SHENZHEN PORT · FCL SEA FREIGHT
FCL Shipping from Shenzhen Port
Yantian, Shekou and Chiwan, for Guangdong suppliers and electronics.
FCL shipping from Shenzhen with Al Fajar: we book 20ft, 40ft and 40HQ full containers from Shenzhen's ports for suppliers in Guangdong. On the China side we take care of loading, export documents and the customs declaration. At the destination port your broker takes over.… See more
Section 2 / The port at a glance
FCL shipping from Shenzhen: the port at a glance
Shenzhen is not one dock but a group of port areas on two sides of the city, and FCL shipping from Shenzhen can use any of them. Yantian, Shekou and Chiwan are all part of Shenzhen Port (Port Technology).
- Port throughput
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17M TEU
First half of 2025, third in China.
- Yantian code
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CNYTN
Yantian port code.
- Shekou, Chiwan code
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CNSHK
Shekou and Chiwan code.
- Quote time
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24 hours
For a written quote.
- Yantian
- Deep-water port in the east. Large ships on long routes to the USA and Europe call here.
- Shekou, Chiwan
- West Shenzhen, Pearl River side. Carriers list both under one code, CNSHK (AJOT).
- Dachan Bay
- A newer terminal area in the west.
The right terminal depends on where your supplier is and what the carrier offers. Last reviewed: October 2026.
Section 3 / Routes & transit times
Where FCL shipping from Shenzhen goes
Shenzhen is a strong origin for long-haul lanes. Typical sea transit, port to port. Count on roughly seven days in China before departure. Each route below is FCL shipping from Shenzhen, sold per full container and never per kilo.
Port of loading
Shenzhen
Shenzhen, China · CNYTN · CNSHK
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GHGhanaAfrica
Typical discharge portTema
Full guide: FCL from China to GhanaAbout 30 days Port to port
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ZASouth AfricaAfrica
Typical discharge portsDurban, Cape Town
Full guide: FCL from China to South Africa22–30 days To Durban
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USUSANorth America
Typical discharge portsLos Angeles, Long Beach, New York
Full guide: FCL from China to the USA15–20 days West Coast
East Coast: 30–40 days
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AUAustraliaOceania
Typical discharge portsMelbourne, Sydney, Brisbane
Full guide: FCL from China to Australia20–27 days Port to port
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GBUnited KingdomEurope
Typical discharge portsFelixstowe, Southampton, London Gateway
Full guide: FCL from China to the UK28–38 days Port to port
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AEUAEMiddle East
Typical discharge portJebel Ali
Full guide: FCL from China to the UAE18–28 days Port to port
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SASaudi ArabiaMiddle East
Typical discharge portsJeddah, Dammam
Full guide: FCL from China to Saudi Arabia20–30 days Port to port
Your quote gives the actual sailing and the last day for cut-off.
Section 4 / What decides the price
What decides the price of FCL shipping from Shenzhen
For FCL shipping from Shenzhen, you pay per container rather than per kilo. We leave fixed rates off the page because they move with the sailing week; the written quote within 24 hours lists ocean freight and China-side charges apart.
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Destination port
Ocean rates depend on the discharge port.
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Container and weight
20ft about 33 m³, 40ft about 67 m³, 40HQ about 76 m³. Dense electronics can hit the weight limit first.
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Carrier and sailing week
The sailing week sets the rate, and peak season pushes it up.
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Terminal
Yantian, Shekou or Chiwan. The terminal changes the truck route.
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Cargo type
Goods with batteries need a dangerous-goods check first, which can change what a carrier accepts.
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Cut-off and validity
The quote shows the last day to gate in and how long the price holds.
Section 5 / How it works
How FCL shipping from Shenzhen works, step by step
Follow your FCL shipment through six clear stages, from the first cargo details to sailing from Shenzhen.
01 / 06
Your shipment journey
06 stages
Additional support
China export documentation
Those six steps are the whole path of FCL shipping from Shenzhen. 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 Shenzhen. 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 Shenzhen with us is limited to the China side. Our Yiwu team runs the paperwork and loading checks for FCL shipping from Shenzhen, even when the cargo starts in Guangdong.
Get an FCL quoteWe handle
- Loading coordination
- Export paperwork
- China customs filing
- Space booking with the carrier
You handle
- Import customs filing
- Import duty and tax
- Destination terminal fees
- Onward delivery, through your licensed broker
We do not offer
- Air freight
- Door-to-door delivery
- DDP delivery
Section 7 / Electronics and batteries
Shipping electronics from Shenzhen: what we check before booking
Shenzhen is China’s electronics centre, and many shipments contain batteries or powered goods. These need a check before a carrier accepts a booking for FCL shipping from Shenzhen. The inland leg decides how smoothly FCL shipping from Shenzhen starts, so we confirm pick-up and gate-in dates together.
Batteries
Lithium batteries are dangerous goods (Class 9) for sea freight under the IMDG Code (IMO (opens in a new tab)). Power banks and devices with batteries must be declared.
HS code
Electronics have detailed codes. A wrong code delays export customs and destination clearance, so it must match on every document.
Export controls
Some electronics and drone-related items fall under dual-use or export-control lists. We screen your goods against the 2026 lists (China Briefing (opens in a new tab)).
Packing
Cartons, pallets and moisture protection decide whether goods arrive intact. We look at the packing at loading.
Tell us early if your cargo has batteries. Then we can say whether the shipment can go, and how.
Section 8 / Shenzhen or Guangzhou
Shenzhen or Guangzhou? How to choose the port
| Comparison point | Shenzhen | Guangzhou |
|---|---|---|
| Containers, first half of 2025 | 17.2 million TEU | 13.6 million TEU |
| Main port area | Yantian, Shekou, Chiwan | Nansha |
| Known for | Electronics and long-haul sailings from Yantian | Furniture, home goods and Canton Fair buyers |
| Best when | Your supplier is in Shenzhen, east Dongguan or the north-east of the delta | Your supplier is in Guangzhou, Foshan or the west of the delta |
| Distance between the cities | About 140 km by road | |
Both are in Guangdong and the ocean rate is often close, so for FCL shipping from Shenzhen the truck haul from your supplier decides. Send the supplier address and we quote both. See FCL shipping from Guangzhou. If your suppliers are in Guangdong, FCL shipping from Shenzhen is often the practical first option to quote.
Get an FCL quoteSection 9 / Customs, documents and delays
China customs and delays for FCL shipping from Shenzhen
A container cannot leave China until its export declaration is filed and released. We handle that filing; the detail is in our China Customs Declaration and China Export Documentation services.
Documents we work with
- Sales contract
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- Bill of lading
- Certificate of origin for trade-deal destinations
Delays at Shenzhen
- Why
- Typhoon season (mainly July to October), peak season and queues at the terminal gates. Weather can pause terminal work for a day or more.
- What we do
- We book early, confirm the cut-off and finish the documents ahead of loading. If a sailing rolls, you hear from us and we move you to the next.
- Today’s status
- The carrier notice or the port authority shows the day’s position. We do not quote live queue figures.
2026 export rules. Since 1 January 2026 a 43-category export licence catalogue applies, and dual-use goods go through a separate procedure (China Briefing (opens in a new tab)). Most general goods are not listed, but electronics need a check. We screen your HS code before booking. For official notices, see the General Administration of Customs (opens in a new tab).
Section 10 / FAQ and final call to action
Questions buyers ask about FCL shipping from Shenzhen
Straight answers on the terminals, cost, transit time, batteries and export documents.
Is Shekou the same as Shenzhen port?
Yes. Shekou is one of Shenzhen Port’s terminal areas, in the west of the city. Yantian is in the east, and Chiwan is next to Shekou. Carriers list Shekou and Chiwan under one UN port code, CNSHK. Which one is used depends on your supplier and the sailing.
What is the difference between Yantian, Shekou and Chiwan?
Yantian is the deep-water container port in east Shenzhen and takes large long-haul ships. Shekou and Chiwan are in the west, on the Pearl River side. For FCL shipping from Shenzhen we pick the terminal by supplier location, trucking time and the carrier’s sailing, and we show it in your quote.
In which country is the port of Chiwan?
Chiwan is in China, in Shenzhen, Guangdong province. It is part of Shenzhen Port, next to Shekou. In carrier systems the Chiwan and Shekou terminals share the UN port code CNSHK, so a booking for either appears under the same code.
How much does it cost to ship a container from Shenzhen?
Each quote is per container and reflects the destination, the carrier, the terminal and the sailing week. Rates are not published because they change every week. Tell us if your cargo has batteries, send the details, and a written quote follows within 24 hours.
How long does shipping take from Shenzhen to the UK or USA?
Sea transit to the UK is about 28 to 38 days port to port, and to the US West Coast about 15 to 20 days. Budget about seven days in China for loading and documents before sailing. Times change with the carrier, and your quote shows the actual sailing.
Which port is better, Shenzhen or Guangzhou?
Neither is always better. Shenzhen is larger and strong on long-haul lanes from Yantian. Guangzhou (Nansha) is closer to furniture and home-goods suppliers. Choose by supplier location and sailing, and send us the supplier address so we can quote both ports.
Can you ship electronics and goods with batteries from Shenzhen?
Electronics are common, but batteries are dangerous goods for sea freight and need a check first. Tell us if your cargo has batteries or power banks before booking, so we can say whether it can go and how. We also screen the HS code against China’s export lists.
Does Al Fajar have an office in Shenzhen?
No. The Al Fajar office is in Yiwu, Zhejiang, and we do not claim a local office in Shenzhen. Your shipment is booked, documented and followed by the Yiwu team, while loading is arranged with your supplier or the container yard, and you receive photos and the seal number before the container moves.
How long does China export customs clearance take in Shenzhen?
China export customs is usually cleared 24 to 48 hours before departure, and document cut-offs are similar. Terminal and carrier decide the exact times. For FCL shipping from Shenzhen we lodge the declaration early and screen the HS code before booking, so the container is released before cut-off.
Do you ship by air from Shenzhen?
Al Fajar does not handle air freight: our service is FCL by sea only. Sea freight is normally far cheaper per unit for cargo that can wait a few weeks. Need air? Contact an air-freight specialist. For full containers from Shenzhen, we book the space, deal with the China side and send the documents.
Talk to our Yiwu team
Planning FCL shipping from Shenzhen?
Tell us what you ship, where the supplier is and where it must go. Your written FCL quote follows within 24 hours.
WhatsApp and phone +86 178 6005 2031 · hemu@alfajarshipping.com
- Written FCL quote
- Terminal shown in quote
- HS code screened before booking