Home Shipping from China to Bulgaria LCL sea freight from China to Bulgaria — 2026 reference rates
LCL sea freight from China to Bulgaria — 2026 reference rates
Bulgaria is served from three Chinese origins with deliveries into Sofia, Burgas, Plovdiv and Varna. This trade is quoted differently from most: the tariff figures are negative, because our co-load partners rebate that many US dollars per cubic metre off the base LCL rate to win volume on a thin lane.
Read a row such as '−38' as: the box's base ocean rate is discounted by USD 38 per CBM. The net effect is a freight component materially cheaper than the headline European averages — provided the volume and destination charges that follow are priced transparently.
How to read these rates: figures are indicative reference levels for port-to-port LCL ocean freight, updated for October 2026. They exclude origin haulage, warehouse and customs charges, destination port charges and any surcharges. Space, cut-off times and rates must be re-confirmed at booking.
LCL rates from China to Bulgaria — rebate-quoted tariffs
| Port of departure | Port of destination | Volume range (CBM) | Rebate (USD/CBM) | Weight rebate (USD/ton) | MIN (CBM) | Transit port | Cut-off / ETD | Carrier | Transit time (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | Sofia | 0~15 | -32 | -27 | 1 | Rijeka | Closed Thu / ETD Wed | COSCO | 45 |
| Ningbo | Burgas | 0~15 | -28 | -28 | 1 | Varna | Closed Thu / ETD Tue | EMC & COSCO | 40 |
| Ningbo | Plovdiv | 0~15 | -28 | -28 | 1 | Varna | Closed Thu / ETD Tue | EMC & COSCO | 40 |
| Ningbo | Sofia | 0~15 | -38 | -38 | 1 | Varna | Closed Thu / ETD Tue | EMC & COSCO | 40 |
| Qingdao | Varna | 0~15 | -31 | -32 | 1 | Direct consolidation | Closed Mon / ETD Sun | ONE | 40 |
Shanghai to Sofia — USD per CBM, volume range 0~15 CBM; minimum 1 CBM; transhipment via Rijeka; carrier COSCO; cut-off/ETD Closed Thu / ETD Wed; transit time about 45 days.
Ningbo to Burgas — USD per CBM, volume range 0~15 CBM; minimum 1 CBM; transhipment via Varna; carrier EMC & COSCO; cut-off/ETD Closed Thu / ETD Tue; transit time about 40 days.
Ningbo to Plovdiv — USD per CBM, volume range 0~15 CBM; minimum 1 CBM; transhipment via Varna; carrier EMC & COSCO; cut-off/ETD Closed Thu / ETD Tue; transit time about 40 days.
Ningbo to Sofia — USD per CBM, volume range 0~15 CBM; minimum 1 CBM; transhipment via Varna; carrier EMC & COSCO; cut-off/ETD Closed Thu / ETD Tue; transit time about 40 days.
Qingdao to Varna — USD per CBM, volume range 0~15 CBM; minimum 1 CBM; transhipment via Direct consolidation; carrier ONE; cut-off/ETD Closed Mon / ETD Sun; transit time about 40 days.
Negative figures are rebates, not credits. They are deducted per CBM (or per tonne for dense cargo) from the base ocean rate. Ask us for the net all-in number — base rate minus rebate plus origin and destination charges — before comparing quotes.
Services are open to both peers and direct customers at the same rebate level.
Worked example
Thirteen cartons of furniture panels, 1.5 CBM and 585 kg, ex-Ningbo to Sofia: at 1 CBM = 1,000 kg the volume basis governs, so the rebate is 38 × 1.5 = USD 57 off the base freight. The consignment still pays origin CFS and destination charges — the rebate applies to the ocean component only.
Which origin is best?
Ningbo to Sofia carries the deepest rebate (−38) but boxes through Varna; Qingdao's direct consolidation to Varna is the cleanest routing for northern cargo; Shanghai via Rijeka is the slowest at 45 days and suits only cargo that is not time-sensitive.