SHANGHAI PORT · FCL SEA FREIGHT
FCL Shipping from Shanghai Port
Yangshan and Waigaoqiao, loaded under our supervision.
FCL shipping from Shanghai with Al Fajar: we book 20ft, 40ft and 40HQ full containers from Shanghai Port, the busiest container port in the world. We handle the China side: trucking, loading, export documents and China customs declaration. Your own broker takes the shipment from the destination port.… See more
Section 2 / The port at a glance
FCL shipping from Shanghai: the port at a glance
Shanghai is the busiest container port in the world, so FCL shipping from Shanghai reaches almost every major trade lane. It is one port with several terminal areas, mainly Yangshan Deep Water Port and Waigaoqiao (Port Technology).
- Port throughput
-
27M TEU
First half of 2025, busiest port in the world.
- Port identity
-
CNSHA
Port code (UN/LOCODE).
- Distance from Yiwu
-
280 km
From Yiwu by road, about 2 h 55.
- Quote time
-
24 hours
For a written quote.
Carriers can move a booking between terminals, so we confirm the terminal early. Last reviewed: October 2026.
Section 3 / Routes & transit times
Where FCL shipping from Shanghai goes
Shanghai has one of the widest choices of sailings in China. Typical sea transit, port to port. Plan on about a week in China before the ship sails. All destinations below are served by FCL shipping from Shanghai on full 20ft, 40ft and 40HQ containers.
Port of loading
Shanghai
Shanghai, China · CNSHA
-
EUEuropeContinental Europe
Typical discharge portsRotterdam, Hamburg
Get a quote: Ask for a Europe quote30–40 days Port to port
-
GBUnited KingdomEurope
Typical discharge portsFelixstowe, Southampton, London Gateway
Full guide: FCL from China to the UK28–38 days Port to port
-
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
-
SASaudi ArabiaMiddle East
Typical discharge portsJeddah, Dammam
Full guide: FCL from China to Saudi Arabia20–30 days Port to port
-
AEUAEMiddle East
Typical discharge portJebel Ali
Full guide: FCL from China to the UAE18–28 days Port to port
-
AUAustraliaOceania
Typical discharge portsMelbourne, Sydney, Brisbane
Full guide: FCL from China to Australia20–27 days Port to port
-
ZASouth AfricaAfrica
Typical discharge portsDurban, Cape Town
Full guide: FCL from China to South Africa22–30 days To Durban
-
GHGhanaAfrica
Typical discharge portTema
Full guide: FCL from China to Ghana30–40 days Port to port
The exact sailing and cut-off date are shown in your quote.
Section 4 / What decides the price
What decides the price of FCL shipping from Shanghai
FCL shipping from Shanghai is priced per container, not per kilo. Fixed rates are not published, because they move with the sailing week. A written quote arrives within 24 hours, with ocean freight and China-side charges shown separately.
-
Destination port
The port where the ship discharges sets the ocean rate.
-
Container and weight
A 20ft holds about 33 m³, a 40ft about 67 m³ and a 40HQ about 76 m³; cargo weight tops out at roughly 26–28 tonnes.
-
Carrier and sailing week
Prices change from week to week and rise in peak season.
-
Terminal
Yangshan or Waigaoqiao. The terminal changes the truck route.
-
Cut-off date
The last day to gate in is shown in your quote.
-
Quote validity
Each quote says how long its price is valid.
The freight index is not your quote. The Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI), published weekly by the Shanghai Shipping Exchange (opens in a new tab), shows whether spot rates are rising or falling. It is a market signal, not the price of your container. We use the trend to time your booking, then quote in writing.
Section 5 / How it works
How FCL shipping from Shanghai works, step by step
Follow your FCL shipment through six clear stages, from the first cargo details to sailing from Shanghai.
01 / 06
Your shipment journey
06 stages
Additional support
China export documentation
That covers the full path of FCL shipping from Shanghai. Not sure which papers you need? See our China Export Documentation service.
Who does what, and where we are based
Al Fajar's office is in Yiwu, Zhejiang. Your shipment is booked, documented and followed by our Yiwu team. We do not claim a local office in Shanghai, and we check the loading before the container goes to the port.
FCL shipping from Shanghai with us stays on the China side. For FCL shipping from Shanghai, the Yiwu team remains your contact for booking, paperwork and loading photos.
Get an FCL quoteWe handle
- Trucking from your supplier to the terminal
- Checking the loading
- Preparing export documents
- Filing the China customs declaration
- Booking the container with the line
You handle
- Filing the import declaration
- Paying duty and taxes
- Port charges at destination
- Delivery, usually arranged by your broker
We do not offer
- Air freight
- Door-to-door delivery
- DDP delivery
Section 7 / Yangshan or Waigaoqiao
Yangshan or Waigaoqiao: why the terminal matters to your quote
Both are part of Shanghai Port, but the terminal sets your trucking route, your cut-off and sometimes your sailing. The truck haul from Yiwu is the first stage of FCL shipping from Shanghai, so we fix the pick-up date before booking.
Yangshan Deep Water Port
- Where
- Offshore islands, linked by the Donghai Bridge, about 32 km long
- Ships
- The largest container ships
- Truck haul
- Longer
- Best for
- Long-haul lanes to the USA and Europe
Waigaoqiao
- Where
- Near the city, on the Yangtze river side
- Ships
- Smaller ships and regional services
- Truck haul
- Shorter
- Best for
- Cargo from nearby factories
Tip. For FCL shipping from Shanghai, ask for the terminal and the cut-off time in every quote. A change of terminal can change your trucking cost and the last day to deliver the container. Background: China Briefing on Yangshan (opens in a new tab).
Section 8 / Shanghai or Ningbo
Shanghai or Ningbo? How to choose the port
| Comparison point | Shanghai | Ningbo-Zhoushan |
|---|---|---|
| Distance from Yiwu | About 280 km by road | About 229 km by road |
| Containers, first half of 2025 | 27.1 million TEU | 21.0 million TEU |
| Best when | Cargo comes from the Shanghai or Jiangsu area, or you need a sailing only Shanghai has | Cargo comes from Yiwu or elsewhere in Zhejiang |
| Trucking from Yiwu | Longer haul | Shorter haul |
The ports are neighbours across Hangzhou Bay and the ocean rate is often close, so for FCL shipping from Shanghai the truck haul and sailing date decide. Send your supplier city and we quote both. See FCL shipping from Ningbo. If your supplier is near Shanghai, FCL shipping from Shanghai can save a long truck haul.
Get an FCL quoteSection 9 / Customs, documents and delays
China customs and delays for FCL shipping from Shanghai
Nothing is loaded for export until the China export declaration has been filed and released. Our Yiwu team files it, as described in our China Customs Declaration and China Export Documentation services.
Documents we work with
- Commercial invoice and packing list
- Sales contract
- Bill of lading
- Origin certificate, if the destination has a trade deal with China
Delays at Shanghai
- Why
- Typhoon season (mainly July to October), peak season and several large vessels arriving together. Fog can also pause terminal work.
- What we do
- Book early, check the cut-off with the carrier and have the papers ready before the cargo is. A rolled sailing is reported to you at once and rebooked.
- Today's status
- Look at the carrier notice or the port authority page. Live congestion data changes daily, so we leave it to the carriers and the port.
2026 export rules. China published a new export licence catalogue of 43 categories from 1 January 2026, and dual-use items need their own licence (China Briefing (opens in a new tab)). Most general goods are not listed, but we check your HS code before booking. Official updates are published by 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 Shanghai
Straight answers on the port, the route from Yiwu, cost, transit time and documents.
Which country is Shanghai port in, and how many ports does Shanghai have?
Shanghai Port is in China. It is one port with several terminal areas, mainly Yangshan Deep Water Port and Waigaoqiao. It is the busiest container port in the world, with about 27 million TEU in the first half of 2025. Its UN/LOCODE is CNSHA. FCL shipping from Shanghai therefore reaches almost every major trade lane.
Is Yangshan part of Shanghai Port?
Yes. Yangshan Deep Water Port is Shanghai Port's deep-water terminal on offshore islands, linked to the mainland by the Donghai Bridge. It handles the largest container ships, and many long-haul sailings to the USA and Europe call there. A Yangshan booking can mean a longer truck haul than Waigaoqiao.
Should my container go through Yangshan or Waigaoqiao?
Large long-haul ships mostly use Yangshan. Waigaoqiao is nearer the city and suits cargo from nearby factories. The carrier decides the terminal at booking, and it can change. We confirm the terminal early because trucking and cut-off times differ, and we show it in your quote.
How much does it cost to ship a 20ft or 40ft container from Shanghai?
Pricing is per container and depends on the destination, the carrier, the terminal and the sailing week. We do not publish fixed rates, because they change every week and a market index is not a quote. Send us the details and you get a written quote within 24 hours.
What is the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index and is it my price?
It is a weekly spot-rate index published by the Shanghai Shipping Exchange. It shows the market trend, not your price. Your quote depends on the port, the carrier, the cargo weight and the sailing week. We use the trend to time your booking, then quote in writing.
How long does shipping take from Shanghai to the UK or Europe?
Sea transit from Shanghai to Europe is usually about 30 to 40 days port to port, and to the UK about 28 to 38 days. To the US West Coast it is about 15 to 20 days. Allow about a week in China for loading and documents before the ship sails.
Is there port congestion in Shanghai right now?
We do not publish live port data because it changes daily. Typhoons, peak season and vessels arriving together can cause queues. We book early, confirm the cut-off and tell you if a sailing rolls. For today's status, check the carrier notice or the port authority.
Does Al Fajar have an office in Shanghai?
Our office is in Yiwu, Zhejiang, and we do not claim a local office in Shanghai. The Yiwu team books your container, prepares the papers and checks the loading before gate-in at the terminal. You speak to the same people from quote to sailing, which keeps responsibility clear on the China side.
How long does China export customs clearance take in Shanghai?
Plan on 24 to 48 hours for customs pre-clearance before departure, with document cut-offs close to that. The terminal and the carrier set the exact times. For FCL shipping from Shanghai we file ahead of the cut-off, so the container is released in time and does not roll to the next sailing.
Do you ship by air from Shanghai?
No. We work with full containers by sea and do not offer air freight. Cargo that can wait a few weeks usually costs far less per unit by sea. For air freight, use an air-freight specialist. For FCL from Shanghai we book the space, handle the China side and send you the documents.
Ready to ship from Shanghai?
Get your FCL quote within 24 hours.
Send your supplier city, container size and destination. We reply with a written quote, ocean freight and China-side charges listed separately.
- Written quote
- Charges listed separately
- Terminal and cut-off shown