Sea Freight from China to Nadi
China → Nadi · via NAN air / Lautoka sea · clearance by Fiji Revenue and Customs Service
For buyers shipping into Nadi, the practical question is not the ocean or flight time but what happens after arrival. Nadi is the international airport and tourism corridor; cargo enters through NAN air / Lautoka sea, and the inland leg is same-day, so the clearance date is effectively the delivery date.
On the destination side, Fiji Revenue and Customs Service handles clearance; budget 3–8 days of dwell before the cargo is released.
How this lane actually runs
Fiji is the hub of the South Pacific and the transshipment point for cargo continuing to Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu and Kiribati. Direct Asian calls exist but most volume routes via Singapore, Auckland or Brisbane. Biosecurity screening is thorough — wood packaging and any cargo with soil or plant residue is inspected.
| Sea gateways used | Suva, Lautoka |
|---|---|
| Sea transit, China to gateway | 18–26 calendar days |
| Gateway serving Nadi | NAN air / Lautoka sea |
| Inland leg to Nadi | Same day from the gateway |
| Typical clearance / dwell | 3–8 days |
| Peak season to plan around | Sep–Nov |
Duty, tax and clearance into Nadi
Fiji Revenue and Customs Service assesses duty and tax on cargo arriving for Nadi consignees. Current regime: VAT 15%; duty 0–32%, plus import excise on selected goods, with a de-minimis position of FJD 400 for personal consignments.
Conformity is the part most first-time importers underestimate: Biosecurity Authority of Fiji clearance; conformity for regulated goods. Getting this wrong is expensive because it usually cannot be fixed after the cargo has landed.
Restrictions and known friction points for Fiji: Biosecurity clearance is required for wood packaging and agricultural-risk goods. Onward island transshipment adds time and a separate handling cost.
What to sort out before the cargo leaves China
- Put the Nadi delivery address, contact name and phone number on the invoice, not just the packing list.
- Budget for the inland leg: same-day delivery beyond gateway clearance to reach Nadi.
- Compare gross weight against volumetric weight (L×W×H ÷ 6000) — the higher figure is what gets billed on air and express.
- Confirm the consignee in Nadi can act as importer of record — Fiji Revenue and Customs Service will not release cargo to an unregistered party.
- Check the de-minimis position (FJD 400 for personal consignments) against your invoice value before you decide how to split the shipment.
- Declare lithium batteries, magnets, liquids and powders up front — retro-declaring after booking usually means re-planning the whole shipment.
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Nadi take?
China to the Fiji gateway is 18–26 calendar days. On top of that, allow 3–8 days of clearance with Fiji Revenue and Customs Service and a same-day inland leg to Nadi.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into Nadi?
Fiji Revenue and Customs Service applies: VAT 15%; duty 0–32%, plus import excise on selected goods. The de-minimis position is FJD 400 for personal consignments. Under a DDP arrangement these are pre-paid, so nothing is collected on arrival in Nadi.
What certification do I need for Fiji?
For regulated goods, plan for: Biosecurity Authority of Fiji clearance; conformity for regulated goods. Missing conformity paperwork is the single most common cause of a hold, and in most cases it cannot be remedied once the cargo has arrived.
When is the busiest time on the China–Fiji lane?
Space and rates tighten around Sep–Nov, plus the China-side windows of Chinese New Year in January or February and Golden Week in early October. Book one to two weeks earlier in those periods.
Can you deliver door-to-door in Nadi?
Yes. Delivery to a Nadi address is quoted as one figure covering freight, duty and tax owed to Fiji Revenue and Customs Service, and the same-day inland leg. Confirm whether your consignee wants the goods at a warehouse, a marketplace fulfillment center or a shop front, because the last-mile requirement differs.
Can you ship batteries or sensitive cargo to Nadi?
Yes. Battery cargo by sea moves under UN3480/UN3481 with an MSDS, and the dangerous-goods documentation is prepared as part of the booking into Suva, Lautoka. Surcharges apply and space is more limited than for general cargo.
Other delivery cities in Fiji
References & official sources
Duty rates, thresholds and conformity requirements for Fiji change by ministerial decision, sometimes mid-year. The figures on this page are buyer-planning references, not a customs ruling — confirm the current position for your own HS code with Fiji Revenue and Customs Service or your broker before you ship.
- Fiji Revenue and Customs Service
- WTO — Tariff Profiles (applied MFN duty by country)
- IATA — Lithium battery shipping guidance (PI 965–970)
- World Bank — Logistics Performance Index
- ICC — Incoterms 2020 rules (DDP, DAP, FOB definitions)
Page data last reviewed: 10 月 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 — 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 Fiji duty position yourself
Duty and tax figures on this page are planning estimates. The binding assessment is made by Fiji Revenue and Customs Service 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.
If this is your first shipment into Fiji, the Fiji Country Commercial Guide covers the practical import environment in more depth than a rate page reasonably can, and it is written by a party with no stake in your booking.
Watch: the process behind this route
This guide covers routing and clearance for Nadi. The video below covers the wider shipping process that sits around it.
How to Ship Internationally via Ocean Freight | Step-by-Step Process, Documents & Cost Explained — 10 Min For Supply Chain. 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 Fiji
Duty and tax position, certification, typical port dwell and what actually holds shipments at this border — plus who files the entry.
Fiji clearance requirements →