Table of contents

I. Freight Services from China to Qatar

II. Sea Freight Services From China to Qatar

    2.1 Major Ports in China and Qatar

    2.2 Sea Freight Cost from China to Qatar - [March,2025]

    2.3 Sea Freight Time From China to Qatar

III. Air Freight Services From China to Qatar

    3.1 Major Airports in China and Qatar

    3.2 Air Freight Costs From China to Qatar - [March,2025]

    3.3 How to Calculate Air Freight Costs

    3.4 Air Freight Time From China to Qatar

IV. Documents Required for Importing Goods From China to Qatar

V. How to reduce the shipping cost from China to Qatar?

I. Freight Services from China to Qatar

Qatar is an important energy exporter in the world, and its exported energy is mainly oil and natural gas resources. In 2022, Qatar's total foreign trade reached 164.5 billion US dollars, of which exports were 131 billion US dollars and imports were 33.5 billion US dollars, and the trade surplus increased by 64.9% year-on-year. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is the core export product, accounting for more than 80% of the total exports. China has been Qatar's largest trading partner since 2014. In 2023, the bilateral trade volume reached 24.53 billion US dollars. China mainly imports LNG and crude oil, and exports machinery and equipment, electronic products, etc. to Qatar.

In view of the high degree of cooperation between Qatar and China, SSF freight forwarder services from China to Qatar. With the close cooperation of our professional team and international logistics, we can effectively reduce the cost and time of exporting goods. We support transportation services such as sea freight (FCL/LCL) and air freight.

If you need to import from China, please contact SSF logistics specialist! We will customize your logistics solution according to your needs.

II. Sea Freight Services From China to Qatar

Maritime shipping is the primary choice for bulk cargo transportation in international trade due to its large-scale transportation capacity, cost-effectiveness, and environmental sustainability. It is particularly suitable for:

• Non-urgent bulk commodity trade (e.g., grain, chemical raw materials);

• Long-distance transportation (e.g., intercontinental routes);

• Low value-added goods with flexible delivery timelines (e.g., furniture, textiles).

2.1 Major Ports in China and Qatar

Major ports in China: 

• Shanghai Port

• Shenzhen Port

• Ningbo Port

• Qingdao Port

• Guangzhou Port

• Tianjin Port

• Dalian Port

• Xiamen Port

Major ports in Qatar: 

• Al Rayyan Marine terminal

• Al Shaheen Terminal

• Al Wakrah Port

• Doha Port (Hamad Port)

• Island Halul Port

• Ras Laffan Port

• Port d’Umm Said (Mesaieed)

2.2 Sea Freight Cost from China to Qatar - [March,2025]

The average price of shipping a container from China to Qatar is between $1,550 - $3,850.

Cost of Shipping 20ft & 40ft Container from China to Qatar (FCL)

LCL Shipping Costs From China to Qatar

The average price of LCL shipping from China to Qatar is: $80 – $120 per cubic meter.

2.3 Sea Freight Time From China to Qatar

The shipping time from China to Doha Port (Hamad Port) in Qatar is generally 20-25 days, depending on the specific route, port arrangements and intermediate stops.

Shipping time from major ports in China to Hamad Port in Qatar: 

III. Air Freight Services From China to Qatar

Air freight stands out in global logistics for its speed (10x faster than maritime shipping for intercontinental routes) and reliability (damage rate <0.5%), making it ideal for:

• High-value goods: Electronics, luxury items, precision instruments.

• Time-sensitive cargo: Perishables (e.g., pharmaceuticals, fresh produce), emergency spare parts.

• Global rapid delivery: Leveraging dense flight networks (200+ country coverage) for urgent market entry or inventory risk mitigation.

3.1 Major Airports in China and Qatar

Major airports in China:

• PEK – Beijing Capital International Airport

• CAN – Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport

• PVG – Shanghai Pudong International Airport

• SHA – Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport

• CTU – Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport

• SZX – Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport

• KMG – Kunming Changshui International Airport

• XIY – Xi’an Xianyang International Airport

• HKG – Hong Kong International Airport

Major airports in Qatar:

• DOH – Hamad International Airport

3.2 Air Freight Costs From China to Qatar - [March,2025]

Air freight costs are generally calculated by kilogram, and the cost per kilogram is approximately US$4-8.

Average freight rates from China airport to Hamad Airport:

3.3 How to Calculate Air Freight Costs

The airline will compare the actual weight with the volumetric weight and select the larger value as the billing weight:

• Formula of Actual Weight:

Actual weight = Product weight (kg) + Packing weight/ Pallet weight (kg)

• Formula of Volumetric Weight:

Volumetric weight = (Length x width x height) / 6000

Example:

The actual weight of the goods is 80kg, the dimensions are 120cm×80cm×60cm;

Volume weight: (120×80×60)/6000=96kg;

The billing weight is 96kg.

3.4 Air Freight Time From China to Qatar

Air express generally takes 2-4 days to ship, while ordinary or standard air freight takes 3-5 days.The exact time required for air freight is affected by the route and type of shipping service.

IV. Documents Required for Importing Goods From China to Qatar

To ensure smooth customs clearance and compliance with Qatar’s import regulations, the following documents are typically required:

1. Commercial Invoice (in English or Arabic)

• Must include: Seller/buyer details, product description, HS code, quantity, value (FOB/CIF), and payment terms.

2. Packing List

• Details of packages, weights, dimensions, and marks/numbers.

3. Bill of Lading (Air Waybill for air freight)

• Original copy endorsed by the carrier or freight forwarder.

4. Certificate of Origin

• Issued by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and legalized by the Qatar Embassy/Consulate in China.

5. Health/Sanitary Certificate (for food, plants, or animal products)

• Issued by Chinese authorities (e.g., Customs or AQSIQ).

6. GCC Conformity Certificate (for regulated products)

• Mandatory for electronics, toys, and construction materials to meet Gulf Technical Regulation (GTR) standards.

7. Insurance Certificate (if applicable)

• Proof of coverage for CIF shipments.

8. Import License (for restricted goods)

• Required for items like pharmaceuticals, chemicals, or weapons.

9. Halal Certification (for food or cosmetics)

• Issued by recognized Islamic authorities for compliance with Qatar’s Islamic standards.

10. Customs Declaration Form

• Filed through Qatar’s Single Window (Al Nadeeb) system.

Key Notes:

• All documents must be translated into Arabic if not originally in Arabic or English.

• Qatar Customs may request additional inspections for high-risk goods.

• Use Qatar’s Harmonized System (HS) Code for accurate tariff classification.

V. How to reduce the shipping cost from China to Qatar?

1. Flexible Route Planning with Freight Forwarder Expertise

• Prioritize Sea Freight, Supplement with Air: Freight forwarders optimize routes based on urgency. Example: Non-urgent bulk goods (e.g., construction materials) shipped via sea freight directly to Hamad Port (60%+ cost savings), while time-sensitive goods (e.g., electronics) use "sea-air linkage" (China port → Dubai → Doha air freight).

• LCL Consolidation: Forwarders consolidate multiple clients’ cargo into shared containers, reducing costs for SMEs by 30–50% compared to FCL.

2. Packaging & Loading Optimization via Freight Forwarders

• Reduce Volumetric Costs: Forwarders provide tailored packaging (e.g., collapsible crates) to minimize wasted space. Example: A apparel company cut air freight costs by 22% through volume reduction guidance.

• Mix High-Density & Lightweight Cargo: Forwarders balance container weight and space utilization (e.g., machinery parts + textiles).

3. Proactive Compliance Checks to Avoid Hidden Costs

• Document Compliance: Forwarders pre-verify Qatar’s import rules (e.g., GCC certification, Halal labeling), preventing delays and port demurrage fees (up to 5% of cargo value/day). Example: A food exporter reduced customs clearance to 48 hours with pre-approved Halal certificates.

• Duty Optimization: Forwarders advise on HS code classification for lower tariff rates (compliant with customs regulations).

4. Long-Term Partnerships & Digital Solutions

• Volume-Based Discounts: Annual volume commitment agreements with forwarders secure stable rates (e.g., sea freight at $1,200/40HQ, 15% lower than spot market).

• Real-Time Logistics Control: Digital platforms from forwarders (e.g., tracking, risk alerts) minimize cargo loss or rerouting risks (lower insurance claims).

Contact Now: 

Need a freight forwarder to improve logistics efficiency and customize your own logistics solutions? Please contact me!