Transport mode
Sea Freight, Rail Freight and Air Freight use different pricing structures. LCL and FCL are also calculated differently.
Shipping costs from China to Germany
Freight costs from China to Germany depend on the transport mode, origin, destination, volume, weight and required additional services. fba.solutions calculates the applicable quotation from the shipment details entered instead of relying on a static freight price.
What determines the freight price?
Volume & weight
For Sea LCL and Rail LCL, both the physical volume and shipment weight matter because the chargeable quantity can be weight-based.
Destination & services
The final quotation can also depend on the German destination and supported services such as customs clearance and on-carriage.
How LCL shipping costs are calculated
For LCL shipping from China to Germany, the calculator determines the chargeable volume using the greater of the actual shipment volume and the weight-based volume.
Chargeable CBM = max(actual CBM, weight in kg ÷ 1,000)
A minimum of 1 CBM applies. This means a dense shipment can be charged on a higher CBM quantity than its physical volume.
| Example shipment | Actual volume | Weight-based volume | Chargeable volume |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 CBM / 2,000 kg | 5.0 CBM | 2.0 CBM | 5.0 CBM |
| 5 CBM / 6,000 kg | 5.0 CBM | 6.0 CBM | 6.0 CBM |
| 0.7 CBM / 300 kg | 0.7 CBM | 0.3 CBM | 1.0 CBM minimum |
Sea, rail, FCL and air pricing
| Service | Main calculation basis | What to enter |
|---|---|---|
| Sea LCL | Chargeable CBM | Origin, destination, CBM and weight |
| Rail LCL | Chargeable CBM | Origin, destination, CBM and weight |
| Sea / Rail FCL | Container-based rate | Origin, destination and container/service details |
| Air Freight | Applicable chargeable-weight tier | Origin, destination and shipment weight/details |
The calculator applies the configured rates and applicable shipment rules at the time the quotation is generated.
What can be included in a China–Germany quotation?
Depending on the selected service and destination, the quotation can combine the main freight with supported customs-clearance and German on-carriage services. Optional services are shown in the quotation workflow where applicable. For the complete transport overview, see Shipping from China to Germany.
Price and transit time
Freight price is only one part of choosing a mode. For schedule and timing considerations, see the China to Germany transit-time guide.
Why calculate instead of using a fixed price?
Freight rates can change and the same number of CBM can produce a different quotation when the origin, transport mode, weight or destination changes. A static “price per CBM” therefore does not represent every shipment. The calculator uses the currently configured rate data and the shipment details entered to generate the applicable quotation.
Frequently asked questions about freight costs
How much does it cost to ship from China to Germany?
The price depends on transport mode, origin, destination, volume, weight and required services. Enter the shipment details in the calculator to receive the applicable quotation based on the current configured rate data.
How is LCL freight calculated?
For Sea LCL and Rail LCL, chargeable volume is the greater of actual CBM and weight in kilograms divided by 1,000, with a minimum of 1 CBM.
How is a 5 CBM shipment calculated?
A 5 CBM shipment weighing up to 5,000 kg has a chargeable volume of 5 CBM. At 6,000 kg, the weight-based volume is 6 CBM, so 6 CBM is chargeable.
Can customs clearance and German delivery be included?
Supported quotations can include customs-clearance and on-carriage services. The exact components depend on the selected shipment and destination.
Why are no fixed freight rates published here?
Freight rates can change. The calculator uses the currently configured rate data rather than presenting a static price that may become outdated.
Calculate your current freight quotation
Enter the shipment details to calculate the applicable China–Germany freight price.
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