Shipping from China to Saudi Arabia | Sea & Air Freight Rates

Presou Logistics Company News 27 Feb 2025

How Much Does It Cost To Shipping From China To Saudi Arabia?

With the increasing frequency of trade between China and Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia has become an important trading partner for China in the Middle East. This article will provide a detailed introduction to the transportation costs from China to Saudi Arabia to help businesses optimize their costs.

How Long Does It Take To Transport Goods From China To Saudi Arabia

Shipping Cost from China to Saudi Arabia

The cost of shipping from China to Saudi Arabia varies depending on factors such as the mode of transportation, the weight, volume, destination, and customs clearance of the goods. Common modes of transportation include sea, air, and door-to-door shipping. The cost structure and applicable scenarios of each mode are different.

The specific transportation cost needs to be calculated based on the actual situation. If you want to know the specific price, please contact Presou Logistics and we will reply to you within 24 hours!

LCL Shipping Cost from Saudi Arabia

LCL refers to the transportation of goods by multiple shippers in one container when the goods are not enough to fill a standard container. It is more economical to calculate the cost by volume (cubic meters) or weight, especially for small quantities of goods. The following is the cost range of LCL shipping from China to Saudi Arabia:

POL (Port of Loading)	POD (Port of Discharge)	LCL (USD/m³)
Tianjin Port	Jeddah Islamic Port	$105-$180/m³
Tianjin Port	Dammam Port	$110-$190/m³
Tianjin Port	Jubail Port	$102-$183/m³
Shanghai Port	Jeddah Islamic Port	$106-$192/m³
Shanghai Port	Dammam Port	$103-$187/m³
Shanghai Port	Jubail Port	$108-$193/m³
Ningbo Port	Jeddah Islamic Port	$105-$185/m³
Ningbo Port	Dammam Port	$104-$192/m³
Ningbo Port	Jubail Port	$107-$185/m³
Shenzhen Port	Jeddah Islamic Port	$104-$196/m³
Shenzhen Port	Dammam Port	$103-$186/m³
Shenzhen Port	Jubail Port	$102-$183/m³

Comprehensive Analysis: FCL vs LCL Shipping

Cost of Shipping 20ft and 40ft Containers from China to Saudi Arabia

Sea transportation is the most commonly used freight method between China and Saudi Arabia, especially for large quantities, large volumes, or heavy weights. Shipping time from major Chinese ports (such as Shanghai, Ningbo, Guangzhou) to Jeddah Islamic Port, Dammam Port and Jubail Port in Saudi Arabia is usually 25-30 days, depending on the route and intermediate stops. Ocean freight costs are usually calculated based on the weight and volume of the goods, and are also affected by the following factors

Routes and transit time: Longer routes and complex transportation paths increase costs.
Port and destination charges: Operating costs and taxes vary greatly from port to port. Saudi ports such as Jeddah and Dammam may charge different fees.
Seasonal and demand fluctuations: Freight rates can rise significantly during peak seasons (such as around the Chinese New Year) when demand increases.
Fuel surcharge: Fluctuations in oil prices directly affect the fuel surcharge (BAF), which in turn affects the total cost of ocean freight.

POL (Port of Loading)	POD (Port of Discharge)	20ft container (20ft, USD)	40ft container (40ft, USD)
Tianjin Port	Jeddah Islamic Port	$2,500 – $3,000	$3,210-$4,650
Tianjin Port	Dammam Port	$2,400 – $2,900	$3,110-$4,530
Tianjin Port	Jubail Port	$2,350 – $2,950	$3,160-$4,630
Shanghai Port	Jeddah Islamic Port	$2,550 – $3,000	$3,270-$4,550
Shanghai Port	Dammam Port	$2,450 – $2,800	$3,130-$4,680
Shanghai Port	Jubail Port	$2,430 – $2,860	$3,240-$4,660
Ningbo Port	Jeddah Islamic Port	$2,360 – $2,900	$3,320-$4,850
Ningbo Port	Dammam Port	$2,460 – $2,850	$3,170-$4,750
Ningbo Port	Jubail Port	$2,530 – $2,900	$3,210-$4,760
Shenzhen Port	Jeddah Islamic Port	$2,340 – $2,860	$3,190-$4,790
Shenzhen Port	Dammam Port	$2,470 – $2,800	$3,260-$4,750
Shenzhen Port	Jubail Port	$2,410 – $2,750	$3,110-$4,760

You can learn more about the costs in the following articles:

Air Freight Cost from China to Saudi Arabia

Air freight is suitable for high-value, time-critical, small-volume goods. Although the cost is relatively high, its transportation time is significantly shortened, and it is suitable for orders that are urgently delivered. Fees include airport security fees and security measures-related fees, destination customs clearance fees, and transportation insurance. Common air cargo arrival destinations are Riyadh King Khalid International Airport (RUH), Jeddah King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) and Dammam King Fahd International Airport (DMM). The transit time is usually 3-7 days.

Factors affecting costs:

Flight arrangements and layovers: Direct flights are usually more expensive than flights with layovers, and the number and location of layovers will also affect costs.
Timeliness requirements: Urgent air freight costs more, while economy or non-urgent freight costs relatively less.
Fuel costs and airport fees: Fuel prices and airport operating fees (such as loading and unloading fees, storage fees) also affect the final cost.

Origin (China)	Destination (Saudi Arabia)	Small goods price (USD/kg)	Large goods price (over 45kg, USD/kg)
Beijing	Riyadh	$6 – $8	$4.5 – $6
Beijing	Jeddah	$6 – $8	$4.5 – $6
Beijing	Dammam	$6 – $8	$4.5 – $6
Shanghai	Riyadh	$5 – $8	$4 – $6
Shanghai	Jeddah	$5 – $8	$4 – $6
Shanghai	Dammam	$5 – $8	$4 – $6
Guangzhou	Riyadh	$5.5 – $7.5	$4 – $5.5
Guangzhou	Jeddah	$5.5 – $7.5	$4 – $5.5
Guangzhou	Dammam	$5.5 – $7.5	$4 – $5.5

DDP Shipping Cost from China to Saudi Arabia

DDP means that the seller bears all import duties and taxes and delivers the goods directly to the destination specified by the buyer. The cost of DDP from China to Saudi Arabia includes transportation costs, duties, taxes, and service fees of logistics companies. For customers, the DDP method simplifies the process and eliminates the need to deal with complex customs clearance matters.

Factors affecting the cost:

Destination country tax rate: Saudi Arabia’s tariffs and VAT rates will directly affect the DDP cost, and the shipper bears these taxes.
Goods category: Different categories of goods have different tariff rates, which affects the tax cost.
Customs clearance complexity: The complexity of goods customs clearance will affect the cost of customs clearance agency fees and customs procedures.
Mode of transportation: Choosing sea or air transportation, or different transportation companies, will affect the freight.
Presou DDP 8.0: Comprehensive One-Stop Solution for Shipping from China

Shipping method	Small goods price (USD/kg) or LCL (USD/m³)	Large goods price (over 45kg, USD/kg) or 20ft&40ft container (USD)
DDP Sea Freight	$150 – $250/m³	$3,500 – $4,500 (20ft) /$5,500 – $6,500 (40ft)
DDP Air Freight	$15 – $20/kg	$12 – $16/kg

If you are interested in shipping from China to other countries in the Middle East read:

Tips to Reduce Shipping Costs from China to Saudi Arabia

Bulk shipping

Reduce overall costs by consolidating multiple small lots into one large shipment and spreading freight, duties, and customs clearance costs.

Plan shipping times in advance

Avoid peak seasons, arrange transportation plans rationally, and reduce temporary expedited needs. Logistics costs are usually higher during peak seasons, while shipping costs are significantly lower during off-seasons.

Reduce unnecessary value-added services

Choose necessary services, such as reasonable insurance coverage, to avoid paying high insurance premiums for low-risk shipments. Reduce value-added services such as warehousing and special packaging to control costs.

Choose a reasonable customs clearance agent

Choose an experienced customs clearance agent with reasonable fees to help speed up customs clearance and reduce additional costs (such as warehousing fees) caused by customs clearance delays.

Learn more: Door-to-Door Shipping Solutions: China to Saudi Arabia and DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) Shipping from China to Saudi Arabia

The cost structure of shipping from China to Saudi Arabia is complex and affected by many factors. This article will help you choose the most suitable transportation method and service to not only control costs, but also ensure that the goods arrive in Saudi Arabia on time and safely.