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Shipping From China to Germany: 4 Methods, Real Costs, 19% VAT & DDP
If you’re shipping from China to Germany — whether to Amazon FBA, a Berlin warehouse, or direct to a German customer — this page walks through what’s actually happening on the route: the four shipping methods, what per-kg and per-container numbers look like in 2026, the 19% VAT and EORI reality, what LUCID and VerpackG actually require of you, and how the new EU 2026/382 reform changes the customs picture from 1 July 2026.
€2.8/kg
€6.87/kg
3-7 days
1-3 day
Reference pricing only.
Pricing on this page is indicative and reflects carrier tariffs current at the time of publication. Rates change frequently due to fuel surcharges, seasonal demand (October–January peak), carrier rate adjustments, exchange rates, and route-specific conditions. Beyond the per-kg DDP rate, remote area, residential, signature, address correction, and oversize surcharges may apply per carrier and postcode. Specific regulatory details (LUCID, VerpackG, EU 2026/382) are subject to official EUR-Lex and ZSVR guidance and may continue to evolve. For an accurate all-in DDP quote for your specific shipment, contact us on WhatsApp +86 199 0292 5251 — we respond within 1 working hour during China business hours (UTC+8).
1. The 4 Shipping Methods from China to Germany
There are four standard ways to move cargo from China to Germany, and the right one depends on your cargo weight, urgency, and budget. Each method has a different per-kg cost structure, different transit time, and different DDP coverage. Sea DDP FCL is the cheapest per kg (from €2.8/kg on a 40HQ basis), but takes 32-40 days. Air DDP is the fastest DDP option for parcels (7-12 days, from €6.87/kg via consolidated DDP air). Rail DDP sits between them (18-22 days via Duisburg terminal). Express (DHL/FedEx/UPS) is fastest (3-7 days) but has the highest per-kg cost and is not available with full DDP coverage to all postcodes.
| Method | Best For | Transit Time | Reference Price | DDP Available |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Express (DHL/FedEx/UPS) | Samples, urgent parcels under 30 kg, eCommerce small parcels, replacement parts | 3-7 business days | from €10/kg | Limited — courier-level DDP varies by carrier and postcode |
| Air DDP | Mid-weight eCommerce replenishment (100-500 kg), electronics, FBA restock, samples | 7-12 business days | from €6.87/kg (1g start) | Yes — duties + 19% VAT pre-paid |
| Rail DDP | 1-5 CBM eCommerce loads, automotive parts, electronics, palletized commercial cargo | 18-22 business days | from €3.2/kg | Yes — duties + 19% VAT pre-paid, terminal to door |
| Sea DDP | Large shipments, furniture, machinery, Amazon FBA bulk, full container loads | 32-40 days (FCL) / 35-45 days (LCL) | FCL from €2.8/kg · LCL from €80/CBM | Yes — duties + 19% VAT pre-paid |
Method decision rule: under 30 kg urgent → Express. 100-500 kg eCommerce replenishment → Air DDP. 1-5 CBM palletized eCommerce or B2B → Rail DDP. 20+ CBM bulk, FBA inventory, or non-urgent commercial → Sea DDP FCL. Mixed small lots under 15 CBM → Sea DDP LCL.
2. What the Per-Kg and Per-Container Numbers Actually Include
The headline per-kg rates on this page are reference baselines for the transport leg only. The all-in landed cost for a shipment to Germany is the sum of seven components, and most of them are out of the carrier’s hands. Understanding what you’re paying for is the difference between a quote that looks cheap and a quote that delivers.
2.1 The 7 cost components in a DDP quote
- International transport — the per-kg (Air/Express), per-CBM (Sea LCL), or per-container (Sea FCL) base rate. This is the only number most competitors publish.
- Fuel surcharge — updated monthly by carriers; typically 8-22% of transport cost depending on the route and quarter.
- Origin charges in China — factory pickup, export declaration, port/airport handling, FNSKU labeling, poly bagging, palletizing.
- Destination charges in Germany — terminal handling at Hamburg/Bremerhaven/Frankfurt, customs clearance fee (typically €35-€120 per entry), ISPS, THC.
- German 19% import VAT — calculated on (product value + international freight + insurance + duty). For DDP, this is pre-paid by the forwarder.
- Import duties — 0% for most electronics, 2-4% for machinery, 12% for apparel, 14% for bicycles (plus 48.5% anti-dumping duty on Chinese-made bicycles). Goods under €150 are duty-free for most categories but 19% VAT still applies.
- Last-mile delivery — from the German port or warehouse to the final postcode. Standard residential/commercial delivery is included in most DDP rates; remote area, signature, residential, and oversize surcharges may apply per carrier and postcode.
2.2 Sample 100 kg Air DDP shipment, Shenzhen to Berlin
Reference example (October 2026, indicative): 100 kg eCommerce cargo, poly bagged, no batteries, no CE certification needed. Transport €6.87/kg × 100 kg = €687. Fuel surcharge (15%) ≈ €103. Origin handling (export + labeling) ≈ €85. Destination clearance + last-mile to Berlin ≈ €95. German 19% VAT on (€687 + €103 + €85 + €95) ≈ €184. Total all-in landed cost: approximately €1,154. This is reference only; final quote depends on commodity, exact dimensions, postcode, and current fuel rates.
3. German Customs, EORI, and the 19% Import VAT
Germany is the largest economy in the EU and follows the EU Common Customs Tariff. There is no separate German tariff schedule. What makes Germany distinct from US/UK/Canada is the combination of three layers: customs duties (product-HS-code-dependent, often 0% for electronics), import VAT at the standard rate of 19% (with a 7% reduced rate for books, certain food, and medical goods), and the EORI registration requirement for all economic operators involved in customs activities.
3.1 EORI number is mandatory
An EORI (Economic Operators Registration and Identification) number is required for any commercial customs operation in the EU. From 1 November 2026, the EU 2026/382 reform makes EORI mandatory for all economic operators in customs activities, including smaller-volume sellers who may have previously operated under simplified thresholds. The EORI is issued by the German customs authority (Generalzolldirektion) and the application is free. For shipments above €150 in value, the consignee or its appointed representative must hold a valid EORI for the customs declaration. For shipments below €150 using IOSS, the IOSS VAT ID may substitute in some cases, but underlying EORI is still required for non-IOSS movements.
3.2 Import VAT at 19% standard, 7% reduced
Germany’s standard import VAT rate is 19%, applied to the CIF value (cost + insurance + freight) plus any applicable customs duty. A reduced rate of 7% applies to specific product categories including books, newspapers, food for human consumption (some categories), and certain medical goods. For B2C eCommerce shipments below €150, the IOSS (Import One-Stop Shop) scheme allows non-EU sellers to collect VAT at checkout and remit it through a single EU registration, avoiding the recipient having to pay on delivery. The IOSS threshold is currently €150; this is separate from any customs duty threshold. For the full breakdown of EU customs processes including 2026/382 reform timeline and EORI/IOSS application, see our EU Customs Clearance page.
3.3 Import duty ranges by product
Customs duty depends entirely on the HS code. Common reference rates for goods originating in China: laptops, smartphones, and tablets often 0% duty, standard electronics and machinery commonly 2-4%, apparel and clothing commonly 12%, footwear 8-17%, bicycles 14% (plus 48.5% anti-dumping duty on Chinese-made bicycles per current EU regulation). Goods valued under €150 are generally duty-free for most product categories, but the 19% import VAT still applies. Anti-dumping duties are an additional layer that can change without notice and should always be checked against the current EU TARIC database for the specific HS code.
4. LUCID, Verpackungsgesetz, and EPR: What German Packaging Compliance Actually Requires
Germany has three layers of packaging compliance that any seller shipping to German end-consumers must handle. None of these are logistics tasks — they are regulatory registrations owned by the seller (or the seller’s German-authorized representative). We display what each requirement is and refer you to the official source; we do not file LUCID, VerpackG, or EPR registrations on your behalf.
LUCID registration (mandatory for all B2C sellers shipping to Germany)
LUCID is the public packaging register operated by the Stiftung Zentrale Stelle Verpackungsregister (ZSVR). Since 1 July 2022, any manufacturer or first-distributor placing packaged goods on the German market must be registered in LUCID before the goods are shipped. Registration is free, but without a valid LUCID number, German retailers and marketplace platforms (Amazon.de, Otto, Kaufland, MediaMarkt) will reject or delist the seller's products. The registration requires a German or international contact address, a brand name, and a packaging volume forecast. We display this requirement; the registration itself is filed directly with ZSVR at verpackungsregister.org.
Verpackungsgesetz (VerpackG) + dual system participation
LUCID is step 1. Step 2 is participation in a dual system (a recycling scheme licensed in Germany such as Interseroh, Grüner Punkt, Recla, or Landbell). Under the Verpackungsgesetz, every first-distributor of packaged goods sold to German end-consumers must license all sales, shipping, and outer packaging through a dual system, and report packaging volumes. Non-compliance can result in fines up to €200,000 and distribution bans. We display this requirement; the dual system contract and volume reporting must be handled by you or a German compliance service provider.
EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) — WEEE for electronics, batteries, textiles
Beyond packaging, Germany applies Extended Producer Responsibility to specific product categories. WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) registration with the Stiftung EAR is mandatory for any seller placing electrical or electronic equipment on the German market. Battery registration is required for any product containing batteries (including built-in lithium batteries). Textile EPR is in implementation under EU ESPR (Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation). We display these requirements for your reference; the actual registrations are filed with the relevant German authorities or authorized schemes (e.g. stiftung-ear.de for WEEE).
The reason this section is here, and not buried in a sidebar: the four most common reasons for German customs and marketplace rejection of Chinese-origin shipments in 2026 are all compliance-related, not logistics-related. Missing LUCID, missing VerpackG, missing WEEE, and missing EORI together account for more stop-sells than any port congestion or carrier delay.
5. EU 2026/382: The Customs Reform That Changes China-to-Germany in 2026-2028
The EU Customs Reform (Regulation 2026/382) was adopted in 2025 and takes effect in three stages through 2028. Most existing English-language pages about shipping to Germany do not yet cover this — it is the most material regulatory change for eCommerce sellers since the 2021 IOSS implementation. The figures below are subject to official EUR-Lex guidance and may continue to evolve.
5.1 Three effective dates to plan around
- 1 July 2026 — €3 customs fee per commodity classification. A €3 fee applies per commodity classification (not per parcel, not per item count) on certain low-value imports routed through IOSS or designated postal operators, on top of any applicable duty and 19% VAT. The fee is intended to offset the customs processing cost that previously fell on member states. Whether it applies to your shipment depends on the HS code, the declared value, and the import arrangement. For the full regulation text, calculation examples, and the current applicability scope, see our EU Customs Clearance page.
- 1 November 2026 — EORI mandatory for all economic operators in customs activities. The current EORI requirement applies to operations above certain thresholds; the reform extends it to all economic operators involved in any customs activity. Sellers who have been operating under simplified arrangements should plan for EORI registration in 2026.
- 1 July 2028 — EU Customs Data Hub becomes the central platform. All customs declarations across the EU move to a single central platform. The current paper-based and national-system-based filings (Germany’s ATLAS, France’s DELT@) will be phased out. The Data Hub is intended to centralize risk analysis, origin verification, and compliance checks.
5.2 What this means for eCommerce sellers shipping from China to Germany
For high-volume sellers shipping many distinct product types, the per-commodity €3 fee can add up — e.g. a single shipment with 20 distinct HS codes = 20 × €3 = €60 on top of VAT, regardless of how many cartons of each commodity are in the shipment. For sellers shipping one or two product types, the impact is more modest. The Data Hub in 2028 will change how customs brokers file declarations but should not directly affect seller liability. Specific applicability to your shipment should be confirmed with a licensed customs broker against the current EUR-Lex text and the official EU TARIC database for your exact HS codes.
6. Delivering to Amazon FBA Germany: 3 Confirmed Fulfillment Centers
Important distinction up front: Amazon FBA DE fulfillment centers — including FRA3, DUS2, DTM2, and the rest of the network across Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, and Leipzig — are operated by Amazon, not by us. We do not store, pick, pack, or ship orders from these facilities. What we do is the China-to-Amazon-leg work: receive your cartons at our Shenzhen hub, apply FNSKU labels and Amazon’s required carton prep, consolidate across multiple suppliers, and deliver the finished shipment to whichever Amazon FC your inbound shipment ID is assigned to. The 19% VAT and any applicable import duty are pre-paid under DDP; Amazon receives cartons that are ready for sale on Amazon.de.
| FBA DE FC Code | City / Region | Our Recommended Method | Reference Transit Time | Reference Cost (per kg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FRA3 | Frankfurt (Hesse) | Air DDP / Rail DDP | 7-12 d (Air) / 18-22 d (Rail) | from €6.87 (Air) / €3.2 (Rail) |
| DUS2 | Düsseldorf (NRW) | Air DDP / Sea DDP LCL | 7-12 d (Air) / 35-45 d (Sea LCL) | from €6.87 (Air) |
| DTM2 | Dortmund (NRW) | Rail DDP / Sea DDP FCL | 18-22 d (Rail) / 32-40 d (Sea FCL) | from €3.2 (Rail) |
6.1 The FBA DE replenishment rule (volume by method)
For FBA DE replenishment from China, the practical rule based on shipment weight and urgency: under 200 kg urgent restock → Air DDP to FRA3 or DUS2. 200-2,000 kg mid-volume → Rail DDP to DTM2 or DUS2. 2,000+ kg or full container → Sea DDP FCL to Hamburg/Bremerhaven then truck to your assigned FC. Amazon’s FBA DE network includes additional centers in Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, and Leipzig beyond the three above; the specific FC code for your shipment is determined by Amazon when you create the inbound shipment in Seller Central, and we deliver to that code.
6.2 What we handle vs what Amazon handles
What we handle (China side + transit + import): supplier pickup in China, FNSKU labeling, poly bagging, palletization, China export clearance, international transport (Air / Sea FCL / Sea LCL / Rail), German import customs clearance, 19% VAT and import duty pre-payment under DDP, last-mile delivery to the Amazon FBA warehouse address Amazon assigned you. What Amazon handles (after the cartons arrive at the FC): unloading, put-away, inventory storage at the FC, picking, packing, customer shipping, returns processing, customer service, and FBA storage/removal fees. These two halves of the supply chain are billed and managed separately; we do not have access to your Amazon inventory or your FBA fee invoices.
6.3 Carton specifications we apply for FBA DE inbound
Amazon has specific carton requirements that differ from standard B2B freight. We apply these as part of our FBA prep service at the Shenzhen hub: individual FNSKU labels on each sellable unit, suffocation warnings on any poly-bagged item, “Made in China” marking on the outer carton, transparent tape only (no colored tape), Amazon-required carton weight and dimension labels, pallet configuration per Amazon’s pallet requirements, and scheduled delivery appointment booking at the assigned FC. We coordinate against your Amazon inbound shipment ID. For the full FBA prep workflow including FNSKU labeling rates, poly bagging, kitting, and Amazon’s required carton specifications, see our Pick and Pack service page.
6.4 If you don’t want FBA: our Berlin warehouse
For sellers who want to fulfill from Germany themselves (or via their own 3PL) rather than using Amazon FBA, we coordinate inventory management, pick and pack, and shipping through a partner-operated Berlin warehouse. This is a different service from the FBA DE flow above. We do not own or operate overseas warehouses directly: our model is the same as our China-side network (1 self-operated Shenzhen flagship + 5 verified partner hubs). The partner operating the Berlin facility runs the physical warehouse, employs the pick-and-pack team, and ships the B2C orders; we coordinate the China-to-Berlin inbound, sync your orders, and act as your single point of contact. Berlin delivers to any German postcode in 1-3 business days, and 1-2 days to Berlin/Brandenburg. Section 9 below has the full Berlin warehouse pricing, storage, and SLA detail. The FBA DE flow (§6.1–§6.3) and the Berlin overseas-warehouse flow (§9) are independent services; you can use one, both, or switch between them as your sales channels evolve.
7. The 6-Stage Workflow from China Supplier to German Door
Pickup from your supplier
We collect cartons from your factory or warehouse in Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Foshan, Dongguan, Huizhou, Yiwu, Shanghai, Ningbo, or any other China city. Same-day or next-day pickup for orders placed before 14:00 China time.
FBA prep + consolidation at our Shenzhen hub
Cartons are received, FNSKU labeled, poly bagged, palletized, and consolidated at our 2,000+ m² Shenzhen flagship hub (45 min to SZX, 60 min to Yantian). For multi-supplier orders, we consolidate into a single shipment.
China export clearance
We file the export declaration with China customs, prepare commercial invoice and packing list, and confirm HS codes. Standard export clearance adds 1-2 business days; expedited same-day available.
International transport
Air, Sea FCL, Sea LCL, Rail, or Express as selected. Track-and-trace is provided for the entire transport leg. For DDP, the 19% VAT and any applicable duty are paid on your behalf at this stage.
German import clearance
Our German customs broker files the import declaration, applies your EORI (or our appointed representative arrangement), and processes duty/VAT payment. ATLAS electronic filing; typical clearance 1-3 business days.
Last-mile delivery to German address
Cartons are delivered to the German recipient: Amazon FBA warehouse (FRA3 / DUS2 / DTM2 / others), Berlin warehouse, or any commercial / residential address. Last-mile 1-5 business days depending on postcode. Remote area surcharges may apply.
8. 7 Mistakes Sellers Make When Shipping from China to Germany
1. Quoting only the transport leg
Comparing €6.87/kg Air DDP to €3/kg "Air freight" on competitor pages — the competitor is publishing only the transport leg, not the all-in landed cost. The €3/kg rate does not include 19% VAT, customs clearance, or last-mile; the DDP rate does. Compare like-for-like.
2. Skipping LUCID / VerpackG before first shipment
Amazon.de and other German marketplaces will reject listings without a valid LUCID number. Register with ZSVR (free) before your first German shipment, not after the marketplace sends you a stop-sell warning.
3. Treating the €150 threshold as duty-free
Goods under €150 are generally exempt from import duty, but 19% import VAT still applies. The €150 threshold is for duty, not VAT. The new €3 fee from 1 July 2026 applies per commodity classification (not per parcel, not per item count) on certain low-value imports routed through IOSS or designated postal operators, on top of the VAT.
4. Choosing DHL/FedEx for "DDP"
Express couriers offer limited DDP coverage, and DDP terms on courier shipments often exclude remote area postcodes, signature-required addresses, and oversize packages. For B2C eCommerce, Air DDP via consolidated DDP air freight is usually more reliable and cheaper per kg above 50 kg.
5. Forgetting that 19% VAT applies to freight
Import VAT is calculated on CIF (cost + insurance + freight), not just the product value. If your product is €100 and freight is €50, 19% VAT is on €150 = €28.50, not €19. The all-in landed cost is significantly higher than the product price.
6. Using a single all-purpose HS code
Listing all products as "general merchandise" or a single HS code to simplify customs is a common cause of misclassification, additional inspection, and retroactive duty reassessment. Use the actual 6-digit HS code per product line; an additional 2-4 digits for the EU Combined Nomenclature and TARIC if applicable.
7. Booking 5 days before the German warehouse needs the stock
Air DDP is 7-12 days, Rail is 18-22, Sea is 32-40. Peak season (October-January) and Chinese New Year (late January to mid-February) add 5-15 days. Plan 4-6 weeks ahead for Air, 6-8 weeks for Rail, 10-12 weeks for Sea. Buffer for customs inspection (1-5% of shipments) and remote area surcharges.
9. Two Ways to Get Chinese Inventory into the Hands of a German Customer
There are two distinct shipping routes from China to a German end customer, and which one you use depends on your order volume, your delivery speed requirements, and whether you want to hold inventory in Europe. The two routes are not interchangeable — they are different services for different stages of a seller’s growth.
9.1 Route A — Direct from China to the German customer (default for most sellers)
Your inventory stays in our China hubs. When a German customer places an order, the carton ships from China directly to the customer’s German address via Air DDP / Rail DDP / Sea DDP / Express. Last-mile delivery is handled by the carrier’s local network in Germany (DHL, DPD, Hermes, etc.) — it does not touch any of our overseas facilities. Transit time: 7-12 days by air, 18-22 days by rail, 32-40 days by sea, 3-7 days by express. This is the right route for most sellers — dropshippers, low-volume SKUs, first-time market entries, products with uncertain demand, or sellers who want zero inventory risk.
When to use Route A: under 50 orders/day to Germany and surrounding EU markets, dropshipping, new market testing, single-SKU test launches, sellers who do not want to commit to holding inventory in Europe.
9.2 Route B — Pre-position inventory in Berlin for 1-3 day last-mile (high-volume sellers)
When your order volume to Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, and the surrounding EU markets reaches a level where 7-12 day direct-from-China delivery is no longer fast enough, the standard upgrade path is to pre-position inventory in our partner-operated Berlin warehouse. Your supplier ships a bulk order to our China hub, we apply FBA prep or B2C fulfillment prep, and we ship DDP to Berlin in bulk via Air / Rail / Sea. Once cartons are in Berlin, the partner operator stores them, picks each B2C order, packs it, and ships to the German end customer via standard German last-mile carriers. Last-mile delivery is 1-3 business days to any German postcode.
When to use Route B: 50+ orders/day to Germany + EU neighbors, stable SKUs with predictable demand, sellers who need 1-3 day delivery to compete with local EU merchants, brands that have graduated past dropshipping and want a local fulfillment presence without building their own warehouse.
9.3 How to choose between the two routes
The decision rule is volume and predictability. Below 50 orders/day to DE/AT/CH/NL, Route A is more cost-efficient — you pay per shipment, no storage cost, no inventory risk. Above 50 orders/day with stable top-SKUs, Route B’s 1-3 day delivery is a competitive advantage worth the storage and pre-positioning cost. Most sellers start on Route A and graduate to Route B once their top SKUs stabilize. You can run both routes simultaneously: ship top-SKUs in bulk to Berlin for fast local delivery, and ship long-tail or new-test SKUs direct from China. The two routes use the same China hubs, the same DDP rates, and the same order sync — only the last-mile destination is different.
9.4 Onboarding flow (Route A → Route B transition)
The standard flow when graduating from Route A to Route B: (1) start with a sample or first production run to our Shenzhen hub in China , (2) we apply FBA prep or B2C fulfillment prep at the China hub, (3) for your first 3-6 months ship direct to your German customers via Air DDP / Rail DDP / Sea DDP (Route A) while you validate which SKUs actually sell, (4) once your top 10-20 SKUs stabilize, we ship a bulk consolidation DDP to Berlin via Air DDP for 7-12 day delivery or Sea DDP for 32-40 days, (5) cartons are received at the partner-operated Berlin facility and put away within 48 hours, (6) orders sync from your eCommerce platform (Shopify, Amazon, TikTok Shop, eBay, BigCommerce, and more) and are picked, packed, and shipped within 24 hours by the our WMS. For the full China-side network and the 8 global warehouse footprint feeding the Berlin warehouse, see our China warehouse network page and Global warehousing.
10. Frequently Asked Questions
Reference pricing as of October 2026: Express (DHL/FedEx/UPS) from €10/kg for 3-7 day delivery, Air DDP from €6.87/kg (consolidated DDP air, 1g starting weight) for 7-12 day delivery, Rail DDP from €2.50-€3.50/kg for 18-22 day delivery, Sea DDP FCL from €2.8/kg (full container, 40HQ basis) for 32-40 day delivery, Sea DDP LCL from €80-€180/CBM for 35-45 day delivery. Final rates depend on actual vs volumetric weight, cargo type, pickup city in China, German destination postcode, and seasonal demand. Pricing changes frequently due to fuel surcharges and carrier rate adjustments; request a quote for current rates specific to your shipment.
The EU Customs Reform (Regulation 2026/382) was adopted in 2025 and takes effect in stages through 2028. Key changes that affect China-to-Germany shipments: (1) From 1 July 2026, a new €3 customs fee applies per commodity classification (not per parcel, not per item count) on certain low-value imports routed through IOSS or designated postal operators, on top of regular import VAT. (2) From 1 November 2026, EORI is mandatory for all economic operators in customs activities. (3) From 1 July 2028, the EU Customs Data Hub becomes the central platform for all customs declarations. These reforms are subject to official EUR-Lex guidance and may continue to evolve.
Reference transit times as of October 2026, end-to-end: Express (DHL/FedEx/UPS) 3-7 business days, Air DDP 7-12 business days, Rail DDP 18-22 business days, Sea DDP FCL 32-40 calendar days, Sea DDP LCL 35-45 calendar days. From the German port/airport, last-mile delivery to the final German address typically adds 1-5 business days depending on postcode. Peak season (October-January) and Chinese New Year (late January to mid-February) can extend these baselines by 5-15 days.
Yes. DDP is the most common arrangement for Amazon FBA DE shipments from China. Standard flow: supplier delivers to our Shenzhen hub, we apply FNSKU labels and FBA prep, we book space on the chosen method (Air DDP for 100-500 kg, Rail DDP for 1-5 CBM, Sea DDP for 20+ CBM), we ship with duties and 19% VAT pre-paid, and we deliver directly to the Amazon FBA DE fulfillment center you specify (e.g. FRA3 Frankfurt, DUS2 Düsseldorf, DTM2 Dortmund). The German customer sees no extra fees on delivery.
DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) means the seller or freight forwarder handles everything: pickup, export clearance, transport, German import clearance, 19% VAT, import duties, and final delivery. The German recipient pays nothing extra. DDU/DAP means the seller delivers to Germany, but the recipient handles import clearance and pays 19% VAT and duties on delivery. For eCommerce parcels under €150, DDP is strongly recommended because the alternative is a German customer paying €8-€15 in unexpected fees on delivery, which causes 15-25% cart abandonment.
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