One-stop Sea, Air, Railway Shipping from China to Russia

Russia is a transcontinental country, with 77% of its area in Asia and 23% in Europe. European Russia occupies almost 40% of the total area of Europe. Over 75% of its total population resides in the European part. China is Russia’s biggest trading partner. Bilateral trade between the two countries has reached the equivalent of $146.9 billion. Russia mostly sells China coal, oil, natural gas, and agricultural products. China sells Russia machinery, transportation equipment, mobile phones, cars, and other consumer products.

If you are an importer from Russia, keep reading and explore a comprehensive guide into shipping from China to Russia, by a leading freight forwarder. The below content includes shipping methods, transit time, shipping cost, etc. 

There are many freight forwarders that offer air cargo and container shipping by sea from China to Russia, but we can do more. For China-Russia trade, we have sea, air and rail freight to move your cargo. It’s vital to work with one who understands your needs and always carries out the best tailored shipping solution from China to Russia.

Sea freight from China to Russia

When shipping from China to Russia, sea freight is always the first choice. Sea freight is the mode of transport in which goods are shipped by sea, mostly with container ships, sometimes with bulk cargo ships or RO-RO ships, tankers, etc. And it’s economically and environmentally superior to other modes of shipping, especially over long distance, for goods in bulk or equipment of large size. Over 90% of the world’s total cargo traffic is carried out by sea freight. Shipping by sea allows you to move your cargo from China to Russia at the minimum cost possible, but you’ll accept the long transit time across the ocean. One more advantage, with sea freight, we are capable of transporting almost any type of goods, even those classified as dangerous goods. 

FCL (Full container load): shipping a container filled with goods exclusively for one client. Generally, we offer FCL shipping service to Russia with 20ft container and 40ft container (20GP, 40GP and 40HQ). FCL is more cost efficient.
LCL (Less than container load): If your cargo can’t fill an entire container, our consolidation (LCL shipping) service from China to Russia is always available, i.e. 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 shipments, if you are shipping large, heavy project cargo from China to Russia, we’d recommend flat rack or open top container solution. Reefer container for cold-chain transportation, breakbulk/RO-RO ship for bulk shipment and vehicles (wheeled cargo). 

We offer port to port, door to port and door to door freight solutions from China to Russia, depending on your specific requirements. Our sea freight forwarding services from China to Russia covers all the major Chinese ports: Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Qingdao, Tianjin, Dalian, etc. With our door-to-door service, considering the final destination, we’ll transport your cargo via the most convenient port in Russia, such as Novorossiysk, St. Petersburg, Vladivostok, Nakhodka, etc.

If you are looking to ship containers or other shipments by sea from China to Russia, we got the total solution for you. Get a China-Russia shipping solution and quote now.

Major ports in Russia

St. Petersburg (Saint Petersburg)
The Port of St. Petersburg has one of the deepest drafts for any Russian facility. The inner anchorage ranges between 23 to 25 meters while the channel draft is approx. 18.5 to 23 meters.
The volume of container of St. Petersburg in 2021 was 2.12 million TEU, ranked second place after Gdansk among all Baltic ports. 
First Container Terminal (FCT) is located in the harbor of the Port of St. Petersburg, and with an annual throughput capacity of 1.25 million TEUs is the largest container terminal in Russia in both capacity and volume.

Novorossiysk
The Port of Novorossiysk is s one of the largest ports in the Black Sea basin and the largest in Krasnodar Krai. It’s home to a naval base, shipbuilding yards, and an oil-pipeline terminal.
The port of Novorossiysk has a 3.4 sq. km harbour area with a land area worth 2.7 sq. km. This includes a total of 89 functioning berths for vessels of all sizes. It features as the biggest seagoing port for Russia for over decades with almost 50% higher turnover.

Ust-Luga
The port of Ust-Luga stands only behind Novorossiysk in terms of cargo handling volume for 2020. It has the biggest handling facility for coal bulk operations in the Northern part of Russia. The additional expansion plans provide this facility with a total area of 30 sq. km. Ust-Luga has 5 major berths that operate for round the year operation in severe temperatures. These handle over 30 vessels at once with anchorage facilities over 20 meters and higher depth. 

Vladivostok
The port of Vladivostok provides Russia with an opportunity to explore the Pacific. It extends towards the south-eastern end and touches the Sea of Japan for the bulk Asian traffic. This facility spreads across 55 hectares and also provides a cultural significance for the Russian landmass. Vladivostok has a record of handling 24 million MT of cargo for 2021. It is significantly higher than its 13.9 million MT average across the decade. The port’s establishment starts in the 1800s, with free status existence in between. 

Nakhodka
Nakhodka is a port city in Primorsky Krai, Russia, located on the Trudny Peninsula jutting into the Nakhodka Bay of the Sea of Japan, about 85 kilometers (53 mi) east of Vladivostok, the administrative center of the krai.

Vostochnyy Port
The port of Vostochny operates with two major terminals for a handling capacity of 80 million MT. In 2020, the facility shows stats worth 77 million MT including the export. In the internodal structure, the coal loading takes place at the special coal terminal.

Air freight from China to Russia

Air freight provides a fast and safe shipping solution from China to Russia for time-sensitive and high value commodities. Maybe your project gets delayed, maybe you have a pressing deadline, or maybe your cargo is perishable, when all other modes of transport can meet your timing requirement, using air freight enables us to deliver the shipment with the least amount of time. Generally cargo air shipped from China takes 3-5 days to arrive in Russia. If you are more concerned about security than cost and have sufficient shipping budget, especially when shipping high-value goods, then air freight is the perfect solution. 

We have developed strong connections with major airlines and built a vast network of air cargo transportation, offering daily and weekly cargo flights from China’s main airports to Russia. 
When shipping by air with us, we provide the best shipping solution and the fastest route which meets your needs and guarantees a relatively cost-efficient way. Flying your cargo with us gives you peace of mind as we take care of your air shipments from pick-up till delivery to the destination, overseeing every link of the logistics chain. We provide airport-to-airport, door-to-airport and door-to-door shipping services from China to Russia.

Air freight is not so often used due to its high cost. Not everything is worth air shipping, and not everything can be shipped by air. If you are looking for air freight service from China to Russia, consult our team for advice before you proceed. Request an air freight quote from us.

Major airports in Russia

Moscow
Moscow Sheremetyevo International Airport (IATA: SVO) is one of the three international airports that serves Moscow. 
SVO Airport is located in Khimki, 29 km northwest of Moscow, in Russia, currently the busiest one

Moscow Domodedovo Airport (IATA: DME) is the largest airport in Russia in terms of passenger traffic and one of the three international airports serving Moscow along with Sheremetyevo and Vnukovo.
The airport is located in Domodedovo, Russia, 42 km south - southeast from Moscow city Centre.

Vnukovo International Airport (IATA CODE: VKO) is located in just 28 kilometers to the south-west from the historic center of Moscow

St. Petersburg
Saint Petersburg Airport or Pulkovo Airport (IATA: LED) is the main international airport serving Saint Petersburg, the second largest city in Russia.
It consists of one terminal which is located 23 km (14 mi) south of the city centre. The airport serves as a hub for Rossiya Airlines and as focus city for Smartavia.

Rail freight from China to Russia

Rail freight provides a new option of shipping from China to Russia, faster than sea freight and cheaper than air. Shipping containers by freight train to Russian hinterland is a perfect choice, because most of its inland cities are far away from the east and west seaports. Shipping by sea is not necessarily cost-efficient, and sometimes rail freight can be both faster and cheaper. 

The number of freight trains from China to Russia has been increasing these years, especially in the first half of 2022. Rail freight is taking over supplementary container traffic from China that can no longer reach the ports of Russia.

Most Chinese cities have rail freight services connecting Moscow or St. Petersburg, such as Xi’an, Chengdu, Chongqing, Zhengzhou, Yiwu, Wuhan, etc. Chinese and Russian Railway have agreed to increase the number of freight trains passing through their shared border. (April, 2022) Let’s expect more railway freight routes between China and Russia.

The first freight train linking Nanchang and Moscow, Russia
The first freight train linking Nanchang and Moscow was launched on Apr 20, 2018. The 10,000-kilometer trip takes 15 days, and runs weekly. It is the first freight train linking the city with Europe and the new freight route will promote the foreign trade of Nanchang city.

Liuzhou-Moscow freight train
On 18 May 2021, the first Liuzhou-Moscow train was launched, the train would reach Volsino railway station in Moscow, Russia in 20 days. It marks the first operation of the Liuzhou-Moscow freight train since China and Russia signed a mutual agreement to facilitate customs clearance for enterprises.

Chengdu-St. Petersburg freight train
The first freight train on this route left Chengdu on Feb 21, 2021, carrying supplies for a key project under the Belt and Road Initiative. The journey would take 16 days, much faster than shipping by sea, especially under the impact of COVID. 
First freight train from Chengdu, China to St. Petersburg, Russia

If you are looking to ship containers from China to Russia by train, contact us and get a rail freight solution and shipping cost. 

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

Shipping from China to Russia takes 10-40 days by sea, 3-5 days by air and 15-20 days by freight train. Transit time of sea shipping to West ports like St. Petersburg and Novorossiysk varies widely from shipping to East port Vladivostok. 
The number of days could be different if we choose different port, airport and train station, service and route. 

China-Russia sea freight transit time

The transit time of shipping a container from China to Russia ranges from 10 to 40 days, port to port. 

POL(port of loading)	POD(port of discharge)	Transit time
Shanghai	Vladivostok	8 days
Shanghai	St. Petersburg	38 days
Shenzhen	Vladivostok	12 days
Shenzhen	St. Petersburg	32 days
Qingdao	Vladivostok	6 days
Qingdao	St. Petersburg	42 days

Container shipping transit time by sea from Shanghai/Shenzhen/Qingdao to Vladivostok and St. Petersburg
FYI: 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.
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 Russia.
Above transit time is for full container load shipping, port to port only, for LCL shipping time estimate, pls add 7-10 days.

China-Russia air shipping transit time

In most cases, cargo air shipped from China takes 3-5 days to arrive in Russia. 
Some Chinese cities have direct flight service to Moscow and St. Petersburg, which enable us to deliver goods in just 1 day. 

If you need speed, contact us and get the best service and fastest route for your air shipment from China to Russia. Request a quote from us.

China-Russia freight train transit time

Depending on the station and route chosen, shipping a container from China to Russia by train takes 15-20 days. 
And in peak season, due to overbooking and border congestion, the transit time would be prolonged. 
Get a railway shipping solution and cost from China to Russia.

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

Shipping a 40ft container from China used to cost $1000-2000 to St. Petersburg and a few hundred to Vladivostok, and shipping cost went up 6-7 times higher after the pandemic. Similar case with air shipping. 

It’s hard to provide a general estimate of shipping cost from China to Russia. First of all, each shipment is different, and clients may have various requirements under some specific circumstances. Secondly, the shipping market is fast changing, sea and air freight rates fluctuate frequently, the year-on-year difference could be drastic, and price for last week may not be valid for this week. Besides, timing requirement also influences the shipping cost, the quicker you wish to receive the shipment, the more money you’ll have to spend on shipping.
 
Knowing how much shipping costs from China to Russia is essential if you into import & export business. Shipping cost is an indispensable, and sometimes could be a significant portion of the final landed cost of imported goods, especially for the low-value goods. 

Contact us now to obtain a tailored shipping solution and the latest shipping cost from China to Russia.

Freight forwarder shipping from China to Russia

Everybody wants a fast and safe delivery of shipment at the minimum shipping cost possible. China is home to many worldwide suppliers, yet shipping from China to Russia isn’t always straightforward.
Handling shipments from China to Russia yourself is a tough job, to work out the best shipping solution tailored to your needs, you’ll have to rely on an experienced freight forwarder for their knowledge, expertise and networks. Everybody’s got his expertise, using a freight forwarder will save time and energy for you. 

Using an experienced freight forwarder to handle your shipments from China to Russia allows you focus more on your main business, to bring the best out of you. With the help of a professional freight forwarding team, your shipment will be well planned and carried out smoothly, avoiding delay and potential extra charges, and freight management made easier than ever.

As one of the top China based freight forwarders serving Russia, we have the knowledge, expertise and experience to provide the most accurate answers and optimal shipping solutions tailored to your needs. Leave it to the expert, and you are freed from all the troubles and complexity of shipping and logistics. 

Door to door shipping from China to Russia

Moreover, we have reps in Russia and have been working with other Russian freight forwarders as well. By combining our freight forwarding services with their networks, we present clients the easiest one-stop door to door shipping solution from China to Russia.
Whether by sea, air or railway, door to door shipping from China to Russia is easy with us.

Why us when importing & shipping from China to Russia

We are China based freight forwarder specialized and experienced in international logistics for China-Russia import & export business. Through years of effort, we have developed service agreements with the best sea and air shipping carriers, as well as railway. This allows us to offer various shipping solutions, routes and schedules from China to Russia at fair rates with space guarantee especially in peak seasons. 

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

As a leading China freight forwarder serving Russia, we have the knowledge and expertise to fulfill a fast and safe delivery of shipment while ensuring the best-in-class cargo shipping experience.
Contact us if you are interested in shipping from China to Russia (Novorossiysk, St. Petersburg, Vladivostok, Moscow, Nakhodka, etc.). Whether you are shipping standard sea container, air cargo, refrigerated or oversized cargo, we have the solution. Get a tailored shipping solution and quote for your shipment from China to Russia.