Current 20ft 40ft 40HQ sea freight from China to Spain
China to Spain rail LCL: Madrid groupage priced per CBM (updated 5 November 2026)
Groupage by rail, priced per cubic meter, station to CFS. These are our all-in Madrid rates for the current schedule and already include our USD 30 per CBM service fee.
Madrid is the longest transit on this card at 28 days, loaded at Yiwu on a Friday. It is also the only lane where the origin charges warehouse receiving by the pallet and where destination devanning is banded by CBM rather than billed flat, so the landed cost per CBM improves sharply once a shipment passes 15 CBM. Spanish IVA at 21% is added to destination charges, not to the freight.
| Origin station (China) | Destination CFS | Rail LCL rate (USD/CBM) | Cargo cut-off | ETD | Transit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yiwu | Madrid | USD 225 | Fri | Wed | 28 days |
Chargeable volume: 1 CBM = 500 kg, 1 CBM minimum. Fixed charges are extra — see below.
Fixed charges, and what the per-CBM rate does not cover
- Documentation and handling: USD 100 per B/L. This is per shipment, not per CBM, so it weighs heavily on a 1 or 2 CBM booking.
- China export declaration: CNY 350 per B/L, tax included — the declaration itself, separate from any document preparation bundled into the handling fee.
- Chargeable volume: the greater of cubic meters or weight at 1 CBM = 500 kg. One CBM is the minimum billable volume.
- Not included: customs inspection, cargo insurance, inland trucking inside China, and every destination charge listed below.
- Door delivery (DAP / DDU): send the packing list plus the consignee’s postal code and address and we price the final leg. Rates here are station to CFS.
- Cargo we cannot take as groupage: pieces over 3 m long, single pieces over 3 metric tons, or non-stackable freight are quoted per shipment before booking, and may travel as a dedicated rail container instead.
- Restricted cargo: we do not accept consignees without a VAT number, or battery and magnetized cargo without a per-shipment review. Food-contact packaging and machinery, foodstuffs, X-ray equipment, powders, liquids and counterfeit goods are refused; resulting costs and risk sit with the shipper.
Destination charges
- Madrid — Origin receiving: CNY 20 per CBM for cartons, CNY 50 per pallet. Destination clearance EUR 200 per B/L and documents EUR 60 per B/L; devanning EUR 90 per B/L up to 5 CBM, EUR 180 from 5.001 to 10 CBM, EUR 220 from 10.001 to 15 CBM, EUR 260 from 15.001 to 20 CBM, EUR 300 above 20 CBM, plus 21% IVA on destination charges. Overweight fee where a B/L exceeds 1,000 kg: EUR 0.02 per kg plus IVA. Free storage at the Madrid warehouse 2 days including the day of unloading, then EUR 1.1 per CBM per day with a EUR 10 daily minimum, rising to EUR 50 per day from day 10. Pieces over 2 metric tons or 3 m quote on request.
Rail LCL to Spain — questions we answer at quotation stage
Prices below are taken from the same 5 November 2026 card used in the table above. They are indicative, confirmed against the sailing you book.
How much does 1 CBM of rail LCL from China to Spain cost, and how long does it take?
On the 5 November 2026 card, one CBM of rail LCL from China to Spain costs USD 225 per CBM station to CFS, delivered to the Madrid CFS. Transit is 28 days. The per-CBM figure already includes our USD 30 service fee; on top of it sit USD 100 per B/L documentation and CNY 350 per B/L for the China export declaration, with a 1 CBM minimum.
Which Chinese stations ship rail LCL to Spain?
One lane: Yiwu to Madrid, cut-off Fri, departure Wed, 28 days. Cut-off is the last day the cargo can be gated in at the origin CFS; departure is the block-train ETD.
What is the minimum charge, and how is chargeable volume calculated?
One CBM is the minimum billable volume. Chargeable volume is the greater of the cubic meters and the weight at 1 CBM = 500 kg, so 1,000 kg of dense cargo bills as 2 CBM while 1 CBM of light cartons bills as 1 CBM. Pallets, crates and non-stackable freight are measured as they stand, not as they would pack.
What destination charges should I budget for?
Madrid: Origin receiving: CNY 20 per CBM for cartons, CNY 50 per pallet. Destination clearance EUR 200 per B/L and documents EUR 60 per B/L; devanning EUR 90 per B/L up to 5 CBM, EUR 180 from 5.001 to 10 CBM, EUR 220 from 10.001 to 15 CBM, EUR 260 from 15.001 to 20 CBM, EUR 300 above 20 CBM, plus 21% IVA on destination charges. Overweight fee where a B/L exceeds 1,000 kg: EUR 0.02 per kg plus IVA. Free storage at the Madrid warehouse 2 days including the day of unloading, then EUR 1.1 per CBM per day with a EUR 10 daily minimum, rising to EUR 50 per day from day 10. Pieces over 2 metric tons or 3 m quote on request.
How does Madrid devanning scale with volume?
It is banded, not linear. A 4 CBM shipment pays EUR 90, a 12 CBM shipment pays EUR 220, and a 25 CBM shipment pays EUR 300 — so the per-CBM devanning cost falls from about EUR 22 to EUR 12 as the shipment grows. Add 21% IVA on top, and remember the free storage clock at the Madrid warehouse is two days including the unloading day; from day three the meter runs at EUR 1.1 per CBM per day with a EUR 10 minimum.
Rate card dated 5 November 2026. Rail groupage space is booked per sailing and reconfirmed at cut-off; levels move with the block-train operator and with fuel and border charges. Figures in USD unless another currency is stated.
FCL rate sheet collected 11 September 2026. Ocean freight is per container in USD and is subject to space and confirmation at the time of booking.
FCL ocean freight from China to Spain — 20GP / 40GP / 40HQ
| Port of loading | Destination port | Service | Carrier | Transit | Sailing window | 20ft / 20GP | 40ft / 40GP | 40HQ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | Barcelona | MD2 | YML (Yang Ming) | 48 days | Sailings 16 Sep – 15 Oct 2026 | USD 3,080 | USD 3,975 | USD 3,975 |
Validity of this level: 16 September 2026 – 15 October 2026, counted by expected sailing date (ETD). Basic-port weight limit and heavy-cargo surcharge: see the notes below.
Sailing schedule, Shanghai – Barcelona (MD2)
| Voyage | Vessel | Planned ETD (Shanghai) | Revised ETD | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MS22622BD | HMM PERIDOT 011W | 17 Sep 2026 | — | On schedule |
| MS22623AD | YM WEIGHT 001W | 24 Sep 2026 | 1 Oct 2026 | Delayed |
| MS22625AD | ONE FREEDOM 014W | 8 Oct 2026 | 9 Oct 2026 | Delayed |
| MS22626D | HMM PEARL 013W | 15 Oct 2026 | 22 Oct 2026 | Delayed |
Origin local charges in China (prepaid, CNY)
| Origin charge (prepaid) | 20GP (CNY) | 40GP (CNY) | 40HQ (CNY) | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Origin terminal handling charge (THC) | 612 | 930 | 930 | per container |
| Booking fee | 270 | 425 | 425 | per container |
| Origin handling fee | 150 | 300 | 300 | per container |
| Documentation fee | 450 | 450 | 450 | per B/L |
| Telex release fee | 400 | 400 | 400 | per B/L |
| Seal fee | 55 | 55 | 55 | per container |
Local-charge subtotals: 20GP CNY 1,087 and 40GP / 40HQ CNY 1,710 per container, plus CNY 850 per bill of lading (documentation 450 + telex release 400). All figures as quoted by the carrier.
Free time and heavy-cargo notes
- Free time at destination (carrier default, general cargo): 20GP / 40GP / 40HQ — 7 days. DEM is counted in calendar days.
- Basic-port weight limit, Shanghai, 20GP: gross weight 18 t to 22.49 t — heavy-cargo surcharge USD 150 per TEU, no waiver; gross weight 22.5 t to 32.4 t — heavy-cargo surcharge USD 350 per TEU, no waiver.
- Vessel strings above are as advised by the carrier; delayed sailings are marked with the revised ETD in the schedule table.
40FR flat rack quote (quoted 29 July 2026)
| Equipment | Port of loading | Destination port | Ocean freight (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40FR flat rack (over-width / over-height cargo) | Shanghai | Barcelona | YML USD 16,500; ONE USD 16,000 (booking before 14 Aug 2026) |
| Length up to 11.5 m; width and height up to 4.3 m; gross weight must stay within 35 t. | |||
The 40FR level above is the original July quotation and applies to over-width / over-height project cargo within the stated dimension and weight limits. Ask us to re-confirm before booking.
FCL market rate updates from China to Spain — dated log, December 2025 – September 2026
Spot openings for Spanish ports collected from carrier quotations between 1 December 2025 and 28 April 2026, in date order. Ocean freight is per container in USD; all levels are subject to space and confirmation at booking.
1–6 December 2025 — Mediterranean spot window
| Port of loading | Destination port | Carrier / service | Sailing / validity | Rate (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | Valencia (with Genoa) | spot space | ETD 6 Dec 2025 | USD 1,850/20GP · USD 2,400/40HQ |
| Shanghai | Barcelona | spot space | ETD 6 Dec 2025 | USD 1,850/20GP |
8 December 2025 — HPL Mediterranean half sea waybill
| Port of loading | Destination port | Carrier / service | Sailing / validity | Rate (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nationwide China ports | Barcelona / Valencia | HPL half sea waybill (commodity-restricted, box guaranteed) | valid to 31 Dec 2025 | USD 2,600+/40HQ |
18 December 2025 — ONE FE4 Iberian and northern-Spain specials
| Port of loading | Destination port | Carrier / service | Sailing / validity | Rate (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yantian | Bilbao / Gijon / Vigo | ONE FE4 — ONE INFINITY 008W / ONE INNOVATION 009W | ETD Yantian 22 & 25 Dec 2025 | USD 2,050/20GP · USD 3,200/40HQ |
26 February 2026 — CMA half sea waybill revision
| Port of loading | Destination port | Carrier / service | Sailing / validity | Rate (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai / Ningbo / Qingdao / Yantian | Valencia / Barcelona | CMA CGM half sea waybill + ENS | valid to 15 Mar 2026 | USD 2,100/20GP · USD 2,800/40HQ |
27 March 2026 — spring spot level
| Port of loading | Destination port | Carrier / service | Sailing / validity | Rate (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai / Ningbo / Qingdao / Yantian / Tianjin | Valencia / Barcelona | spot space | early April 2026 | USD 3,800/40HQ |
22–28 April 2026 — EMC box guarantee
| Port of loading | Destination port | Carrier / service | Sailing / validity | Rate (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qingdao | Valencia | EMC box guarantee | ETD 28 Apr 2026 | 2×40HQ space (USD 2,800 USWC-basis level) |
| Shanghai / Ningbo / Shenzhen / Qingdao / Nansha | West Mediterranean (incl. Spain) | COSCO / EMC box guarantee | late April 2026 | USD 2,100/20GP · USD 2,800/40HQ |
Book this China to Spain service
Send your commodity, weight and volume, the pickup city in China and the delivery address in Spain. Our team confirms the applicable sailing, cut-off and all-in cost, usually within one working day: sales8015@goodhopefreight.com or WhatsApp / WeChat +86 13392162503.
China to Spain — freight rate and market updates (dated log, 2026)
Compiled 23 September 2026 from our booking-desk logs and from market quotations shared by carrier and consolidator desks. Ocean and rail rates are per container; air, express and DDP rates are per kilogram. Figures are indicative, are in USD unless stated otherwise, and must be re-confirmed when you book.
We logged 51 full-container quotations to Spain during 2026. The most frequently quoted gateways were Valencia, Barcelona, Bilbao. The lowest container level recorded was USD 4,100 (2026-08-20) and the highest USD 5,500 (2026-06-04), which shows how wide the spread was between carriers and sailing windows.
For air cargo we recorded 15 service updates to Spain in 2026, mostly on China Eastern Airlines (MU), China Cargo Airlines (CK), Air China (CA).
FCL — full container load (sea freight)
Container rates actually quoted, grouped by month and gateway. Ranges show the lowest and the highest level we saw in that month.
| Month | Port of loading | Destination | Equipment | Ocean freight (USD) | Booking notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 2026 | Shekou | Barcelona / Valencia | 40ft | USD 5,100 | 2 quotations · cut-off on the 24 |
| June 2026 | Shekou | Valencia | 40ft | USD 5,500 | SI cut-off on the 5 |
| July 2026 | Dachan Bay | Barcelona | as quoted | USD 5,850 | plus ENS |
| July 2026 | Shekou | Bilbao | as quoted | USD 5,750 | 5 quotations · cut-off on the 8 · cut-off on the 8 |
| August 2026 | Ningbo | Algeciras | 40ft | USD 4,100 – USD 4,300 | 2 quotations |
| August 2026 | Qingdao / Shanghai | Barcelona | 40ft | USD 4,100 – USD 4,300 | 4 quotations |
| August 2026 | Shekou | Barcelona / Valencia | as quoted | USD 4,450 | — |
| August 2026 | Shekou | Bilbao | as quoted | USD 5,750 | 3 quotations · cut-off on the 8 · cut-off on the 8 |
| August 2026 | Ningbo / Yantian / Shanghai | Valencia | 40ft | USD 4,100 – USD 4,300 | 5 quotations · 1 with space only |
| August 2026 | Shekou | Valencia / Barcelona | as quoted | USD 5,400 | 6 quotations · cut-off on the 11 · cut-off on the 10 |
| September 2026 | Shekou / Qingdao | Barcelona | as quoted | USD 4,175 | 2 quotations · 1 with space only · plus ENS |
Plot of the dated quotations in the table above, on a date (x) and rate (y) axis. Where one period carries several quotations the points are averaged. Rates are indicative, exclude destination charges unless the row says otherwise, and are reconfirmed at booking.
Plot data (6 points)
| Date | Route / equipment | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-01 | Barcelona | 5,850 |
| 2026-09-01 | Barcelona | 4,175 |
| 2026-07-01 | Bilbao | 5,750 |
| 2026-08-01 | Bilbao | 5,750 |
| 2026-06-01 | Valencia – 40GP | 5,500 |
| 2026-08-01 | Valencia – 40GP | 4,200 |
Space offered without a published rate
The following sailings were offered with equipment or space available while the carrier kept the freight rate on request.
| Month | Port of loading | Destination | Equipment | Ocean freight (USD) | Availability notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 2026 | Nansha / Dachan Bay | Barcelona | as quoted | — | 2 space-only offers |
| April 2026 | Qingdao | Valencia | 40ft | — | 1 space-only offer |
| June 2026 | Ningbo / Shekou | Valencia | as quoted | — | 2 space-only offers · sailing on the 13 |
| June 2026 | Qingdao | Valencia / Barcelona | 40ft | — | 1 space-only offer |
| July 2026 | Nansha | Valencia | as quoted | — | 1 space-only offer |
| August 2026 | Yantian | Barcelona | as quoted | — | 1 space-only offer |
| August 2026 | Xingang (Tianjin) | Barcelona / Valencia | 40ft | — | 1 space-only offer |
| August 2026 | Ningbo / Yantian | Valencia | as quoted | — | 2 space-only offers |
| August 2026 | Qingdao | Valencia / Barcelona | 40ft | — | 2 space-only offers |
| September 2026 | Qingdao | Barcelona | 40ft | — | 1 space-only offer |
| September 2026 | Qingdao | Barcelona | 20GP | — | 1 space-only offer |
| September 2026 | Shekou | Barcelona / Valencia | 20GP | — | 1 space-only offer |
| September 2026 | Shekou | Barcelona / Valencia | 40ft | — | 1 space-only offer |
| September 2026 | Shanghai | Valencia | as quoted | — | 1 space-only offer |
| September 2026 | Qingdao | Valencia / Barcelona | 40ft | — | 1 space-only offer |
Air freight
| Date | Airline | Destination airport | Rate | Space status and notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-25 | Emirates (EK) / Qatar Airways (QR) | Madrid (MAD) | — | — |
| 2026-04-09 | Air China (CA) | Madrid (MAD) | — | promotional rate |
| 2026-04-15 | China Cargo Airlines (CK) / China Eastern Airlines (MU) | Madrid (MAD) / Barcelona (BCN) | — | — |
| 2026-04-29 | Turkish Airlines (TK) | Madrid (MAD) | — | palletised cargo |
| 2026-05-21 | China Cargo Airlines (CK) / China Eastern Airlines (MU) | Madrid (MAD) / Barcelona (BCN) | — | — |
| 2026-07-17 | China Eastern Airlines (MU) | Barcelona (BCN) | — | space open; promotional rate; blocked space; lithium batteries accepted; onward road transfer available; year-round service |
| 2026-07-22 | China Eastern Airlines (MU) | Barcelona (BCN) | — | space open; promotional rate; loose cargo accepted; lithium batteries accepted |
| 2026-07-29 | China Eastern Airlines (MU) | Barcelona (BCN) | — | cargo shortfall; space open; priority for heavy cargo; onward road transfer available |
| 2026-09-03 | China Eastern Airlines (MU) | Madrid (MAD) / Barcelona (BCN) | — | — |
| 2026-09-08 | China Eastern Airlines (MU) | Barcelona (BCN) | — | short of light/loose cargo; space open; consolidated allocation; direct flight |
| 2026-09-09 | China Eastern Airlines (MU) | Barcelona (BCN) | — | space open; consolidated allocation; direct flight; loose cargo accepted; palletised cargo |
| 2026-09-15 | Air China (CA) | Madrid (MAD) | — | promotional rate |
| 2026-09-17 | China Eastern Airlines (MU) | Barcelona (BCN) | — | space open; direct flight |
| 2026-09-23 | China Eastern Airlines (MU) | Madrid (MAD) / Barcelona (BCN) | — | — |
| 2026-09-23 | China Eastern Airlines (MU) | Barcelona (BCN) | — | space open |
Airline promotions and capacity notices
Chronological record of the airline and consolidator promotion notices for China–Spain air cargo that our quotation desk logged during 2026. Each line records what was being advertised on the day, not a confirmed rate; space, routings and prices move within hours, so treat every entry as market colour and ask us to re-check the flight before you commit cargo.
| Date | Airline | Departure airport in China | Promotion and capacity notice |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-22 | China Eastern Airlines (MU) | China (not stated) | Offers promotional air-freight rates to Barcelona (BCN). |
| 2026-07-27 | China Eastern Airlines (MU) | China (not stated) | Has open space to Barcelona (BCN); space opening on Wednesday. |
| 2026-07-31 | China Eastern Airlines (MU) | Nanjing (NKG) | Reports space opening to Barcelona (BCN) on Monday. |
| 2026-09-15 | Air China (CA) | China (not stated) | Offers promotional air-freight rates to Madrid (MAD). |
| 2026-09-20 | China Eastern Airlines (MU) | China (not stated) | Reports space opening to Barcelona (BCN) on day 25 of the month. |
| 2026-09-23 | China Cargo Airlines (CK) | Shanghai (PVG) | Operates a newly added service to Madrid (MAD) and Barcelona (BCN). |
Earlier quotations held in our log (2023–2025)
2024 FCL (6 entries), 2025 FCL (7 entries). Ask our desk for the dated archive if you need to benchmark an earlier period.
Frequently asked questions — shipping from China
The answers below are drawn from the same quotation log as the tables above. Figures are indicative and are reconfirmed at booking.
How much does a 20GP container from Shenzhen (Shekou) or Shenzhen (Dachan Bay) in China to Bilbao cost?
In our quotation log for February to September 2026 the 20GP rate to Bilbao ran from USD 4,350 per container across 8 quotations, loaded mainly at Shekou / Dachan Bay. Other gateways priced in the same period: Valencia / Barcelona at USD 4,200; Barcelona at USD 3,100 – USD 4,200; Barcelona / Valencia at USD 3,450. Ocean freight is quoted port-to-port and the figure moves with the weekly GRI, peak-season surcharges and equipment availability, so treat it as a benchmark rather than a fixed tariff and confirm it against your cargo ready date.
What is the 40ft / 40HQ rate from China to Bilbao?
The 40ft and 40HQ quotations we logged to Bilbao in February to September 2026 ranged from USD 5,750 per container across 8 quotations. Other gateways priced in the same period: Barcelona at USD 4,100 – USD 5,850; Valencia / Barcelona at USD 5,400. A 40ft high cube carries roughly twice the volume of a 20GP for well under twice the freight, so once your cargo passes about 28 CBM the 40HQ is normally the cheaper unit per cubic metre.
Is container space available from China to Spain right now?
Yes. During 2026 we logged 21 offers to Spain where equipment or space was available to the desk while the carrier kept the freight rate on request (mostly to Valencia, Barcelona, Valencia / Barcelona). That pattern usually means space is open but the tariff is being quoted case by case. Send your cargo ready date and we will come back with the vessel, the sailing and a named price.
How long does shipping from China to Spain take?
Typical port-to-port sailing time from South China is roughly 28 to 42 days; add three to seven days if the cargo loads in North China. Direct services beat transhipment routings by one to two weeks, and schedule reliability, blank sailings and port congestion all move the date. We confirm the actual ETD and ETA against your booking rather than quoting a standard transit time.
What is included in the freight rates shown on this page?
Ocean and rail figures are the port-to-port (or terminal-to-terminal) freight only. They exclude origin handling, export customs, THC and CFS, documentation, destination THC, import duty and final delivery, unless the row names a door-to-door or DDP service. Air figures are airport-to-airport per chargeable kilo and exclude pick-up and delivery. Every figure is indicative until it is confirmed against a specific vessel, flight or train and a cargo ready date.
Can I ship less than a container load (LCL) from China to Spain?
Yes. LCL groupage is charged per revenue tonne (1 CBM or 1,000 kg, with volume weight taken if it is greater) plus fixed documentation and CFS charges, so it is usually the better option below roughly 15 CBM. Above that a 20GP starts to win on cost per cubic metre. Give us the volume, weight and cargo readiness and we will price both side by side for Spain.
How do I get an exact quote for shipping to Spain?
Send the commodity, gross weight, volume, the pick-up city in China and the delivery address in Spain to sales8015@goodhopefreight.com. We reply with the applicable service, the named vessel, flight or train, the cut-off and an all-in cost, usually the same working day. If you are weighing up routes, tell us the ready date and we will price sea, rail and air side by side.
Rates, surcharges, cut-offs and equipment availability change daily. Send your commodity, gross weight, volume, the pickup city in China and the delivery address in Spain and we will confirm the applicable service, sailing or flight and the all-in cost: sales8015@goodhopefreight.com.