Door-to-door shipping is the simplest way to move goods from China to Europe. One forwarder, one point of contact, one invoice, covering every step from the factory floor in China to the consignee's warehouse in Europe. Great Hensen's door-to-door service is built on our operational presence at both ends: our headquarters at Qingdao port for China-side operations, and our network of 50+ agent countries including full customs brokerage capability in all major European markets. This is the service our clients use to move entire factories, ship heavy equipment door-to-door, and manage JIT automotive supply chains.
Door-to-Door Service breakdown by stage
Stage 1: China Origin (Factory to Port)
- Factory pickup: Truck dispatched to your factory address in China. Standard truck types: 40ft flatbed, 20ft/40ft container chassis, or specialized trailers for OOG cargo.
- Container stuffing: At factory (shipper-loaded) or at our bonded CFS near Qingdao port (carrier-loaded). For DG cargo, we ensure IMGD-compliant stuffing with segregation, securing, and placarding.
- China export customs: We prepare and submit the export declaration to China Customs. Required documents: commercial invoice, packing list, export contract, and any product-specific certificates (DG packaging certificate, CCIC inspection for used machinery, etc.). China export clearance typically takes 1-2 days.
- Port handover: Container delivered to terminal, VGM (Verified Gross Mass) filed, loading confirmed. For DG cargo, Maritime DG Declaration filed with the Maritime Safety Administration (MSA).
Stage 2: International Transit (Port to Port / Airport to Airport / Terminal to Terminal)
| Mode | Transit Time | Document | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sea Freight | 28-38 days | Bill of Lading (B/L) | Port-to-port under Hague-Visby Rules |
| Air Freight | 3-5 days | Air Waybill (AWB) | Airport-to-airport under Warsaw/Montreal Convention |
| Rail Freight | 15-18 days | CIM Consignment Note | Terminal-to-terminal under CIM/COTIF |
For specific transit details by mode and destination, see our individual trade lane pages: sea to Germany, air to UK, rail to Europe, etc.
Stage 3: Europe Destination (Port/Airport to Door)
- Import customs clearance: We handle the destination country's customs entry through our local customs broker network. For EU countries, this is an EORI-based electronic entry. For the UK, this is a CDS entry. For non-EU European countries (Switzerland, Norway), separate procedures apply.
- Duty and VAT payment: Under DDP terms, we calculate, pay, and include all import duties and VAT in your door-to-door quote. You receive one all-inclusive price, no surprise charges at delivery. We can also arrange deferment accounts or postponed VAT accounting where applicable.
- Last-mile delivery: Truck delivery from port/airport to your specified address. Within most EU countries, this is 1-3 days for sea freight destinations and 1-2 days for air freight.
- Proof of Delivery (POD): Signed CMR waybill or consignee receipt confirming delivery completion.
Door-to-Door timeline by mode
| Stage | Sea Freight | Air Freight | Rail Freight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Factory pickup | 1-3 days | 1 day | 1-3 days |
| China export clearance + handover | 2-4 days | 1-2 days | 1-2 days |
| International transit | 28-35 days | 3-5 days | 15-18 days |
| EU import clearance + duty/VAT | 2-4 days | 1-2 days | 1-2 days |
| Last-mile delivery | 1-3 days | 1-2 days | 1-2 days |
| Total (typical) | 45-55 days | 10-14 days | 25-30 days |
Add 2-5 days for DG cargo (documentation preparation and carrier DG approval). Add 3-7 days during peak season (Q4 for air and sea). For time-critical shipments, we recommend building in contingency buffer: plan for the upper end of the range, not the minimum.
DDP vs other incoterms
| Incoterm | What Seller Pays | What Buyer Pays | Risk Transfer Point |
|---|---|---|---|
| EXW | Nothing beyond factory gate | Everything from factory gate onward | Factory gate |
| FOB | Factory to loaded on vessel | Ocean freight, insurance, import clearance, delivery | On board vessel at China port |
| CIF | Factory to destination port + insurance | Import clearance, duties/VAT, delivery from port | On board vessel at China port |
| DAP | Everything except import duties/VAT | Import duties and VAT only | At named place in destination country |
| DDP | EVERYTHING including import duties/VAT | Nothing, just receive the goods | At buyer's premises |
DDP is ideal for: first-time importers unfamiliar with European customs, e-commerce sellers shipping to Amazon FBA Europe, companies importing into multiple EU countries with different customs systems, and buyers who want one fixed price with no customs surprises. For experienced importers with their own deferment accounts and customs brokers, DAP (Delivered at Place) is often equally efficient and lower cost.
Cost factors in door-to-door pricing
A door-to-door quote bundles many cost components. Understanding them helps you evaluate quotes:
- China-side costs: Trucking to port, CFS handling, export customs brokerage, documentation fees, terminal handling (THC), and for DG: DG declaration, packaging inspection
- International freight: Ocean freight / air freight / rail freight as the largest single cost component
- Destination-side costs: Terminal handling at destination port/airport, customs brokerage, customs entry fees, inspection fees (if applicable)
- Duties and VAT: Calculated on CIF value (goods value + freight + insurance) at the destination country's duty rate (varies by HS code, typically 0-12% for manufactured goods from China) and VAT rate (19-27% depending on country)
- Last-mile delivery: Trucking from port/airport to final address, varies by distance and access (residential delivery surcharge, tail-lift truck requirement, etc.)
- Insurance: All-risk cargo insurance typically at 0.2-0.5% of cargo value
Great Hensen's door-to-door quotes include all of the above in a single line-item price. No hidden charges at delivery. For complex shipments (DG, OOG, multi-country), we provide a transparent cost breakdown so you understand where your money goes.
Relevant Case Studies
- Factory Relocation Cross-Border, Full door-to-door relocation of a manufacturing plant from Shandong, China to Serbia, including breakbulk heavy machinery and containerized components, with multi-country transit through the EU.
- Heavy Equipment Export on Flat Racks, Door-to-door delivery of oversize construction equipment from China to destination port, including lashing plan, securing scheme, and destination clearance.
- Bonded Warehouse JIT Automotive, Door-to-door JIT delivery of automotive components from Qingdao bonded warehouse to German auto manufacturer production line.
Related: Multimodal China-Europe → | Bonded Warehousing & JIT → | Factory Relocation Case Study →
Frequently Asked Questions
What is DDP door-to-door shipping from China to Europe?
DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) is the most comprehensive Incoterm for importers. Under DDP, Great Hensen handles and pays for everything: factory pickup in China, Chinese export customs clearance, international freight (sea/air/rail), European import customs clearance including all duties and VAT, and last-mile truck delivery to your door. You receive the goods at your premises with nothing to handle and nothing to pay at the border. DDP is especially popular for e-commerce sellers shipping to Amazon FBA Europe, first-time importers, and companies importing into multiple EU countries where local customs complexity would otherwise be a barrier.
How long does door-to-door shipping from China to Europe take?
Typical door-to-door cycles by mode: Sea freight, 45-55 days. Air freight, 10-14 days. Rail freight, 25-30 days. These timelines include factory pickup, Chinese export clearance, international transit, EU import clearance including duty/VAT payment, and last-mile delivery to your address. Specific timelines depend on cargo type (DG adds 2-5 days for documentation and carrier approval), destination country customs efficiency, and seasonal congestion (Q4 adds 3-7 days for air and sea). We recommend planning for the upper end of these ranges with contingency buffer.
What documentation does Great Hensen handle for door-to-door?
We handle the complete documentation package: Chinese export documents (export declaration, customs clearance, VGM, DG declaration if applicable), international transport documents (B/L for sea, AWB for air, CIM consignment note for rail), EU import documents (customs entry in the destination country's system, EORI-based declaration, duty and VAT calculation and payment), product compliance documents (CE/UKCA marking declarations, Certificates of Origin, product-specific certificates as required), DG documentation across all applicable modes (IMDG, IATA DGR, RID, ADR declarations, MSDS in destination language, packaging certificates), and local delivery documentation (CMR waybill, Proof of Delivery).
Can I do DDP to multiple EU countries from one Chinese factory?
Yes. Great Hensen handles multi-country DDP shipments from a single Chinese origin. The most efficient approach depends on volumes: for large volumes per country, we ship directly to each country's port/airport and clear locally. For smaller volumes to multiple countries, we consolidate to a single EU entry point (typically Rotterdam or Hamburg), clear Dutch/German customs, then use bonded transit (T1) to move goods to the other countries where local VAT is accounted for. This avoids clearing customs in every country. Many of our clients combine our bonded warehousing service with multi-country DDP, goods arrive in Rotterdam bonded, and we release and deliver to each EU country on demand.