Sea, Air Shipping from China to Saudi Arabia Door to Door

Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), in Western Asia, constitutes the majority of the Arabian Peninsula. Saudi Arabia’s economy is heavily dependent on oil and is a member of OPEC. China is Saudi Arabia’s largest destination of oil export, and the bilateral trade has been growing since the establishment of diplomatic relations, making China the largest trading partner of Saudi Arabia.

If you are an importer from Saudi Arabia, keep reading this guide to find all the answers associated with shipping from China to Saudi Arabia, including shipping methods, timing, costs, how to decide the best way to ship goods from China, what a freight forwarder can help with your China-Saudi Arabia shipment handling, etc.

For China-Saudi Arabia trade, there are 2 main shipping methods, sea freight and air freight.

Sea Freight from China to Saudi Arabia

For cargo from China to Saudi Arabia, shipping by sea is the most commonly chosen mode of international transportation. Sea freight has the advantages: low cost, high shipping capacity, but comes at a slow speed. If your supply chain has a tight shipping budget and your main purpose is to control shipping cost to minimum, then sea freight is the right way. Sometimes the cargo is just too large or too heavy, shipping by air is practically or financially not feasible, sea shipping is the only way. 
Full container load (FCL): shipping a container of goods exclusively for one client from China to Saudi Arabia.
Less than container load (LCL): Sharing a container with other clients who have cargo at the same time, to the same destination. Naturally, due to extra work (consolidation, de-consolidation, warehousing, paperwork, etc.), the final cost on each unit is higher than FCL, and shipping takes longer.
Our sea freight forwarding service to Saudi Arabia covers all China main ports, Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Qingdao, Tianjin, Dalian, etc. Besides regular FCL and LCL services, we handle OOG cargo from China, and arrange bulk cargo ship, RORO ship as well.

Main ports of Saudi Arabia

Jeddah
The port of Jeddah is located on the Red Sea Coast, in the middle of shipping route between East and West. 
In terms of handling capacity and cargo volume, it is the largest port (over 65% of the country’s imports). 
Second in the Arab world, after Port of Jebel Ali, UAE. 
Dammam
Port of Dammam is the main port in the Arabian Gulf, gateway through which cargo from all over the world reaches the Eastern and Central areas.
Riyadh
Riyadh, capital city and main financial hub, is on a desert plateau in the country’s center.
Riyadh Dry Port is the largest inland port in Saudi Arabia, adjacent to Riyadh railway station, connected with seaport Dammam by railway, 2-day freight train transport.

Air Freight from China to Saudi Arabia

When time is crucial, you do not wish to wait one month for a shipment from China to arrive in Saudi Arabia; or your supply chain has a robust shipping budget, and requests for a rapid delivery of goods; or the cargo to be shipped is perishable, and can’t withstand the long transit time by sea freight between China to Saudi Arabia. Air Freight is the solution. 
Most of the time, cargoes air shipped from China are of high value, or high importance. Air shipping ensures a faster delivery, albeit at a higher cost. However, with faster transit time, comes higher level of security, less chance of damage or loss. 
Air freight has its limitation, for oversized equipment, we’ll still have to rely on sea freight. Also, due to some restrictions, not every type of goods can be air shipped. 
Reach out to an experienced China freight forwarder serving Saudi Arabia for advice on your next air shipment. 

Airports of Saudi Arabia

Riyadh
Riyadh airport, King Khalid International Airport (IATA CODE: RUH)
Second largest airport in Saudi Arabia, after Jeddah
Direct flight connection between Guangzhou and Riyadh
Capable of handling up to 600,000 tons of cargo annually
Jeddah
Jeddah airport, King Abdulaziz International Airport (IATA CODE: JED)
A world class commercial center on the international stage and a key travel hub in the Islamic world
Busiest airport in Saudi Arabia
Ideal arrival airport for goods to the West of the country
Dammam
Dammam airport, King Fahd International Airport (IATA CODE: DMM)
The largest airport in the world by area

How long does it take to ship from China to Saudi Arabia?

Shipping time to Saudi Arabia from China ranges from 1 day to 30 days, depending on many factors, such as mode of transportation, origin port/airport, destination port/airport, route, weather, space availability, etc

China-Saudi Arabia sea freight transit time

Sea container shipping transit time from China to Saudi Arabia (Jeddah, Dammam, Riyadh)

POL (port of loading)	POD (port of destination)	Transit time
Shanghai	Jeddah	20 days
Shanghai	Dammam	22 days
Shanghai	Riyadh	34 days
Shenzhen	Jeddah	16 days
Shenzhen	Dammam	18 days
Shenzhen	Riyadh	31 days
Qingdao	Jeddah	30 days
Qingdao	Dammam	26 days
Qingdao	Riyadh	37 days

FYI: Shanghai in East China, Shenzhen South China, and Qingdao North China
Data from these 3 ports is enough to demonstrate the sea shipping time from China to Saudi Arabia.
The transit time by sea, port to port, depends on the specific origin and destination ports chosen, service route, sailing schedule and choice on carrier.
Above transit time is for full container load shipping, port to port, not door to door
LCL shipping time takes 7-10 days longer than FCL.

China-Saudi Arabia air shipping transit time

Air shipping from China to Saudi Arabia takes at least 1 day, and up to 5-7 days, depending on the origin/destination airport, service chosen and route. 
There are direct flights between Guangzhou (CAN) and Riyadh (RUH), cargo air shipped from China can arrive in Saudi Arabia on the same day of departure. With proper arrangements in advance, the whole China-Saudi Arabia door-to-door delivery could be done even faster than DHL and UPS. For that, you have to rely on a freight forwarder. 
In most cases, air freight transit time would be 5-7 days. 

How much does it cost to ship cargo from China to Saudi Arabia?

Knowing the shipping cost from China to Saudi Arabia is essential to your business. Shipping cost is an indispensable, and sometimes constitutes a large percentage of the final landed cost of imported goods. General rule of thumb, the quicker you wish to receive the shipment, the more you’ll have to pay for shipping.
However, the shipping market is not always set in stone, it’s fast changing. Sea and air freight rates fluctuate with time, affected by supply and demand relationship, and carrier’s strategic adjustment. The year-on-year difference could be drastic, and price for last week may not be valid for this week. Besides, each shipment is different, it’s impossible to provide a general estimate of shipping cost from China to Saudi Arabia.
If you are interested in receiving an up-to-date cost, contact a China freight forwarder for a stress-free China-Saudi Arabia shipping solution and get the latest freight quote.

Best way to ship from China to Saudi Arabia

There’s no one simple answer to the “best way” to ship from China to Saudi Arabia. Every client is different, and has his specific conditions, requirements at the specific time. The best way is to rely on a reputable China freight forwarder for their knowledge and insight. Below factors have to be taken into consideration.
1.    The type of goods and its value
2.    How quickly you need your goods
3.    The load of your goods (size, weight, quantity) or simply share the packing list
4.    Supplier address (origin seaport/airport), delivery address(destination seaport/airport)
5.    Your budget
6.    Goods ready time
Share the details with us for a shipping solution and cost, and you are on the best way to shipping from China to Saudi Arabia

China-Saudi Arabia freight forwarder

Shipping from China to Saudi Arabia can be challenging, and time-consuming, especially when you have more worthwhile job to do. With the assistance of a freight forwarder, your shipments from China will be accelerated and freight management made simple. As one of the best China based freight forwarding companies serving Saudi Arabia, our expertise and experience allow us to provide the most accurate answers and optimal shipping solutions tailored to your needs. Sea carriers only deliver port to port, and airlines airport to airport, there are lot to do on both ends. Door to door shipping solution from China to Saudi Arabia is made possible through our freight forwarding service. 
Why you should work with a China freight forwarder

Door to door shipping from China to Saudi Arabia

Sometimes maybe clients are not interested in handling the shipping, clearing, papers, and they just want to find a freight forwarder that takes care of everything. UCS provides customers the easiest one-stop shipping solution, i.e. to have their goods shipped from China to Arabia door to door. Whether small business or big, by sea or by air, we got you covered. You are released from all the complexity and perplexity. China-Saudi Arabia door to door shipping has never been so easy.

How to ship from China to Saudi Arabia

Step 1: Contact a freight forwarder; a China based one is preferred.
You may reach out to a freight forwarder either from China or in your own country Saudi Arabia. While a Saudi forwarder is most likely to rely on a Chinese local shipping agent. So China based forwarder is preferred, as the majority of complexities and uncertainties of international cargo shipping lie in origin, not in destination.
More on “Why you should work with a local China freight forwarder”
Step 2: Get a shipping quote from China
Step 3: Connect forwarder with supplier
Step 4: Get cargo insurance (optional)
Step 5: Arrange customs clearance

Why us when importing and shipping from China to Saudi Arabia

We are China based freight forwarder, specialized and experienced in international logistics for import and export business. We work with big and small businesses, send regular shipments by sea and air from China to Saudi Arabia. For importers from Saudi Arabia, we have the below reasons for you to choose us as freight forwarder for your freight shipping from China.

1. Quick Response, high efficiency
2. Communication
3. Professionalism, agility, accuracy
4. Our logistics expertise, local and global connections
5. Cost-saving
6. Dedicated, focused
7. Higher attention & tailored shipping solution

More on Why us when importing and shipping from China to Saudi Arabia

As one of leading freight forwarding companies serving Saudi Arabia, whatever you are shipping, regardless of the shipping method, with our logistics knowledge and expertise, local connections and global networks, as well as our insight into global trade, we are dedicated to streamline your supply chain, fulfill fast and safe delivery of shipment from China to Saudi Arabia

If you are interested in shipping from China to Saudi Arabia (Jeddah, Dammam, Riyadh), whether by sea or air, contact us, the best freight forwarder to get a shipping solution and quote for your China-UAE shipment, and start a stress-free door-to-door shipping experience.