One-stop Air, Sea & Railway Shipping from China to Italy

China-Italy relations started about a thousand years ago. China is the ninth largest buyer of Italian products in 2020, accounting for 3% of Italy’s total exports, and 7% of Italy’s imports come from China, second only to Germany and France. On March 23, 2019, Italy officially became part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Explore a full guide into shipping from China to Italy with One of the top China based freight forwarders. This article is definitely going to help whether you are a regular importer from Italy or new into this. We have the content below, shipping method, transit time, cost, best way to ship from China, what an experienced freight forwarder can help with your China-Italy shipments. 

Between China and Italy there are 3 main shipping methods, sea, air and railway freight.

Sea freight from China to Italy

Sea freight is most common way of shipping your goods from China to Italy. Shipping by sea is slow, but comes at an affordable price. If you are running a project on limited budget, you should probably choose sea freight. Shipments by sea, mostly in containers, from China to Italy take approx. 1 month. Check your inventory frequently and plan purchase order in advance. Shipping by sea is popular, not only because of its low cost, but also because it’s the only feasible (or financially feasible) way to transport large and bulk shipments. One last advantage of sea freight, it accepts almost all types of cargo. 

Most of the sea shipments we are handling are FCL, and sometimes LCL. 
FCL (Full container load): shipping a container filled with goods exclusively for one client from China to Italy. Shipping FCL is more cost efficient
LCL (Less than container load): Sharing a container with other clients who have cargo to the same destination, at the same time. Naturally, due to extra work (consolidation, de-consolidation, warehousing, paperwork, etc.), the final cost on each unit is higher than FCL, and shipping takes longer. LCL is a good choice for small business to start with. 

Besides regular FCL and LCL services, we offer special container shipping to Italy as well. Flat rack and open containers for OOG cargo from China, reefer container for temperature-sensitive products. For bulk shipment and wheeled cargo, we opt for breakbulk solution and RO-RO ships. 

Our sea freight forwarding service has full coverage of both Chinese ports and Italian ports. Top ports in China: Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Qingdao, Tianjin, Dalian, etc. 

Major ports of Italy

Genoa (ITGOA)
Busiest port in Italy
Top 3 in the Mediterranean Sea
Well connected to Italy’s major cities such as Milan, Rome, Bologna, and Venice.
The Ports of Genoa, Savona and Vado Ligure set a new annual container volume record for 2021, reporting 2.78 million TEU.

Gioia Tauro (ITGIT)
The port of Gioia Tauro is Italy's top transshipment port
Ranks 9th in Europe and 6th in Mediterranean Sea
It’s the largest port in Italy in terms of container throughput, and it handled 3.14 million TEU in 2021.

Naples (ITNAP)
The Port of Naples is one of the largest Italian seaports and one of the largest seaports in the Mediterranean Sea.

La Spezia (ITSPE)
One of the Mediterranean Sea’s busiest container ports located south of Genoa
It is in proximity to a network of rail and highway routes.

Trieste
In 2021, the port of Trieste handled a total of 0.652 million TEU

Other seaports: Ancona, Bari, Catania, Livorno, Venice, Salerno, Ravenna, etc

If you are to ship containers from China to an Italian port, contact us and get a sea freight quote. 

Air Freight from China to Italy

When coordinating time-sensitive shipments, air freight can ensure a fast delivery from China to Italy. Maybe you are accelerating the delivery by using air freight to make up for the time loss for a delayed project, maybe you are having a pressing deadline, or the cargo to be shipped are perishable products. Whatever it is, you have speed guarantee when shipping by air from China to Italy, naturally at higher shipping cost. 
Sometimes speed is not the only reason why people choose air shipping. When the supply chain has a robust shipping budget for high-value goods or luxurious merchandise, people just want a rapid transit with higher level of security, then air freight is the right choice. 

However, not everything can be air shipped, and not everything is worth shipping by air. Some oversized cargo might not be able to fit in the plane, and some might be classified as dangerous or sensitive goods. 
Consult an experience freight forwarder before proceeding, get a shipping solution and freight quote from us.

Major airports in Italy

Milan
MILAN-MALPENSA AIRPORT (IATA CODE: MXP)
Italy’s busiest airport for freight
Milan Malpensa Airport closed 2021 with an all-time record of 741 thousand tons of cargo transported. 

Rome
Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (IATA CODE: FCO)
Rome’s busiest airport and the eighth busiest airport in Europe
Five terminals, one which is dedicated to cargo

Rail freight from China to Italy

Freight train provideds a new, faster and affordable way of shipping from China to Italy. 
Shipping by sea from China to Italy usually takes about 1 month, whereas shipping by rail freight takes about 20 days. Rail freight is the perfect substitute for traditional shipping methods sea and air freight – faster than sea shipping, but substantially cheaper than air shipping. Because of the advantages, it’s becoming more and more popular and transcontinental railway freight from China to Europe is seeing a sharp rise. 
Freight train shipping from Wuhan, China to Milan, Italy
A China-Europe freight train left Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province on Saturday morning, bound for Italy's Milan, marking the launch of a new extended route for the service on Mar 20, 2021.
The China-Europe freight train service has remained a reliable transportation channel amid the COVID-19 outbreak across the two continents. And this newly opened freight train connection between Wuhan and Milan will add a valuable new option for promoting bilateral trade. 
New China-Europe freight train route links Suzhou and Milan
On Jan 23, China Railway Express launched a new freight train bound for Milan from Suzhou, marking the first China-Europe freight train linking the two cities.
The first China-Europe freight train linking Suzhou and Milan

We handle rail freight from Several Chinese cities including Chongqing, Chengdu, Wuhan, Zhengzhou, Changsha, Xi’an, Yiwu, Hefei and Shenyang to Europe.
If you prefer to ship containers from China to Italy faster, you should try it. Request a quote from us

How long does it take to ship from China to Italy?

Shipping from China to Italy takes 24-45 days by sea, 3-5 days by air, and 14-18 days by railway.
The final transit time may be slightly different, depending on shipping method, departure and destination terminals, service and route chosen, etc. 

China-Italy sea freight transit time

Container shipping transit time by sea from China to Italy (Genoa, Gioia Tauro)

POL (Port of Loading)	POD (Port of Discharge)	Transit time
Qingdao	Genoa	34 days
Qingdao	Gioia Tauro	43 days
Shanghai	Genoa	30 days
Shanghai	Gioia Tauro	32 days
Shenzhen	Genoa	24 days
Shenzhen	Gioia Tauro	24 days

FYI: Shanghai in East China, Shenzhen South China, and Qingdao North China, data from these 3 ports is enough to demonstrate the sea shipping time from China to Italy.
Italian ports with the largest cargo throughput are Genoa and Gioia Tauro, so we are using them as an example.
The transit time by sea, port to port, depends on the specific origin and destination ports chosen, service route, sailing schedule and choice on carrier.
Above transit time is for full container load shipping, port to port only, for LCL shipping time estimate, pls add 7-10 days.

China-Italy air shipping transit time

Generally air cargo from China to Italy takes 3-5 days. 
Some airlines offer direct flight service from Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai to Milan. If your suppliers are from these cities or nearby, transit time could be reduced to only one day. 
Flight route and space are subject to change and availability, consult our team for the latest info and shipping cost from China.

China-Italy freight train transit time

Shipping containers by freight train from China to Italy takes about 20 days. 
Actual transit time is subject to change, depending on the origin and destination terminal, service and route, chosen.

Best way to ship from China to Italy

The shipping market is full of changes, the best way to ship from China to Italy is to rely on an experienced freight forwarder for his knowledge and advice. Whatever the situation is, clients are always looking a fast and safe delivery of shipment at the minimum shipping cost possible. We’ll take the below factors into consideration to decide the best shipping solution for you. 
1.    The type of goods and its value
2.    How quickly you wish to receive your goods
3.    The load of your goods (size, weight, quantity) or simply share the packing list
4.    Supplier address (origin seaport/airport), delivery address(destination seaport/airport)
5.    Your budget
6.    Goods ready time
Submit the details to us, we’ll provide a tailored China-Italy shipping solution and freight quote, and this is the start to a hassle-free shipping experience.

How much does it cost to ship from China to Italy?

Shipping a 40ft container from China to Italy used to cost $1000-1500, and the highest record after the pandemic reached $15000. 

Knowing the shipping cost from China to Italy is essential to business, if you are into trading with China. Shipping cost is an indispensable, and sometimes could be a large part of the final landed cost of imported goods. General rule of thumb, the quicker you wish to receive the shipment, the more you’ll have to pay for shipping.
However, the shipping market is full of changes, sea, air and railway freight rates fluctuate frequently, affected by seasonal and strategic adjustment by carriers, as well as by law of supply and demand. Each shipment is different, and clients may have different requirements under different circumstances. All these uncertainties make it impossible to provide a general estimate of shipping cost from China to Italy.

For the best shipping solution and cost, please fill in our quote form, we’ll get back to you shortly.

Freight forwarder shipping from China to Italy

Shipping from China to Italy is a tough job, time & energy consuming and requires certain expertise, local and global connections. Why not let an experienced freight forwarder take care of all your China-Italy shipments from A to Z?
As one of the leading China based freight forwarders serving Italy, shipping and logistics is our expertise, we have the knowledge, experience to guarantee an optimal shipping solutions tailored to your needs, as well as a pleasant shipping experience. With the help of our professional team, your shipment will be well planned and carried out smoothly, and freight management made easier than ever. Additionally, we extend our reaches from terminal to terminal to door to door by working with reputable partners in Italy. 

Door to door shipping from China to Italy

UCS provides the easiest one-stop door to door shipping service from China to Italy. 
Maybe you are new, and have no idea how to handle the shipping and logistics jobs on your own. 
Maybe you are too busy, or simply not interested in doing it yourself. 
Whatever the case is, we are the one you could turn to and we handle everything, all the required paperwork, supervision, consolidation, loading, offloading, customs clearance and final delivery, without adding any stress on clients. 

Whatever your shipment is, whether you are shipping a private address, or commercial address or FBA address, regardless of which shipping method you prefer, sea, air, or rail freight, we got you covered. The complexity and perplexity related to international shipping never bother you, and you have more time and spend on the worthwhile jobs. 

China-Italy door to door shipping is made easy with us. Get a door to door shipping cost from China. 

How to ship from China to Italy

Step 1: Contact a freight forwarder; a China based one is preferred. (More on “Why you should work with a local China freight forwarder”)
Step 2: Submit shipment details and get a shipping quote from China
Step 3: Connect the freight forwarder with supplier, forwarder does his job
Step 4: Get cargo insurance (optional)
Step 5: Arrange customs clearance
Or you can rely on us for the one-stop shipping solution from China to Italy.

Why us when importing and shipping from China to Italy?

We are China based freight forwarder, specialized and experienced in international logistics for import and export business between China and Italy. With years of hard effort on China-Italy trade lane, building networks of sea, air, railway and local connections, we are able to provide a hassle-free one-stop shipping solution from China to Italy. What makes us different from our competitors is our unique combination of:
1.    Quick Response, high efficiency
2.    Communication
3.    Professionalism, agility, accuracy.
4.    Our logistics expertise, local and global connections
5.    Cost-saving
6.    Dedicated, focused.
Everybody got limited time and energy. Stay focused and bring the best out of you for the most worthwhile job. International logistics/shipping is our expertise, you too should stay focused
More on why us when importing and shipping from China to Italy.

As a leading freight forwarder, we have been connecting Italian business with China, carrying out tailored shipping solution by sea, air and railway. With our logistics expertise, local knowledge and global networks, we are dedicated to improving your supply chain and providing the best shipping experience.

If you are interested in shipping from China to Italy (Genoa, Gioia Tauro, Naples, Trieste, La Spezia, Milan, Rome, Venice, Ancona, etc), whether by sea, air or railway, contact us for a tailored shipping solution and cost for your China-Italy shipment.