2026 Full Container Load Ocean Shipping from China to Germany

2026 Freight Rates for FCL Ocean Shipping from Major Chinese Ports to Hamburg, Germany

Hanjin Merchant Marine (HMM) provides full container load (FCL) ocean shipping services from Yantian Port, China to Hamburg Port, Germany. The cost for shipping one 20ft container is USD 1150, while the cost for one 40ft container and one 40ft high cube container is both USD 1850. The estimated departure date is April 7, 2025, and the estimated arrival date is May 6, 2025, with a total ocean transit time of approximately 29 days. The freight rate is valid from April 3, 2026 to April 5, 2025.

Y Shipping Company offers FCL ocean shipping services from Shanghai Yangshan Port, China to Hamburg Port, Germany. The shipping cost for one 20ft container is USD 1500, and the cost for one 40ft container and one 40ft high cube container is both USD 2650. The estimated departure date is April 1, 2025, the estimated arrival date is May 19, 2025, and the total ocean transit time is about 48 days. The freight rate is valid from April 8, 2026 to April 15, 2025.

In April 2025, Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) operates FCL ocean shipping services from Ningbo Port, China to Hamburg Port, Germany. The cost for one 20ft container is USD 1450, and the cost for a 40ft container is the same as that for a 40ft high cube container, both USD 2050. The scheduled departure date of the route is April 1, 2025, the estimated arrival date is May 2, 2025, and the total ocean transit time is 31 days. The freight rate is valid from March 15, 2026 to March 31, 2025.

Maersk Line (MAERSK) operates FCL ocean shipping services from Tianjin New Port, China to Hamburg Port, Germany. The shipping cost for one 20ft container is USD 1360, and the cost for one 40ft container and one 40ft high cube container is both USD 2026. The estimated departure date of the route is April 14, 2025, the estimated arrival date is June 14, 2025, and the transit time is approximately 61 days with transshipment via Busan Port. The quoted price is valid from April 5, 2026 to April 12, 2025.

Comparison of Shipping Companies' Services and Prices for China-Germany Ocean Shipping

For full container load (FCL) ocean shipping services from China to Germany, different shipping companies have their own advantages. As an industry leader, Maersk Line (MAERSK) has an extensive route network and rich operational experience. It can ensure stable and timely cargo transportation by virtue of advanced technology and an efficient supply chain. Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) focuses on service quality, strictly controls all links of transportation, and has won customers' trust with high-quality services and a good reputation. China Ocean Shipping (Group) Company (COSCO) has local advantages, enabling efficient connection between domestic transportation and ocean shipping links to provide strong support for customers. If you value the comprehensiveness, stability, and professionalism of services, these shipping companies all perform well.

In terms of price, there is no fixed "cheapest" shipping company. Different shipping companies adjust their freight rates according to factors such as market supply and demand and fuel prices during different periods. Generally, relatively smaller shipping companies like Y Shipping Company may offer more competitive low prices during certain periods to expand their market share. However, when making a choice, you should not only consider the price but also comprehensively take into account factors such as transit time, service quality, and cargo safety.

Major Shipping Companies for China-Germany Routes

For FCL ocean shipping of containers from major Chinese ports to Germany, Hanjin Merchant Marine (HMM), Ocean Network Express (ONE), and Evergreen Marine (EVERGREEN) all provide direct route services to Hamburg. HMM covers Yantian, Ningbo, and Tianjin New Port; ONE operates voyages departing from Yantian, Shanghai Yangshan, and Tianjin New Port; EVERGREEN mainly serves the cargo transportation needs of Yantian and Tianjin New Port.

Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) and Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) offer multiple routes from China to Hamburg. Among them, MSC's routes cover Yantian, Shanghai Yangshan, and Tianjin New Port, and some voyages require transshipment via Ningbo or Busan; OOCL provides services to Yantian, Shanghai Yangshan, Ningbo, and Tianjin New Port, with a variety of voyage and freight rate options.

Maersk Line (MAERSK) and China Ocean Shipping (Group) Company (COSCO) also play important roles in this route. MAERSK provides services from Tianjin New Port to Hamburg with transshipment via Busan; COSCO focuses on direct routes from Ningbo to Hamburg. In addition, Y Shipping Company (presumed to be Yang Ming Marine Transport) has voyages to Hamburg from Yantian, Shanghai Yangshan, and Ningbo.

Besides the aforementioned shipping companies, other common ones that provide China-Germany route services include CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, ZIM Integrated Shipping Services, and Pacific International Lines (PIL). These companies jointly build an FCL ocean shipping network covering major Chinese ports to Hamburg and other destination ports in Germany, which can meet customers' diverse needs for voyage, cost, and transshipment solutions.

Important Ports in Germany

With its superior location along the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, Germany has built the most dense port network in Europe. These ports are not only gateways for Germany's import and export trade but also undertake the logistics transshipment task between Europe's inland areas and the global market. From container hubs and energy terminals along the North Sea to regional trade nodes along the Baltic Sea, German ports are characterized by "specialized division of labor + cluster collaboration" and cover diverse functions such as container transportation, automotive logistics, energy import, and wind power equipment transshipment. Among them, Hamburg Port, Bremerhaven Port (along the North Sea), and Rostock Port (along the Baltic Sea) form the core framework, supporting 40% of the cargo throughput in Germany and even the European Union.

Secondary Port Nodes

• Lübeck Port (Schleswig-Holstein): A traditional trade port along the Baltic Sea, mainly focusing on Ro-Ro cargo and short-distance ocean shipping; connected to the North Sea via the Kiel Canal, with an annual bulk cargo handling capacity of approximately 8 million tons.
• Bremen Port (Free Hanseatic City of Bremen): Forms the "Bremen Port Group" together with Bremerhaven Port; focuses on general cargo and piece cargo transportation; in 2026, the throughput of timber and machinery cargo accounted for over 60%.
• Emden Port (Lower Saxony): Germany's westernmost tidal free port, with the country's largest sea lock; mainly handles automobile import and export (annual transshipment volume of approximately 1 million vehicles) and industrial equipment transportation.
• Kiel Port (Schleswig-Holstein): A canal hub connecting the Baltic Sea to the North Sea; mainly focuses on ferry services (connecting Denmark and Sweden) and offshore engineering equipment transportation; annual ferry passenger volume exceeds 8 million.

How Long Does FCL Ocean Shipping from Shanghai, China to Germany Take?

The ocean shipping time from Shanghai to Germany varies depending on the route you choose, the shipping company, and whether you encounter conditions such as bad weather or port congestion:

• Direct Routes: If you are fortunate enough to book a direct route from Shanghai to major ports in Germany such as Hamburg Port or Bremen Port, the transit time is relatively short, usually around 30 to 40 days. However, the number of direct routes is relatively small.
• Transshipment Routes: In most cases, cargo needs to be transshipped via other ports, which is a more common transportation method. The transshipment ports may be Singapore, Rotterdam, or Malta, etc. In this case, the total transit time is usually extended to 40 to 45 days, or even longer.