Ocean & Air Shipping From China to Denmark

China and Denmark’s history of trade dates back to the 1600s when the first Danish ships landed in the Far East. The two countries enjoy strong trading relations today, with China being Denmark’s largest trading partner outside of Europe.

The air and ocean freight routes between the two are well-traveled. If you have commercial goods to import from China to Denmark, then this page is for you. You’ll find useful information about the different modes of transport, costs, transit times, customs clearance, and ports right here.

What Are Your Options for Shipping Freight From China to Denmark?

Your choice is between ocean and air shipping from China to Denmark. We will discuss the pros and cons of both alternatives subsequently on this page.

Ocean Freight From China to Denmark

Less than Container Load (LCL): Instead of paying to hire and transport a full shipping container from China to Denmark, your products travel in a shared container next to the consignments of other shippers. The benefit is that you’ll only be charged for the weight and dimensions of your shipment. That’s what makes LCL one of the most affordable ways to move small consignments.

Full Container Load (FCL): Paying a flat fee for an entire unit has advantages, too. Your cargo will be isolated in their own container throughout the journey from China to Denmark. And if you are moving larger, heavier consignments, this mode of transport can be more cost-effective than LCL.

Air Freight from China to Denmark

Air freight is your best bet if you have goods to export from China to Denmark urgently. Unfortunately, the quick transit and additional flexibility come at a hefty price. Flying your cargo is often much more costly than sending it on a ship.

How Much Does it Cost to Ship Cargo From China to Denmark?

A freight forwarder will generate a custom quote for your import from China to Denmark. It will take into account the nature of the goods you wish to send, as well as their weight. Choosing to ship by air or ocean will affect the pricing, as will your choice of port-to-port, door-to-door, door-to-port or port-to-door services.

If your goods weigh under 100kg, air freight can be nearly as affordable as shipping by sea. Anything above that weight, though, tips the cost equation in favor of ocean freight. The services of freight forwarders like Shipa Freight are not available for consignments that weigh under 35kg. For shipments of this weight or below, we recommend you engage an express courier service

How Long Does it Take to Ship Cargo From China to Denmark?

Choosing either air freight or ocean shipping will make a big difference to the transit times of importing from China to Denmark. Flying your goods is quicker, as you can expect them to arrive in Copenhagen in around eight days. Ocean shipments can take at least 37 days, even as many as 51 days.

The big difference in timings is reflected in the cost, with ocean freight usually significantly cheaper. So if time is on your side, ocean shipping will usually prove the most cost-effective approach.

How Long Does It Take to Ship Cargo by Sea From China to Denmark?

As the list below shows, ocean freight shipping durations will vary, depending on your port of origin and arrival, and whether your consignment is best suited to FCL or LCL shipping:

• Shenzhen to Copenhagen – 37 days FCL, 43days LCL
• Shanghai to Aarhus – 46 days FCL, 45 days LCL
• Shenzhen to Aarhus – 37 days FCL, 41 days LCL
• Ningbo to Copenhagen – 46 days FCL and LCL
• Qingdao to Aarhus – 46 days LCL
• Shanghai to Copenhagen – 46 days FCL and LCL
• Shantou to Copenhagen – 44 days FCL, 45 days LCL
• Shekou to Aarhus or Copenhagen – 37 days FCL

How Long Does It Take to Ship Cargo by Air From China to Denmark?

Air shipping from China to Denmark takes around eight days. That includes all processing and customs clearance at your chosen airport of origin in China, and Copenhagen in Denmark.

Customs Clearance in China and Denmark

A freight forwarder can bring much needed clarity and certainty to the often complex issue of customs clearance. Finding out which documents you need to accompany your consignment doesn’t have to be a hassle. We’ve included details of the paperwork the authorities in China and Denmark will need to see:

1. Commercial Invoice

2. Packing List

3. Certificate of Origin

4. Letter of Credit or other payment terms (depends on the contract between the parties involved)

5. Bill of Lading for ocean freight or Airway Bill for air freight (Shipa Freight will provide this for you)

Perhaps you’d like some more information about these documents. We’ve compiled comprehensive details on this page to help demystify customs preparation for the borders of China and Denmark.

Should You Choose Ocean Freight or Air Freight?

Ocean Freight

Sea freight is a popular shipping method among importers and exporters for transporting commercial goods from China to Denmark. A maritime carrier ships your cargo from port to port inside 20ft or 40ft shipping containers that are loaded onto specialized vessels.

In some cases, you may want to transport products that aren’t suited for containerized shipping. Your freight forwarder or carrier can offer alternatives, such as break-bulk shipping. In the next sections, you’ll learn more about the two options for containerized ocean shipping – LCL and FCL.

Considerations for LCL Freight Shipping

Do you have enough goods to fill up to six standard pallets? If your consignment weighs over 100kg, choose LCL from China to Denmark. The logistics are a little more complex than FCL, because your freight will occupy a container carrying multiple consignments.

Cargo handling teams in your chosen port of origin in China will consolidate your consignment with other exporters’ goods. This could mean a short delay in port before your ocean freight from China to Denmark takes to the seas. De-consolidation will occur in Denmark when your container arrives.

Considerations for FCL Freight Shipping

Your freight forwarder will ensure your freight from China to Denmark is loaded into a 20ft or 40ft container in China. The size of your container will depend on the volume of your goods.

For example, if your consignment will not be big enough to occupy at least six standard size pallets, FCL shipping will, in most cases, be impractical. For six to ten pallets, a 20-foot container will typically be sufficient. For between 10 and 20 pallets, you might need two 20-foot containers or one 40-foot container.

After sealing, your container will remain unopened until it arrives in your chosen port in Denmark, or at its final destination if you choose our port-to-door or door-to-door service. Because no consolidation or de-consolidation is required, FCL is usually the quickest way to ship a container from China to Denmark.

Air Freight

Got an immovable, seemingly impossible delivery deadline to meet? There’s no faster way of importing from China to Denmark than by air shipping. The quicker delivery time isn’t just down to the power and speed of the aircraft that will transport your goods. Airport cargo handlers can process and load pallets faster than their counterparts in seaports. And delays are less frequent with air shipping because of the tighter schedules airlines run. Other good reasons to choose air freight from China to Denmark include:

• Quicker delivery
• Better security
• Potentially lower insurance premiums
• More flexibility for your cargo

Ocean Cargo Port Guide

Cargo Ports of Origin in China

Shenzhen

Port Facts:

• A collection of ports.
• Among the world’s top-five busiest container hubs for 2019.
• Ideal port for any supplier based on China’s South Coast.
• Gateway for over 130 container shipping trade lanes.

Owned By: Multiple owners.

Annual Container Volume: >27 million TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: CNSZP.

Shanghai

Port Facts:

• Vast maritime complex with deep and shallow water zones.
• Major world container port.
• Boasts the largest automated container terminal in the world.
• Great port of origin for goods manufactured in one of the many factories across the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions.

Owned By: Shanghai International Port Company Ltd.

Annual Container Volume: >40 million TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: CNSHA.

Ningbo-Zhoushan

Port Facts:

• Offers an alternative export gateway to the nearby Port of Shanghai.
• Served by excellent rail and road links.
• Cargo is processed using technologically advanced equipment in a state-of-the-art terminal.

Owned By: Ningbo-Zhoushan Port Company Ltd.

Annual Container Volume: >26 million TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: CNNGB.

Qingdao

Port Facts:

• Trade routes connect to over 700 ports worldwide.
• Main freight hub of Shandong Province, one of the many manufacturing powerhouses.
• Boasts two container terminals.

Owned By: Qingdao Port (Group) Ltd.

Annual Container Volume: >18 million TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: CNTAO.

Shantou

Port Facts:

• Lone port in China’s Guangdong Province.
• Serves as an important export gateway for products manufactured in the region.
• Shantou is a river port close to the South China Sea.
• Scheduled for major expansion, having experienced substantial growth over the last few years.

Owned By: Shantou Port Affairs Bureau.

Annual Container Volume: >1.25 million TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: CNSTG.

Other Ports in China

Other gateways in China at which your freight can be loaded into containers bound for Denmark are:

• Nansha
• Wuhan
• Zhuhai
• Dalian
• Changsha
• Chongqing
• Lianyungang
• Qinzhou
• Xiamen
• Zhongshan
• Guangzhou
• Fuzhou
• Nanjing
• Tianjin

Cargo Ports of Arrival in Denmark

Copenhagen

Port Facts:

• Proud history that dates back to the Middle Ages.
• One of the largest of the Nordic ports.
• Container terminal includes a storage area of 175,000 square meters.
• Located in the heart of Oresund.
• Provides shippers with easy access to over 100 million consumers across the Baltic region.

Owned By: Copenhagen Malmo Port and By & Havn.

Annual Container Volume: >194,000 TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: DKCPH.

Aarhus

Port Facts:

• Handles over 50% of Denmark’s container traffic.
• Situated at the mouth of the River Aarhus and in a bay that shares the same name.
• Has a 1300-meter pier with eight cranes.

Owned By: Aarhus Municipality.

Annual Container Volume: >540,000 TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: DKAAR.

Flying Your Freight: Airport Guide

Airports of Origin in China

Shanghai-Pudong

Airport Facts:

• World’s third-busiest airport for cargo traffic.
• Train and metro services link the airport to the thriving city.
• Shanghai’s central business district is 30 kilometers west of the airport.
• Shipping hub for many major air freight carriers, including China Cargo Airlines, DHL Aviation, and China Southern Cargo.

Danish Airports Served: Copenhagen.

Shanghai-Pudong to Denmark Cargo-Only Operators: Air China Cargo, China Cargo Airlines.

IATA Code: PVG.

Chengdu

Airport Facts:

• Located North of Shuangdu District and 16 kilometers Southwest of Chengdu City.
• Fourth-busiest Chinese airport for cargo traffic.
• Has two terminals and two runways.

Danish Airports Served: Copenhagen.

Shenzhen to Denmark Cargo-Only Operators: None.

IATA Code: CTU.

Other Airports in China

Your consignment to Denmark can also be booked on flights from these Chinese airports of origin: Guangzhou, Fuzhou, Beijing, Qingdao, Wuhan, Xiamen, Zhengzhou, and Shanghai Hongqiao.

Airports of Arrival in Denmark

Copenhagen

Airport Facts:

• Largest airport in the Nordic region, and one of the oldest in Europe.
• Located on the island of Amager, only eight kilometers south of the city center.
• Has three cargo terminals with a combined storage capacity of nearly 40,000 square meters.
• The nearby Oresund Link connects Denmark to Sweden.

Connected Airports in China: Shanghai-Pudong, Chengdu.

China to Copenhagen Cargo-Only Operators: China Cargo Airlines, Air China Cargo.

IATA Code: CPH.

Why Ship From China to Denmark With Shipa Freight?

Shipa Freight makes it easy for your business to transport commercial goods from China to Denmark. International logistics – no matter the mode of transport – become more straightforward and simple with our cutting-edge online platform.

You can now accelerate your supply chain by viewing and managing all your imports and exports in one place. That also means that you don’t need to employ and coordinate multiple agencies any more.

You benefit from the following when you book your ocean or air freight from China to Denmark with us:

• Online quotes – quick to obtain and compare.
• Immediate online booking – send your freight on the way fast.
• Easy-to-use online portal – manage your entire shipping process in one place.
• Transparent shipping paperwork – easily clear customs.
• No customs complexities – the process is taken care of for you.
• Friendly customer service – round-the-clock access via phone, email, and chat.
• Guaranteed compliance – always be in the clear with rules and regulations.

Know Your Shipping Terminology

Shipping experts are likely to use terms and phrases from time-to-time that can confuse novices. But anyone new to shipping needs to understand what’s being said—and Shipa Freight is here to help. At the end of each country-to-country shipping page, we are defining two examples of shipping jargon. Here then, are a couple of terms to get familiar with:

• Air carrier
• Carriage Paid To (CPT)