China) | Arrival City(Switzerland) | LCL Shipping Cost | FCL Shipping Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chengdu | Basel | $150 – $250 / CBM | $6000-$8000 /40HQ |
| Chongqing | Basel | $180 – $260 / CBM | $6100-$8000 /40HQ |
| Xi’an | Basel | $170 – $240 / CBM | $6000-$8000 /40HQ |
| Chengdu | Zurich | $150 – $240 / CBM | $6200-$7950 /40HQ |
| Chongqing | Zurich | $170 – $250 / CBM | $6150-$7980 /40HQ |
| Xi’an | Zurich | $160 – $240 / CBM | $6000-$8000 /40HQ |
Refer to the following shipping costs from China to other countries:
How Much Does it Cost to Ship from China to Germany?
How Much Does it Cost to Ship from China to France?
How Much Does it Cost to Ship from China to Austria?
How Much Does it Cost to Ship from China to Italy?
Shipping Time from China to Switzerland
The freight time and transportation cycle from China to Switzerland depends on many factors. The following is a detailed analysis of the transportation cycle, timeliness, and common reasons for delays
- Weather conditions: Bad weather (such as typhoons, blizzards) can cause flight route delays and increase transportation time.
- Customs clearance delays: If customs inspections are complicated or the goods do not comply with local regulations, the goods may be detained or delayed. In addition, untimely payment of VAT and tariffs may also cause delays.
- Port and airport congestion: Congestion may occur during peak periods (such as holiday seasons), resulting in delays in cargo unloading.
- Transport company capacity issues: During high-demand seasons (such as around Christmas), transport companies may face insufficient capacity, resulting in delays in cargo delivery.
Sea Freight Time from China to Switzerland
Goods depart from major Chinese ports (such as Shanghai, Shenzhen, Ningbo, etc.), arrive at European ports (such as Rotterdam, Hamburg) via the Suez Canal, and then are transported to Switzerland by land or rail, which usually takes 30 to 40 days.
| POL (port of loading) | POD (port of discharge) | Shipping time (days) |
|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | Zurich | 30-40 days |
| Shenzhen | Zurich | 30-39 days |
| Ningbo | Zurich | 30-38 days |
| Shanghai | Geneva | 30-40 days |
| Shenzhen | Geneva | 31-38 days |
| Ningbo | Geneva | 30-39 days |
| Shanghai | Bern | 30-40 days |
| Shenzhen | Bern | 30-38 days |
| Ningbo | Bern | 31-40 days |
Air Freight Time from China to Switzerland
Air transport is the fastest mode of transportation. It usually takes 3 to 7 days to fly directly from major airports in China (such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, etc.) to major airports in Switzerland (such as Geneva, Zurich).
| Departure Airport (China) | Arrival Airport (Switzerland) | Shipping time (days) |
| Shanghai Pudong | Zurich | 3-7 days |
| Guangzhou Baiyun | Zurich | 4-7 days |
| Beijing Capital | Zurich | 4-6 days |
| Shanghai Pudong | Geneva | 3-6 days |
| Guangzhou Baiyun | Geneva | 4-7 days |
| Beijing Capital | Geneva | 3-6 days |
Rail Freight Time from China to Switzerland
Railway transportation is faster than sea transportation and slower than air transportation. The transportation time is relatively stable. The China-Europe Express departs from China (such as Chongqing, Wuhan, Chengdu, etc.), passes through Kazakhstan, Russia and other countries, and finally arrives in Switzerland (such as Zurich). It usually takes 14 to 20 days.
| Departure City(China) | Arrival City(Switzerland) | Shipping time (days) |
|---|---|---|
| Chengdu | Basel | 15-20 days |
| Chongqing | Basel | 16-19 days |
| Xi’an | Basel | 15-19 days |
| Chengdu | Zurich | 14-19 days |
| Chongqing | Zurich | 15-18 days |
| Xi’an | Zurich | 15-20 days |
Learn more about shipping times from China to nearby areas:
How Long Does it Take to Ship from China to Italy?
How Long Does it Take to Ship from China to Germany?
How Long Does it Take to Ship from China to France
How Long Does it Take to Ship from China to Austria?
Door-to-Door Shipping from China to Switzerland
Door-to-Door shipping service means that the goods are directly shipped from the shipping location in China to the designated location of the consignee in Switzerland, without exchanging for pickup in the middle. This service can greatly simplify the international transportation process
Door-to-Door shipping usually includes the following main steps:
Pickup (picking up goods from the factory or warehouse in China)
The transport company picks up the goods from the warehouse or factory of the seller in China. Usually, the goods are transported from the seller’s location to the port, railway station or airport by road transport (truck).
Export customs clearance
Before the goods depart from China, export customs clearance needs to be completed. Export customs clearance is completed by the transport company or its agent to ensure that the goods comply with China’s export regulations.
Customs clearance documents include:
- Invoice
- Packing list
- Contract
- Certificate of origin
- Export license, etc.
Transport (sea, rail or air)
Goods are transported to Switzerland by sea, rail or air. The choice of which mode of transportation depends on the type of goods, timeliness, budget, etc.
Arrival in Switzerland and import customs clearance
When the goods arrive at the main ports of Switzerland (such as Geneva, Zurich or Basel, etc.), they need to complete the Swiss import customs clearance. Import customs clearance is usually completed by the carrier company or logistics agent.
Delivery to the Swiss destination
Operation: After customs clearance, the goods will be transported by road transport (truck or van) from the Swiss port, railway station or airport to the final destination (i.e. the delivery address in Switzerland).
How to Choose the Right Freight Forwarder
Choosing a suitable freight forwarder is crucial for shipping from China to Switzerland, ensuring that the goods arrive at the destination safely, on time and economically. The following are the key factors for choosing a freight forwarder:
- Experienced: Companies familiar with shipping from China to Switzerland have an advantage
- Wide service coverage: A variety of options for sea, air, rail and DDP services are available
- Strong customs clearance capabilities: Familiar with Swiss customs procedures to reduce customs clearance time
- Transparent pricing: Avoid hidden fees and get detailed quotes
- Customer service: Provide 24-hour logistics tracking and respond to customer needs at any time
Shipping from China to Switzerland is a stable and efficient trade channel. It is crucial to choose the right mode of transportation and freight forwarder, and fully understand Switzerland’s customs clearance policies and transportation requirements to ensure that the goods arrive at their destination smoothly.