Current Freight Rates
| Volume | Approx. weight | Rate (USD / CBM) | Per-kg equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 CBM | ≈ 167 KG | USD 470.54 | USD 2.82/KG |
| 2 CBM | ≈ 333 KG | USD 428.88 | USD 2.57/KG |
| 3 CBM | ≈ 500 KG | USD 410.36 | USD 2.46/KG |
| 5 CBM | ≈ 833 KG | USD 401.10 | USD 2.41/KG |
| 5 CBM | ≈ 833 KG | USD 398.17 | USD 2.39/KG |
| 8 CBM | ≈ 1,333 KG | USD 405.12 | USD 2.43/KG |
| 12 CBM | ≈ 2,000 KG | USD 428.26 | USD 2.57/KG |
| 20 CBM | ≈ 3,333 KG | USD 419.01 | USD 2.51/KG |
| 30 CBM | ≈ 5,000 KG | USD 386.60 | USD 2.32/KG |
1 CBM = 167 KG
— volume is converted to weight as L × W × H (cm) ÷ 6000,
so 1 CBM of cargo is treated as 167 KG.
The per-kg column is that conversion applied to the rate beside it — useful for comparing this lane against an air quote.
Shipments under 1 CBM are billed at the 1 CBM minimum.
How these prices are calculated — chargeable weight and CBM
Freight is not billed on the number on your bathroom scale. It is billed on chargeable weight: the greater of actual gross weight and volumetric weight, where volumetric weight is L × W × H (cm) ÷ 6000. Denser cargo pays on its weight; light bulky cargo pays on the space it occupies. Whichever is higher is the one you pay — never the lower.
- One cubic metre = 167 kg. That is 1,000,000 cm³ ÷ 6000, the same divisor used for the volumetric check, so both sides of this page agree with each other.
- Per-CBM channels (sea LCL and sea DDP). The published rate buys one cubic metre, not one kilogram. Where this page knows only a weight, it converts at 167 kg per CBM to show an indicative volume — your measured dimensions decide the real figure.
- One CBM minimum. Consolidators bill a one cubic metre floor, so anything that works out under 1 CBM is priced at 1 CBM.
- Freight only. These are published freight rates. Duty, tax and customs charges at destination are not a fixed number we can print: they follow your product's HS code, its declared value and the exchange rate applied on the day of entry, so they are confirmed against your actual goods and quoted separately.
- Indicative only — the real price can be higher or lower. Nothing on this page is a quotation or a commitment. What you finally pay depends on what the product is, how it is packed, the chargeable weight, the declared value, the destination duty position and the exchange rate at the time. Send the product details, weight and dimensions and we will price your specific shipment.
Trade Terms Explained — Who Pays for What EXW, FOB, CIF, DDP and seven more — see which costs sit with us and which sit with you
The rate above is quoted on one specific trade term. Change the term and you change how much of the journey to UAE is already inside the price. The table below maps the eleven common Incoterms® against the twelve cost stages of a door-to-door shipment, so you can see exactly where our responsibility ends and yours begins.
- Seller — Cost and arrangement sit with the seller / shipper.
- Buyer — Cost and arrangement sit with the buyer / consignee.
- Negotiable — Not fixed by the rule — agree it in the contract.
| Term | 1 Loading on truck | 2 Export customs declaration | 3 Carriage to port of export | 4 Unloading at port of export | 5 Loading on vessel / aircraft | 6 Main carriage | 7 Cargo insurance | 8 Unloading at port of import | 9 Loading on truck at import | 10 Carriage to destination | 11 Import customs clearance | 12 Import duties & taxes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXW Ex Works | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck | Buyer Buyer — Export customs declaration | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to port of export | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of export | Buyer Buyer — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Buyer Buyer — Main carriage | Buyer Buyer — Cargo insurance | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| FCA Free Carrier | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to port of export | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of export | Buyer Buyer — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Buyer Buyer — Main carriage | Buyer Buyer — Cargo insurance | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| FAS Free Alongside Ship | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Buyer Buyer — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Buyer Buyer — Main carriage | Buyer Buyer — Cargo insurance | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| FOB Free On Board | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Buyer Buyer — Main carriage | Buyer Buyer — Cargo insurance | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| CFR Cost and Freight | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Seller Seller — Main carriage | Buyer Buyer — Cargo insurance | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| CIF Cost, Insurance and Freight | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Seller Seller — Main carriage | Seller Seller — Cargo insurance | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| CPT Carriage Paid To | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Seller Seller — Main carriage | Negotiable Negotiable — Cargo insurance | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of import | Seller Seller — Loading on truck at import | Seller Seller — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| CIP Carriage and Insurance Paid | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Seller Seller — Main carriage | Seller Seller — Cargo insurance | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of import | Seller Seller — Loading on truck at import | Seller Seller — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| DAT Delivered At Terminal (DPU) | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Seller Seller — Main carriage | Negotiable Negotiable — Cargo insurance | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of import | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| DAP Delivered At Place | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Seller Seller — Main carriage | Negotiable Negotiable — Cargo insurance | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of import | Seller Seller — Loading on truck at import | Seller Seller — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| DDP Delivered Duty Paid | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Seller Seller — Main carriage | Negotiable Negotiable — Cargo insurance | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of import | Seller Seller — Loading on truck at import | Seller Seller — Carriage to destination | Seller Seller — Import customs clearance | Seller Seller — Import duties & taxes |
EXW Ex Works
Buyer takes over at the seller's door and carries every cost from there. Lowest quoted price, highest buyer workload.
FCA Free Carrier
Seller clears the goods for export and hands them to the carrier the buyer nominated.
FAS Free Alongside Ship
Sea and inland waterway only. Seller delivers alongside the vessel; loading is on the buyer.
FOB Free On Board
Sea and inland waterway only. Risk passes once the goods are on board. The most common buying term.
CFR Cost and Freight
Seller pays the main carriage but carries no insurance obligation; risk still passes on loading.
CIF Cost, Insurance and Freight
As CFR, plus the seller must buy and pay for cargo insurance (minimum cover unless you agree more).
CPT Carriage Paid To
Any mode. Seller pays carriage through to the named destination; insurance is not obligatory.
CIP Carriage and Insurance Paid
As CPT, plus the seller must insure the cargo through to the named destination.
DAT Delivered At Terminal (DPU)
Seller delivers unloaded at the named terminal. Renamed DPU (Delivered at Place Unloaded) in Incoterms® 2020.
DAP Delivered At Place
Seller delivers to your address ready for unloading; import clearance and duty stay with the buyer.
DDP Delivered Duty Paid
Seller carries everything through to your door, duty and tax included. Highest quoted price, least buyer workload.
Two things worth flagging. Under CIF and CIP the seller is obliged to buy cargo insurance and pay the premium; under every other term insurance is optional, and we recommend buyers arrange their own cover so a loss or damage in transit is recoverable. And this table is a working summary for planning purposes — the binding definitions are the ones published by the International Chamber of Commerce in the Incoterms® rules, so confirm the exact term wording in your sales contract before you ship.
Service Details
China → UAE Sea Freight – Battery Cargo
Shipping from China to UAE by sea freight, priced per CBM or per KG, whichever bills higher. The tiers below are the live rate card for this channel; they move with the market, so the refresh date under the table is the date the numbers were last confirmed rather than the date the page was built.
Cargo on this service moves through Jebel Ali (Dubai), Khalifa (Abu Dhabi) and Sharjah. The rate covers the leg to the discharge port; inland delivery beyond the quay is costed against the delivery address, not the country. Expect 2–5 days of dwell at destination before release.
This rate is freight only. Import charges for UAE are assessed separately on arrival — VAT 5%; duty 5% CIF (0% in free zones) — and whoever is named as importer of record is liable for them. If you would rather have one all-in number, ask us for the duty-paid version of this lane.
Space on this lane tightens through Sep–Nov, which is peak season for UAE. Rates published outside that window are not a reliable guide to what you will pay inside it, so if your order lands in peak, book earlier rather than budgeting from an off-peak figure.
Current Rate Card
- 1-5CBM — USD 1,879 per CBM
- 5CBM+ — USD 1,859 per CBM
Last refreshed 2026-08-06.
Ocean consolidation into UAE prices by the cubic metre. One CBM is treated as roughly 166.7 kg, so a pallet of dense goods costs the same to move as a pallet of light ones — the space is what you are buying. The practical consequence is that packing efficiency, not gross weight, is where the money is on this lane, and that a sub-1 CBM shipment pays the 1 CBM floor either way.
Typical cargo on this route: furniture (HS 94), where clearance turns on timber due diligence (EUTR / EUDR) and UK upholstery fire regulations, injection molded parts (HS 39 / 40) and fasteners (HS 73 / 82 / 83). If yours is on that list the commodity page is worth two minutes — it covers how the goods should leave the factory, how they should sit in the container, and the failure mode we see most often on this kind of freight.
If you are working from a weight rather than a measurement, the 100 KG, 300 KG and 500 KG pages do the conversion for you: each one takes the weight, converts it at 166.7 kg per cubic metre, applies the one-CBM minimum where it bites, and shows the landed figure that comes out. Send real dimensions when you have them and the number tightens considerably.
We move sea freight cargo for UAE through Jebel Ali (Dubai), Khalifa (Abu Dhabi) and Sharjah. The quoted rate covers the ocean leg to whichever of those the vessel calls at; the difference between them shows up in the trucking cost beyond the quay, which is why it pays to name the delivery city when you ask for a quote rather than just the country.
The table above prices the lane, but most buyers arrive with a consignment already in mind. If yours has a known weight, the 100 KG, 300 KG and 500 KG breakdowns run this tariff against a fixed shipment so you see a landed number rather than a rate per kilo, and the China to UAE Sea Freight Cost page sets every channel we run on this lane side by side. For the wider picture including documentation and duty, start from shipping from China to UAE.
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Additional Information
Booking Conditions and Destination Requirements
LCL cargo on this lane bills on the greater of weight and volume, so a dense pallet and a light bulky one of the same size do not cost the same. Past roughly 15 CBM it is worth asking us for an FCL comparison — a full container usually undercuts consolidation at that point, and it removes the co-loading risk that comes with sharing a box.
- General commercial cargo. Battery, magnetic, liquid and powder content must be declared at booking, not on arrival
- Rates are quoted against the current sailing or departure; peak-season surcharges apply where the carrier levies them
- Routing on this lane is via Jebel Ali (Dubai), Khalifa (Abu Dhabi) and Sharjah — inland delivery beyond that point is quoted against the delivery address
- Clearance at destination is handled by Federal Customs Authority (UAE)
- UAE de-minimis: AED 300 — commercial consignments sit above it and are dutiable in full
- Destination conformity: ESMA/ECAS conformity for electronics
On the duty side, the applicable regime is: VAT 5%; duty 5% CIF (0% in free zones). Those are planning references rather than a ruling: the rate that binds is the one assessed against your declared HS code at the moment of entry, and classification is where most landed-cost surprises actually originate. Duty and tax are settled in AED at destination.
Paperwork closes more shipments into UAE late than freight does. Invoice, packing list and any certificate of origin have to describe the same goods at the same value, and the description has to be specific enough to classify — 'electronic parts' is not a description, it is an invitation to be examined.
Where these numbers come from
Treat the landed-cost numbers here as a planning baseline. Dubai Customs sets the rate that actually gets charged, assessed against your HS classification at the moment of clearance, so their own guidance is worth reading before a large order.
If you want to sanity-check a duty figure yourself, start from the heading rather than the product name — the WCO Harmonized System is the underlying nomenclature, and the WTO Tariff & Trade Data portal holds the applied rates by country pair.
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.
On the origin side, export declaration and any commodity inspection requirement fall under China Customs (GACC); we handle that filing as part of the service, but the requirement is theirs, not ours.
If this is your first shipment into UAE, the UAE 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.
China to UAE — Shipping Reference Data
| Main sea gateways | Jebel Ali (Dubai), Khalifa (Abu Dhabi), Sharjah |
|---|---|
| Destination customs authority | Federal Customs Authority (UAE) |
| De-minimis / duty-free threshold | AED 300 |
| Import tax & duty regime | VAT 5%; duty 5% CIF (0% in free zones) |
| Local currency | AED |
| Typical clearance / dwell time | 2–5 days |
| Peak / busy season | Sep–Nov |
| Conformity & certification | ESMA/ECAS conformity for electronics |
Thresholds and duty bands are buyer-planning references, not formal customs rulings — confirm the exact HS-code rate for your goods before shipping.
Free 3D Loading Tools for This Sea Route
This page covers a Sea freight service from China to UAE. Use the matching tool below to plan your cargo before requesting a quote.
3D Container Loading Planner
Wondering whether your cargo fills a 20GP or needs a 40HQ for this UAE route? The 3D container planner simulates cartons, crates, pallets, and even mixed box sizes in one container.
Open Container Planner →UAE Sea Freight Checklist
- Reserve loading space 5-7 days before the sailing cut-off for this route during peak season.
- Ask whether the quote includes destination port charges in UAE or only ocean freight.
- Photograph the container number, seal, and loading process for insurance evidence.
- Verify the receiver's customs import capability in UAE for DDP terms before booking.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Sea Freight – Battery Cargo from China to UAE take?
Sea freight on this route runs about 25–45 calendar days door-to-door, plus roughly 2–5 days of clearance/dwell once it reaches the gateway. All times include customs clearance under DDP terms.
What duties and taxes apply when importing into UAE?
Clearance is handled by Federal Customs Authority (UAE). The regime is: VAT 5%; duty 5% CIF (0% in free zones), with a de-minimis position of AED 300. Under DDP these are pre-paid, so nothing is collected on arrival.
What does DDP shipping to UAE include on this route?
DDP means we quote the freight, the customs entry with Federal Customs Authority (UAE) and last-mile delivery in UAE together, so you settle once. The duty and tax portion depends on your product's HS code, declared value and the exchange rate at entry, so it is confirmed against your actual goods — the figures on this page are indicative and can move either way.
What documents are required for customs clearance in UAE?
Federal Customs Authority (UAE) typically requires a commercial invoice with HS codes, a packing list, the bill of lading/air waybill, a certificate of origin (may lower duty), and any product certification (ESMA/ECAS conformity for electronics). We file these under DDP.
What certification is needed to import into UAE?
For regulated goods, plan for: ESMA/ECAS conformity for electronics. Missing conformity paperwork is the most common clearance hold with Federal Customs Authority (UAE), so confirm requirements for your HS code before shipping.
When does capacity tighten on the China–UAE lane?
Space and rates tighten around Sep–Nov, plus the China-side windows of Chinese New Year (Jan/Feb) and Golden Week (early Oct). Book 1–2 weeks earlier in these periods.
Historical Price Records
All price updates are recorded here. Use the weekly tabs to browse older entries.
| Date | 1-5CBM | 5CBM+ |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-30Latest | USD 470.54 | USD 467.62 |
| 2026-09-30 | USD 470.73 | USD 467.80 |
| 2026-09-30 | USD 470.35 | USD 467.43 |
| 2026-09-17 | USD 468.04 | USD 465.12 |
| 2026-09-15 | USD 467.30 | USD 464.38 |
| 2026-09-15 | USD 453.07 | USD 450.26 |
| 2026-09-07 | USD 360.47 | USD 357.67 |
| 2026-08-31 | USD 360.45 | USD 357.64 |
| 2026-08-17 | USD 358.13 | USD 355.33 |
| 2026-08-17 | USD 358.17 | USD 355.37 |
| 2026-08-06 | USD 358.17 | USD 355.36 |
| 2026-08-03 | USD 358.18 | USD 355.37 |
| 2026-07-30 | USD 358.17 | USD 355.36 |
| 2026-07-20 | USD 358.20 | USD 355.39 |
| 2026-07-17 | USD 355.61 | USD 352.83 |
| 2026-07-14 | USD 355.60 | USD 352.82 |
| 2026-07-07 | USD 355.58 | USD 352.80 |
| 2026-07-03 | USD 355.59 | USD 352.81 |
| 2026-07-02 | USD 355.58 | USD 352.80 |
| 2026-06-30 | USD 355.58 | USD 352.80 |
| 2026-06-23 | USD 355.58 | USD 352.80 |
| 2026-06-15 | USD 355.60 | USD 352.83 |
| 2026-06-08 | USD 355.60 | USD 352.82 |
| 2026-05-14 | USD 355.56 | USD 352.78 |
| 2025-12-29 | USD 355.56 | USD 352.78 |
Price Trend
Shipping UAE cargo by industry
This rate is for the lane. What decides whether the cargo arrives intact is the commodity — how it prices, how it must be packed and loaded, and which compliance step holds it at the border. These guides cover that per industry.
- Bolts Metal Products & Industrial Components
- Industrial Boilers General Machinery & Industrial Equipment
- Building Materials Building Materials & Construction Products
- Plumbing Products Building Materials & Construction Products
- Engineering Plastics Plastics, Rubber & Packaging
- Home Furniture Furniture & Home Products
- Garden Products Furniture & Home Products
- Illuminated Signs Retail, Display & Commercial Fixtures
- Metal Products Metal Products & Industrial Components
- Storage Tanks Metal Products & Industrial Components
- Transformers New Energy, Power & Electrical
- Sanitary Ware Building Materials & Construction Products