With the increasing economic and trade exchanges between China and Bulgaria, more and more Chinese-made goods are entering the Bulgarian market through various modes of transportation. Cost is the core issue of shipping from China to Bulgaria. This article will introduce the transportation costs between the two countries in detail.
Introduction to Bulgaria
As a member of the European Union in Southeast Europe, Bulgaria has seen steady economic growth and a continuously improving business environment in recent years. Bulgaria is located in the southeast of the Balkan Peninsula, bordering Greece to the south and Turkey to the southeast. It is one of the key passages of the Eurasian Continental Bridge.
This makes it an important player in regional trade. The country relies on imports to meet consumer and industrial needs, especially goods from China.
Factors Affecting the Shipping Cost from China to Bulgaria
Various factors can cause fluctuations in logistics costs, including but not limited to:
- Transportation mode selection: sea transportation is cheap but slow, air transportation is expensive but fast, and railways are in the middle.
- Type of goods: dangerous goods, cold chain, and valuables require special handling.
- Transportation distance and number of transits: direct or not, and the number of transits affect the cost.
- Seasonal factors: Costs rise significantly during peak seasons (such as Black Friday and Christmas).
- Exchange rate fluctuations: Fluctuations in the exchange rate between the US dollar and the RMB will affect the total cost.
- Changes in fuel prices: Affect sea and air freight surcharges.
- Customs clearance efficiency and policy changes: Slow customs clearance or policy changes will delay and increase costs.
Shipping Cost from China to Bulgaria
Logistics from China to Bulgaria can choose a variety of transportation methods, including sea freight and air freight. The total transportation cost consists of multiple links, mainly including
- Sea/air/rail freight: core transportation costs, depending on the mode of transportation, cargo volume/weight
- Origin costs: including loading, trailers, port fees, customs declaration, etc.
- Customs clearance and destination costs: including Bulgarian customs clearance, value-added tax, tariffs, document fees, etc.
- Insurance costs: optional, calculated based on the proportion of cargo value
- Warehousing and distribution costs: temporary warehousing at the destination, inland transportation, etc.
LCL Shipping Cost from China to Bulgaria
LCL (Less than Container Load) means that the volume and weight of the goods are not enough to fill a standard container, and the goods of different customers are mixed together for transportation. The cost is calculated based on the volume (cubic meters) or weight (tons) of the goods. The common cost range is as follows:
| POL (port of loading) | POD (port of discharge) | LCL Shipping Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | Varna | $100-$160 |
| Shenzhen | Varna | $105-$155 |
| Ningbo | Varna | $110-$160 |
| Qingdao | Varna | $105-$160 |
| Shanghai | Burgas | $100-$155 |
| Shenzhen | Burgas | $115-$160 |
| Ningbo | Burgas | $110-$155 |
| Qingdao | Burgas | $100-$160 |
Cost of Shipping 20ft and 40ft Containers from China to Bulgaria
Full container load means that the cargo is enough to fill a container. The entire container is transported by a single owner and all costs are borne by the owner. The cost of full container load is usually calculated based on the size of the container:
| POL (port of loading) | POD (port of discharge) | 20ft container cost | 40ft container cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | Varna | $1550-$3050 | $3500-$5000 |
| Shenzhen | Varna | $1500-$3000 | $3450-$4950 |
| Ningbo | Varna | $1550-$2900 | $3650-$4850 |
| Qingdao | Varna | $1450-$3050 | $3350-$4800 |
| Shanghai | Burgas | $1600-$3100 | $3650-$4850 |
| Shenzhen | Burgas | $1550-$3050 | $3500-$4800 |
| Ningbo | Burgas | $1450-$3050 | $3750-$4950 |
| Qingdao | Burgas | $1550-$2950 | $3350-$4800 |
Air Freight Cost from China to Bulgaria
Air freight is the fastest mode of transport, but it is more expensive and is usually calculated based on the volumetric weight (comparison of volume to weight) or actual weight of the goods. The calculation formula is usually: Volumetric weight = length × width × height / 6000. The cost is calculated based on the larger part of the volumetric weight or actual weight.
| Departure Airport (China) | Arrival Airport (Bulgaria) | Cost Per KG (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Shanghai Pudong | Sofia | $5.80 – $8.50 |
| Guangzhou Baiyun | Sofia | $6.00 – $8.60 |
| Beijing Capital | Sofia | $5.90 – $8.40 |
| Shanghai Pudong | Plovdiv | $5.70 – $7.70 |
| Guangzhou Baiyun | Plovdiv | $5.80 – $9.20 |
| Beijing Capital | Plovdiv | $6.00 – $8.50 |
Refer to the following shipping costs from China to other countries:
How Much Does it Cost to Ship from China to Romania?
How Much Does it Cost to Ship from China to Greece?
How Much Does it Cost to Ship from China to Turkey
Strategies to Reduce the Shipping Cost from China to Bulgaria
Choosing the following strategies can effectively reduce the cost of shipping from China to Bulgaria:
Select the transportation method reasonably
Choose the most suitable transportation method based on the value of the goods and the timeliness requirements.
Plan in advance
Avoid the tight shipping space during the peak season and avoid the transportation peak before the holidays.
Use the LCL service
Small and medium-sized sellers can combine the transportation of goods and share the cost.
Optimize packaging design
Reduce volume and weight, reduce billing costs, and use standardized pallets to increase the loading rate by 15-20%.
Pay attention to the EU tariff preferential policies
Understand the rules of origin and whether you enjoy tariff reductions.
Cooperate with reliable freight forwarders
Reduce intermediate links and avoid repeated costs.
Fully insure to avoid losses
Insuring high-value goods can reduce the indirect costs caused by potential risks.
How to Find the Best Freight Forwarding
Choosing a professional, efficient and transparent freight forwarder is the key to ensuring smooth transportation and controlling costs. The following are the evaluation criteria:
- Professional qualifications: whether there is an international freight forwarding certificate, membership of organizations such as WCA or FIATA.
- Rich experience in European business: familiar with Bulgaria and the EU customs clearance process.
- Comprehensive service coverage: whether door-to-door, double clearance, warehousing, tax payment and other services are provided.
- Reasonable and transparent prices: whether the fees are clear and there are no hidden charges.
- Customer reputation and cases: whether there are successful cases of China Insurance Transportation, you can refer to customer reviews.
- Provide tracking system: real-time tracking and timely feedback on logistics status.
The logistics routes for transporting goods from China to Bulgaria are diverse and the cost structure is complex. Through this article, you can optimize the process, choose a professional freight forwarder, improve efficiency and control costs. Understand the clear structure of transportation costs and strategies to reduce them