Spain is China’s fifth largest trading partner within the EU, and China is Spain’s largest trading partner outside the EU.

As one of the largest European economies, Spain has developed into an important economic force. Also due to the traditional relationship with Latin American countries, strong economic ties still hold. This makes Spain an important transit country in world trade.

The moment we take over the transport to Spain, we ensure that you no longer have to worry about your shipment. Thanks to our many years of experience in transportation and logistics, your shipment from China to Spain is in reliable hands with our partner carriers.

Spain Customs

As a member of the European Union (EU), Spain is also a member of the EU Customs Union. The Spanish customs authority is the Agencia Tributaria (Tax Authority).

In general, EU external import duties are relatively low, especially for industrial goods (3%-5% on average). Applicable customs duty for a specific product imported from selected country of origin can be found on the TARIC website.

The documents required for shipments include (but are not limited to) items such as:

• commercial invoice
• bill of landing or airway bill
• packing list, insurance documents, and
• certificates of origin, sanitation, and ownership (when required).

Spanish customs values shipments at C.I.F. (cost, insurance, and freight) prices. A registered customs agent must clear all shipments through customs. The total costs to clear customs are between 20%-30% of CIF value. This estimate includes tariffs, a 21% Value Added Tax (VAT), plus customs agent and handling fees.

Major Freight Cities in Spain

Madrid, the capital of Spain, is the largest logistics centre with an area of ​​almost six million square kilometres. The logistics park ‘Madrid Plataforma Logistica’ is very popular due to its central location. Almost all shipments can reach the main parts of the country within 24 hours.

Barcelona also plays a critical role. ZAL Port de Barcelona is an important platform within the city’s port. It is only 150 kilometres from France and lies on the Mediterranean Sea, making the conditions ideal. Intermodal transport is also easy from this location.

Seville is also an important logistics centre for Spain. It is located in the south of the country and is ideally placed for freight transport with the Canary Islands, Portugal and North Africa.

Furthermore, the logistics platform in Saragosa is also noteworthy, which finds itself exactly within the transport triangle between Madrid, Barcelona and Bilbao. With a total area of ​​more than thirteen million square kilometres, it is one of the largest logistics complexes in Europe.

Sea Freight from China to Spain

Whether you’re shipping full containers, smaller loads, or valuable goods, we provide the right transport solution tailored precisely to your specific needs. With our customer-focused approach and close collaboration with local partners across Europe, your shipments are in good hands from start to finish.

If you are shipping 100 kg or less, the price for air freight won’t vary much from that of ocean freight. You can simply choose the faster option. If you are shipping more than 100 kg, sea freight will generally be a less expensive option than flying your goods.

Top Container Ports in Spain

With almost 5000 kilometres of coastline and being located on both the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts, it is not surprising that Spain has more than ten deep-sea ports. Thanks to the wide choice of ports, there is always a solution that suits your sea freight shipments.

The main and most convenient port is located in Algeciras on the Bay of Gibraltar, followed by the ports of Valencia and Barcelona.

Valencia Port is the port with the most trade with China among all Spanish ports.

Sea Freight Cost from China to Spain

To determine the rate, we calculate as follows: 1 loading metre = 1750 kg and 1m3 = 333 kg.

The delivery address and pick-up address, the dimensions and weight of the consignment, the duration and the postcode all determine the rate of your pallet transport to a destination in Spain. For example, is your pallet, europallet or block pallet stackable during transport or is a tailgate required at the loading address or at the recipient in Spain. All these factors ultimately determine the rate we can offer to Spain.

⬇️How much is shipping to a business address in Spain by SEA?⬇️

26KG+	51KG+	101KG+	1001KG+
€1.80/kg	€1.50/kg	€1.35/kg	€1.30/kg

Sea Freight Transit Time from China to Spain

Average ocean freight transit time to Spain is 25-30 days from China.

Air Freight from China to Spain

Air freight is usually used for heavier and/or large shipments than parcels, and shipments that need to arrive on site faster than via sea freight. Whether you want to save some money on shipping costs, value convenience over speed, or have time-sensitive parcels that need to reach your customers urgently – you have a variety of options to choose from.

• If your shipment is not urgent, choose our standard economical solution.
• If you are looking to send time-sensitive parcel, opt for the express delivery service.

The speed comes at a price. In most cases, air shipping is much more costly than sea freight.

Top Airports in Spain

There are 48 airports in Spain, and the three largest airports in terms of traffic volume are:

• Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD)
• Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport (BCN)
• Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI)

Among them, Barajas Airport and El Prat Airport are among the top ten airports in the European Union. Easy intermodal transport can be organised from the airports.

Other important airports in Spain are:

• Málaga Airport (AGP)
• Gran Canaria Airport (LPA)
• Tenerife South Airport (TFS)
• Alicante International Airport (ALC)
• Valencia Airport (VLC)
• Ibiza Airport (IBZ)

Currently, five Chinese airlines have opened nine direct flights between China and Spain, with about 30 flights per week between the two countries. In addition, Spain’s Iberia Airlines has also opened a direct flight from Madrid to Shanghai.

Air Freight Cost from China to Spain

The air rate between Spain and China can vary depending on the specific airports of departure and arrival, the airline and air service being used.

With express courier shipping service providers like FedEx, DHL, UPS, etc., we can also help you provide express shipping or courier services to ship small packages. It can help you minimize transit time and save resources to complete the shipment.

⬇️How much is shipping to a business address in Spain by AIR?⬇️

26KG+	51KG+	101KG+
€7.05/kg	€6.65/kg	€6.40/kg

Air Freight Transit Time from China to Spain

Shipping your cargo across the ocean by air is the fastest option. Your goods can reach Spain in as little as 1-3 days. While that’s longer than the actual flight time, remember that your cargo needs to pass customs and security checks, which adds to the overall transit time.

Economy-class air service takes longer: 7-10 days.

Working with CFC

While ocean shipping offers the cheapest and volume-based pricing, it is slow and may cause delays in your supply chain. Air freight is fast and reliable, but it can be expensive and has multiple rules and restrictions you must abide by.

We offer different types of transport to and from Spain. Whether it concerns general cargo, less-than-truckload or full-truckload shipping, air freight, sea freight, rail freight or freight transport – we will ensure that your goods arrive at their destination safely and on time.

In December 2014, the first international freight train connecting Europe and Asia arrived at the Madrid freight station in Spain, opening a new chapter in the history of China-Europe trade and transportation. The train departed from Yiwu China, passed through seven countries and took 21 days.

CFC can manage all your shipping needs from China to Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Zaragoza, Bilbao, Alicante, Granada or any city in Spain.

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