GUANGZHOU PORT · FCL SEA FREIGHT
FCL Shipping from Guangzhou Port
Nansha Port, for furniture, home goods and Africa lanes.
FCL shipping from Guangzhou with Al Fajar: we book 20ft, 40ft and 40HQ full containers from Guangzhou's Nansha Port for suppliers in Guangzhou, Foshan and the western Pearl River Delta. We look after everything on the China side: loading, export paperwork and customs declaration. The destination port is where your broker steps in.… See more
02 / Port at a glance
FCL shipping from Guangzhou: the port at a glance
Guangzhou's container work is concentrated in Nansha, at the southern end of the city on the Pearl River estuary. Nansha is part of Guangzhou Port, not a separate port, so FCL shipping from Guangzhou starts there (Port Technology).
- Port throughput
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13.6M TEU
First half of 2025.
- Port identity
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CNNSA
Nansha port code.
- Supplier region
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West delta
Guangzhou, Foshan, Zhongshan suppliers.
- Quote time
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24 hours
For a written quote.
Some cargo moves by feeder to a larger hub before the main ocean leg, and your quote shows the route. Last reviewed: October 2026.
03 / Routes & transit times
Where FCL shipping from Guangzhou goes
Many importers from Africa buy in Guangzhou, so those lanes come first. Typical sea transit, port to port. The routes below all use FCL shipping from Guangzhou on full 20ft, 40ft or 40HQ containers.
Port of loading
Guangzhou Nansha
Guangdong, China · CNNSA
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ZASouth AfricaAfrica
Discharge portsDurban, Cape Town
Explore route – FCL from China to South Africa22–30 days To Durban
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GHGhanaAfrica
Discharge portTema
Explore route – FCL from China to Ghana30–40 days Port to port
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USUSANorth America
Discharge portsLos Angeles, Long Beach, New York
Explore route – FCL from China to the USA15–20 days West Coast
East Coast: 30–40 days
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GBUnited KingdomEurope
Discharge portsFelixstowe, Southampton, London Gateway
Explore route – FCL from China to the UK28–38 days Port to port
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AUAustraliaOceania
Discharge portsMelbourne, Sydney, Brisbane
Explore route – FCL from China to Australia20–27 days Port to port
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AEUAEMiddle East
Discharge portJebel Ali
Explore route – FCL from China to the UAE18–28 days Port to port
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SASaudi ArabiaMiddle East
Discharge portsJeddah, Dammam
Explore route – FCL from China to Saudi Arabia20–30 days Port to port
Sailing and cut-off dates are confirmed in your quote.
04 / What decides the price
What Decides the Price of FCL Shipping from Guangzhou
The price of FCL shipping from Guangzhou is set per container, not by weight. Rates change with the sailing week, so none are published; your written quote within 24 hours splits ocean freight from China-side charges.
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Destination port
Your destination port drives the ocean rate.
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Container and volume
Furniture is bulky and often fills a 40HQ by volume first.
- 20ft33 m³
- 40ft67 m³
- 40HQ76 m³
Approximate capacities.
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Carrier and sailing week
Carriers reprice weekly, and the busy season costs extra.
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Port choice
Nansha or Shenzhen. Send the supplier address and we can quote both.
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Trucking from the supplier
The truck haul to the terminal is its own line in the quote.
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Cut-off and validity
The quote shows the last day to gate in and how long the price holds.
05 / How it works
How FCL Shipping from Guangzhou Works, Step by Step
This is how FCL shipping from Guangzhou runs from quote to sailing.
01 / 06
Your shipment journey
06 stages
Additional support
China export documentation
Not sure which papers you need? See our China Export Documentation service.
Who does what, and where we are based
Our office is in Yiwu, Zhejiang, more than 1,000 km from Guangzhou. We do not claim a local office here. Loading is arranged with your supplier or the container yard, and you get photos and the seal number before the container moves to the port.
FCL shipping from Guangzhou with us handles the China side only. For FCL shipping from Guangzhou, our Yiwu team files the documents and checks the loading, then sends you the photos.
Get an FCL quoteWe handle
- Loading set-up
- Documents for export
- Customs declaration in China
- Container reservation
You handle
- The declaration at destination
- Duties and taxes
- Charges at the destination port
- Inland delivery with your broker
We do not offer
- Air freight
- Door-to-door delivery
- DDP delivery
07 / Furniture, home goods & the Canton Fair
Furniture and Canton Fair Cargo: What We Check
Guangzhou and nearby Foshan are known for furniture, lighting and home goods, and many buyers book after the Canton Fair (opens in a new tab). Timing on the inland leg matters for FCL shipping from Guangzhou, so the quote names the pick-up day and the cut-off.
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Loading plan
Bulky furniture wastes space. Agree a plan with the supplier so the 40HQ is filled safely.
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Packing
Wood and glass need corners, wrap and bracing. We look at the loading photos.
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Wood and fumigation
Solid wood and wooden packing can need treatment or papers. Check your import rules.
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Mixed orders
Several suppliers after the fair? Send the list and ready dates and we plan one container for FCL shipping from Guangzhou.
08 / Guangzhou or Shenzhen
Guangzhou or Shenzhen? How to choose the port
Both are in Guangdong and the ocean rate is often close, so for FCL shipping from Guangzhou the truck haul from your supplier decides.
Where does your cargo start?
If your supplier is in
Guangzhou, Foshan or the west of the delta
Choose
Guangzhou
Furniture, home goods, Canton Fair
- Main port area
- NanshaPort
- Distance between the cities
- 140 kmAbout, by road
- Containers, first half of 2025
- 13.6MTEU
If your supplier is in
Shenzhen, east Dongguan or the north-east of the delta
Choose
Shenzhen
Electronics & long-haul sailings
- Main port area
- Yantian+ Shekou, Chiwan
- Distance between the cities
- 140 kmAbout, by road
- Containers, first half of 2025
- 17.2MTEU
Send the supplier address and we quote both.
See FCL shipping from Shenzhen. When your factories are around Guangzhou, FCL shipping from Guangzhou keeps the truck leg short.
09 / Customs, documents and delays
China customs and delays for FCL shipping from Guangzhou
Export clearance comes before loading: the declaration must be filed and released first. We take care of it, and you can read how in our China Customs Declaration and China Export Documentation services.
Documents we work with
5 documents- Packing list
- Commercial invoice
- Bill of lading
- Contract of sale
- Certificate of originWhere a trade deal applies
Delays at Nansha
Why
- Typhoon season (mainly July to October)
- Peak season
- Queues at the gates
Weather can pause terminal work for a day or more.
What we do
- Book early
- Confirm the cut-off
- Have papers ready ahead of the cargo
When a sailing rolls, we tell you straight away and rebook.
Today's status
Ask the carrier or read the port authority notice. Congestion numbers change by the hour, so we do not repeat them here.
10 / FAQ
Questions buyers ask about FCL shipping from Guangzhou
Straight answers on the port, cost, transit time, Canton Fair loading and documents.
Is Nansha port the same as Guangzhou port?
Yes. Nansha is the main container area of Guangzhou Port, at the southern end of the city on the Pearl River estuary. It is not a separate port, and searches for either name lead to the same place for container shipping. Its UN/LOCODE is CNNSA.
Which port is used for FCL from Guangzhou?
Most FCL leaves from Nansha. Some cargo moves by feeder to a larger hub, such as Hong Kong or Shenzhen, to join a bigger ship. For FCL shipping from Guangzhou we choose the route by sailing, cost and cut-off, and we show it in your quote.
How much does it cost to ship a container from Guangzhou?
The cost depends on the destination, the carrier, the port and the sailing week, and it is quoted per container. Fixed rates are not published because they change weekly. Send the supplier address and destination: a written quote follows within 24 hours, with Nansha and Shenzhen compared when useful.
How long does shipping take from Guangzhou by sea?
Port-to-port sea transit is about 28 to 38 days to the UK, 20 to 27 days to Australia and 22 to 30 days to Durban. Roughly a week goes on loading and export documents in China before the ship sails. Times change with the carrier, and your quote shows the actual sailing.
Which port is better, Guangzhou or Shenzhen?
Neither is always better. Guangzhou (Nansha) suits furniture and home-goods suppliers in the west of the delta. Shenzhen is larger and strong on long-haul lanes from Yantian. Choose by supplier location and sailing, and send us the supplier address so we can quote both ports.
Can you ship after the Canton Fair?
Yes. Send us the supplier list and ready dates, and we plan the loading at Nansha, including mixed orders from several suppliers where the goods can go together. Check your import rules for each product before you buy, because some goods need extra papers.
How do I ship furniture in a container from Guangzhou?
Pick 20ft, 40ft or 40HQ by volume, agree a loading plan with the supplier and make sure items are braced. We arrange the loading, send you photos and file the export documents. Check the destination rules for wood and packing before booking.
Does Al Fajar have an office in Guangzhou?
Our office is in Yiwu, Zhejiang, not in Guangzhou, and we do not claim a local office there. The Yiwu team books and documents your container and follows it to sailing, and loading is arranged with your supplier or the container yard, with photos and the seal number sent to you.
How long does China export customs clearance take in Guangzhou?
Customs pre-clearance normally takes place 24 to 48 hours before departure, with document cut-offs at a similar time. The exact timing depends on the terminal and the carrier. For FCL shipping from Guangzhou we file early, so the container is released before the Nansha cut-off.
Do you ship by air from Guangzhou?
No, we ship FCL by sea only and do not offer air freight. For goods that can wait a few weeks, sea freight is usually much cheaper per unit. Air freight is a job for an air-freight specialist. From Guangzhou we book your container, handle the China side and send you the documents.
Ready to ship from Guangzhou?
Start FCL shipping from Guangzhou with a quote.
Cargo, supplier city, destination port: send these three and we answer with a written FCL quote inside 24 hours.
- WhatsApp and phone +86 178 6005 2031
- hemu@alfajarshipping.com