Freight Rates China to Pakistan: FCL Shipping and Transit Times
Pakistan imported US$19.5bn of goods from China in FY2025-26, up 19.8% on the year before, and the fastest direct sailings reach Karachi in about 13 days from Shekou. Get live prices, schedules and customs clearance on one booking.
- Imports from China
- US$19.5bn
- FY2025-26, up 19.8% (SBP)
- Two-way trade
- US$25.2bn
- Calendar 2025, China Customs
- Fastest FCL sailing
- From 13 days
- Shekou to Karachi, direct
- Karachi Port containers
- 2.75M TEU
- FY2025-26, up 3.7%
Trade Snapshot: China → Pakistan
State Bank of Pakistan data for Pakistan's fiscal year (July to June); China Customs (GACC) for the calendar year. The two series are counted differently and never match exactly.
- US$19.54bn
- Pakistan imports from China, FY2025-26
- Up 19.8% from US$16.31bn in FY2024-25, per SBP data.
- US$2.68bn
- Pakistan exports to China, FY2025-26
- Up 8.4%. The lane runs roughly 7 to 1 in China's favour.
- About 28%
- China's share of Pakistan's imports
- FY2025-26, SBP China imports against PBS total imports of US$69.6bn.
- US$4.24bn
- July and August 2026 alone
- Imports from China up 41.6% year on year in the first two months of FY2026-27.
Top shipping lines
Top shipping lines on China → Pakistan
Lines with published services on this lane. Select one to track a container with them.
Country context
Origin and destination country snapshot
Port activity and top partner mix from official trade and port statistics.
China
2025- Exports to Pakistan
- US$22.4bn
- 2025, derived from GACC two-way trade
- Top trading partner
- 12 years
- China has been Pakistan's largest partner every year since 2014
- Zero-duty tariff lines
- 3,251
- Pakistan's CPFTA Phase II category A0
What China ships to Pakistan (share of 2025 imports)
- Electrical equipment (HS 85) 27.5%
- Machinery (HS 84) 12.7%
- Iron and steel (HS 72) 7.9%
- Organic chemicals (HS 29) 6.9%
- Vehicles (HS 87) 5.9%
UN Comtrade (Pakistan as reporter), 2025 values against US$20.49bn of imports from China; China Customs (GACC); FBR SRO 1640(I)/2019.
Pakistan
FY2025-26- Karachi Port
- 2.75M TEU
- Up 3.67%, 2,115 vessel calls
- Import cargo at KPT
- 35.9M t
- Up 5.8% on FY2024-25
- Total imports
- US$69.6bn
- All origins, PBS provisional
Karachi Port container share by terminal
- SAPT 59.6%
- KICT 24.7%
- KGTL 15.5%
Karachi Port Trust FY2025-26 throughput as reported by Profit (Pakistan Today); Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.
Top Commodities Traded (China → Pakistan)
UN Comtrade, 2025, Pakistan as reporter. Values are Pakistan's recorded imports from China.
Electrical Machinery & Equipment
Semiconductor devices, smartphones, solar modules, cables and consumer electronics. The largest category at US$5.63bn in 2025; solar alone brought in about 51.5 GW of Chinese modules by November 2025.
Machinery & Mechanical Appliances
Textile machinery, pumps, boilers, industrial and construction equipment. US$2.61bn in 2025.
Iron & Steel Products
Flat-rolled steel, coils, sections and fabricated steel articles. US$1.62bn of HS 72 plus US$390m of HS 73 in 2025.
Organic Chemicals
Pharmaceutical intermediates and industrial chemicals feeding Pakistan's pharma and textile processing sectors. US$1.41bn in 2025.
Vehicles & Parts
Cars, motorcycles, CKD kits and parts. US$1.20bn in 2025, subject to Pakistan's used-vehicle age limits under the Import Policy Order.
Man-made Filaments & Fibres
Polyester filament yarn and staple fibre for Pakistani spinners and weavers. US$954m of HS 54 and US$525m of HS 55 in 2025.
Major Ports & Transit Benchmarks
Benchmarks are published schedule ranges; confirm the ETA on the live sailing before you book.
- Origins
- Shanghai • Ningbo • Shekou • Nansha • Qingdao • Xiamen • Tianjin (Xingang)
- Destinations
- Karachi (SAPT, KICT, KGTL) • Port Qasim (QICT) • Gwadar
- Carriers
- COSCO • OOCL • CMA CGM • ONE • Maersk • MSC • Wan Hai
Most China to Pakistan loops call Singapore or Port Klang on the way and discharge at both Karachi and Port Qasim on the same vessel. Direct sailings don't pass the Strait of Hormuz, but cargo transshipped via Jebel Ali has faced congestion and war surcharges since March 2026. Terminal facts from the operators: SAPT has 1,500 reefer plugs, 3.1M TEU of annual yard capacity and a 16 m permissible draft; KICT has 480 reefer plugs; QICT at Port Qasim has 1.4M TEU of design capacity and 636 fixed reefer plugs (1,000 with temporary arrangements).
Instant Rate Levels
Selected
Shekou → Karachi • 20' Standard
Direct • From 13 days • Singapore / Port Klang
Live all-in price on request
Ocean freight, BAF and local charges quoted against this week's carrier tariffs for your exact cargo. We don't print a sample range here because it would be stale before you read it.
Quick Compare
- Transit
- From 13 days
- Service
- Direct
What moves the price on China → Pakistan
- trending_upDirect versus transshipment: a transshipment via Colombo or Port Klang adds roughly 10 to 13 days over the fastest direct Shanghai sailing.
- trending_upSouth Asia peak season: rates on this lane climbed month on month into July and August 2026.
- trending_upRouting via Jebel Ali: since the Strait of Hormuz closed in March 2026, cargo relayed through the Gulf has carried congestion and war-risk surcharges that direct sailings avoid.
- trending_upLanded cost, not just freight: a valid CPFTA certificate of origin can take the customs duty on qualifying lines to zero, which often matters more than the ocean rate.
Popular port pairs
China → Pakistan
Quick-launch rate requests for the main port pairs on this lane.
Why Choose Maalbardaar for China → Pakistan?
Licensed customs clearance • Live tracking • One team at both ends of the paperwork
Wide Carrier Coverage
Direct China to Karachi and Port Qasim loops plus transshipment options, balanced for transit time against cost on each booking.
CPFTA Duty Built In
We check your HS codes against Pakistan's CPFTA Phase II schedule and make sure the Form P certificate of origin is right before the cargo sails.
Compliance & Docs
Goods Declaration on WeBOC, bank and financial-instrument linking on PSW, PSQCA and pre-shipment certificates for regulated goods like solar panels.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does sea freight take from China to Pakistan?
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The fastest scheduled sailings reach Karachi in about 13 days from Shekou, 17 days from Ningbo and 19.5 days from Shanghai. Northern ports take longer: about 23.5 days from Qingdao and 25.5 days from Tianjin. Transshipment through Colombo or Port Klang typically adds 10 to 13 days.
Which shipping lines sail direct from China to Karachi and Port Qasim?
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COSCO (PMX), OOCL (CIX1), CMA CGM (AS6, which links Nansha directly to Pakistan, and AS1) and ONE (CIP) run China to Pakistan services that call Karachi, and some also call Port Qasim. OOCL's CPX3 has been withdrawn. Maersk's FI2, launched in June 2026, runs from Shanghai, Ningbo and Nansha to Port Qasim.
Can I pay less import duty on goods from China?
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Yes, if the goods qualify under the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement. Phase II, applied in Pakistan through SRO 1640(I)/2019 from 1 January 2020, removed duty entirely on 3,251 tariff lines and phases it down on others. You need a CPFTA certificate of origin (Form P) and the goods must meet the 40% originating-content rule.
Do I still need an Electronic Import Form from my bank?
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No. The State Bank's Electronic Import Form has been replaced on Pakistan Single Window: you link your bank profile, create the import declaration and attach the financial instrument (LC, advance payment or contract) there, and the bank settles after clearance.
What do I need to import solar panels from China?
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Since May 2022, solar PV imports need a Type Test Certificate (ISO/IEC 17025), a Certificate of Conformity (ISO/IEC 17065) and a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate (ISO/IEC 17020). Customs in Karachi also revised the assessed value of solar panels ahead of the 2026-27 budget, which affects duty payable.
Does the Strait of Hormuz closure affect cargo from China?
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Direct China to Karachi sailings cross the Indian Ocean and don't pass through Hormuz. Cargo relayed through Jebel Ali is a different story: since March 2026 that routing has faced congestion and emergency surcharges, so a direct service is usually the safer choice for this lane right now.
Should I discharge at Karachi or Port Qasim?
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Both are served, often by the same vessel. Karachi's container terminals are SAPT, KICT and KGTL (2.75M TEU between them in FY2025-26); Port Qasim's container terminal is QICT, called by AS1 and FI2. The better choice usually comes down to which terminal your carrier uses and where the cargo is going inland.
Still have questions?
For assistance, please visit our Contact Us page. Our team clears and forwards cargo on this lane every week.
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Shipping China → Pakistan?
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Figures on this page come from official trade statistics and carrier-published schedules, checked September 2026. Transit times are schedule ranges and vary by sailing; trade values are reported in US dollars for the period stated beside each figure. Maalbardaar is not affiliated with the shipping lines named here.