
Shipping from China to Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea is located in the South Pacific, bordering Indonesia‘s Papua Province to the west, and across the sea from the Commonwealth of Australia to the south and the Solomon Islands to the east.
As trade between China and the South Pacific region continues to deepen, more and more companies are beginning to pay attention to how to efficiently transport products from China to Papua New Guinea. As a country with a unique geographical location and rich resources, Papua New Guinea has a stable demand for machinery and equipment, building materials, daily necessities and other commodities. Whether it is full container shipping, bulk air transportation or door-to-door service, choosing the right logistics solution and professional freight forwarding are the key to successfully completing exports.

Shipping from China to Papua New Guinea
There are two main modes of shipping from China to Papua New Guinea. Sea freight is the most common and cost-effective mode of transportation, with a cost of about US$80 to US$200 per cubic meter. However, for goods with high timeliness requirements, air freight is also not to be ignored, and the cost is usually about US$4 to US$9 per kilogram. The following are several mainstream transportation modes:
Sea Freight from China to Papua New Guinea
Sea freight is one of the most cost-effective ways to transport goods over long distances. Compared with alternatives such as air freight, sea freight has relatively low operating costs, and companies can save a lot of transportation costs. Sea freight can carry bulk goods, which is also an important reason for choosing this mode of transportation.
The main ports in Papua New Guinea are Port Moresby, Lae and Madang. It takes about 15 to 25 days to depart from ports such as Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Ningbo and Shanghai in China. Full container load (FCL) is suitable for large quantities of goods, while less than container load (LCL) is suitable for customers with smaller quantities of goods.
Less-than-Container-Load (LCL)
For businesses with smaller shipments, Less-than-Container-Load (LCL) is an ideal solution. This service allows multiple shipments to share container space, significantly reducing costs compared to booking a full container. LCL is particularly useful for start-ups or businesses that don’t have enough shipments to fill a container. This method is flexible and cost-effective, as you only pay for the space you actually use, making it a good option for businesses importing small quantities of goods.
Full Container Load (FCL)
In contrast, Full Container Load (FCL) is suitable for larger shipments that require a dedicated container. This method is very beneficial for businesses that need to transport large quantities of goods without mixing them with other goods. FCL also improves safety and reduces transportation time because the container does not need to be combined with other goods.


Air Freight from China to Papua New Guinea
Air freight has several key advantages over sea freight. Delivery time is faster, only 3-7 days, while sea freight usually takes 15-30 days. This speed is often very important. Air freight is also more reliable due to strict flight schedules. Air freight has stricter security measures for valuables, which means that the goods are safer.
Air Freight from China to Papua New Guinea usually departs from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, Shanghai Pudong International Airport, and Hong Kong International Airport to Jacksons International Airport in Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea. It is suitable for urgent orders or valuables, and the general transportation time is 5-7 days.
In addition to sea and air transport, there is also express transport, which is suitable for cross-border e-commerce and sample goods. It is mainly carried by DHL, FedEx, and UPS. There are also many professional logistics companies that provide DDP services to help customers solve customs clearance and tax issues.
Cost of shipping from China to Papua New Guinea
The cost of shipping from China to Papua New Guinea is the most concerned issue for most customers. Different modes of transportation, departure ports, destination cities and cargo attributes will affect the total cost. Please refer to the table below:
Shipping Mode | Cost (USD) |
---|---|
Sea Freight (FCL – 20GP) | $850 to $1850 |
Sea Freight (FCL – 40GP) | $1,200 to $2,800 |
Air Freight | $4.00 to $9.50 per kg |
Other additional costs: such as destination port miscellaneous fees, customs clearance service fees, delivery fees, insurance premiums, etc., also need to be understood in advance and confirmed with the freight forwarder
Cost Of Shipping 20ft And 40ft Container From China To Papua New Guinea
The price of a 20-foot container (20GP) from Guangzhou to Port Moresby is approximately between USD 800-2,300, and a 40-foot container (40HQ) is around USD 1,500-3,200, depending on the peak and off-season.
Container shipping service from China to Papua New Guinea | Type of container | Ocean freight rates from China to Papua New Guinea: |
---|---|---|
How much does it cost to ship a container from Shanghai China to Papua New Guinea. | 20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL |
average price from: $1050 20FT average price from: $1850 40FT |
How much does it cost to ship a container from Shenzhen China to Papua New Guinea. | 20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL |
average price from: $950 20FT average price from: $1650 40FT |
How much does it cost to ship a container from Ningbo-Zhoushan China to Papua New Guinea. | 20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL |
average price from: $1250 20FT average price from: $1850 40FT |
How much does it cost to ship a container from Hong Kong China to Papua New Guinea. | 20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL |
average price from: $1050 20FT average price from: $1550 40FT |
How much does it cost to ship a container from Guangzhou China to Papua New Guinea. | 20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL |
average price from: $1250 20FT average price from: $1850 40FT |
How much does it cost to ship a container from Qingdao China to Papua New Guinea | 20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL |
average price from: $1450 20FT average price from: $2050 40FT |
How much does it cost to ship a container from Tianjin China to Papua New Guinea | 20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL |
average price from: $1650 20FT average price from: $2250 40FT |
How much does it cost to ship a container from Dalian China to Papua New Guinea | 20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL |
average price from: $1550 20FT average price from: $2350 40FT |
How much does it cost to ship a container from Xiamen China to Papua New Guinea | 20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL |
average price from: $1150 20FT average price from: $2050 40FT |
How much does it cost to ship a container from Yingkou China to Papua New Guinea | 20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL |
average price from: $1650 20FT average price from: $2550 40FT |
Learn more:
Air Freight Cost from China to Papua New Guinea
Air freight is charged by kilogram. From major airports in China to the capital of Papua New Guinea, the freight rate per kilogram is about US$4.5 to US$9. It is more cost-effective to ship more than 45 kilograms.
Air freight charges are basically a combination of various fees and surcharges, including air freight, fuel surcharges, security fees, terminal fees and other surcharges. These fees are set by different airlines based on their operating costs. Airlines often adjust these charges to reflect market changes based on factors such as season, international oil prices, off-season, and other factors.
It is recommended that customers ask for detailed quotations from professional freight forwarders before shipment, including all possible costs, to avoid disputes due to unclear costs later.
How long does it take to ship from China to Papua New Guinea
The time efficiency of different transportation modes from China to Papua New Guinea varies significantly. Enterprises can choose the appropriate solution according to the urgency of the order:
Sea freight time: Guangzhou and Shenzhen take about 15 to 22 days to Port Moresby, and 20 to 28 days to Lae Port; LCL time is generally 3 to 5 days longer, due to the need to collect goods and unpack containers, the overall time efficiency ranges from 20 to 35 days;
Port of Origin | Port of Destination | Estimated Transit Time (Days) |
---|---|---|
Shanghai | Port Moresby | 21-28 |
Shenzhen | Port Moresby | 14-21 |
Ningbo | Lae | 21-28 |
Guangzhou | Port Moresby | 21-28 |
Dalian | Lae | 24-30 |
Air freight direct flight or transfer flight time: generally 5 to 7 working days, and fast delivery can be achieved if customs clearance is smooth;
Door-to-door service: depending on customs clearance efficiency and terminal delivery arrangements, the overall time efficiency is 10 to 14 days.
When planning transportation time, be sure to consider factors that may affect the delivery cycle, such as public holidays, port congestion or flight adjustments.
Door to door Shipping from China to Papua New Guinea
For buyers who have no import and export experience or companies that want to simplify the operation process, door-to-door service and DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) transportation methods are ideal choices.
Door to door Shipping from China to Papua New Guinea service provides a comprehensive solution to deliver goods directly from the seller’s location in China to the buyer’s location in Papua New Guinea. Freight forwarding companies undertake the entire process from factory delivery in China, sea/air transportation, customs clearance, and delivery to the customer’s address. It is suitable for customers who need one-stop service and saves the cost of intermediate docking.
Door to door Shipping services generally have two trade terms options: DDU and DDP:
- Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU): Under this agreement, the seller is responsible for delivering the goods to the destination, but does not bear customs duties. The buyer is responsible for all applicable duties and taxes after the goods arrive in Papua New Guinea.
- Delivered Duty Paid (DDP): The freight forwarding company prepays import duties and taxes to ensure that the consignee does not have to bear customs clearance responsibilities. This type of service is more common in Papua New Guinea, especially for B-end customers or government project suppliers, it is an efficient and safe option.


DDP Shipping from China to Papua New Guinea
DDP shipping process from China to Papua New Guinea:
- Determine the demand for goods
The buyer and seller confirm the type, quantity, specifications and other details of the goods, and the two parties sign a contract to clearly use the DDP terms. - Choose a mode of transportation
The seller chooses an appropriate mode of transportation based on the nature, quantity and urgency of the goods, which can be sea, air or multimodal transport. - Prepare goods
The seller prepares the goods according to the order, packaging and labeling to meet international transportation standards. - Export customs clearance
The seller handles export customs clearance in China to ensure that the goods leave the country legally. This includes preparing and submitting necessary export documents such as commercial invoices, packing lists and certificates of origin. - International transportation
The goods are shipped to Papua New Guinea by sea or air, during which the seller is responsible for all transportation costs and insurance and bears the transportation risks. - Import customs clearance
After the goods arrive in Papua New Guinea, the seller is responsible for handling import customs clearance procedures and paying customs duties and other import taxes. This usually requires submitting necessary documents such as commercial invoices, packing lists, certificates of origin, etc. - Final delivery
After customs clearance is completed, the seller arranges the transportation of the goods and delivers the goods to the destination specified by the buyer. The goods are delivered to the buyer’s designated location on time, and the buyer receives and inspects the goods to confirm that the goods meet the contract requirements. All costs and risks of this process are still borne by the seller.
Customs Documents from China to Papua New Guinea
Customs documents are required when shipping from China to Papua New Guinea, and the right documents are essential to avoid any delays or problems. The main documents required include:
- Commercial Invoice: This piece of paper is very important. It explains the transaction between you and the buyer, including details of the goods, quantity, and price. I always check it carefully to avoid any problems.
- Packing List: This acts as a detailed guide for your shipment. It contains the contents, weight, and dimensions of each package. Customs officials will use this to check your shipment. I feel much better with this list.
- Import License: Depending on what you are sending, this document may be required to comply with local regulations. I have sent some special handicrafts in the past, so I realized that it is crucial to check this requirement ahead of time!
Freight forwarders from China to Papua New Guinea
How to choose a freight forwarder from China to Papua New Guinea?
An experienced and service-oriented freight forwarding partner can not only help you save transportation costs, but also ensure timeliness and smooth customs clearance. When choosing, you can consider the following points:
Whether it has experience in Papua New Guinea routes;
Whether it has the ability to provide DDP and door-to-door services;
Whether it can issue formal invoices, commercial documents and bills of lading;
Whether the customer service response is timely and can provide personalized solutions;
Whether it has overseas agents to support operations at the destination port
In this regard, Basenton Logistics has many years of experience in logistics operations from China to Pacific island countries, and can provide customers with a variety of logistics solutions such as full container load, LCL, air freight, DDP, etc. Whether you are a manufacturer, trader or project supplier, Basenton can tailor the most suitable transportation solution for you.