Shipping from China to Dhaka
China โ Dhaka ยท via DAC air / Chattogram sea ยท clearance by National Board of Revenue (NBR), Bangladesh Customs
Freight from China into Dhaka clears through DAC air / Chattogram sea. Dhaka is capital and the center of the garment industry, and allow +1 day for the inland leg on top of clearance.
On the destination side, National Board of Revenue (NBR), Bangladesh Customs handles clearance; budget 7โ15 days of dwell before the cargo is released.
What you will pay on arrival in Bangladesh
Imports into Bangladesh are cleared by National Board of Revenue (NBR), Bangladesh Customs. The headline position is: VAT 15%; customs duty 0โ25% plus supplementary duty, advance income tax and advance tax โ the effective landed burden is often 30โ100%. The de-minimis threshold is No practical de-minimis.
Conformity is the part most first-time importers underestimate: BSTI certification for regulated goods; a letter of credit is mandatory for most commercial imports. Getting this wrong is expensive because it usually cannot be fixed after the cargo has landed.
Restrictions and known friction points for Bangladesh: LC-based import documentation must match the shipping documents exactly. Supplementary duty on consumer goods can exceed the base duty. Garment-sector inputs may qualify for bonded-warehouse relief tied to the factory license.
Routing and transit on this lane
Chattogram is chronically congested and dwell of 7โ15 days is normal rather than exceptional. Because commercial imports generally require a letter of credit opened by the consignee, the payment structure has to be agreed before the cargo is booked โ this is the main reason DDP quotes fall apart on the Bangladesh lane.
| Air gateways used | DAC (Dhaka), CGP (Chattogram) |
|---|---|
| Air transit, China to gateway | 3โ6 business days |
| Sea gateways used | Chattogram (Chittagong), Mongla, Matarbari |
| Sea transit, China to gateway | 12โ20 calendar days |
| Gateway serving Dhaka | DAC air / Chattogram sea |
| Inland leg to Dhaka | +1 day from the gateway |
| Typical clearance / dwell | 7โ15 days |
| Peak season to plan around | SepโDec |
Pre-shipment checklist for Dhaka
- Put the Dhaka delivery address, contact name and phone number on the invoice, not just the packing list.
- Photograph carton markings and seal numbers before departure โ it makes any claim far easier to settle.
- Confirm the consignee in Dhaka can act as importer of record โ National Board of Revenue (NBR), Bangladesh Customs will not release cargo to an unregistered party.
- Compare gross weight against volumetric weight (LรWรH รท 6000) โ the higher figure is what gets billed on air and express.
- Book earlier than the transit time suggests during SepโDec, when space on this lane tightens.
- Budget for the inland leg: +1 day beyond gateway clearance to reach Dhaka.
Air, sea or overland into Dhaka?
| Mode | Transit to gateway | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| โ๏ธ Air Freight | 3โ6 business days | time-critical, high-value and low-volume cargo |
| ๐ข Sea Freight | 12โ20 calendar days | volume cargo where cost per kilo matters more than speed |
Transit shown is China departure to the Bangladesh gateway and excludes the +1 day inland leg to Dhaka and 7โ15 days of clearance.
Mode guides for Dhaka
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Dhaka take?
China to the Bangladesh gateway is 3โ6 business days by air, 12โ20 calendar days by sea. On top of that, allow 7โ15 days of clearance with National Board of Revenue (NBR), Bangladesh Customs and a +1 day inland leg to Dhaka.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into Dhaka?
National Board of Revenue (NBR), Bangladesh Customs applies: VAT 15%; customs duty 0โ25% plus supplementary duty, advance income tax and advance tax โ the effective landed burden is often 30โ100%. The de-minimis position is No practical de-minimis. Under a DDP arrangement these are pre-paid, so nothing is collected on arrival in Dhaka.
Which port or airport does cargo for Dhaka clear through?
Cargo for Dhaka is routed via DAC air / Chattogram sea. Sea gateways for Bangladesh are Chattogram (Chittagong), Mongla, Matarbari; air gateways are DAC (Dhaka), CGP (Chattogram). We pick whichever gives the shortest total door time for your address.
Can you ship batteries or sensitive cargo to Dhaka?
Yes. Battery cargo by air follows IATA PI 965โ970 depending on how the cells are packed, and moves on certified channels via DAC (Dhaka), CGP (Chattogram). Surcharges apply and the declaration has to be made before booking.
What documents does National Board of Revenue (NBR), Bangladesh Customs require?
A commercial invoice with HS codes, a packing list, the bill of lading or air waybill, a certificate of origin where it lowers duty, and any product certification (BSTI certification for regulated goods; a letter of credit is mandatory for most commercial imports). We prepare and file these as part of the service.
Is sea freight cheaper than air freight into Dhaka?
Per kilo, yes โ usually by a wide margin. The trade-off is time: 12โ20 calendar days by sea versus 3โ6 business days by air to the Bangladesh gateway, before clearance and the +1 day inland leg. The crossover point is normally somewhere between 100 and 300 kg depending on the density of your cargo.
Other delivery cities in Bangladesh
References & official sources
Duty rates, thresholds and conformity requirements for Bangladesh change by ministerial decision, sometimes mid-year. The figures on this page are buyer-planning references, not a customs ruling โ confirm the current position for your own HS code with National Board of Revenue (NBR), Bangladesh Customs or your broker before you ship.
- National Board of Revenue
- Chattogram Port Authority
- WTO โ Tariff Profiles (applied MFN duty by country)
- IATA โ Lithium battery shipping guidance (PI 965โ970)
- World Bank โ Logistics Performance Index
- ICC โ Incoterms 2020 rules (DDP, DAP, FOB definitions)
- IPPC โ ISPM 15 wood packaging standard
Page data last reviewed: 10 ๆ 2026.
Shipping by industry
This page covers the route and clearance picture for the destination. Packing, classification and the compliance step that actually holds a shipment depend on what you are sending โ these guides cover that by commodity.
- Generators New Energy, Power & Electrical
- Ceramic Tiles Building Materials & Construction Products
- Paper Packaging Wood, Bamboo & Paper Products
- Packaging Materials Plastics, Rubber & Packaging
- Laboratory Furniture Furniture & Home Products
- Fabric Textiles, Apparel, Footwear & Leather
- Salon Furniture Beauty, Personal Care & Wellness
- Sheet Metal Metal Products & Industrial Components
- Compressors General Machinery & Industrial Equipment
- Electrical Cabinets New Energy, Power & Electrical
- Flooring Building Materials & Construction Products
- Plastic Products Plastics, Rubber & Packaging
Checking the Bangladesh duty position yourself
Duty and tax figures on this page are planning estimates. The binding assessment is made by National Board of Revenue (NBR), Bangladesh Customs against your declared HS code at the time of entry; where the amount is material, verify the current rate through ITC Market Access Map before committing to an order.
Most landed-cost surprises trace back to classification rather than freight. the WCO Harmonized System defines the heading structure every customs administration builds on, and ITC Market Access Map will show you the duty a given heading attracts in this destination.
For ocean cargo, restricted commodities move under the IMO's IMDG Code, and the container has to be declared and stowed accordingly. Batteries, flammables and corrosives all have a compliant ocean path; what causes rolled bookings is finding out about them after the container is packed.
For a wider view of how importing into Bangladesh actually works โ documentation norms, inspection behavior, the paperwork that tends to hold shipments โ the U.S. ITA guide to Bangladesh customs regulations is a useful independent read alongside our own lane notes.
Watch: the process behind this route
This guide covers routing and clearance for Dhaka. The video below covers the wider shipping process that sits around it.
Bills of Lading 101 - What Is a Bill of Lading — Flexport. Published on YouTube by a third party; we link it because it explains the process well, not because we produced it or endorse the provider.
Customs clearance in Bangladesh
Duty and tax position, certification, typical port dwell and what actually holds shipments at this border โ plus who files the entry.
Bangladesh clearance requirements →