Services
Rail freight from China
In short
Rail sits between sea and air: about 18 to 26 days from the Chinese inland terminals to Central Europe, at roughly twice the cost of sea. It suits mid-value goods and restocking when a sailing has been missed.
Updated 14 August 2026
Where rail wins
Rail is the pragmatic answer when a sailing has slipped and air would destroy the margin. It is also the better mode for goods leaving inland China, where the road leg to a port is long and expensive.
What this costs
Per container Duty and import VAT are separate: we advance them and pass them through at cost with the customs receipt attached.
| Fee | Unit | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Rail freight, 40HCChina–EU rail, terminal to terminal | per container | from 4 100 EUR |
Put your cartons in and see the figure, including the transit time: 22–30 days door to door.
Your price, delivered to the door
€4,940
Whole container, rail · 22–30 days · 1 × 40ft high cube on a block train
Customs duty and import VAT are not included above. They are advanced on your behalf and passed through at cost with the customs receipt attached.
Your goods stay in Slovakia, so procedure 42 does not apply and Slovak import VAT is payable at the border.
Minimum order 120 EUR. Rates hold for 7 days; freight moves weekly, so anyone quoting a fixed annual price is guessing.
Every line we charge is on the pricing page, with three worked examples.
Order it
This is general information, not advice for a specific shipment. Rules change; check the official source or ask us about your consignment.