Shipping from China to Malaysia|Sea & Air Freight

Malaysia, a country in Southeast Asia, is composed of two noncontiguous regions: Peninsular Malaysia (Semenanjung Malaysia), AKA West Malaysia and East Malaysia (Malaysia Timur). In 2021, trade volume between China and Malaysia reached $176.8 billion, a year-on-year increase of 34.5%. 

Explore a full guide into shipping from China to Malaysia, written by a top China freight forwarding company to answer all the questions clients may encounter when dealing with importing and shipping from China. The content below includes shipping method, timing, cost, how to decide the best way to ship, and what to expect from a freight forwarder for your China-Malaysia shipment. 

Main shipping methods for China-Malaysia trade lane are sea shipping and air shipping.

Sea Freight from China to Malaysia

Choosing sea freight allows you to ship goods from China to Malaysia at the minimum cost. When shipping from China to Malaysia, most clients prefer sea freight, for it’s the most cost-efficient way. And due to the short distance between China and Malaysia, shipping by sea won’t take too long. Besides low cost, sea freight has other advantages, it handles almost all types of cargo, provides large shipping capacity, which contributes to the fact that over 90% of the world’s cargo is carried out by sea freight, same is true to China-Malaysia shipments. Most commonly seen sea shipments are FCL and LCL shipments. 
FCL (full container load): shipping a container filled with goods exclusively for one client, cost efficient.
LCL (less than container load): sharing a container with other clients who have cargo at the same time, to the same destination. Naturally due to extra work in LCL (warehousing, consolidation, de-consolidation, paperwork, etc.), the final cost on each unit is higher than shipping FCL, and the transit time is longer.
Additionally, we also charter bulk cargo ship for projects of large and heavy cargo, RO-RO ships for vehicles and other wheeled cargo. 
As one of the top China based freight forwarding companies serving Malaysia, our services cover all the major seaports of China, Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Qingdao, Tianjin, Dalian, etc.

Main ports in Malaysia

West Malaysia
Port Klang (North and West)
Port Klang is the largest port in Malaysia and the most important gateway by sea into the country. 
Port Klang is composed of 2 parts, North port and West port. 
In 2021, Port Klang reached record high container throughput of 13.64 million TEU. 
Tanjung Pelepas
The Port of Tanjung Pelepas is Malaysia’s largest container terminal, strategically located at the confluence of the main East-West shipping lanes. In 2021, container throughput was 11.2 million TEU, an increase of 14% year-on-year. 
Penang
Port of Penang is one of the oldest and longest established port in Malaysia. Total container traffic in 2021 was 1.28 million TEU. 
Pasir Gudang
Pasir Gudang port, located in Johor, provides container, bulk cargo, general cargo services. It is the world's largest palm oil terminal. 

East Malaysia
Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu port is one of Sabah’s earliest and main ports, handling a variety of cargo. 
Largest port in Sabah, and the 6th in Malaysia.
Kuching
Kuching port is the first organized port in Sarawak State, and it’s Sarawak trade gateway.
Bintulu
Bintulu port is largest container port in East Malaysia and the country’s only LNG export gateway, also one of the largest LNG export terminal in the world.
Other ports in East Malaysia are: Sibu, Tawau, Sandakan

If you are interested in shipping to an Malaysian port from China, reach out to us and get a shipping solution and cost from China, and begin a stress-free freight forwarding experience.

Air Freight from China to Malaysia

Air freight is the answer when time is of top priority and your supply chain requires a fast delivery of shipment from China to Malaysia. When facing a pressing dealine, we want delivery as fast as possible. Air shipping ensures fast speed, albeit at a way higher cost than sea freight. We can’t consider everything in advance, and air freight can be used as a contingency plan. Cargoes air shipped are often time-sensitive goods, like perishable products, emergency supplies, items with pressing deadline. And sometimes people choose air freight to ship high-value equipment or luxurious merchandise. 
However, not everything can be shipped by air due to some limitations and restrictions, for example, oversized cargo or dangerous goods. 
Consult a China freight forwarder for their advice on your next China-Malaysia air shipment. 

Airports in Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (IATA CODE: KUL) is the main gateway of Malaysia, and one of the largest airports in Southeast Asia and worldwide. 
In 2020, it handled 13 million passengers and 505 thousand tons of cargo. 
Penang
Penang International Airport (IATA CODE: PEN) is the third busiest airport in Malaysia by passenger traffic, and the 2nd busiest in terms of cargo traffic
Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu International Airport (IATA CODE: BKI) serves the city of Kota Kinabalu, the state capital of Sabah, Malaysia. 
Main gateway into the state of Sabah and into Borneo.

How long does it take to ship cargo from China to Malaysia?

It takes at least 1 day and up to 3 weeks to ship to ship cargo from China to Malaysia, depending on many factors, such as shipping method, port/airport, route, service chosen, weather, seasonal change of shipping market, etc.

China-Malaysia sea freight transit time

Sea container shipping transit time from China to Malaysia (Port Klang, Tanjung Pelepas, Kota Kinabalu)

POL (port of loading)	POD (port of discharge)	Transit time
Shanghai	Port Klang	9 days
Shanghai	Tanjung Pelepas	7 days
Shanghai	Kota Kinabalu	12 days
Shenzhen	Port Klang	4 days
Shenzhen	Tanjung Pelepas	5 days
Shenzhen	Kota Kinabalu	10 days
Qingdao	Port Klang	12 days
Qingdao	Tanjung Pelepas	10 days
Qingdao	Kota Kinabalu	15 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 Malaysia.
The transit time by sea, port to port, depends on the specific origin and destination ports chosen, service route, sailing schedule and choice of 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-Malaysia air shipping transit time

Air freight is the fastest shipping method for cargo from China to Malaysia. Generally air shipping from China to Malaysia is supposed to take 3-5 days. 
There are direct flights between some Chinese cities and Malaysian cities, cargo transit time can be only 1 day. Chinese cities include Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, etc, and arrival airports are mainly Kuala Lumpur, Penang, etc. 
Air freight market is fast changing, as well as flight routes, contact a China freight forwarder for the latest info and shipping cost from China. 

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

Shipping cost is an indispensable, sometimes a large percent of the landed cost of goods imported from China to Malaysia. Knowing the shipping cost is essential to your import business. After comparing with your competitors, considering your markup, you can then decide the selling price. Every client is different, and has specific requirements at a specific time. How much shipping costs from China to the Malaysia is no simple answer. As a rule of thumb, the faster you wish to receive the shipment, the more you’ll have to pay for shipping. 
Besides, the shipping market is fast changing. Sea and air freight rates fluctuate with time, affected by supply and demand relationship, as well as by carrier’s strategic adjustment.
Contact a China freight forwarder for a China-Malaysia shipping solution and get the latest freight quote.

Best way to ship goods from China to Malaysia

Similar to shipping cost, there’s no simple universal “best way” to ship from China to Malaysia, because every case is different. The best way is to provide the shipment details and rely on a professional China freight forwarder for their expertise and advice. Generally, we need to take the below factors into consideration to decide which is the best shipping solution from China to Malaysia. 
1.    The type of goods and its value
2.    How quickly you need 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
Or you can fill in the quote form and get a shipping solution and quote from China to Malaysia, and you take the first step to a pleasant China-Malaysia shipping experience. 

China-Malaysia freight forwarder

Shipping from China to Malaysia is a tough job and the market is fast changing. Everybody has got limited time and energy, why not count on a professional China-Malaysia freight forwarder to free you from all the trouble and complexity of international logistics? 
As one of the top/leading China based freight forwarding companies serving Malaysia, our expertise and experience allow us to provide the most accurate answers and optimal shipping solutions tailored to your needs. 
With our help of China-Malaysia freight forwarding services, your shipments will be accelerated and freight management made easy. Moreover, with our partners in major cities of Malaysia, we are able to provide door to door shipping service. 

China-Malaysia door to door shipping

Maybe you are not interested in handling the shipping process or papers, especially for small shipments, they just want to find a freight forwarder that takes care of everything, the only thing they do is to receive goods when they arrive. You are in the right place if you are seeking door to door shipping service from China to Malaysia.
We provide customers the easiest one-stop shipping solution, i.e. to have their goods shipped from China to Malaysia door to door. Whether you are shipping a private address, or commercial address, regardless of which shipping method you prefer, sea, air freight, we got you covered. You are released from all the complexity and perplexity. China-Malaysia door to door shipping has never been so easy.

How to ship from China to Malaysia

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 have a China-Malaysia freight forwarder provide you one-stop door to door shipping service. 

Why us when importing and shipping from China to Malaysia

We are China based freight forwarder, specialized and experienced in international logistics for import and export business. With years of effort on China-Malaysia trade and shipping, building connections and networks, we provide customers with the easiest way of shipping. For importers from Malaysia, we have the below reasons for you to choose us as freight forwarder for your freight shipping from China.

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
7. Higher attention & tailored shipping solution

More on Why us when importing and shipping from China to Malaysia

One of the top China-Malaysia freight forwarders you can trust with cargo shipping, we have the logistics knowledge and expertise, local connections and global networks, as well as our insight into global trade to ensure the best cargo shipping experience.

If you are interested in shipping from China to Malaysia (Port Klang, Tanjung Pelepas, Pasir Gudang, Penang, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Bintulu etc. ), whether by sea or air, reach out to the best-in-class freight forwarder to ensure a stress-free shipping experience. Contact us, get a shipping solution and quote for your China-Malaysia shipment.