China and Iran are important trading partners, and bilateral trade volume continues to grow. Understanding the logistics transportation time and process from China to Iran is crucial to the smooth development of Sino-Iranian trade. This article will introduce the time of shipping from China to Iran.
How to Ship from China to Iran
There are two main modes of transportation from China to Iran: sea and air, each with its own characteristics, and you can choose according to the urgency of the goods.
Sea freight
Sea freight is the most commonly used mode of transportation for Sino-Iranian trade. Goods are shipped from major Chinese ports (such as Shanghai, Ningbo, and Qingdao) to Bandar Abbas or Imam Khomeini Port in Iran. Sea transportation costs are relatively low and are suitable for bulk goods and non-urgent goods.
Air freight
This is the fastest way to ship goods and is ideal for urgent or high value items. Although the cost is higher, the delivery time is faster and suitable for small-volume shipments. Fly directly from major Chinese airports to airports in Tehran, Isfahan, etc. Commonly used for electronic products and medical supplies
Shipping Process from China to Iran
The main steps of transportation to Iran include:
- Cargo preparation: prepare the goods according to the contract requirements and ensure that the packaging of the goods meets the standards for sea or air transportation.
- Customs declaration and inspection: declare the value, quantity and other information of the goods to the customs and accept the inspection of the customs. If necessary, commodity inspection is also required.
- Shipment or loading: After the goods pass the inspection, they will be loaded on the scheduled ship or aircraft.
- Transportation: The goods begin their journey by sea or air.
- Arrival at the port of destination or airport: After the ship or aircraft arrives at the port of destination or airport in Iran, the importer needs to go through customs clearance procedures and pay the relevant fees.
- Pickup and delivery: After completing the customs clearance procedures, the importer can pick up the goods and deliver them according to the contract requirements.
Time of Shipping from China to Iran
The shipping time from China to Iran depends not only on the selected mode of transportation, but also on a variety of factors:
- Route selection: The selected route and port will affect the overall shipping time, for example, direct routes are usually faster.
- Port congestion: Congestion at the port of departure or destination may cause delays in loading and unloading, thereby increasing the shipping time.
- Weather conditions: Bad weather (such as storms, rainy seasons) may cause shipping delays.
- Nature of cargo: Some special cargo (such as dangerous goods, perishable items) may require additional processing time.
Sea Freight Time from China to Iran
Shipping routes from China to Iran usually depart from major ports such as Shanghai, Shenzhen or Guangzhou, with the destination being Port Hormuz or Bandar Abbas. The entire shipping process generally takes 30 to 40 days, depending on the route, transshipment conditions and port busyness.
| POL (Port of Loading) | POD (Port of Discharge) | Transport time (days) |
| Shenzhen Port | Hormuz Port | 30-38 days |
| Shanghai Port | Hormuz Port | 32-39 days |
| Ningbo Port | Hormuz Port | 33-38 days |
| Guangzhou Port | Hormuz Port | 33-37 days |
| Shanghai Port | Bandar Abbas Port | 30-38 days |
| Shenzhen Port | Bandar Abbas Port | 30-40 days |
| Ningbo Port | Bandar Abbas Port | 30-38 days |
| Guangzhou Port | Bandar Abbas Port | 31-38 days |
Air Freight Time from China to Iran
Air freight routes from China to Iran usually depart from major airports such as Beijing Capital International Airport, Shanghai Pudong International Airport or Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, and the destination is mainly Iran’s Murtala Muhammad International Airport (Lagos) or other major airports. Air freight time is usually between 3 and 7 days, depending on the airline, flight schedule and customs clearance speed.
| Departure Airport | Arrival Airport | Transport time (days) |
| Beijing Capital | Murtala Muhammad | 3-7 days |
| Guangzhou Baiyun | Murtala Muhammad | 3-6 days |
| Shanghai Pudong | Murtala Muhammad | 3-5 days |
| Beijing Capital | Tehran Imam Khomeini | 3-6 days |
| Guangzhou Baiyun | Tehran Imam Khomeini | 3-7 days |
| Shanghai Pudong | Tehran Imam Khomeini | 4-7 days |
If you want to know the shipping time to other countries you can read:
How Long Does it Take to Ship from China to Kuwait
How Long Does it Take to Ship from China to Dubai
How Long Does it Take to Ship from China to Saudi Arabia?
How to Shorten the Time of Ship from China to Iran
In order to shorten the time of transport from China to Iran, the following measures can be taken:
Choose a fast transport method
For goods with high timeliness requirements, it is recommended to choose air transport to increase the overall transportation speed.
Optimize routes
Choose shorter routes or more efficient route combinations.
Strengthen port operations
Improve the efficiency of loading and unloading goods at ports and reduce waiting time.
Prepare goods and book transportation services in advance
Try to prepare goods before the peak transportation period and book warehouses in advance to avoid delays.
Prepare documents in advance
Ensure that all customs clearance documents are complete, authentic and valid to avoid customs clearance delays.
Work with professional freight forwarders
Choose a freight forwarding company with rich experience in the Middle East to handle customs clearance procedures more efficiently and reduce port stay time.
Cost of Shipping from China to Iran
Shipping costs vary depending on factors such as shipping method, cargo weight, cargo value, etc. Below are the costs for the most common 20ft and 40ft containers shipped from China to Iran.
| POL (port of loading) | POD (port of discharge) | 20ft container cost | 40ft container cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | Bandar Abbas | $1850-$2450 | $2800-$3800 |
| Shenzhen | Bandar Abbas | $1700-$2300 | $2550-$3650 |
| Qingdao | Bandar Abbas | $1550-$2450 | $2650-$3750 |
| Ningbo | Bandar Abbas | $1650-$2300 | $2550-$3650 |
| Shanghai | Tehran | $1750-$2450 | $2850-$3800 |
| Shenzhen | Tehran | $1600-$2400 | $2700-$4000 |
| Qingdao | Tehran | $1650-$2500 | $2650-$3900 |
| Ningbo | Tehran | $1700-$2450 | $2750-$3850 |
Documents Required for Shipping from China to Iran
During the process of shipping from China to Iran, a series of documents need to be prepared to complete the customs clearance procedures. These documents include:
- Customs declaration: record the name, quantity, value and other information of the goods in detail.
- Commercial invoice: list the value, quantity, type and other information of the goods in detail.
- Packing list: list the name, quantity, weight and other information of the goods in detail.
- Certificate of origin: prove the origin and value of the goods to avoid unnecessary trade barriers.
The shipping time from China to Iran depends on many factors. Through this article, you can understand the shipping process and choose the right freight forwarder to effectively shorten the shipping time. Understanding and being familiar with the details and optimization methods of shipping from China to Iran will help improve logistics efficiency.