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Asia

Shipping from Europe to China

Ship parcels and freight from Europe to China — Chinese customs clearance, GACC registration for food and cosmetics, CBEC e-commerce channels and carrier recommendations.

70% of standard

CBEC VAT rate

3–5 days

Express transit

Food & cosmetics

GACC registration

6–25% (varies)

Standard import duty

China is one of the world's largest import markets — European luxury goods, food, wine, cosmetics, baby products and pharmaceuticals are in strong demand from Chinese consumers. Shipping to China involves two channels: formal customs import (for commercial B2B) and Cross-Border E-Commerce (CBEC) for B2C. CBEC via platforms like Tmall Global, JD Worldwide and Kaola enables EU brands to sell directly to Chinese consumers with simplified customs. GACC (General Administration of Customs) registration is mandatory for food and cosmetics exporters. China-EU cargo volumes are substantial — multiple daily flights from European hubs to Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

Customs Process for China

GACC pre-registration (food/cosmetics)

General Administration of Customs China (GACC) requires foreign food facilities exporting to China to register in the CIFER system. This applies to: meat, dairy, seafood, infant formula, health food, wine, spirits, olive oil. Registration can take 2–6 months. Without GACC registration, food shipments are refused at Chinese customs.

Customs channel selection

Two main channels: (1) General Trade (正规贸易) — full customs declaration, duties and VAT. Used for B2B commercial imports. (2) Cross-Border E-Commerce (CBEC/跨境电商) — simplified customs for consumer goods via bonded warehouses. CBEC uses lower effective duty rates (70% of standard) and is ideal for EU B2C e-commerce.

Customs value and duty assessment

China Customs assesses value based on CIF (Cost + Insurance + Freight) value. Import duties (关税) are applied per China's HTS (HS code). General Trade: full duty + 13% VAT + consumption tax (luxury goods). CBEC: 70% of standard duty rate + 70% of VAT, subject to individual annual quota of RMB 26,000.

CIQ inspection (quality/safety)

Chinese customs may refer shipments to CIQ (China Inspection and Quarantine) for product safety checks. Electronics, food, toys, cosmetics are priority categories. CIQ inspection adds 1–5 business days to clearance.

Delivery by domestic carrier

SF Express, JD Logistics and China Post handle domestic delivery after customs clearance. Major Chinese cities receive next-day or same-day delivery from bonded warehouses. Remote areas may take 3–7 days additional.

Required Shipping Documents

Document	Required	Notes
Commercial Invoice	Mandatory	Value in USD, EUR or CNY, HS code (China HTS), full description in English and ideally Chinese.
Packing List	Mandatory	Required for all commercial imports to China.
Airway Bill	Mandatory	Electronic link to China Customs pre-arrival declaration.
GACC Registration Number	Conditional	Mandatory for food, beverage, cosmetic and infant formula exporters. Printed on commercial invoice.
Certificate of Origin (EUR.1 / Form A)	Conditional	China-EU Investment Agreement (not yet in force). No comprehensive FTA currently — MFN rates apply for most goods.
Health/Sanitary Certificate	Conditional	Required for meat, dairy, seafood and some agricultural products — issued by exporting country's competent authority.
CCC Certificate (electronics)	Conditional	China Compulsory Certification — required for electronics, electrical products for Chinese market sale.
Cosmetics safety data / notification	Conditional	Cosmetics require NMPA (National Medical Products Administration) notification or registration before first import for commercial sale.

Import Duty & Tax Rates

Category	Rate	Notes
CBEC (Cross-Border E-Commerce)	70% of standard rate + VAT×70%	CBEC channel benefits: reduced effective rate. RMB 26,000 annual quota per person. Via Tmall Global, JD Worldwide etc.
Wine (2204) — General Trade	14% duty + 13% VAT	EU wine popular in China. GACC registration required. Effective cost approximately 29% on CIF value.
Cosmetics — General Trade	10–50% duty + 13% VAT + consumption tax	High-end cosmetics face 10% duty + 13% VAT + 15% consumption tax. NMPA notification/registration required.
Food (processed)	10–25% duty + 9–13% VAT	GACC registration mandatory. Health food (保健食品) requires additional NHFPC registration.
Luxury goods	20–60% duty + 13% VAT + consumption tax	Watches, leather goods, luxury cosmetics carry high effective tax rates — driving Chinese consumers to buy in Europe.
Electronics (ITA)	0% duty + 13% VAT	WTO ITA products: 0% duty. CCC certification required for sale in China.
Machinery and capital goods	0–8% duty + 13% VAT	EU machinery for Chinese industry often qualifies for low duty. Import licence may be required.

Best Carriers to China

Carrier	Service	Transit	Tracking	Notes
DHL Express	Worldwide Express	3–5 days	✓	Best EU–China carrier. Multiple daily EU–China flights. Strong customs team in Beijing/Shanghai.
FedEx	International Priority	3–5 days	✓	Competitive EU–China express. FedEx Guangzhou hub strong for South China.
UPS	Worldwide Express	4–6 days	✓	Good B2B China delivery. UPS customs brokerage handles complex Chinese customs requirements.
SF Express (via partner)	EU–China direct	4–7 days	✓	SF Express (Shunfeng) has growing EU network. Excellent Chinese domestic delivery — used by many luxury brands.
China Post (ePacket)	Economy postal	15–30 days	✓	Cheapest for very small parcels. Very slow. Not suitable for commercial or time-sensitive shipments.

Prohibited & Restricted Items

✗Firearms, weapons and military equipment

✗Drugs and narcotics

✗Political materials deemed subversive by Chinese law

✗Religious materials in quantities exceeding personal use

✗Maps showing Taiwan as independent or incorrect Chinese borders

✗Counterfeit goods

✗Certain publications and media content

✗Gambling devices

✗Invasive plant species and soil

✗Endangered species (CITES) and products thereof

✗Encryption products without MIIT approval

Expert Tips for Shipping to China

▸If you export food, wine, cosmetics or infant formula to China, obtain GACC registration before your first shipment — registration can take 2–6 months and without it your goods will be seized at Chinese customs. The GACC CIFER system is the mandatory registration platform for all foreign food facility exporters.
▸For EU B2C brands targeting Chinese consumers, the Cross-Border E-Commerce (CBEC) channel via Tmall Global or JD Worldwide is the most accessible entry point. CBEC allows EU brands to sell in China without physical local presence, at reduced effective duty rates (70% of standard), directly to Chinese consumers in bonded zones.
▸China has a CCC (China Compulsory Certification) requirement for electronics — similar to CE marking but specific to the Chinese market. Electronics for Chinese sale must be CCC-certified before first import. This applies even to products already CE-marked for the EU market.
▸Chinese customs value goods on a CIF basis (Cost + Insurance + Freight). This means the shipping cost is included in the taxable value — higher freight costs = higher customs value = higher duties and VAT. For high-duty goods, consider economy shipping to reduce the customs value base.
▸Chinese consumer demand for European luxury goods is substantial — but the tax burden on formal imports (duty + VAT + consumption tax = 40–80% effective rate on luxury items) drives Chinese consumers to buy in Europe or through CBEC. If your target customers are Chinese tourists buying in Europe, ensure you offer tax-free shopping (détaxe) in EU stores.
▸DHL Express is the preferred carrier for sensitive China shipments (food, cosmetics, electronics) — DHL has dedicated customs teams in Shanghai and Beijing with the best track record for GACC-cleared food imports and complex Chinese customs documentation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is GACC registration and do I need it to export food to China?

GACC (General Administration of Customs China) registration is mandatory for all overseas food facilities exporting food, beverages, agricultural products and cosmetics to China. Registration is done via the CIFER (Custom Information of Foreign Enterprise Registration) system. Processing takes 2–6 months. Without GACC registration, your food shipments will be refused and destroyed at Chinese customs. Wine, olive oil, dairy, meat, seafood, infant formula and health foods all require GACC registration. Cosmetics require separate NMPA notification.

What is Cross-Border E-Commerce (CBEC) and how can EU brands use it?

CBEC (跨境电商) is China's regulatory framework enabling overseas brands to sell directly to Chinese consumers without establishing a local entity. Main CBEC platforms: Tmall Global (Alibaba), JD Worldwide, Kaola (NetEase). How it works: EU brands ship products to a Chinese bonded warehouse. Goods are sold to Chinese consumers via the CBEC platform. When a consumer purchases, the goods clear customs as a personal import at reduced duty rates (70% of standard). CBEC is subject to a RMB 26,000 annual import quota per person. GACC registration is still required for food/cosmetics on CBEC channels.

How long does shipping from Europe to China take?

Express services (DHL, FedEx, UPS): 3–5 business days transit, plus 0–3 business days Chinese customs clearance. Total: 4–8 business days typically. Air freight to bonded warehouses for CBEC: 5–10 business days. Economy postal services: 15–35 business days. DHL Express from Frankfurt or Amsterdam is typically the fastest routing for EU-China express.

What are the import duties and taxes on EU goods entering China?

China applies import duty (关税) on the CIF value, then VAT (增值税) on the post-duty value. Key rates: electronics (ITA) 0% + 13% VAT; wine 14% + 13% VAT; cosmetics 10–50% + 13% VAT + 15% consumption tax; luxury goods 20–60% + 13% VAT + consumption tax; processed food 10–25% + 9–13% VAT. CBEC channel: 70% of the above duty rates + 70% of VAT. There is no comprehensive EU-China FTA, so MFN rates apply for all categories.

Can I sell wine from Europe directly to Chinese consumers?

Yes, through the CBEC channel. EU wine exporters can sell to Chinese consumers via Tmall Global or JD Worldwide at CBEC rates (70% of standard 14% duty = ~10%, plus 70% of 13% VAT). GACC registration for your winery is required. For general trade (B2B wine distribution in China), full duties apply plus health certificate from the EU exporting country's competent authority. The Chinese wine market is large and growing — France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Germany are the main EU wine exporters to China.

Which carrier is best for shipping from Europe to China?

DHL Express is the market leader for EU–China express shipping — multiple daily direct flights from Frankfurt and Amsterdam to Beijing and Shanghai, dedicated Chinese customs teams, and GACC expertise for food/cosmetics shipments. FedEx is competitive particularly for South China (Guangzhou, Shenzhen). For China-specific B2C fulfilment, SF Express (Shunfeng) has a growing EU-China network with outstanding Chinese domestic delivery capabilities used by many luxury brands.

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