Air vs sea freight to Egypt
Compare air and sea freight for your China to Egypt shipment, with a built-in CBM helper so you can price volume correctly.
Air vs sea freight
Indicative China freight sampled 2026-06-07: air $6.5/kg, sea $105/CBM. Not a quote. Get a forwarder rate before booking.
- Shipment is over ~100 kg or ~0.5 CBM
- Goods are bulky or heavy relative to value
- You can wait 4-8 weeks
- Goods are light, small or urgent
- Value per kg is high (electronics, samples)
- You need stock in 1-2 weeks
Add freight to your landed cost
Freight is one input. See the all-in number with duty and VAT included.
Import costGet today's exact rate + the 2026 China Import Cost Cheat-Sheet by email
We will email you the live CNY rate and our import cost cheat-sheet. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Is air or sea cheaper from China to Egypt?
For a typical 200 kg in 1 m³ load: air is ~$1,300 (~£E70,356) at $7/kg; sea ~$440 (~£E23,813) at $105/CBM. The crossover is near ~100 kg or ~0.5 CBM: below it air closes the gap, above it sea wins clearly. Indicative figures, sampled 2026-06-07; not a quote.
| Mode | Cost (USD) | Local |
|---|---|---|
| Air | $1,300 | £E70,356 |
| Sea (LCL) | $440 | £E23,813 |
How do you calculate CBM and volumetric weight?
CBM = length × width × height in metres. A 40×30×25 cm carton = 0.03 m³; ten cartons = 0.3 m³. Air volumetric weight = CBM × 167 kg, and air is charged on the greater of actual and volumetric weight — light, bulky goods price on volume, not weight.
How long does shipping really take to Egypt?
Air is usually 5-10 days to arrival, plus clearing. Sea LCL is often 4-8 weeks door-to-port depending on the line and consolidation, plus clearing that stretches if documents are not ready. Plan to the longer end. Egyptian imports clear through Alexandria, Port Said and Cairo airport and sell through Al-Mosky, Al-Ataba and the wholesale trade. Two things make this corridor harder than the duty rate suggests: the ACI/Nafeza advance-cargo registration that must be filed before the goods ship, and Arabic-labelling rules that catch unprepared importers at clearance.
What this estimate won't capture
Freight rates are indicative and move with season, fuel, route and consolidator. The numbers here build intuition; they do not replace a written quote from a forwarder for your specific shipment. Indicative figures, sampled 2026-06-07; not a quote.
Frequently asked questions
Is air or sea cheaper from China to Egypt?
Sea (LCL) is usually cheaper per kg once a shipment passes roughly 100 kg or about half a CBM. Air is faster and wins for light, urgent or high-value goods.
How do I calculate CBM?
CBM is length x width x height in metres. For cartons in cm, multiply L x W x H and divide by 1,000,000, then multiply by the number of cartons.
What is volumetric weight?
Air freight is charged on the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight. Bulky light goods can be charged on volume.
Are these freight rates accurate?
They are indicative ballpark figures sampled 2026-06-07. Always get a live quote from a freight forwarder before booking.
Last updated: 2026-06-07.
Karim covers the Egypt–China trade route with a focus on the two things that make it hard: customs and currency. He explains how ECA duties and the 14% VAT stack on a real order, why Egypt's ACI/Nafeza pre-clearance and Arabic-labelling rules catch importers out, and how the pound's managed float and FX controls shape the way money actually reaches a supplier in Yiwu or Guangzhou. He has followed Egypt's import-trade scene through successive rounds of currency reform.