With the deepening of China-Europe trade, Slovakia, as one of the logistics hubs in Central and Eastern Europe, is gradually becoming one of the important destinations for Chinese exporters. Cost is the core issue between China and Slovakia. This article will introduce the cost of shipping from China to Slovakia in detail.
Introduction to Slovakia
With the development of cross-border e-commerce and international trade, the demand for logistics in Slovakia continues to grow. The demand for Chinese consumer electronics, clothing, household goods and other commodities continues to grow.
Slovakia is located in central Europe, bordering the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Ukraine. As a transit point to enter the EU market, it is an important logistics distribution center in Central and Eastern Europe.
Factors Affecting the Shipping Cost from China to Slovakia
The cost of transporting from China to Slovakia is more susceptible to fluctuations in various links. The following are factors affecting the cost
- Transportation mode: Air transport and express delivery are usually several times more expensive than railway and sea transport
- Cargo weight and volume: Especially air transport is charged by volume weight, and the cost of light cargo with large volume is higher
- Cargo type: Electric, liquid, and dangerous goods require special operations and are more expensive
- Destination delivery method: Door-to-door (DDP) service costs are higher than door-to-port (DAP) or port-to-port
- International oil prices and exchange rate fluctuations: affect the cost of sea and air transportation
- Customs policy and tax rate: Different goods are subject to different tax rates, whether or not tariff concessions can be enjoyed affects the total cost
- Seasonal and market fluctuations: During peak seasons, transportation capacity is tight and prices rise (such as Double 11 and before Christmas)
Shipping Cost from China to Slovakia
There are three main modes of transport from China to Slovakia: sea freight, air freight and rail freight. Logistics costs are mainly composed of the following parts:
- Basic freight: the cost of sea/rail/air transport
- Departure cost: including pick-up fee, storage fee, customs clearance fee, etc.
- International transportation cost: main journey cost of rail/sea/air/express
- Destination cost: including Slovakia customs clearance fee, VAT (value added tax), import tariffs, delivery fee, etc.
- Additional service fees: such as insurance, bill of lading, storage, packaging, distribution, etc.
Sea Freight Cost from China to Slovakia
Sea transportation is the most economical way. As a landlocked country, Slovakia still needs to rely on ports such as Hamburg, Germany and Rotterdam, Netherlands to enter Slovakia through land transportation.
Sea transportation is usually charged by the volume (cubic meters) or weight (tons) of the goods. If it is container transportation, full container load (FCL) or less than container load (LCL) services are generally selected.
- FCL (Full Container Load): Full container load transportation is charged according to the cost of the container, including loading and unloading, transportation and port fees.
- LCL (Less than Container Load): Less than container load transportation is charged according to the volume or weight of the goods, and the cost will be shared according to the number of goods in the LCL.
| POL (port of loading) | POD (port of discharge) | LCL shipping cost | 20ft container cost | 40ft container cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | Hamburg | $85-$160 | $2150-$3050 | $3000-$4900 |
| Shenzhen | Hamburg | $70-$145 | $2000-$2900 | $3050-$4850 |
| Qingdao | Hamburg | $90-$140 | $2050-$2950 | $3050-$4750 |
| Ningbo | Hamburg | $85-$150 | $2100-$3000 | $3150-$4850 |
| Shanghai | Rotterdam | $70-$145 | $1950-$2850 | $3050-$4700 |
| Shenzhen | Rotterdam | $80-$155 | $1900-$2800 | $3100-$4800 |
| Qingdao | Rotterdam | $90-$165 | $2050-$2950 | $3050-$4750 |
| Ningbo | Rotterdam | $85-$145 | $2000-$2950 | $2950-$4850 |
Air Freight Cost from China to Slovakia
Air freight is the fastest mode of transport, but it is more expensive and is charged by actual weight or volumetric weight. The cost is calculated based on the greater of the volumetric weight or actual weight. The calculation formula is usually: Volumetric weight = length × width × height / 6000.
| Departure Airport (China) | Arrival Airport (Slovakia) | Cost Per KG (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Shanghai Pudong | Bratislava | $5.8 – $10.5 |
| Guangzhou Baiyun | Bratislava | $6.0 – $10.4 |
| Beijing Capital | Bratislava | $5.7 – $9.7 |
| Shanghai Pudong | Kosice | $6.0 – $11.5 |
| Guangzhou Baiyun | Kosice | $5.5 – $10.4 |
| Beijing Capital | Kosice | $5.8 – $10.5 |
Rail Freight Cost from China to Slovakia
Railway transport is through the China-Europe Railway Express. Railway transport is faster than sea transport and cheaper than air transport. It is usually charged by weight (tons) or volume (cubic meters) of the goods. There is usually a certain minimum billing amount and unit billing standard.
| Departure City(China) | Arrival City(Slovakia) | LCL Shipping Cost | FCL Shipping Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chengdu | Bratislava | $155 – $250 / CBM | $5500-$6500 /40FT |
| Chongqing | Bratislava | $160 – $230 / CBM | $5600-$6700 /40FT |
| Xi’an | Bratislava | $170 – $240 / CBM | $5500-$6800 /40FT |
| Chengdu | Kosice | $180 – $250 / CBM | $5800-$6700 /40FT |
| Chongqing | Kosice | $160 – $230 / CBM | $5600-$6700 /40FT |
| Xi’an | Kosice | $180 – $250 / CBM | $5500-$6500 /40F |
Refer to the following shipping costs from China to other countries
How Much Does it Cost to Ship from China to Germany?
How Much Does it Cost to Ship from China to Poland?
Shipping Cost from China to Czech Republic
Taxes and Fees for Shipping from China to Slovakia
Taxes and fees for transporting from China to Slovakia mainly include import duties and value-added tax (VAT). The specific taxes and fees will vary according to the type, value, weight of the goods and Slovakia’s import policy.
Import Duty (Customs Duty)
Import duties are calculated based on the type and value of the goods. As a member of the European Union, Slovakia is subject to the EU’s common tariff policy. The tariff rates for different goods will vary, usually between 0% and 12%, and the tariff rates will be determined based on the HS code (customs commodity code) of the goods.
Slovakia’s VAT is a tax levied on most goods and services, and imported goods are also subject to VAT. The standard VAT rate in Slovakia is 20%
Strategies to Reduce Logistics Costs from China to Slovakia
Optimize transportation methods: choose sea transportation + railway for bulk goods, and combine air transportation + local delivery for urgent goods.
Integrate shipments
Bulk concentrated shipments can reduce the average cost of each piece
Avoid peak logistics periods
Avoid peak logistics seasons (such as November-December) to reduce the impact of freight fluctuations.
Choose DDP service
Save communication costs in the middle links and complexity of customs clearance at the destination
Reasonable packaging
Reduce volume weight and save air or express costs
Use free trade agreements
Some goods can enjoy tariff concessions.
Use China-Europe Express resources
High stability and low cost, it is a popular choice for logistics in Central and Eastern Europe in recent years
Shipping from China to Slovakia is a competition of fine cost control and supply chain management. By choosing the right mode of transportation, controlling the cost structure, and matching with high-quality freight forwarders, you can effectively improve your company’s export competitiveness.