With the increase in trade volume between China and Portugal, it is crucial for companies looking to maintain competitiveness in international trade to understand the transportation time of different modes of transportation. This article will provide a detailed introduction to the shipping time from China to Portugal.

Shipping From China To Portugal | Sea & Air Freight Rates

Geographical Location of Portugal

Located at the southwestern tip of Europe, bordering the Atlantic Ocean and African continent, Portugal is a natural gateway to the European market. The following are different trading ports and airports in Portugal:

Major ports in Portugal

• Port of Lisbon: Portugal’s largest and most versatile port, located in the capital, handles a variety of cargo, including containers, bulk and project cargo, providing good connections to inland and European destinations.
• Port of Leixoes: It is located near Porto and is one of the busiest ports in Portugal. It is well known for its efficient container handling capabilities.
• Port of Sines: A deep-water port as a major hub for international trade, it is ideal for bulk cargo, including bulk cargo and full container loads, and can directly connect to major European logistics networks.

Major airports in Portugal

• Lisbon International Airport: It is the largest airport in Portugal and a major hub for international cargo transportation. Providing fast cargo forwarding services,
• Porto Airport: Located in northern Portugal, it is the second largest international airport in Portugal and one of the important air transport hubs. It is well-known for its efficient cargo handling capacity and proximity to major industrial areas.
• Faro Airport: Participates in some cargo operations and handles a small amount of air cargo.

Factors Affecting Shipping Time from China to Portugal

Choice of Transportation Mode

Sea Freight takes longer, but it is suitable for large-volume and bulk goods, and the freight is relatively low. Air Freight takes shorter, but it is suitable for high-value, time-sensitive goods, and the cost is higher.

Route and Port Selection

Different route and port selection will affect the transportation time. Choosing a direct route can effectively reduce the stopover time.

Weather and Seasonal Factors

Bad weather and natural disasters (such as typhoons and blizzards) may cause transportation delays. In addition, the surge in transportation demand during holidays (such as the Spring Festival, Christmas, etc.) may also affect the timeliness.

Customs and customs clearance time

Complex customs clearance procedures or lack of appropriate documents may cause the goods to be detained after arriving at the destination, thereby affecting the transportation timeliness.

Cargo Type

Different types of goods have different requirements for transportation timeliness. Perishable goods (such as fresh products) have very high requirements for transportation timeliness, and special goods (such as dangerous goods) may require additional processing time.

Shipping Time from China to Portugal

There are two main modes of transportation from China to Portugal: Sea Freight and Air Freight. The choice depends on the characteristics of the goods, time requirements and budget.

Sea Freight Time from China to Portugal

Sea Freight is the most common and economical way to transport from China to Portugal. Shipping companies usually depart from major ports in China (such as Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, etc.), pass through European ports (such as Lisbon or Porto), and finally arrive in Portugal. 

The time for sea transportation from China to Portugal is usually between 30 and 40 days, depending on factors such as routes, weather and midway stops. Below are the detailed shipping times from China to Portugal:

POL (port of loading)	POD (port of discharge)	Shipping time (days)
Shanghai	Lisbon	30-36 days
Shenzhen	Lisbon	29-35 days
Qingdao	Lisbon	30-37 days
Ningbo	Lisbon	31-38 days
Shanghai	Leixoes	30-38 days
Shenzhen	Leixoes	31-40 days
Qingdao	Leixoes	32-37 days
Ningbo	Leixoes	30-38 days
Shanghai	Sines	32-38 days
Shenzhen	Sines	31-40 days
Qingdao	Sines	31-38 days
Ningbo	Sines	30-39 days

Ranking of China's Top 10 Key Freight Ports in 2025

Air Freight Time from China to Portugal

For goods that need to be delivered quickly and urgently, air transportation is the most suitable option. Air transportation is not only fast, but also provides high security. It takes about 4-7 days for goods to arrive from major airports in China to major airports in Portugal, including flight time, loading and unloading, and customs procedures.

Departure Airport (China)	Arrival Airport (Portugal)	Shipping time (days)
Shanghai Pudong	Lisbon	5-7 days
Guangzhou Baiyun	Lisbon	4-6 days
Beijing Capital	Lisbon	4-6 days
Shanghai Pudong	Porto	4-6 days
Guangzhou Baiyun	Porto	4-7 days
Beijing Capital	Porto	5-6 days
Shanghai Pudong	Faro	4-7 days
Guangzhou Baiyun	Faro	5-7 days
Beijing Capital	Faro	4-7 days

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How to Optimize the Shipping Time from China to Portugal

Choose the following appropriate strategies to optimize transportation timeliness

Choose the right mode of transportation

Choose sea or air transportation according to the urgency of the goods and the cost budget.

Optimize logistics routes

Choose direct routes or ports to avoid stops or transfers, which can reduce unnecessary delays.

Prepare customs clearance documents in advance

Prepare all necessary customs clearance documents and certificates in advance to ensure that the goods can pass through customs smoothly and avoid delays caused by customs clearance issues.

Optimize packaging

Ensure that the packaging of goods meets transportation requirements to reduce damage and delays.

Choose a reliable logistics company

Choose an international logistics company with rich experience to reduce delays caused by improper operation.Top 10 Freight Forwarders Agencies In China In 2025.

Arrange transportation plans reasonably

Avoid arranging transportation during holidays and peak periods, choose normal transportation, and reduce delays caused by excessive transportation demand.

Book in advance

Book space in advance to avoid delays during peak periods.

Track goods in real time

Use the logistics tracking system to grasp the dynamics of goods in real time and deal with abnormal situations in a timely manner.

Step-by-step Process from China to Portugal

There are several basic steps involved in shipping goods from China to Portugal, and understanding its transportation steps will help you understand the shipping time efficiency. Here is a detailed breakdown of the typical workflow:

Booking and Planning

Choose a reliable freight forwarder to manage your shipment. Cargo information, including weight, dimensions, cargo type, and destination port. Depending on the volume of your cargo, choose full container shipping (FCL) or less than container shipping (LCL), air freight.

Cargo Preparation

Ensure that the cargo is securely packaged for long-distance sea transportation. Use pallets and protective materials to prevent damage. Clearly mark the consignee details, shipping instructions, and handling requirements on the cargo. Cargo from multiple shippers is consolidated into a single container at the warehouse.

Shipping from China to Portugal

Aircraft, ships depart from Chinese ports or airports to Portugal, depending on the flight, route. The freight forwarder provides tracking updates to monitor the progress of the cargo.

Portugal Import Clearance

Submit import documents to Portugal Customs, including:

• Commercial Invoice
• Packing List
• Bill of Lading
• Any required certificates or licenses (such as phytosanitary certificates for agricultural products).

Inspection

Customs may inspect the goods to verify that they comply with import regulations.

Payment of Duties and Taxes

Applicable VAT and import duties are paid based on the CIF value of the goods.

Final Delivery

After customs clearance, the goods will be unloaded at the port of destination or airport. Arrange transportation from the port to the consignee’s location in Portugal.

This article provides an in-depth analysis of the transportation time of goods from China to Portugal, covering the two main modes of sea freight and air freight, and analyzes the factors and coping methods that affect the transportation time of goods.

In addition, the article also provides a detailed transportation schedule from major ports in China to major ports in Portugal, and explores how to optimize transportation time, such as choosing suitable transportation methods, optimizing logistics routes, preparing customs clearance documents in advance, optimizing packaging, and selecting reliable logistics companies.

Finally, the article provides an overview of the transportation process from China to Portugal, helping readers gain a comprehensive understanding of the entire transportation process.