March 2026

Le Havre vs. Marseille: Which Port Works Best for Your China Cargo?   France is in the middle of European trade. When transporting goods from China to France, importers usually don’t ask if they should utilize a French port; they ask which one. Le Havre in the north and Marseille-Fos in the south are the […]

France Now Taxes Every Parcel from China What Shippers Must Know     Introduction For every shipper carrying goods from China to France, something changed on March 1, 2026. The Taxe sur les petits colis (TPC) is a new tax that went into force. It applies to any commercial items that come in a package

Container Rate Swings on the China-Europe Lane: How FCL Shippers Can Stay Protected Introduction If you ship Full Container Loads between China and Europe, you already know that freight prices can be your best friend one quarter and your worst enemy the next. Since late 2023, the China-Europe lane has been one of the most

When to Book Your FCL from Shenzhen to Germany — A Practical Timing Guide   Introduction In international shipping, timing is everything. If you wait too long to book, you could end up with no space and higher rates. If you book too early without knowing how the market works, you could end up with

German Import VAT and FCL Shipping: How to Calculate Your True Landed Cost   Introduction When buying items from China to Germany, most importers only look at the price. They fight hard over the pricing of the factory, look at a few shipping bids, and then believe everything will work out at the port. If

FOB vs. EXW for FCL to Germany — Which Incoterm Gives You More Control?   When you move a full container load (FCL) from China to Germany, the Incoterm you and your supplier agree on is more than just a line of legalese in your purchase contract. It decides who is in charge of the

German Customs (Zoll) and Your FCL Shipment: Common Mistakes That Cause Delays   Introduction Hamburg is one of Europe’s busiest container ports, and every year, thousands of FCL shipments come in. They stay at the terminal for days or even weeks while German customs (Zoll) sorts out paperwork problems, inspection orders, or classification disagreements. The

Shenzhen–Hamburg FCL Transit Time: 25–33 Days, But Here’s What Actually Affects Your Schedule   Introduction If someone tells you that it will take 25 to 33 days to send a full container load from Shenzhen to Hamburg, that estimate is not inaccurate, but it is not complete. People that ship on this line often know

40ft Container from Shenzhen to Germany: How to Lock in Space Before Peak Season   Every year, shippers who bring goods from Shenzhen to Germany learn the same costly lesson: the best way to spend a lot of money is to wait until you need space. The Shenzhen-to-Germany corridor is one of the busiest freight

Shenzhen to Hamburg FCL: What the Rate Drop Really Means for Your Cargo Cost   Introduction If you have been sending full containers from Shenzhen to Hamburg for the past two years, you know what it was like when maritime freight rates were at their highest. During the Red Sea crisis of 2024, a single