1、Main routes and approximate delivery time
The main ports in Spain are Barcelona and Valencia, where the vast majority of sea freight is transported.There are mainly two types of sea freight routes:
Direct Service:
Some large shipping companies, such as Maersk and MSC, offer direct routes from Yantian Port in Shenzhen to Barcelona Port or Valencia Port in Spain.Timeframe: The sea voyage time of direct ships is relatively short, about 25-30 days.
Features: Relatively few shifts, stable delivery time, but prices may be slightly higher.
Transshipment Service:
This is a more common way. The ship will first arrive at a large transit port (such as Singapore, Rotterdam, Algeciras, etc.), and then transfer to another ship before heading to the destination port in Spain.Timeliness: Due to the need to wait for transit, the total time is relatively long, usually between 35-40 days, or even longer.
Characteristics: dense schedules, multiple choices, competitive prices, but the total time is greatly affected by transit efficiency.
2、Specific factors affecting sea freight time
Shipping companies: Different shipping companies have their own routes and schedules, and the delivery time may vary. Large and well-known shipping companies usually have more accurate schedules and relatively stable sailing speeds.Weather and Seasons: The North Atlantic may experience severe weather such as storms, large waves, etc. during winter (approximately from November to March of the following year), which can affect ship speed and navigation safety, leading to delays in shipping schedules.
Destination port customs clearance and efficiency: Barcelona and Valencia ports may sometimes experience congestion, and ships may need to queue for berths, which can add several days or even a week of extra time. The efficiency of customs clearance procedures will also affect the total time, and if there are situations such as document review not passing or inspection, the time will be further extended.
Holidays: Before and after the Chinese Spring Festival, National Day and other long holidays, the shipment volume surged, which may lead to cabin explosion and tension of trailers, thus affecting the overall logistics time. Local holidays in Spain may also affect the efficiency of customs clearance and inland transportation.
3、Logistics time composition (door-to-door)
If you are concerned about the total time (door-to-door) from the Shenzhen factory warehouse to the Spanish customer warehouse, then the following additional time needs to be added:
Booking and pick-up: local pick-up, container loading, inland transportation to Yantian Port in Shenzhen (1-2 days)
Customs declaration: Export customs declaration (1-2 days)
Sea freight: The above-mentioned sea transportation time (25-40 days)
Destination port customs clearance: customs clearance, and other procedures at the destination port in Spain (if all documents are complete and smooth, about 3-7 days; if not smooth, it may be longer)
Inland transportation at the destination port: After picking up the goods from the port, they are transported by truck or railway to the final destination (1-3 days or longer depending on the distance)
Therefore, the entire logistics time from door to door usually needs to be reserved for about 35-50 days.
Summary and Recommendations
Pure sea freight time: 25-40 days, from departure to destination port berthingDoor to door total time: 35-50 days, including all front-end and back-end operations and customs clearance
Suggestions for you:
Advance planning: It is essential to reserve sufficient time for the entire logistics process, preferably starting operations at least 1.5-2 months in advance.Choose a reliable freight forwarder: An experienced freight forwarder can help you choose the best shipping schedule, handle complex documents, and effectively track the status of goods to respond to emergencies.
Confirm price terms: Clarify whether your trade terms are FOB (you pay local fees) or CIF/CFR (you pay sea freight), which is related to the division of costs and operational responsibilities.
Prepare customs clearance documents: Ensure that all destination port clearance documents (such as bills of lading, packing lists, certificates of origin, etc.) are accurate and error free to avoid high demurrage and demurrage fees in Spain.
The accurate way is to directly consult several freight forwarders and provide you with specific information such as the type, volume, and weight of your goods, so that they can provide you with accurate shipping schedules and delivery times.
Share: