One-stop Sea,Air Freight Shipping from China to Bulgaria

Bulgaria was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with New China and this fact as well as many other acts of friendship and support through these years has been created a fruitful atmosphere for more than good relations between both countries in the contemporary stage of its development. China has become Bulgaria's second largest export partner outside the European Union. If you are a Bulgarian importer, keep reading.

Here’s a comprehensive guide to shipping from China to Bulgaria. We cover as many aspects as possible, which you could encounter in international trading and logistics, such as mode of transportation, transit time, cost, how to ship from China, and what an experienced freight forwarder can help with your China-Bulgaria shipments, etc. 
Everybody on board

Sea freight and air freight are the 2 main modes of transportations for China-Bulgaria trade.

Sea freight from China to Bulgaria

Sea freight, without doubt, has proven the most cost-efficient way for shipping from China to Bulgaria. If you got plenty of time, and your main goal is to bring down the landed cost of imports, you should opt for sea freight. 
Shipping by sea is slow, cargo with container ship from China takes 30-50 days to reach a Bulgarian port. With this considered, you should check your inventory and plan purchase in advance, so you won’t run of stock when the goods are in demand.
More than 90% of the world’s total shipments are being carried out by sea. Low shipping cost is only one of the reasons that contribute to its high popularity. Sea freight is capable of handling almost every type of goods, including dangerous goods, and large & heavy cargo, when other modes of transportations are not feasible. 
FCL (Full container load): shipping a container filled with goods exclusively for one client from China to Bulgaria. FCL is more cost efficient than LCL.
LCL (Less than container load): Sharing a container with other clients who have cargo to the same destination, at the same time. 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. LCL is a good choice for small business to start with. 
We handle not only regular FCL and LCL shipments, but also oversized & heavy cargo with flat rack or open top containers, cold-chain transportation with reefer containers, as well as breakbulk and RO-RO ships for large, bulk shipment and wheeled cargo. 

Our sea freight forwarding services cover all China major ports: Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Qingdao, Tianjin, Dalian, etc.

Major ports in Bulgaria

Bulgaria has two major ports on the Black Sea, Varna and Burgas. Both act as East-West transport corridor gateways of Bulgaria.
Varna (BGVAR)
Located on the Black Sea's west coast on Varna Bay
The largest seaport in Bulgaria
Burgas (BGBGS)
Burgas is the second largest city on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast in the region of Northern Thrace and the fourth-largest in Bulgaria after Sofia, Plovdiv, and Varna.

No matter which cities of China your supplier is located, to which destination of Bulgaria, contact us for a sea freight shipping solution. Get a quote from us.

Air freight from China to Bulgaria

When time is crucial, you are looking for a fast way of shipping from China to Bulgaria, air freight is the solution. Cargo planes can reach Bulgaria from any airport of China in 3-5 days. Cargoes air shipped from China are often urgent orders, perishable products or a pressing deadline is approaching. 

When shipping high value goods, people often prefer fast delivery with high level of security. Yes, higher level of security is another advantage of air freight, and the shorter transit time also reduces the chance of possible damage or loss during the transport. 
But remember, speed and security come at high cost.

However, due to limited space of airplane and restrictions of airlines, some large cargo can’t fit in the cargo plane, and some cargo may considered as dangerous goods, not allowed to be air shipped. 

If you need air shipping service, consult us before you make a decision. Get a shipping solution and cost from us. 

Cargo airports in Bulgaria

Sofia (IATA CODE: SOF)
Sofia airport is the main international airport of Bulgaria
Biggest and busiest airport in Bulgaria
Alone at Sofia Airport operate 25 airlines to and from 41 destinations.

Varna (IATA CODE: VAR)
Varna Airport is one of Bulgaria's busiest airports and is a gateway to the Black Sea coastal resort of Varna.

Burgas (IATA CODE: BOJ)
Burgas Airport is an international airport in southeast Bulgaria and the second largest in the country.

How long does it take to ship from China to Bulgaria?

It takes 30-50 days to ship from China to Bulgaria by sea, and 3-5 days by air.
The actual transit time might be slightly different, depending on many factors, such as shipping method, departure/destination terminal, service & route chosen, weather, seasonal change of shipping market, etc.

China-Bulgaria sea freight transit time

Container shipping transit time by sea from China to Varna, Burgas of Bulgaria

POL (Port of Loading)	POD (Port of Discharge)	Transit time
Qingdao	Varna	50 days
Qingdao	Burgas	48 days
Shanghai	Varna	42 days
Shanghai	Burgas	40 days
Shenzhen	Varna	34 days
Shenzhen	Burgas	32 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 Bulgaria.
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 only, for LCL shipping time estimate, pls add 7-10 days.

China-Bulgaria air shipping transit time

Generally, an air shipment from China takes 3-5 days to arrive in a Bulgarian airport, and transit time will be prolonged in peak season. 
Currently no direct flight routes between any Chinese cities and Bulgarian cities. So we’ll have to allow for at least for 3-5 days for China-Bulgaria air cargo shipping. 

How much does it cost to ship from China to Bulgaria?

Shipping a 40ft container from China to Bulgaria used to cost approx. $1500, and the price went up 7-8 times higher after the COVID pandemic. Air freight rates also got much higher than before. 

Before working on the shipping cost, we have to fix the shipping solution

Best China-Bulgaria shipping solution tailored to your needs

A freight forwarder will take these factors into consideration to work out the best shipping solution, and guarantee a fast and safe delivery of shipment at the minimum shipping cost possible. 
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
The best way of shipping from China to Bulgaria is to rely on an experienced freight forwarder for their knowledge and advice. 
Get a shipping solution from us for your China-Bulgaria shipment.

Knowing the shipping cost is essential to business if you are importing from China to Bulgaria. Shipping cost is an indispensable, sometimes a significant portion of the landed cost of imports. One thing is always true, the quicker you wish to receive your shipment, the more you’ll have to pay for shipping. 
It’s hard to provide a general estimate of shipping cost from China to Bulgaria, because each shipment is different, and the shipping market is full of changes. The year-on-year difference could be drastic, and price for last week may not be valid for this week. Sea, air and railway freight rates fluctuate frequently, affected by seasonal and strategic adjustment by carriers, as well as by law of supply and demand.

Contact us, a leading freight forwarder for the latest shipping cost.

Freight forwarder shipping from China to Bulgaria

Everybody has got limited time and energy. The shipping market is fast changing. Shipping from China to Bulgaria is a time & energy consuming job. Why not count on a professional China-Bulgaria freight forwarder to free you from all the trouble and complexity of international logistics? 

As one of the top China based freight forwarding companies serving Bulgaria, our expertise and experience allow us to provide the most accurate answers and optimal shipping solutions tailored to your needs. With the help of an experienced freight forwarder, your shipment will be well planned and carried out smoothly, and freight management made easier than ever. What’s more, you can avoid potential delays and extra charges. 

Lastly, airlines and sea carriers have limited reach, through our freight forwarding service, the reach could be extended door to door. 

How to ship from China to Bulgaria

Step 1: Contact a freight forwarder; a China based one is preferred. (More on “Why you should work with a local China freight forwarder”)
Step 2: Submit shipment details and get a shipping quote from China
Step 3: Connect the freight forwarder with supplier, forwarder does his job
Step 4: Get cargo insurance (optional)
Step 5: Arrange customs clearance
Or you can rely on us for the one-stop shipping solution from China to Bulgaria.

Why us when importing and shipping from China to Bulgaria？

We are China based freight forwarder, specialized and experienced in international logistics for China-Bulgaria import and export business. With years of hard effort on China-Europe trade lane, building networks of sea, air, railway and local connections, we are able to provide a hassle-free one-stop shipping solution from China to Bulgaria. The below characters are what make us different from our competitors.
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 Bulgaria

We help build the connection between China and Bulgaria. Whether you are shipping standard, refrigerated or oversized cargo, regardless of the shipping method, we have the logistics expertise, local knowledge and global network you need to get it to its destination on time.

If you are considering shipping from China to Bulgaria (Varna, Burgas, Sofia, etc), whether by sea or air, reach out to the best freight forwarder to ensure a stress-free shipping experience. 
Contact us, get a shipping solution and quote for your China-Bulgaria shipment.