Shipping from China to Japan and South Korea: Complete Guide

Shipping from China to Japan and South Korea? Compare sea freight, air freight, and rail costs. Learn about customs duties, certification requirements, and port information.

Japan and South Korea are two of China’s most important and sophisticated trade partners. Both countries have advanced logistics infrastructure, predictable regulations, and strong demand for Chinese manufactured goods. However, both also have strict quality standards and certification requirements that importers must navigate.

This guide covers everything you need to know about shipping from China to Japan and South Korea.

Why Ship from China to Japan and South Korea?

Factor	Japan	South Korea
GDP	$4.2 trillion	$1.7 trillion
Population	125 million	52 million
China trade volume	$300+ billion	$280+ billion
Key imports from China	Electronics, machinery, textiles, food	Electronics, chemicals, machinery, textiles
E-commerce market	Rakuten, Amazon Japan, Yahoo Shopping	Coupang, Naver Smart Store
Free trade	RCEP member	RCEP member

Shipping Costs from China to Japan

Sea Freight FCL Rates (2026)

Route	20GP	40HQ	Transit Time
Shenzhen → Tokyo	$600-$1,500	$800-$2,000	4-7 days
Shenzhen → Osaka	$600-$1,500	$800-$2,000	4-7 days
Shenzhen → Nagoya	$600-$1,500	$800-$2,000	4-7 days
Shanghai → Tokyo	$500-$1,200	$700-$1,800	2-4 days
Qingdao → Tokyo	$400-$1,000	$600-$1,500	2-3 days

Air Freight Rates (2026)

Route	Per kg	Transit Time
Shenzhen → Tokyo (NRT)	$3-$5	1-2 days
Shanghai → Tokyo (NRT)	$3-$5	1-2 days
Qingdao → Osaka (KIX)	$2.5-$4.5	1 day

Shipping Costs from China to South Korea

Sea Freight FCL Rates (2026)

Route	20GP	40HQ	Transit Time
Shenzhen → Busan	$500-$1,200	$700-$1,800	4-7 days
Shanghai → Busan	$400-$1,000	$600-$1,500	2-4 days
Qingdao → Busan	$300-$800	$500-$1,200	1-2 days
Qingdao → Incheon	$300-$800	$500-$1,200	1-2 days

Air Freight Rates (2026)

Route	Per kg	Transit Time
Shenzhen → Seoul (ICN)	$3-$5	1-2 days
Shanghai → Seoul (ICN)	$3-$5	1-2 days
Qingdao → Seoul (ICN)	$2.5-$4	1 day

Major Ports

Japan

Port	Code	City	Annual TEU	Strengths
Tokyo	JPTYO	Tokyo	4.5M	Japan’s largest port
Yokohama	JPYOK	Yokohama	2.8M	Greater Tokyo area
Nagoya	JPNGO	Nagoya	3.0M	Central Japan, auto industry
Osaka	JPOSA	Osaka	2.4M	Western Japan
Kobe	JPUKB	Kobe	0.7M	Kansai region

South Korea

Port	Code	City	Annual TEU	Strengths
Busan	KRPUS	Busan	23.0M	World’s 7th largest port
Incheon	KRICN	Incheon	3.5M	Seoul area
Gwangyang	KRKAN	Gwangyang	2.5M	South coast

Japan Customs and Import Regulations

Import Duty Rates

Under RCEP, most Chinese goods enter Japan at reduced or zero duty rates.

Product Category	RCEP Rate	Standard Rate
Electronics	0%	0%
Textiles & clothing	0%-10%	5%-12%
Furniture	0%-5%	3%-5%
Machinery	0%	0%
Toys	0%	0%
Food products	0%-30%	0%-40%

Consumption Tax

• Rate: 10%
• Applied on: CIF value + duty

PSE Certification (Electronics)

Product Safety Electrical Appliance & Material (PSE) certification is mandatory for electrical products sold in Japan:

• PSE Mark (Diamond): 116 product categories (strict)
• PSE Mark (Circle): 341 product categories (self-declaration)

Food Import Requirements

Japan has extremely strict food import regulations:

• Food Sanitation Act compliance required
• MRL (Maximum Residue Limits) for pesticides — Japan has some of the strictest in the world
• Quarantine inspection for meat, plants, and animal products
• Import notification to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

South Korea Customs and Import Regulations

Import Duty Rates

Under RCEP and KORUS FTA, most Chinese goods enter South Korea at reduced rates.

Product Category	RCEP Rate	Standard Rate
Electronics	0%-8%	0%-8%
Textiles & clothing	0%-13%	8%-13%
Furniture	0%-8%	5%-8%
Machinery	0%-8%	0%-8%
Toys	0%	0%
Cosmetics	0%-40%	8%-40%

VAT

• Rate: 10%
• Applied on: CIF value + duty

KC Certification (Mandatory)

KC (Korea Certification) mark is mandatory for many products:

• Electrical/electronic products (KC Mark)
• Children’s products (KC Safety Mark)
• Consumer goods (KC Mark)
• Automotive parts (KC Mark)

KC Certification Process

1. Submit product to KC-recognized testing lab
2. Testing and evaluation (2-8 weeks)
3. Certification issued
4. KC Mark applied to product and packaging
5. Annual factory inspection (for some categories)

Japan and South Korea Shipping FAQ

Ship from China to Japan and South Korea with Langxu

Langxu International Logistics provides comprehensive shipping services from China to Japan and South Korea:

• Sea freight (FCL and LCL) with fast transit times
• Air freight — 1-2 day delivery
• DDP shipping — all duties and customs handled
• PSE/KC certification guidance — help with mandatory certifications
• RCEP duty optimization — maximize free trade benefits
• E-commerce delivery — Rakuten, Amazon Japan, Coupang, Naver
• Free warehousing for 30 days in Shenzhen

📞 Phone: +86 755-89692869
💬 WhatsApp: +86 15272278788
📍 Headquarters: South China City, Longgang District, Shenzhen, China

*Last updated: April 2026. Freight rates, duty rates, and import regulations are subject to change. Contact us for current rates and requirements.*