How does shipping from China to Poland work?
We run shipping from China to Poland on one sea route. Goods travel from the factory in Guangdong province to the port of Yantian (code CNYTN), then by ship to Gdańsk (code PLGDN). After customs clearance they are delivered to your address in Poland or elsewhere in the EU.
- Haulage and export clearance: from the factory to the terminal in Yantian.
- Sea freight: from Yantian to Gdańsk.
- Customs clearance: the import declaration, duty and VAT. The MEYİS customs team inside our group handles it, as described on Customs clearance in Poland.
- Door delivery: from the Gdańsk terminal to your address.
Which legs we take on depends on the delivery term: FOB Yantian, CIF Gdańsk or DDP. The terms are compared on Import from China to Poland.
FCL or LCL: full container or shared cargo?
FCL (Full Container Load) means the whole container travels for one shipper. LCL (Less than Container Load) means shared cargo: your goods share a container with other companies' loads. FCL suits larger lots and goods that should not be re-handled, while LCL suits lots too small to fill a container.
| FCL | LCL | |
|---|---|---|
| Container | your cargo only | cargo of several shippers |
| How freight is charged | a rate per container | a rate per m³ or per tonne, whichever is greater |
| Handling on the way | goods are not moved between containers | consolidated in a warehouse in China, deconsolidated on arrival |
| When it pays | larger lots | small lots |
What are the dimensions of 20′, 40′ and 40′ HC containers?
A 20′ container holds about 33 m³ of cargo, a 40′ about 68 m³ and a 40′ HC about 76 m³. The 40′ HC (high cube, also quoted as 40HQ) has the same length as a 40′ but is about 30 cm taller inside. The figures in the table come from the carrier ONE's specifications.
| Container | Inside length | Inside width | Inside height | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20′ | 5,898 mm | 2,350 mm | 2,390 mm | 33.1 m³ |
| 40′ | 12,032 mm | 2,350 mm | 2,390 mm | 67.6 m³ |
| 40′ HC | 12,032 mm | 2,350 mm | 2,695 mm | 76.2 m³ |
Source: ONE, container specifications. The carrier notes that these are reference values and that individual containers may differ. How many units fit in a container depends on carton size and stowage, so we calculate it for each product.
For bulky cargo, such as furniture from our catalogue like coffee tables, the extra height of a 40′ HC often matters.
How long does a ship take from China to Gdańsk?
A ship from Yantian to Gdańsk typically takes 30–38 days. The range depends on the carrier, the service and the season: services differ in the number of port calls and in whether cargo is transhipped. The route matters too, meaning a passage through the Suez Canal or a voyage around Africa via the Cape of Good Hope.
As of September 2026, carriers are returning to the Suez Canal gradually and to varying degrees (gCaptain, 16 September 2026). From 19 September 2026, Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd move four services (AE5, AE11, AE12, ME2) from the Cape route to Suez. They join AE15 and AE19, which already sail via Suez (Maersk advisory, 14 September 2026).
Maersk calls the Suez route the fastest way between Asia and Europe, but makes further changes depend on stability in the Red Sea. That is why we quote the sailing time for a specific service, together with the price.
How long does delivery take from factory to door?
Delivery from factory to door has five stages: production, haulage to Yantian, the sailing, customs clearance and inland delivery. Only the sailing has a repeatable time range, 30–38 days. The other stages depend on the product, documents and address, so we quote the full lead time per delivery, with the price.
| Stage | What the time depends on |
|---|---|
| Production | product, quantity and sample approval |
| Haulage to Yantian and export clearance | distance from factory to port and the cut-off, the last moment to deliver the container to the terminal before sailing |
| Sailing Yantian–Gdańsk | typically 30–38 days; carrier, service, season and route |
| Customs clearance | complete documents and any customs inspection |
| Inland delivery | address and type of cargo |
How much does a container from China cost, and what is in a freight quote?
A container from China costs ocean freight plus extras: terminal charges at both ends, a fuel surcharge, EU climate surcharges and documentation fees. Rates change over time and depend on the carrier and the sailing date. That is why we do not publish a price list and quote the rate for your shipment instead.
- Ocean freight: the port-to-port price for a container or for a cubic metre of shared cargo.
- THC (Terminal Handling Charge): the terminal's charge for handling the container, meaning receipt, loading or discharge. It applies at both the port of loading and the port of discharge.
- BAF (Bunker Adjustment Factor): a fuel surcharge the carrier uses to adjust the rate for fuel prices.
- ETS surcharge: the cost of CO₂ emission allowances. Since January 2024 the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) covers ships of 5,000 gross tonnage and above calling at EU ports. On voyages from outside the EU it covers 50% of emissions (European Commission).
- FuelEU surcharge: the cost of complying with the FuelEU Maritime Regulation (EU) 2023/1805, applied since 1 January 2025. It limits the greenhouse gas intensity of the energy ships use.
- PSS (Peak Season Surcharge): a seasonal surcharge in peak periods.
- Documentation fees: for example for issuing the bill of lading (B/L), the sea transport document confirming the cargo was taken on board.
Cargo insurance, customs clearance and inland delivery come on top of transport. You can estimate duty and VAT on your goods with the China import duty calculator.
Freight rates: this month's position
We quote the current freight rate for your shipment, a 20′, a 40′ HC or LCL cargo, with the price of the goods. The price and the date reach you within one working day of your enquiry. The rate depends on the carrier, the service and the sailing date, so we calculate it for each delivery.
How do you insure cargo from China?
Who insures the cargo depends on the delivery term. Under CIF Gdańsk we buy insurance to Gdańsk, although risk passes to you once the goods are loaded at Yantian. Under FOB Yantian insurance is yours, and under DDP we carry the transit risk to your address.
The CIF rule in Incoterms 2020 requires cover at least on the terms of Institute Cargo Clauses (C), the standard cargo insurance conditions. The sum insured is at least the contract price plus 10%, that is 110%, in the currency of the contract (ICC, CIF rule).
Clauses (C) are the minimum cover, while the wider "all risks" Clauses (A) are the default under the CIP rule. Parties to a CIF contract may agree a higher level of cover (ICC, Incoterms 2020). For fragile or valuable goods it is worth doing so.
What are demurrage and detention?
Demurrage is the carrier's charge for keeping a full container at the terminal after the free days run out. Detention is the charge for using the carrier's container outside the terminal, for example at your warehouse, for longer than the offer allows. Both charges grow with every day of delay.
A common cause of demurrage is incomplete documents on the day of discharge. That is why the clearance documents should be ready before the vessel arrives, and the empty container returned promptly after unloading. The number of free days (free time) is set in the carrier's offer.
The list of documents needed for clearance is on Customs clearance in Poland.
Legal status verified: September 2026.