2025 China to UK Container Shipping Freight Rates and Transit Time
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2025 Container Shipping Information from Major Chinese Ports to the Port of Southampton, UK
| Port of Loading | Port of Destination | Freight (20FT) | Freight (40FT) | Freight (40HC) | Shipping Line | Transit Time | Estimated Departure | Estimated Arrival | Rate Validity Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tianjin Xingang | Southampton | $1,350 | $2,200 | $2,200 | HMM | 75 days via Busan | 2025/04/14 | 2025/06/28 | 2025/03/18 - 2025/03/31 |
| Tianjin Xingang | Southampton | $1,400 | $2,240 | $2,240 | MSC | 49 days via Ningbo | 2025/04/16 | 2025/06/04 | 2025/04/01 - 2025/04/14 |
| Tianjin Xingang | Southampton | $1,400 | $2,350 | $2,350 | EVERGREEN | 20 days via Ningbo | 2025/04/17 | 2025/05/07 | 2025/03/21 - 2025/03/30 |
| Tianjin Xingang | Southampton | $1,632 | $2,374 | $2,374 | MAERSK | 54 days via Ulsan | 2025/04/14 | 2025/06/07 | 2025/04/05 - 2025/04/12 |
| Tianjin Xingang | Southampton | $51 | $2,380 | $2,380 | OOCL | 40 days via Shanghai | 2025/04/15 | 2025/05/25 | 2025/03/15 - 2025/04/07 |
| Tianjin Xingang | Southampton | $1,900 | $3,050 | $3,050 | ONE | 43 days via Busan | 2025/04/14 | 2025/05/27 | 2025/03/04 - 2025/03/31 |
| Ningbo | Southampton | $1,150 | $1,850 | $1,850 | HMM | 37 days | 2025/04/01 | 2025/05/08 | 2025/03/20 - 2025/03/31 |
| Ningbo | Southampton | $1,200 | $2,000 | $2,000 | Yang Ming | 37 days | 2025/04/06 | 2025/05/13 | 2025/03/15 - 2025/03/31 |
| Ningbo | Southampton | $1,100 | $2,050 | $2,050 | ONE | 23 days | 2025/04/04 | 2025/04/27 | 2025/03/15 - 2025/03/31 |
| Ningbo | Southampton | $1,350 | $2,050 | $2,050 | COSCO | 27 days | 2025/04/04 | 2025/05/01 | 2025/03/15 - 2025/03/31 |
| Ningbo | Southampton | $1,450 | $2,050 | $2,050 | OOCL | 35 days | 2025/04/03 | 2025/05/08 | 2025/03/15 - 2025/03/31 |
| Shanghai Yangshan | Southampton | $1,500 | $2,650 | $2,650 | Yang Ming | 48 days | 2025/03/31 | 2025/05/18 | 2025/04/08 - 2025/04/15 |
| Shanghai Yangshan | Southampton | $1,700 | $2,950 | $2,950 | MSC | 48 days | 2025/03/31 | 2025/05/18 | 2025/04/06 - 2025/04/14 |
| Shanghai Yangshan | Southampton | $1,700 | $2,950 | $2,950 | EVERGREEN | 48 days | 2025/04/05 | 2025/05/23 | 2025/03/30 - 2025/03/30 |
| Shanghai Yangshan | Southampton | $1,850 | $3,100 | $3,100 | OOCL | 38 days | 2025/04/06 | 2025/05/14 | 2025/04/08 - 2025/04/14 |
| Shanghai Yangshan | Southampton | $1,300 | $3,250 | $3,250 | ONE | 46 days | 2025/04/01 | 2025/05/17 | 2025/04/01 - 2025/04/15 |
| Yantian | Southampton | $1,050 | $1,950 | $1,950 | ONE | 34 days | 2025/04/13 | 2025/05/17 | 2025/04/01 - 2025/04/15 |
| Yantian | Southampton | $1,300 | $2,200 | $2,200 | HMM | 25 days | 2025/04/06 | 2025/05/01 | 2025/04/01 - 2025/04/14 |
| Yantian | Southampton | $1,250 | $2,200 | $2,200 | Yang Ming | 34 days | 2025/04/13 | 2025/05/17 | 2025/04/01 - 2025/04/15 |
| Yantian | Southampton | $1,450 | $2,450 | $2,450 | EVERGREEN | 29 days | 2025/04/02 | 2025/05/01 | 2025/03/27 - 2025/03/31 |
| Yantian | Southampton | $1,550 | $2,450 | $2,450 | OOCL | 32 days | 2025/03/31 | 2025/05/02 | 2025/03/27 - 2025/03/30 |
| Yantian | Southampton | $2,100 | $3,500 | $3,500 | Hapag-Lloyd | 26 days | 2025/04/03 | 2025/04/29 | 2025/03/03 - 2025/03/31 |
| Shanghai Yangshan | Liverpool | $1,850 | $3,300 | $3,300 | MSC | 55 days via Antwerp | 2025/04/02 | 2025/05/27 | 2025/04/06 - 2025/04/14 |
In March 2025, the container shipping rates from China's Tianjin Xingang to the UK's Southampton with HMM are as follows: USD 1,350 for a 20-foot container, and USD 2,200 for both 40-foot and 40-foot high-cube containers. The vessel is scheduled to depart on April 14, 2025, transiting via Busan, and is expected to arrive in Southampton on June 28, 2025, with a total transit time of approximately 75 days. This freight rate is valid from March 18, 2025, to March 31, 2025.
In April 2025, the container shipping information from China's Ningbo Port to the UK's Southampton Port with COSCO is as follows: USD 1,350 for a 20-foot container (20FT), and USD 2,050 for both 40-foot (40FT) and 40-foot high-cube (40HQ) containers. The vessel is scheduled to depart on April 4, 2025, and is expected to arrive in Southampton on May 1, 2025, with a total transit time of approximately 27 days. This freight rate is valid from March 15, 2025, to March 31, 2025.
In March 2025, the standard container shipping rates from Shanghai Yangshan Port to the UK's Southampton Port with Yang Ming are as follows: USD 1,500 for a 20-foot standard container, and USD 2,650 for both 40-foot standard and 40-foot high-cube containers. The vessel departs on March 31, 2025, and is expected to arrive at the destination port on May 18, 2025, with a sea transit time of approximately 48 days. This freight rate is valid from April 8, 2025, to April 15, 2025.
In April 2025, the container shipping rates from China's Shenzhen Yantian Port to the UK's Southampton with ONE are as follows: USD 1,050 for a 20-foot container, and USD 1,950 for both 40-foot and 40-foot high-cube containers. The vessel departs on April 13, 2025, and is expected to arrive at the destination port on May 17, 2025, with a sea transit time of approximately 34 days. This freight rate is valid from April 1, 2025, to April 15, 2025.
Key UK Ports
The Port of Felixstowe is the absolute mainstay of UK container trade, handling approximately 48% of the nation's container trade. Located on the southeast coast of the UK, adjacent to the European continent, its natural deep-water conditions allow large container ships to enter and exit around the clock, making it the main gateway for Asian route cargo entering the UK. The port area covers 3,383 acres with 9 deep-water berths capable of accommodating ultra-large container ships up to 400 meters long. As the core loading and unloading terminal for UK Atlantic route container ships, 60% of China-UK cross-border e-commerce goods are transshipped here. Furthermore, relying on a well-developed multimodal transport network of road, rail, and inland waterways, it efficiently connects to major UK economic centers. Almost all major shipping alliances and lines provide services here, making it a crucial node in a global network of 365 ports.
The Port of Southampton is the UK’s second-largest container port, as well as the country’s largest automobile export port and a major ro-ro (roll-on/roll-off) shipping hub. Situated on the south coast of England, it features a unique dual tidal system that allows it to accommodate the world’s largest ships 24/7, with almost no restrictions from tides. It is also an important passenger port and the preferred homeport for many cruise ships. Equipped with state-of-the-art cargo handling facilities, the smart logistics park expanded in 2025 provides integrated services of “24-hour customs clearance + warehousing and distribution”. Its automobile import and export business accounts for 35% of the UK market share. In recent years, it has continued to invest in modern facilities, including a £55 million vehicle export terminal and a £17 million sustainability program, further enhancing its comprehensive service capabilities.
The Port of Liverpool is the most important comprehensive hub port in the Northwest UK, serving major industrial areas including Manchester. Located on the coast of the Irish Sea in northwest England, its geographical position makes it the best gateway to Ireland, Scotland, and across the Atlantic to North America, handling 45% of the UK's North American container trade. Its Liverpool2 terminal, built at a cost of GBP 400 million, is a modern deep-water container terminal that has significantly enhanced the port's handling capacity. It leads the UK to cold chain storage capacity and currently offers route services connecting Asia, North America, and continental Europe. The voyage time for Far East routes is typically around 28-32 days, providing efficient logistics support for regional trade.
Other Important Ports:
- Port of London: As the UK's oldest port, the Port of London has now transformed into a modern comprehensive port. It focuses on transporting high-value-added goods such as automobiles and food and is equipped with fully automated handling systems. The port stretches along the River Thames and consists of multiple terminals.
- Port of Immingham: The UK's largest port by tonnage, it is a critical hub for the UK's energy security and bulk cargo handling, primarily dealing with bulk goods like coal and iron ore.
- Port of Dover: Europe's busiest ferry port, it is a lifeline for ro-ro freight and passenger transport between the UK and continental Europe (particularly France) and is crucial for time-sensitive goods like fresh food.
Overview of Major Shipping Lines and Service Networks on the China-UK Route
Currently, container liner companies active on the China-UK route include, besides HMM (Hyundai Merchant Marine), MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company), EVERGREEN, MAERSK, OOCL (Orient Overseas Container Line), ONE (Ocean Network Express), COSCO (China COSCO Shipping), and Hapag-Lloyd, also the world's third-largest carrier by capacity, CMA CGM (CMA CGM Group); ZIM (ZIM Integrated Shipping Services), which offers expedited services; Wan Hai Lines, which has increased its investment in European routes in recent years; as well as PIL (Pacific International Lines) and Yang Ming (Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp.), which participate in this route through alliances or slot exchange agreements. Leveraging their respective trunk line networks or alliance resources, these companies have established a diversified service system covering full container load (FCL) and less than container load (LCL), expedited and economical routes between major Chinese export ports (Tianjin, Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen, Xiamen, Guangzhou) and major UK gateway ports (Southampton, Felixstowe, Liverpool, Tilbury). This can fully meet the differentiated needs of shippers in North China, East China, and South China regarding transit time and cost.
Analysis of 2025 China-UK Sea Freight Rates and Transit Times
From March to April 2025, the average cost for shipping a container from major Chinese ports to the UK is approximately as follows: around USD 1,400 for a 20-foot standard container (20FT), and around USD 2,450 for both a 40-foot standard container (40FT) and a 40-foot high-cube container (40HQ). Actual freight rates may fluctuate depending on the port of origin, shipping line, and settlement terms.
The lowest sea freight rate from China to the UK for a 20FT container is USD 1,050 (shipping from Yantian Port, operated by ONE); the lowest freight rate for both 40FT and 40HQ containers is USD 1,850 (shipping from Ningbo Port, operated by ONE). In terms of transit time, the routes from Chinese ports to the UK's Port of Southampton generally have shorter overall transit times. Among them, the route from Ningbo Port, operated by ONE, has the shortest transit time, requiring only 23 days to arrive.
How Long Does Sea Freight Take from Tianjin, China to the UK?
The sea freight transit time for containers from Tianjin Xingang, China to the UK varies significantly depending on the shipping line and specific route, typically ranging between 20 and 75 days. The fastest service is provided by EVERGREEN, transiting via Ningbo, taking approximately 20 days in total; whereas slower routes, such as HMM via Busan, can take up to 75 days. Other major shipping lines like MSC, MAERSK, and OOCL offer routes with transit times mostly within the range of 40 to 55 days. The overall transit time depends on the chosen shipping line, specific transshipment ports, and sailing schedules. It is recommended to verify the latest sailing and transit time information with the carrier before booking.