China is one of Hungary’s top trade partners, along with Germany, Poland, and Austria. Hungary’s import of Chinese products has been increasing since 2015, reaching $10.5 billion in 2022. Importers from this country buy primarily electrical and electronic equipment, machinery, medical apparatus, and textiles from China. How do you transport your goods between these two countries? Below we’re discussing shipping from China to Hungary.
Shipping from China to Hungary – Means of transport
Ocean freight from China to Hungary
Ocean freight is the cheapest method of shipping from China to Hungary. Due to its carrying capacity and relatively low price, it’s the most commonly used form of transport in international trade.
When transporting goods by the ocean, one must choose between FCL and LCL transport. Therefore, it’s crucial to know their difference. FCL (Full Container Load) means that a container’s total capacity is used only by one importer/exporter. On the other hand, LCL (Less Container Load) means occupying only a part of a container and sharing the rest with other shippers.
Please note that ocean freight’s advantages come at the expense of the longest transit time among all the means of transport. Thus, it’s not suitable for cargo with a short expiry date.
Main cargo ports in China
- Shanghai
- Shenzhen
- Ningbo-Zhoushan
- Guangzhou
- Qingdao
Main cargo ports in Hungary
- Budapest Port
- Dunaujvaros Port
- Gyor Port
- Komarom Port
Airfreight from China to Hungary
If your load must reach its destination as quickly as possible, airfreight is your way to go. There’s no faster or safer method of shipping other than air transport. However, at the same time, it’s the most costly one. That’s why it’s essential to consider all the crucial factors, such as your cargo’s specification or your budget, before making the final decision. Airfreight is most often used to transport valuable goods, e.g., vehicles or jewelry. It’s also the best way to deliver food, flowers, and pharmaceuticals.
Main cargo airports in China
- Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)
- Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)
- Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN)
- Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport (SZX)
Main cargo airports in Hungary
- Budapest International Airport (BUD)
Is there a rail link from China to Hungary?
The answer is yes; there is even more than one link from various Chinese cities to Hungary. Hungary was the second central and eastern European country after Poland, directly served by an express train from China. The first train that traveled between these two countries departed from Xi’an and arrived in Budapest in 19 days. With the current rail routes leading from China through Hungary, the country may become a hub for China-Europe freight trains.
Currently, such trains are delivering cargo to Hungary starting from Chinese cities, such as:
- Changsha (Hunan Province)
- Xi’an (Shaanxi Province)
- Chengdu (Sichuan Province)
- Chongqing
- Jinan (Shandong Province)
- Ganzhou (Jiangxi Province)
- Jinhua (Zhejiang Province)
Railway transport between China and European countries has been gaining popularity lately. It’s mostly due to its price, which is much lower than airfreight’s, and its transit time – shorter than in ocean freight. Moreover, it enables shipping in containers. It’s definitely a worth considering option if you’re looking for an alternative to the means of transport mentioned above. However, not every type of cargo is allowed to be transported by train. Make sure to check the restrictions beforehand.
Multimodal transport from China to Hungary
You can choose multimodal transport to ship cargo from China to Hungary. There are many different routes you may choose from, leading through other countries and using various means of transportation. For example, your cargo may be delivered by sea from China to Szczecin in Poland through the German city of Hamburg. From there, it would continue its way to Budapest by road.
It can also be delivered by road to Hong Kong. Next, it would be shipped by sea freight to Hamburg and Budapest by road again. Furthermore, you could also incorporate rail transport into a route. There are many different possibilities. Therefore, take your time and consider various ways and methods.
How much does shipping from China to Hungary cost?
Shipping costs depend on the cargo’s type and size, the way of transport, the chosen forwarder, and a few other factors. Before making the final decision, compare at least a few offers from different freight operators. You can easily do it on ShipHub. Just fill in the form on the official website, as shown in the picture below, and the available forwarders will send you their offers. Through ShipHub, you’ll quickly receive an in-depth quote on your shipment.
Visit the platform and plan your shipping from China to Hungary.
Shipping from China to Hungary – Summary
- Hungary’s trade with China keeps increasing. China is one of its most significant trade partners.
- If you want to organize shipping from China to Hungary, consider many different possibilities.
- Ocean freight is the cheapest option and allows transporting goods in containers. However, it’s also the slowest way of shipping.
- Air transport is primarily suitable for products with short expiry dates and valuable cargo. It’s the fastest, safest, and most expensive method.
- If you’re looking for an alternative for the slowest ocean freight and the most costly airfreight, consider rail transport.
- You can also organize multimodal transport, merging different types of transit.
- Before making the final decision, compare at least a few offers from various forwarders on ShipHub. Choose the most suitable means of transport for your package.