Shipping from China to Saudi Arabia

Shipping from China to Saudi Arabia | Air & Sea Freight Guide

This comprehensive guide provides information for shipping goods from China to Saudi Arabia (KSA). It emphasizes the importance of marking the country of origin on packages and presents various air and sea shipping cost options. Sea shipping usually takes 4 to 5 weeks, while air shipping offers competitive rates with delivery times of 3 to 5 days. China has advanced airports like Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Beijing, connecting to popular Saudi Arabian cities such as Riyadh, Jeddah, and Al Madinah.

Overview of the shipping process from China to Saudi Arabia

 

Step 1: Documentation and customs clearance

The shipping process begins by verifying and preparing the necessary documentation, including invoices, packing lists, and customs documents. Customs clearance procedures are then initiated to comply with Saudi Arabian regulations and ensure smooth entry of goods.

Step 2: Packaging and labeling

Goods are securely packaged with appropriate materials for international shipping. Important information is clearly labelled on the packages, including the country of origin (“Made in China”), shipping address, and other required details.

Step 3: Transportation mode

The choice of transportation mode depends on the nature of the goods and the urgency of the delivery. Options include air, sea, and express freight, allowing flexibility in meeting specific shipping requirements.

Step 4: Booking and picking-up

After selecting the transportation mode, arrangements are made with the shipping carrier or freight forwarder. The cargo is then collected from the supplier in China and transported to the departure port or airport for shipment.

Step 5: Transit

Goods are monitored and tracked during transit, and the transit duration depends on the chosen mode of transportation and route.

Step 6: Customs clearance in Saudi Arabia

When arriving in Saudi Arabia, the goods undergo customs clearance, which includes inspections, document verification, and payment of customs duties and taxes.

Step 7: Delivery

After customs clearance, the goods are prepared for final delivery to the designated destination within Saudi Arabia.

Sea freight from China to Saudi Arabia

Sea freight is the most cost-effective transportation method for shipping goods from China to Saudi Arabia, which is particularly suitable for regular shipments and loads over 100 kg, providing high load capacity and competitive shipping prices.

Depending on the size of your shipment, you can choose between Less Than Container Load (LCL) or Full Container Load (FCL).

You have multiple container options for FCL freight, including:

• 20-ft container with an internal capacity of 29 CBM.
• 40-ft container with an internal capacity of 66 CBM.
• 40-ft high cube container with an internal capacity of 76 CBM.
• 45-ft high cube container with an internal capacity of 86 CBM.

In contrast, LCL shipping shares container space and cost with other shipments, reducing expenses in your supply chain compared to FCL.

Sea shipping cost from China to Saudi Arabia

Origin Port	Destination Port	20′ Container	40′ Container
Shanghai	Jeddah	$900 – $1,200	$1,500 – $2,000
Ningbo	Dammam	$1,000 – $1,300	$1,700 – $2,200
Shenzhen	Riyadh	$1,100 – $1,400	$1,800 – $2,300

Note: The rates provided are general estimates for Full Container Load (FCL) shipments of everyday goods. Actual rates may vary depending on cargo type, seasonality, fuel costs, and other variables.

Sea shipping time from China to Saudi Arabia

The transit time for shipping goods from China to Saudi Arabia (Jeddah, Dammam, Riyadh) via sea containers depends on various factors such as the nature of the items, the size of the goods, required documents, the specific city in China, and so on.

 

Air shipping from China to Saudi Arabia

Air shipping from China to Saudi Arabia offers faster transportation than sea freight. The exact transit time depends on factors such as the origin and destination cities in China and Saudi Arabia and the airline carrier or customs procedures.

Air shipping rate is generally more expensive, making it a preferred option only when you require fast delivery or when dealing with urgent goods. Airfreight costs depend on the weight and volume of the items. It is suitable for lightweight and low-volume products. Air freight rates typically range from US$1-10/kg, varying based on factors such as distance between airports, transit time, airline charges, and the nature of the product.

The cost of air freight from China to Saudi Arabia

On average, the air freight rates for standard cargo airlifts from China to Saudi Arabia typically range from $3 to $8 per kilogram. However, it’s important to note that these rates can vary due to fuel costs, demand fluctuations, seasonal changes, and other variables. For the most accurate and up-to-date shipping rates, we recommend contacting our logistics experts, who can provide you with the current pricing information tailored to your specific shipment requirements.

Air freight transit times

Door-to-door shipping from China to Saudi Arabia

Door-to-door shipping entails transporting goods directly from the sender to the recipient’s designated destination, whether a residence, business, or warehouse.

The typical timeframe for door-to-door air cargo ranges from 8 to 14 days. Delivery times for door-to-door sea freight may be slightly longer, with approximately 22 to 30 days for FCL shipments and 25 to 40 days for LCL shipments.

Express freight from China to Saudi Arabia:

When your shipment weighs approximately 35 kg or less, neither air nor sea freight may be the most practical option. In such cases, express freight services become more suitable. Several prominent companies in this industry provide services between China and Saudi Arabia.

• DHL Express Freight
• FedEx Express Freight
• UPS Express Freight
• EMS Express Freight

Customs clearance

Saudi Arabia has stringent customs requirements in place. Each shipment undergoes inspections by Saudi Customs to verify the accuracy of the declaration and ensure compliance with import regulations. Physical inspections may be conducted, mainly if there are discrepancies or need further verification.

After inspection, Saudi Customs assesses applicable duties, taxes, and fees for the shipment. You are required to pay these fees to release the goods from customs. Payment can be made electronically or through specific banking channels designated by Saudi Customs.

Necessary Documents

When delivering cargo from China to Saudi Arabia, ensure you have the necessary documents for importing goods:

• Certificate of Origin: Authenticated by a local chamber of commerce and translated into Arabic, it identifies the manufacturing origin.
• Customs Invoice
• Commercial Invoice
• Bill of Lading: An authenticated document indicating the origin, carrier, goods’  description, weight, and value.
• Packing List: Detailed breakdown of goods, including HS codes.
• Insurance Documents: Original insurance documents with Arabic translation, if applicable.
• SASO Certificate of Conformity: Issued by an approved certification body, confirming compliance with SASO standards.

Prohibited & Restricted Items​

 

Import duties/tariff in Saudi Arabia

The average tariff rate in Saudi Arabia is approximately 4.85%, depending on the goods’ classification in the HTS (HS code). Certain luxury goods or items considered hazardous to health or the environment may attract higher tariffs.

In addition to tariffs, it is essential to consider other taxes and charges, particularly the Value-Added Tax (VAT). Goods with a total customs value exceeding $266 are subject to a 15% VAT, which applies to most goods and services unless specific exemptions apply.

Customs duties are typically calculated based on the customs value of the imported goods.

• For instance, let’s consider shipping electronics from China to Saudi Arabia with the following details:

Product cost: $10,000
Insurance fee: $200
Shipping cost: $600
Customs duty rate: 5%

• To calculate the customs duty, we use the formula:

Tariff = CIF x Customs rate
CIF = (Cost of goods + insurance + freight)
CIF = ($10,000 + $200 + $600) = $10,800
Tariff = $10,800 x 5% = $540