Shipping from China to Ireland | Express, Air, Rail, Sea freight DDP service
Shipping from China to Ireland can be complex, requiring knowledge of customs regulations, shipping companies, and cost considerations. With over a decade of experience in the Irish market, NewSmartShip is here to guide you through the entire process. This article will provide comprehensive information on shipping from China to Ireland.
Import process from China to Ireland
International trade can be lucrative, but specific prerequisites are required if you consider importing from China to Ireland. You need to follow these steps:
Step 1. Acquire permits
The Irish government must obtain a permit to import goods into Ireland. Initiating this process well in advance is advisable, as approval can take up to six weeks.
Register as an importer on the official Irish Government website. Once you have obtained the necessary permit, provide a copy of the document to Customs in Dublin. They will carefully review your paperwork and determine whether to approve the shipment.
Step 2. Prepare documentation
When submitting your documentation to Customs, demonstrate that you possess the necessary licenses to export products from China. This entails providing a valid export license, a certificate of origin, a bill of lading, and a list of the imported goods.
Step 3. Review Trade Regulations in China and Ireland
Understanding both countries’ import and export laws and regulations will effectively avoid trade risks and positively impact your business.
Step 4. Decide what to import from China
Selecting the right products to import from China is essential for a successful eCommerce store in Ireland. Prioritize assessing the demand for your chosen products, such as clothing, electronics, and toys, in the Irish market. Conduct market research to ensure sufficient demand before proceeding with sourcing from China.
Top Irish Imports from China:
According to data from the World Trade Organization, Ireland imported goods worth $3.5 billion from China in 2023. Machinery constituted the most significant portion, accounting for nearly half of the imports at $814 million. Other notable product categories included electrical equipment ($312 million), clothing ($418 million), furniture ($715 million), and prefabricated buildings ($451 million).
Step 4. Hire a freight forwarder in China
Chinese freight forwarders offer efficient and cost-effective shipping solutions. Identifying a good freight forwarder in China is crucial to significantly optimizing shipping costs.
Shipping Methods from China to Ireland
Five popular shipping methods are available for shipping goods from China to Ireland, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages in terms of safety, speed, and cost. Please familiarize yourself with these methods and compare them based on your cargo specifications and budgetary considerations.
Express shipping from China to Ireland
As a trusted international logistics service provider, we specialize in delivering professional and efficient express shipping services from China to Ireland. Partnering with reputable companies like DHL, UPS, FedEx, and EMS, we ensure timely delivery within 3 to 5 working days. Our distribution network covers major cities in Ireland, including Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Kildale, Waterford, Carey County, Mayo County, and more.
- DHL Express shipping from China to Ireland ensures speed and timeliness. For customs clearance, you need an EORI number.
- FedEx Express offers cost advantages, particularly during off-season periods, while maintaining faster delivery speeds.
- EMS Express from China to Ireland is advantageous for small parcels due to its competitive pricing, high speed, charging based on actual weight, and smooth import customs clearance.
Express shipping cost from China to Ireland
| Weight | Price (USD) | Weight | Price (USD) | Weight | Price (USD) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DHL | ≥21kgs | 7.9-9.5/KG | ≥69kgs | 6.8-8.9/KG | ≥100kgs | 6.5-8.6/KG |
| FedEx | ≥21kgs | 8.5-9.8/KG | ≥69kgs | 6.8-8.5/KG | ≥100kgs | 6.4-8.5/KG |
| UPS | ≥21kgs | 7.9-9.7/KG | ≥69kgs | 6.5-8.2/KG | ≥100kgs | 6.5-8.0/KG |
Air freight from China to Ireland
If you require urgent shipping, air freight from China to Ireland is an excellent choice. Generally, a parcel takes approximately 4 to 7 days to reach Ireland from China. It’s important to note that the actual flight duration from China to Ireland is only a few hours (around 10+ hours). The remaining shipping days are spent on customs clearance, loading, unloading, and waiting for airplane traffic.
With an extensive operational network and over 500 trusted cooperation agents worldwide, we cover Europe, North America, Australia, and Southeast Asia. This allows us to reduce air transportation costs by 20% while ensuring efficient and timely delivery.
Our services provide air transport solutions from major cities in China, including Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shandong, to various airports in Ireland, such as Dublin, Cork, Shannon, and more.
Air shipping charge weight methods
- The weight calculation for air freight is based on kilograms, and the minimum billed weight is 45 kg.
- Volume weight can be calculated using the formula:
- Length (cm) × width (cm) × height (cm) / 6000 or Package volume (CBM) x 167.
- Actual weight refers to the physical weight of the goods as measured on a scale.
- Charge weight is determined by comparing the volume and actual weight; the higher of the two is used as the charge weight.
Main Airports in Ireland
- Dublin Airport
- Shanon Airport
- Ireland West Knock Airport
- Cork Airport
- Kerry Airport
Air shipping cost from China to Ireland
| Airport of Origin | Destination Airport | Weight | Price Range(USD) | Weight | Price Range(USD) | Weight | Price Range(USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guangzhou | Cork | ≥45kgs | 7.5-10.8/KG | ≥100kgs | 7.2-9.6/KG | ≥300kgs | 6.8-8.0/KG |
| Guangzhou | Dublin | ≥45kgs | 7.2-9.9/KG | ≥100kgs | 6.8-9.4/KG | ≥300kgs | 6.5-8.0/KG |
| Guangzhou | Shannon | ≥45kgs | 7.9-10.8/KG | ≥100kgs | 7.5-9.8/KG | ≥300kgs | 7.2-8.3/KG |
Air shipping time from China to Ireland
| Port of Origin | Destination Airport | Airport to Airport | Door-to-door |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xiamen | Dublin | 2-4 Days | 9-13 Days |
| Shanghai | Dublin | 2-4 Days | 9-13 Days |
| Ningbo | Dublin | 2-4 Days | 9-13 Days |
| Shenzhen | Shanon | 2-4 Days | 9-13 Days |
| Guangzhou | Shanon | 2-4 Days | 9-13 Days |
Sea freight from China to Ireland
Ocean freight is widely recognized as the most popular mode of transportation for exporting and importing goods. It is preferred due to its cost-effectiveness, as sea freight can carry a significant volume of goods. With the ability to accommodate 1800 containers, equivalent to thousands of air freight shipments, sea freight accounts for approximately 90% of global transportation.
Sea freight is the most economical shipping option for transporting goods from China to Ireland. Although it may be slower than air freight, many businesses favor this method’s affordability and flexibility, including FCL and LCL shipping modes.
LCL sea freight
Less-than-Container Load (LCL): LCL shipments offer a more cost-effective alternative to full container loads. With LCL, you can ship goods ranging from 1 to 15 cubic meters in size, generally sharing the container space with other importers.
FCL sea freight
Full Container Load (FCL): Your products will be transported in a dedicated container from China to Ireland. FCL is ideal for shipping large shipments that exceed 15 cubic meters.
Main Seaports in China:
- Port of Shanghai
- Port of Shenzhen
- Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan
- Port of Qingdao
- Port of Tianjin
- Port of Dalian
- Port of Guangzhou
Main Seaports in Ireland:
- Dublin Port: Located in Dublin, it is the largest and busiest seaport in Ireland, handling a significant portion of the country’s maritime trade.
- Cork Port: Situated in the city of Cork, it is the second-largest port in Ireland and serves as a vital hub for trade and shipping.
- Shannon Foynes Port
- Belfast Port
- Waterford Port
- Rosslare Europort
Sea freight Costs from China to Ireland
| Origin Port | Destination port | LCL Costs(USD) | 20’ Container(USD) | 40’ Container(USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xiamen | Dublin | $40 | $780 | 1350 |
| Qingdao | Dublin | $45 | $850 | 1450 |
| Ningbo | Cork Port | $50 | $852 | 1450 |
| Shanghai | Cork Port | $52 | $900 | 1550 |
| Shenzhen | Cork Port | $45 | $800 | 1350 |
Sea freight time from China to Ireland
| Port of Origin | Destination port | Transit time |
|---|---|---|
| Xiamen | Dublin | 28-32 Days |
| Qingdao | Dublin | 30-34 Days |
| Tianjin | Dublin | 32-35 Days |
| Dalina | Dublin | 32-35 Days |
| Ningbo | Dublin | 33-37 Days |
| Guangzhou | Dublin | 33-37 Days |
| Shenzhen | Dublin | 33-37 Days |
| Shanghai | Dublin | 33-37 Days |
Rail shipping from China to Ireland
Train shipping means loading cargo onto a train that will ship your goods from China to Ireland.
There is a rail shipping route connecting China to Ireland. It passes through Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland, and Germany/Netherlands or France/Czech Republic before finally reaching Ireland.
The transit time for a train covering this entire route to reach Ireland ranges from 16 to 25 days. While train freight costs are lower than air, road, and express freight, they are higher than sea freight.
Note: The transit duration and cost may vary depending on the route, customs procedures, and other logistical considerations.
Road freight from China to Ireland
Road freight means cargo transportation via vehicles on roads, traversing multiple countries.
Chinese freight forwarders use trucks to deliver cargo to the buyer’s designated address in Ireland. Road shipments usually take 15 to 17 days to transport goods from China to Ireland, approximately half the delivery time of sea shipments (generally 30 to 44 days).
Road freight is particularly advantageous during peak seasons when there is a shortage of available airplanes or sea containers for immediate transportation.
Import customs clearance documents in Ireland
Customs documents for goods imported are of utmost importance internationally as they serve as proof and facilitate the smooth movement of goods. It is essential to provide the following documents to the customs department in Ireland:
1. Airway Bill/Bill of Lading
These documents serve as a receipt and contract of carriage between the shipper and the carrier. The Airway Bill is used for air freight, while the Bill of Lading is used for ocean freight.
2. Packaging List
3. Commercial Invoice
4. Certificate of Origin
5. Import Permission
Import tax from China to Ireland
As an EU country, Ireland has different customs duties, value-added tax (VAT), and tax regulations for various countries. An overall idea of these rates can be obtained by visiting the revenue authorities’ official website.
Irish customs use the standard method of CIF (Cost + insurance + freight) to assess the value of goods, which considers the commodity price, insurance costs, and freight charges.
There are specific circumstances where duty or VAT exemptions apply:
1. Duty is not applicable under the following conditions:
– If the FOB (Free on Board) value is less than EUR 150 (merchandise value excluding freight and insurance).
– If the freight amount is less than EUR10.
2. VAT does not need to be paid in the following cases:
– If the CIF value is less than EUR22 (total merchandise value, including freight and insurance costs).
– If the VAT amount is less than EUR6.
Ireland’s VAT (value-added tax) rate is 23%, but the duty percentage varies depending on the specific goods being imported. Electronic goods generally do not attract duty, while clothing and other textiles may have duty rates ranging from 10% to 20%.
Note: The specific goods may have different duty rates and regulations, so it is advisable to consult the official revenue website or seek professional advice for accurate and up-to-date information.
DDP shipping from China to Ireland
DDP, the seller, or a designated third party is responsible for shipping the goods and assumes accountability for every aspect of the shipment until it reaches the buyer’s specified address.
- Packing items
- Delivery of goods from the seller’s location to the air/seaport
- Booking transportation and loading
- Unloading at the destination portPreparing documents and paying customs fees
- Delivering items to the buyer’s doorstep
“Delivered Duty Paid“ means the shipping agents handle the payment of customs fees and shift the transportation responsibility of the shipment to the freight forwarder. The buyer only needs to wait for the goods to come to their home while the agent handles the logistics and ensures the parcel is delivered to their doorstep.
While additional fees may be associated with DDP shipments, they are a worthwhile investment, considering their convenience. By entrusting the responsibilities of customs clearance, paperwork, and booking to the agent, the buyer can avoid months of potential headaches, customs issues, complicated paperwork, and booking complications. Moreover, for newcomers in the import/export industry, DDP shipments can prevent scams such as inflated booking rates, customs bribes, and paperwork problems. Hiring an agent for DDP shipments proves to be a valuable choice.
DDP shipping time from China to Ireland
| DDP Freight Method | Shipping Time (Days) |
|---|---|
| DDP Air Freight | 12 – 15 |
| DDP Sea Freight | 35 – 48 |
| DDP Road Freight | 18 – 25 |
| DDP Train Freight | 24 – 32 |
Note: These timeframes are approximate and can vary depending on various factors. Please consult a shipping provider or logistics company for more accurate and up-to-date information about your shipment.
FAQ
How can I track the shipping status from China to Ireland?
You can contact the shipping company directly for the latest updates if you need to update the shipping information.
1. Express shipping companies like DHL, UPS, FedEx, etc., have advanced tracking systems on their official websites. Enter and search your tracking information to view the latest status of your parcel.
2. For air freight, you can take the tracking number from the airway bill and search it on the original carrier’s website or visit third-party websites like 51 Tracks to get the most recent updates on your cargo.
3. When tracking shipments for sea freight, both the bill of lading number and container number can be used. Some shipping companies may still be updating their tracking sites. You can visit 17 tracks supporting over 1500+ logistics carriers in such cases.
Lastly, freight forwarders offer GPS tracking services for train shipping, which provide real-time updates and are considered the most reliable option.
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