Port of Xiamen CNXMG Shipping Guide

The Port of Xiamen is a key export gateway for factories in Fujian and nearby regions.

Xiamen Port is valued for short inland pickup, a mature terminal network, and stable service coverage to Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and North America. This page focuses on freight execution: how to use CNXMG in documents, how terminal receiving works, what cutoffs control loading, and how to plan routes, transit time, and freight costs with fewer delays.

Terminals / Receiving

Transit time range

Freight costs

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Quick facts for shipping documents

UN/LOCODE: CNXMG
Port name on documents: Xiamen China
Country: People’s Republic of China
Province: Fujian
Location: southeast coast of mainland China
Terminal system: commonly described as nine container terminals, with major container areas in Dongdu and Haicang
Best practice: keep Xiamen China and CNXMG consistent across SI, invoice, packing list, and bill of lading

What CNXMG means and where it shows up

CNXMG is the standard UN/LOCODE used to identify the Port of Xiamen in carrier systems and shipping documents. You will see CNXMG in:

Booking confirmations and EDI records
Shipping Instructions
Bills of lading
Forwarder quotations and internal systems

If different teams use different port names or codes, the carrier often pauses for manual checks, which can delay confirmation and document release.

Where the Port of Xiamen is located and why it matters

The Port of Xiamen is located on the southeast sea coast of China, close to many Fujian production clusters. For freight planning, the location matters because it reduces inland variability:

Shorter drayage and easier pickup planning
Higher chance to meet CY cutoffs
More stable container delivery to the receiving terminal

Some exporters compare routing through Shanghai, but inland distance and trucking uncertainty are often the deciding factor for time-sensitive cargo.

Xiamen Port Authority and operating rules

In daily operations you work through your forwarder, carrier, and trucker, but the Xiamen Port Authority framework still shapes real outcomes:

Gate appointment rules and entry procedures
Safety checks and inspections
Coordination across terminals and service strings

The practical rule is simple: stable shipment data, early SI submission, and correct receiving terminal reduce holds.

Container terminals and receiving

How to avoid gate-in mistakes

Xiamen Port runs a multi-terminal system. What matters is which receiving terminal the carrier assigns for the sailing, not just the total number of terminals.

Before the truck goes to gate-in, confirm:

Receiving terminal on the booking confirmation
Gate window and appointment requirements
CY cutoff, VGM cutoff, SI cutoff
Final shipment data: cartons, gross weight, CBM, and product description

The most common delay pattern is delivering the container to the wrong receiving point or arriving outside the gate window. That usually leads to missed cutoffs and rollover.

Berths, facilities, and deep-water capability

For exporters, the key question is whether the port can handle big calls reliably in peak weeks. The Port of Xiamen has modern port facilities and multiple berths for large container ships. It is widely described as a deep water port, and that supports flexible vessel deployment during demand spikes.

From a shipper perspective, the takeaway is operational:

berth productivity affects loading reliability
yard flow affects truck waiting time
stable gate procedures reduce last-minute disruptions

Public descriptions of coastline length differ by reporting scope, but the freight impact is still driven by berths, yard flow, and gate execution.

Key markets and the Taiwan Strait trade lane

Key markets served from the Port of Xiamen include regional Asia distribution and long-haul lanes. The port also supports visible trade flows linked to Taiwan across the Taiwan Strait. If your cargo is tied to Taiwan-linked supply chains, confirm whether the routing is direct or via relay, since service strings can change by season.

Xiamen Port stays connected to the world through multiple weekly service strings. In some years, it is described as ranked among leading hubs by throughput, with totals often cited in the million TEUs range.

Cutoffs you must manage for smooth loading

Export shipments usually revolve around three deadlines:

CY cutoff

The last time the loaded container can enter the terminal.

VGM cutoff

The deadline to submit verified gross mass. Missing it can block loading.

SI cutoff

The shipping instructions deadline for bill of lading drafting. Late SI edits are a common cause of holds.

Direct vs transshipment

Routing drives transit time variability.

Direct services are usually more stable for regional lanes.
Transshipment adds buffer days and connection risk during congestion.

If the cargo is time-sensitive, ask your forwarder to confirm whether it is direct or via transshipment and which relay port is used.

Depending on lane and week, services from major lines such as COSCO may appear in the routing plan, so always confirm the string and cutoffs at booking.

Typical shipping routes and transit time from Xiamen

These are planning ranges. Actual transit time depends on schedules, direct versus relay, and congestion.

Destination market	Typical discharge port	Typical routing	Transit time
Southeast Asia	Singapore	Direct regional service	4–7 days
Regional Asia	Port Klang	Direct or short relay	5–9 days
Regional Asia	Ho Chi Minh	Direct or regional relay	6–11 days
Philippines	Manila	Direct services available	5–10 days
US West Coast	Los Angeles or Long Beach	Mainline, sometimes relay	12–19 days
US East Coast	New York or Savannah	Longer strings, relay possible	26–40 days
Europe	Rotterdam or Hamburg	Mainline with frequent relay	28–42 days
Middle East	Jebel Ali	Direct on some strings, relay common	18–30 days

Tip: if your warehouse receiving window is tight, add buffer for relay connections and destination congestion.

Estimated freight costs from Xiamen for FCL

The ranges below are linehaul freight estimates for FCL. They exclude origin and destination local charges, customs clearance, trucking, storage, insurance, and special-cargo surcharges. Rates change with seasonality and equipment.

Destination	20GP	40HQ	Notes
Singapore	USD 220–650	USD 380–980	High frequency, usually stable
Port Klang	USD 260–720	USD 480–1,120	Carrier options vary by week
Ho Chi Minh	USD 320–880	USD 600–1,280	Space tightens before peak weeks
Manila	USD 380–980	USD 720–1,380	Capacity swings by service
Los Angeles or Long Beach	USD 1,250–3,350	USD 2,000–5,050	Demand swings, routing matters
New York or Savannah	USD 2,300–4,200	USD 3,500–6,100	East Coast strings fluctuate more
Rotterdam or Hamburg	USD 1,650–4,350	USD 2,500–6,350	Relay choices change totals
Jebel Ali	USD 1,150–2,950	USD 1,750–4,350	Surcharges vary by carrier

What you should prepare before requesting a quote

Use this base checklist to speed up quoting and avoid rework:

Destination port and service preference
Cargo ready date
Total cartons, gross weight, CBM
Cargo attributes such as battery, liquid, powder, magnet, branded goods, or DG

Provide clear inputs and you’ll get a cleaner total cost picture faster.

Import, unloading, and arrival planning

If you are moving import cargo via the Port of Xiamen, plan arrival early:

confirm discharge terminal and release steps
book trucking pickup within terminal windows
track free time to avoid storage escalation

Fast unloading and correct consignee details reduce holds and protect your schedule.

Practical workflow with fewer delays

Lock shipment facts early
Confirm product description, cartons, CBM, gross weight, and compliance flags.
Confirm the receiving terminal
Follow the booking confirmation and terminal gate rules.
Manage the three cutoffs
Plan pickup and gate-in around CY cutoff. Submit VGM and SI early.
Confirm routing
Direct vs relay changes predictability. Add buffer when transshipment is used.
Confirm scope of responsibility
Clarify port-to-port, port-to-door, or door-to-door to avoid surprise charges.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the port code for the Port of Xiamen?

CNXMG is the UN/LOCODE commonly used in booking and documentation.

How many container terminals does Xiamen have?

Many references describe nine container terminals in the Xiamen system, with major container areas in Dongdu and Haicang.

Is Xiamen a deep water port?

It is widely described as a deep water port capable of accommodating large vessel calls.

Which markets are most common from Xiamen?

Regional Asia lanes and long-haul lanes to Europe, the Middle East, and North America. Cross-strait flows with Taiwan across the Taiwan Strait are also relevant for some supply chains.

When should I book?

Peak season depends on lane. If timing is tight, book earlier and avoid late document changes. Capacity often tightens in December.

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